Woodworkers - help needed inside

[SlugSlinger]

We bought my daughter a desk, well it was more of a sewing machine table, but we are converting it to a desk. She came up with the idea of making a shadow box where the sewing machine was. I can build a box and install it in the hole, but I want to make it looked finished. Not just a wood box stuck in the hole.

I thought about mounting the box underneath the desktop, but the opening would still need finished. I could use some fancy trim around the opening to hide the seam between the box and the desktop.

Anyway, does anyone have some ideas on how to make the finished product look nice?

I had a glass top made today to cover the where the inset line is on the top of the desk.
Before:

After sanding, primer and enamel paint:

 

[TwoForFlinching]

Route a rabbet around the border and just set the glass in. tight enough to be seemless, but still able to lift out.

 

[okierider]

Alrighty then!! Too each his own!! Ya had me interested until I got to this line" primer and enamel paint:"!! Enjoy your project!!

 

[TwoForFlinching]

Guess you could also permanently attach the glass up top and hinge the box underneath.

 

[Timmy59]

Alrighty then!! Too each his own!! Ya had me interested until I got to this line" primer and enamel paint:"!! Enjoy your project!!

LOL , Your not a shabby chic kinda guy , huh.. I know where your coming from, the house is full of knots and grain..

 

[okierider]

LOL , Your not a shabby chic kinda guy , huh.. I know where your coming from, the house is full of knots and grain..

Yep!! Paint has its uses but furniture gets stains,oils, waxes and elbow grease for my interest!! Seen some nice painted pieces that obviously had a lot of love sweat and tears getting them that way, just does nothing for me!!

 

[Gunbuffer]

Just a thought; a inset leather border could be pressed around the glass in order to create a seal. Even some clear silicone wouldn’t be too bad.

 

[SlugSlinger]

Alrighty then!! Too each his own!! Ya had me interested until I got to this line" primer and enamel paint:"!! Enjoy your project!!

Talk to the wife about that. It’s going in a pre-teen’s room that is decorated with mermaids and is painted some aqua color I can’t pronounce. Anyway, the desk will fit the decor. I talked the wife out of using chalk paint and wax. That sounded like a catastrophe waiting to happen after doing some research on the coating.

 

[SlugSlinger]

I don’t know if you can see it in the pics or not but there is a line scribed around the desk. The glass I had made is about 43”x17” and covers most of the top. I plan to use the small round silicone pads to rest the glass on, so it should be removable if necessary.

I like the idea of a hinge or a way to remove the box for the bottom and not have to remove the glass top.

 

[okierider]

Talk to the wife about that. It’s going in a pre-teen’s room that is decorated with mermaids and is painted some aqua color I can’t pronounce. Anyway, the desk will fit the decor. I talked the wife out of using chalk paint and wax. That sounded like a catastrophe waiting to happen after doing some research on the coating.

LOL, I was there about 14 years ago!! So I get why. One must do what one must do to keep the ladies in the family from making ya knuts!!!