Reply by Lee Barker

I agree with jaidee about the two dividers. Three is generally a sweeter division than two.

I appreciate the finish ease with MDO but in fact the key parts of this are the edges, and there would be some work in getting them as smooth as you’d want them.

Further, I don’t see any issues about strength or glue surface in the joinery. Since it is paint grade, you could easily put this together with just butt joints and attach a 1/4 inch back that’s a little oversize and sand it flush.

I would recommend 3/4 MDF for the rest of it. You can ease the edges or round them, whatever, to match the Ikea. When you don’t do joinery on a piece like this your measurements are net. It’s actually easier to get it true that way.

Kindly,

Lee

-- "...in his brain, which is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd with observation, the which he vents in mangled forms." --Shakespeare, "As You Like It"