As part of the makeover of the living room in their apartment, the two male University of Arizona students featured in this episode were hoping, as male college students are inclined to do, for a wet bar. Edward picked up on this idea in his plan to create a "funky" space with the feel of a nightclub. By the time that Edward got around to sharing his idea for this particular project with carpenter Ty, the name had shifted from "bar" to "breakfast counter." In fact, the finished counter is perfect for both activities, and would be a great addition to many homes. It consists of three boxes that sit on the floor and a countertop, which are separated by lengths of metal pipe. It is a thoroughly useful, yet informal piece of furniture that would be right at home in a family or recreation room or set in the corner of a large living room.

Shopping List

3/4-inch MDF
2-inch drywall screws
1.5-inch drywall screws
metal pipe for use as spacers
flanges and screws to hold metal pipe
sandpaper
primer
paint
paintbrush

Material Choices

The three boxes that serve as the base and the countertop are all made from medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which is ideal for this project because it is inexpensive, cuts easily, does a good job of holding screws, and looks great when painted. In the TV episode, Ty used metal tubing (about 2-inch diameter) to connect the countertop to the boxes. There are several products that could be used for this purpose. Rigid steel conduit, electrical metallic tubing (EMT), or standard, threaded galvanized pipe would all be good choices. PVC pipe or plastic conduit could also be used.