Q: I'm looking for a reasonably affordable media console that will hopefully do a lot of heavy lifting. My husband and I are both movie fans and I am a professional video game artist, so we need a media console that will provide air to all our gaming rigs, hide-able storage for our games, cords and controllers, and hopefully look awesome. We're in love with the look and function of the Flatiron Red Gum Console, but considering I can't find the price of this piece anywhere online, it's probably way out of my budget:
Any chance anyone knows of a similarly styled console at a reasonable price? That top space that is open on all four sides to breezes, as well as the drawers/closed doors underneath are key. Thanks in advance!
Sent by Jayme
Editor: Leave your suggestions for Jayme in the comments — thanks!
• Got a question? Send us yours with pic attachments here (those with pics get answered first).

Howard Butcher Bloc...
From looking online this looks like a small hanging console, not something for media storage.
http://www.houzz.com/photos/698775/Flatiron-Red-Gum-Console-modern-buffets-and-sideboards-new-york
Looks barely longer than the umbrella. It is very pretty though. Seeing that I have the same dilemma regarding getting a console, I look forward to hopefully getting some good ideas from other posters.
Wayfair has bunch of nice TV stands with pictures, dimensions, links to youtube videos, etc. I like the ones from soniax but have not used those so cannot comment on build quality, endurance, etc. One thing to keep in mind - will your particular electronics (xbox, ps3, tivo, speakers, etc) fit in the shelves of the TV stand. Think about both form and function.
What's a reasonable price? Price is subjective. People should provide their budget when they ask these kinds of questions. My media consoe was $300, which was only "reasonable" to me because it was on sale for 50% off. I wouldn't have paid $600 for it. But other people would have.
Are you guys handy with tools at all? If so, you could build one pretty easily. If you're at all interested, I could put together a Sketch-up drawing and some instructions to build it. That's what I would do! Also, it would look awesome with a concrete top (not sure what material they used). Painting a slab of wood would be easier, but concrete would be stellar. Again, a DIY task if you're up for it.
Without knowing what is within your budget, I can tell you the BDI USA Marina entertainment unit is excellent. Very well built and you should be able to pick it up for $1,500-$1,800 if you shop around.
http://www.bdiusa.com/theater/marina_8729.shtml#.UC0SQ6N_Jn8
World Market has some great, super affordable options:
http://www.worldmarket.com/category/furniture/living-room/media-furniture.do?nType=2
I just bought one from them a few months ago and it has held up really well.
Have you actually priced having a local cabinet-maker make something similar for you in exactly the size you need? It might be cheaper than you think. I was pleasantly surprised when I inquired about something recently.
Or, If affordability is the main issue, why not just buy an Ikea Besta configuration that fits your space/needs and add the top bit as a d-i-y? You could use a veneer product like this one, to get the nice wood tones.
http://www.veneersupplies.com/categories/Veneer__Products/Peel__%26__Stick__Veneer/
Or just have doors/drawer fronts made by a cabinet maker to use with a Besta, or other low priced carcass.
I agree with Clauckner, definitely check World Market. They have great furniture that is always unique and always affordable! Another good option, if you don't mind the work is an option from Target. I couldn't find it on their website, but I just saw in in the store last weekend. It is very similar in style, right down to the handles, to the one you have pictured, although it is dark wood. I purchased the same cabinet last year for less than $100 and it has held up great!
I just got this. Definitely hides games, but media side gets air. (not on all 4 sides, but) And can't beat the price.
I love that people don't notice the tv stand - they notice the rest of my room.
just my 2 cents
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Inspirations-by-Broyhill-Mission-Nuevo-TV-Console/6166119/product.html
Do you have Ikea close to where you live? I have an Expedit 1x5 as the base and then I used capita legs. Then I used GodMorgon legs to hold up a lack shelf, but they have different shelfs and different legs if you want a different look for the unit.
My gamer boyfriend and I have this,
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80176298/#/00176297
it suits us perfectly (and looks great).
I second the Ikea Expedit idea. I've used a 2x8 bookshelf laid on its side in a number of apartments with great success. It's a good height for most TVs, you can put consoles and games in the top row and have drawers or doors in the bottom. I've also used it as a sort of room divider with a TV on top and you can fit 2 rows of books in each square section, so that there are books or games facing both side, if it's in the middle of a room. It has more storage than you'd expect and is super affordable, though maybe a bit less texturally interesting than natural wood.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10103088/
We use an old dresser - games, DVDs, controllers, etc are in the drawers, the blu-ray player, Wii and Xbox 360 sit on top and the TV is mounted on the wall.
When I first started dating my gamer boyfriend, all his stuff (tv, consoles, etc) were on the floor. Made him go to Ikea and we found this:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20117674/
We leave the glass doors open for the consoles to "breathe" while they're being used, but we needed to be able to close them to keep cats out while not in use. Alternatively, you could leave off the installation of the glass doors if you'd like. Glass doors are somewhat frosted, though, so it's good for hiding when you want to look a bit more sleek and less THERE IS STUFF HERE. The drawers are remarkably deep, great for storing all the extras (controllers, remotes, games, dvds, extra wires, batteries, etc).
It's Ikea, so it's affordable. It took maybe two hours to make? I can't quite remember, since it was a year ago. It's survived two moves since then and is really very sturdy (he has a huge tv, plus all the consoles, plus dvd/game storage... plus cats jumping all over it any time we want to watch or play something).
@HAYLEYMAR Can I ask how many consoles fit into the Ikea TOBO? We're having the same issues as the original poster, but my fiance currently has 6 or 7 consoles hooked to his TV (this is after we 'edited' the ones he wasn't using). I like the modern look of the Tobo though-- would be great to get everything semi-hidden rather than on open shelving.
I use the Ikea Expedit horizontally with casters. It works for me.
But style wise that is very similar to the Ikea Besta if you could figure out a way to wall mount it. Good luck.
We have an Ikea Besta small system hung on the wall. It has two drawers like in your picture, and two rows of two shelves for our xBox, wii, satellite receiver and all their respective cords. To combat the problem of the xbox overheating, because that thing gets so hot, we used a hole saw to cut air holes in the side that was the least seen. The Besta unit cost $80.
This CB2 concole is cheap and pretty awesome. If you can pull off green- otherwise for more there's other colors. But CB2 is awesome.
http://www.cb2.com/furniture/sale/brink-camo-console/f7199
Definitely check out World Market - lots of solid wood, well-built options. I really like their Haku furniture line. Check them out here: http://www.worldmarket.com/category/furniture/living-room/media-furniture.do?nType=2