Shelf on Coffee Table

[Petertaylor]

We are planning to build a coffee table with a shelf. What is a good way to attach the corners of the shelf to the legs? The table will be about 3x5 feet; the legs will be squarish, not round. 
Thank for the help. —Peter

[fredhargis]

Funny you should mention that, I just built a coffee for my grandson and he wanted a shelf....first time I've done that on a coffee table. This one had a stretcher across the end between the legs  The shelf was supported by that; is that approach possible? I think if the shelf is hardwood and very wide I'd want some support across the grain anyway.

[Gary G™]

I’ve done several.
Sometimes, I put an apron between the legs and a rabbet across the shelf end which simply rests on the apron.
Other times, I’ll do aprons with a groove and cut a double sided rabbet on the shelf ends to fit into the groove.
I usually do the latter.

[barnowl]

I built this one in 2008.

There are dadoed stretchers on the ends, 

but there are also hidden blocks in the corners of the built up legs.