Creating a Console Table

Reference Number: KB-03201
Last Modified: November 16, 2024

The information in this article applies to:

Premier



QUESTION

I need a console table for my design, but I'm not seeing one that matches my design in the library browser. Is there any way to create a custom table in Chief Architect?  

You can use the Base Cabinet tool to create a variety of furniture, including a console table.


ANSWER

The Base Cabinet tool can be used to create a variety of different kinds of objects, including console tables. Furthermore you can change the drawer style, the layout of the drawers, the drawer hardware, and the materials of the table.


To prepare your base cabinet to act as a console table

  1. To first place the cabinet, go to Build> Cabinet> Base Cabinet from the menu, then click in the plan to place your cabinet.


  2. Using the Select Objects tool select your cabinet and use the Open Object  edit tool to open its specification.


  3. In the Base Cabinet Specification, on the General panel, you can specify the Width, Depth, and Height of the console table.

    In this example, a Width of 60", a Height of 36", and a Depth of 18" is used.


  4. Remaining on the General panel, uncheck the checkbox for Countertop and the checkbox for Toe Kick.


  5. On the Box Construction panel, set the Top to Has Top and set the Bottom to No Bottom.


  6. Remaining on the Box Construction panel, set the Door/Drawer Overlay to Inset
  7. On the Front/Sides/Back panel, you will customize the layout of your console table. If you'd like to create a table like the one shown above, follow the steps listed below:

    Change your face items until you have your desired table layout.

    • In the Face Items list, select the 2 Drawer face item and click the Split Vertical button to split it into two.

    • Select the 2 Layout - Horizontal face item and set the Item Height to set the height of your drawers.

      In this example, a value of 6" is specified.

    • Select the 4 Door - Auto Right face item and change its' Item Type to Opening.

    • Select the 5 Separation - Horizontal face item and click the Delete button to remove the bottom edge.

    For more information on customizing cabinet fronts, please see the Related Articles at the bottom of this article.


  8. Select the 4 Opening face item and take note of its' Item Height.

    In this example, an Item Height of of 28 1/2" is specified.

    Take note of the Opening Height.


To modify the shelving below the drawers

  1. On the Front/Sides/Back panel, select the 4 Opening face item and click the Specify button next to Shelves.


  2. In the Cabinet Shelf Specification that displays, set your Shelf Management to Manual.


  3. Underneath the Manual Shelf Specification section:

    In the Shelf Specification you can change the properties of your shelving.

    • Set your Number of Shelves.

    • To change the shelf style, click on the Library button, and browse the library for a suitable shelf style.

    • Set the Thickness/Height of your shelves

    • Select Full, Half or Specify the shelf Depth.

    • Adjust the Spacing From Previous to move the shelf within the opening.

    • Once all desired changes have been made, click OK.

      Note: For more information on adjusting shelving, please see the appropriate resource in the Related Articles below.


To adjust the sides and back of the cabinet

  1. On the Front/Sides/Back panel, change the Side to Back, and change the Side Type to Custom Face.

    Select the Back Side of the cabinet, and change the Side Type to Custom Face.


  2. In the Face Items list, select the 2 Blank Area face item and click the Split Horizontal button to split it into two.


  3. You will now have a 2 Blank Area face item and a 4 Blank Area face item. Select the lower 4 Blank Area face item and change its Item Type to an Opening.


  4. Select the 4 Opening face item and set its Item Height to the same as the opening on the front of the cabinet.

    In this example, an Item Height of 28 1/2" is specified.
  5. Select the 5 Separation - Horizontal face item, and click the Delete button.


  6. Change your Side to Left/Right, then repeat Steps 1 - 5.

    Go to each side of the cabinet, creating an opening with the same height as before, and remove the separation at the bottom.

    Once you have designed your cabinet, you can save it to your User Catalog for future use. Please see the Related Articles for more information.


Although the cabinet now appears like a table, it still has special behaviors specific to cabinets. To properly use this as a table, you will want to make it into an Architectural Block.


Using the cabinet as a table

  1. With the Select Objects tool selected, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, then left-click once on the cabinet to select it.


  2. On the Edit toolbar located at the bottom of the Chief Architect window, click the Make Architectural Block  edit tool to convert the cabinet into an architectural block.


  3. With the architectural block selected, click the Open Object  edit tool.


  4. In the Architectural Block Specification that displays, on the General panel, check the Suppress Adjacent Room Moldings box if it's not already checked, then click OK.

    In the Architectural Block Specification make sure Suppress Adjacent Room Moldings is checked.


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