The table I'm contemplating/considering to make will have two end panel side.  Solid cherry 15" wide by 16" tall.  It occurred to me that their outer faces might look more interesting with a little detail to add visual interest.

The circle reflects where a wheel on the opposite side will be the key to linking the top and the shelf together to move them in opposite directions.  Pull one toward you and the other will slide away.  Opinions welcomed.  My strength is figuring out mechanisms, not in decoration.  Alternative suggestions also welcomed. 

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Like it as is.

When I taught I encouraged detail on student designs, but measured the good or bad about what students proposed by what story they could tell about the detail that justified it and/or related it to the general aesthetics or function of their design.  Anything random that may have been nice alone, but didn't add to or relate to the piece was discouraged. 

If it wasn't for the wheels on the inside that paracord will wrap around, a circle would have been the last thing I'd consider.  As it is the only unique yet critical part of the design though it seemed right to draw attention to it with this graphic.  The wheels will be 12mm Baltic Birch plywood, but I may add a shallow domed cherry face to them on the inside.  The wheels become obvious when the top and shelf are spread apart.  

4D

Realized I'll have a grain direction conflict between metal shelf slides and the ends of my top and shelf.  Solution is to dovetail into the ends a strip, pin it in the middle, and the shelf/top can expand/contract all it wants.  Render doesn't show the actual grain direct of the shelf.  It will run from end to end. I can clamp the shelf and top vertically in my CNC to cut the dovetail slot in their ends. I'll also slide into the side panels dovetailed strips to mount the other side of the metal slides to.  Grain on the end panels will be running up and down.    

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