So I'm thinking about building a hope chest with a curved top. Kind of like a steamer chest but I want the top to be solid wood. Most of the steamer chests I've seen look more like raised panels Basically it would be coopering. I'm thinking of using quarter sawn white oak since I've never used it before a project and I believe it'll be more stable. I borrowed this picture on the internet.
lid.jpg
How would the top be connected to the ends? I'm assuming that with the wood going different directions it would be an issue. I'm guessing that it'll be about 40" x 20" x 20" ish. I wouldn't mind adding a couple supports that match the ends in the middle just to add to it visually when the lid is opened. The ends would be flush, not the top overhanging like in the pictures. I'm still in the early phase of trying to decide what I want to build but how the lid is made will be the challenge for me.
lid2.jpg