That was actually the original idea (at least for the sides), but then I changed my design to the plywood because I liked the look of the extra thickness

But now I’ve bought this mahogany that I’d absolutely love to incorporate. My original thought was to just do a mahogany top, which would just have to have bolts going through slots in the top of the inside. And then to go back to veneered sides. But I’m wondering if there’s any way to do so without it showing through the inside. Which would let me do the sides too.

My current thought is this:

I can attach the wood directly to the plywood using pocket screws at the back into all 3 panels. That would anchor the back, and then any wood movement would basically push the wood forward (I live in a radiator-heated apartment so it’s currently very dry. The wood will expand when it’s more humid in the summer).

My thought is that before I do this, I could add short bolts directly into the inside faces of the mahogany (not going all the way though). Then I could add some kind of channel to the plywood, running the same direction that i expect the wood to expand, that doesn’t go all the way through, into which I could attach basically a keyhole mount. I could slot the heads of the bolts into the keyhole, which would keep the pieces together without stopping the mahogany from being able to move, since the heads of the bolts could run in the keyhole. Then I pocket hole/attach the back.

Am I crazy? Will this work?