Cut the bottom stretcher to length and width, then set it aside. Tilt your saw to 5º from square and rip the top stretcher and shelf support to size. These cuts create a bevel so these parts will match the slope of the shelf.
Trace a curve on the top of one side, then cut it out with a jigsaw. Smooth the curve using a belt sander or sandpaper wrapped around a block of wood. When the shape is smooth, trace it onto the second side piece and cut that one to shape. Tip: To prevent your jigsaw from splintering the top face of the board, pre-score the cut line with a utility knife.
Cut the 1⁄4"-thick MDF back panel to size. This part adds rigidity to the project.
Use some sandpaper (and a block plane if you have one) to refine any sharp edges.
Predrill four screw holes through each side into the end-grain of the shelf using a 1⁄8"-diameter tapered, countersinking drill bit. The screws strengthen the project and pull the sides together.
Time to assemble. Add glue to the biscuit slots, insert the biscuits and clamp the two sides to the shelf. Clamp the bottom stretcher between the two sides at the back edge to square the assembly roughly. Drive a #8 x 2 1⁄2"-long screw into a predrilled hole at each end, then repeat the process twice along the bottom stretcher. Add a bead of glue to the bevelled edge of the top stretcher and slide it into place between the uprights. Predrill for a pair of screws on each end, plus three more screws driven up through the shelf into the stretcher. Add the shelf support with a little glue and four 11⁄2"-long screws driven down through the shelf top.
Lay the shelf on its front and fasten the back panel to the back edges of the sides. Tip: For square assembly, align one long edge and hold it in place with finishing nails. Square an adjacent edge and tack it in place.
Attach a plastic foot to each of the four corners of the sides. A piece of vinyl stair runner on the shelf protects the wood from dirt and moisture.
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