Good Questions: Media Center Match for This Coffee Table?

coffee table2.jpg Hello AT,

My girlfriend and I have decided to take the leap and move in
together. The minor snag we seem to be facing is that we both have
different decorating styles. Right now, we are in the process of
going through both our apartments and deciding which pieces each of us
would like to contribute to the new space. She has a gorgeous
unfinished oak coffee table that we've both decided we'd like to keep...

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We've been searching around for a media center to complement the
table, but we've come up empty-handed. She wants something a bit
warmer and more traditional while I favor pieces that are cleaner,
lighter and more modern. The only thing we both seem to agree on is
that we'd like the piece to be low profile (as opposed to tall and
heavy-looking). Can anyone recommend a piece that will suit both of
our tastes?

Thanks in advance for your help! Anita

Anyone????

Comments (4)

I think Room & Board is your answer.
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/dept.do?dept=RB109

posted by patrick (the other one) on 2006-07-31 15:04:36

I'd look for something long and low to the ground, like a low credenza. Perhaps in a darker richer wood for a nice contrast (everything seems to look streamlined and clean in a darker wood). That way you could leave all the techno stuff on top, and use the drawers for what I'm guessing will be much needed storage! Just as a generic (but also moderately affordable) example, try the West Elm low platform dresser or the 6 drawer narrow leg dresser (which I have). It's less traditional than a big ol' media center and you'll get so much storage space out of it. But I think a credenza is a good bet.

posted by Laura on 2006-07-31 15:20:39

Not to incur the wrath of the Ikea-phobes out there, but I have their "ivar" rolling tv stand. It's unstained pine, which means you can stain it however you want. I did this, and it really took away a lot of the utilitarian look of it while not being too country. I was really pleased with the result. I'm sure it would not be difficult to fashion doors for the front either.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15561&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=32419&langId=-1&categoryId=15886&chosenPartNumber=47298609

posted by Christine (the one in DC) on 2006-07-31 16:11:51

I can second Christine's recommendation of the low Ivar rolling media cart. I had used it in a previous apartment unstained and always thought it was junky looking. Then when we moved into a new place we primed it and painted it red using a very expensive dutch-made paint with a glassy surface (which I now can't remember the name of). The result of the upgrade was stunning: the shiny finish with the trim lines of Ivar is quite minimizing. The piece can actually hold our small stereo and four video components and quite cleanly.

posted by Jen-o-lantern on 2006-07-31 17:08:49