My first woodworking project and still one of my favorites. I built this coffee table in my high school woodshop after wanting to create a functional piece of furniture of my own. Working entirely from 2×4s, I designed the base around intersecting legs, cutting the members so they could cross while sitting flush with one another before securing them with wood screws.

The craftsmanship is far from perfect, but that's part of why I still value this project. It was my first experience turning an idea into an object that was both functional and something I was genuinely proud to have in my home. More importantly, finishing it gave me the confidence that I could create beautiful things and pushed me toward many of the design and creative projects I've pursued since.