When I built my unit, I went around to stores and viewed their designs. Then bought the wood at HD. 2 sheets of 3/4 oak veneer ply and 1 sheet 1/4 oak veneer ply for backing. Then used solid oak for trim and edging on ply. To minimize router work, used some 1/4 formed oak edging and moulding for base edge. While I basically used a woodworking plan for the unit, it is not what I wanted to build (Won't accept a TV larger than 32") was what wife wanted. My favorite is how I re-designed the backing where didn't have to cut holes in the back for wiring, and remove 6 screws and the entire back will come off for easy access to back of components.
Basically, I made a false trap with 1X2 oak inset 1" from back, then made back panel 1 1/2" too short. Excellent back ventilation, and attached velcro binders (primary use to bind coumputer wires together) at each shelf level to control the wiring mess! What I forgot - coasters.
That thing is heavy when fully loaded. Just got back from HD with 'magic glides' that I am going to try.
As I have looked around in stores, there are some interesting designs. Potentially the easiest I have seen are glass shelves with 4 boards. Get glass as heavy guage, cut at glass shop - not the HD thin stuff. If you describe project, the HD personnel in the doors/glass section can refer you. The hard part of building a more open design is wiring management - hiding wires to make look neat.
Definately concur with another poster - keep away from soft woods such as pine.
Plan to use it for a few years then build something else as the current TV becomes obsolete, and prices decline on flat panels. In the meantime doing MAJOR upgrade to AV equiptment, currently focusing on speakers. Thinking how could design speaker stands is the reason I went to HD today, but cheap stands is a subject of another post.
