This console is made entirely of red oak, a more budget-friendly hardwood that still showcases plenty of character in its grain patterns. The nearby bookshelves are also made of red oak, so it made sense to use the same wood for continuity in the space.

Although I don’t have a massive record collection or an impressive speaker system, I’ve always wanted to elevate my audiophile snobbery. Meanwhile, the console evokes a more mid-century modern style, reflecting the type of entertainment room furniture we’re aiming to replicate throughout the house.

This record console cabinet featured a couple of firsts: sliding wood panels, and grain matching across the top, sides, and three face panels. While gluing up the panels wasn’t overly difficult, cutting the lid for the hinged top section required removing as little material as possible to minimize the seam. I used a handsaw (with a thinner kerf) to cut both the side and top, ensuring the seam height matched across the sliding doors.

The base was also a first, presenting some challenges, as I hand-turned the legs from eight-quarter oak (2″). This required rounding the ends of the attached apron to ensure the tightest fit possible.

Regarding the design, foregoing handles and other hardware allowed me to carry a single motif of a rounded rectangle throughout the piece, including the base.