The design for this record console is final, and the project is officially underway. This week my client stopped by the shop to see a sample board I built to show the finish and edge details in person. We talked through the last few decisions, and a week later they gave me the green light.

The Design

This console is built around one idea: a family’s music collection deserves furniture as considered as the music itself. It will hold their vinyl records, their turntable, and their compact disc collection, all in one piece.

The shelves step back and forth across the front, with each level offset from the one below. Vertical dividers break the long runs into compartments sized for records and CDs, and a set of splayed legs lifts the whole piece off the floor. The open, staggered layout gives it a mid-century feel while keeping everything easy to reach and browse.

I worked it out in a 3D model first, checking proportions and compartment sizes, then produced a rendering so the client could see it in cherry before a single board was cut.

Seeing It in Person

A rendering can only tell you so much. Finish and edge profiles are things you need to see in the light and feel with your hand, so I made a sample for the client to review at the shop.

We looked at how the finish brings out the cherry’s grain and how the edge details read from across the room and up close. While she was here we also worked through a few remaining details, the kind of small decisions that make a custom piece fit the people who will live with it.

Taking the Time to Decide

The clients spent about a week with the design, thinking it over and making sure it was right for their space. I always encourage that. A piece like this should last generations, and it is worth a little patience up front.

At the end of that week they decided to move forward and paid the materials deposit. That is the moment a drawing becomes a real project.

What Happens Next

The first step is ordering the cherry. Once it arrives, it will sit in the shop to acclimate before I cut into it. Wood moves as it adjusts to a new environment, and giving the boards time to settle to the shop’s humidity helps keep the finished piece stable and true for years to come.

While the lumber settles, I am finishing the two projects currently in the shop. That clears the space and my attention so this console gets the focus it deserves when the build begins.

Follow Along

Keep an eye on this one. I will be posting updates as the cherry comes in and the build takes shape, from rough lumber to the final finish.

If you have a piece of your own in mind, I offer a free on-site estimate to get the conversation started. Call or text (360) 259-0232, email A.woodworks@hotmail.com, or visit andersonwoodwork.net.

Brian Anderson, Anderson Woodwork, Yelm, WA