MCM-Inspired Teardrop Shelf

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Many years ago, my mom showed me an old shelf she had that she was getting rid of. She asked me if i wanted it. At the time, Mid century modern design was something i wasn’t even aware of, let alone something i liked. So i told her no, and away the shelf went.

Fast forward to the recent past and present when Mid Century Modern became a coveted design that I’m constantly searching for. Man, i wish i had snagged that Teardrop shelf from my mom when i had the chance!

Luckily, being the Serial Diy-er that i am, i came up with a way to make my own.

I started by cutting out a teardrop-shaped template from newspaper.

Using some 1x6 pine boards i had on hand and 2 thin lathe board strips, i built out the inner shelves and supports.

Typically, These quintessential MCM shelves are made with thin strips of wood steamed in a steamer and bent around the inner frame. This was supposed to be a quick project, so building a steamer and learning a whole new skill wasn’t really in my time frame. I had also never worked with wood veneer before, but it was something I wanted to learn more about.

I purchased a large roll of 2” birch veneer with heat-activated adhesive on the back from Amazon of all places.

I ironed 3 layers of the birch veneer together so that it was stiff enough to hold its shape but flexible enough to be wrapped around the shelves.

IT was a bit difficult and i could have used a few more hands to hold everything in place. But i was able to start at the top with some wood glue, a dab of super glue for a quick set, and some large decorative nails and work my way around the teardrop shape.

Below is after one strip had been attached.

I made a quick video showing the process of ironing and attaching the strips. I used a large sawtooth hanger on the back to hang it.

I considered staining the finished piece, but i really liked the natural look. Even though it is a mix of birch and pine, the difference in grain isn’t noticeable once it’s on the wall and the shelves are full.

Overall, for $25 in birch veneer and scrap wood, I call this DIY a success!