Faced with the task of trying to subdivide a large room into smaller and more intimate spaces, Hildi came up with the idea of placing a circular, portable storage unit in the center of the room. Her original plan was to build four separate quarter sections, each on casters, that would serve as a centerpiece to the room. When she described her plan to Ty, he responded that it sounded like "a giant Lazy Susan storage unit."

Shopping List
3/4-inch MDF
2-inch drywall screws
wood (yellow) glue
wood putty
sandpaper
tack cloth
primer
paint
casters
bolts and nuts for casters

Material Choices

The storage unit was constructed out of medium density fiberboard (MDF), which regular viewers of Trading Spaces will recognize as a widely used material on the show. MDF has been used for years by furniture builders and cabinetmakers, and it is now becoming accessible to homeowners and do-it-yourselfers. MDF is often confused with particleboard, but the two products are used quite differently. Particleboard is most often used as a substrate for such surface materials as plastic laminate and wood veneer. MDF, on the other hand, can itself be used as a surface material. When cut with a saw or shaped with a router, it leaves a smooth, clean edge. And, unlike particleboard, it looks great painted and holds fasteners securely.

Be aware, however, that MDF is heavy. A single 3/4-inch thick sheet of 4x8 MDF weighs nearly 100 pounds. It also creates a lot of dust when being cut or routed. So, when using MDF, have a partner on hand to help lift full sheets, and be sure to wear eye protection and a tight-fitting dust protector when cutting or shaping it.

If you have trouble finding MDF, you could build the same unit using birch veneer plywood, which also looks good painted. For a natural wood look, use oak or maple veneer hardwood.