Mission Bookcase

Rediscover the beauty of Craftsman-style woodworking with this step-by-step Mission Bookcase plan. Inspired by the iconic designs of Gustav Stickley, this project showcases timeless features like through mortise and tenon joinery, square pegs, and shop-made door pulls. It’s a practical and rewarding build that captures the simplicity and strength of traditional Mission furniture.

This bookcase embraces the original spirit of Stickley’s approach — combining the efficiency of modern machinery for heavy work like cutting, planing, and drilling, with the careful precision of hand tools for fine joinery and detailing. The result is a piece that reflects craftsmanship in every joint and surface.

While many Mission pieces were built from quartersawn oak, this version uses cherry, offering a warm, rich color that pairs beautifully with the brass hardware and deepens with age. The build concludes with a durable finish of tung oil and urethane, followed by hand-applied wax for a soft, satin sheen that enhances the natural grain.

For those looking to modify the design, a shorter open-shelf version is also featured, offering a simpler variation without doors. Whether you’re furnishing a living space or adding a showcase piece to your home, this Mission Bookcase blends historic design with modern woodworking techniques to create furniture built to last.

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