apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I am appalled!

No, no I'm not, just kidding. I think you should do it. Just make the hole as small as possible and if you can, save the piece you cut out for later repairs.

Have you considered putting the hole in the bottom instead of the back? That way it would never be visible even if you later needed to float the piece. If you have to you could also put a hole in one of the shelves going down to the bottom if necessary. Just do what you can to hide it.

I'm not sure I like the idea, but if you do it, I do agree with making the hole only as large as you need, in a spot as unobtrusive as possible. Also, cut only once and save the piece you cut out.

Be sure you know how large the hole needs to be. To test it, cut off a short length of paper towel roll and try fitting all of your cords through it. The hardest part is getting the plug on that last cord to go through the hole after all the other cords have gone through, which means the hole must be larger than a plug.

Once you know how big the hole must be, go to a hardware store and get a hole saw to be used with a regular drill. This way, the piece you cut out will remain intact, and you'll have a nice, neat hole that could potentially be repaired, though it'll never quite look the same. Secure the cut-out piece somewhere inside the credenza so it doesn't get lost.

Yes that is absolutely appalling.

Oh please. 98% of the danish modern credenzas that I've been seeing are not finished on the back (I know cuz' I've been looking for one that was finished to use as a room divider).

Since it's some sort of luan or such back there anyway, go ahead and drill your small hole.

My credenza doesn't have a finished back either, so I agree with LBhirise. But even if it does, furniture is meant to be used, drill the hole and enjoy your credenza.

I've got one with 60s era particle board on the back-- I wouldn't hesitate to drill that.

If you'd done it in 1980, when this furniture was out-out-out, you would have been greeted by applause for your cleverness in adapting an unwanted and out-of-date piece. The problem is, you've waited until the credenza has street value.

Unless you're buying a truly valuable antique with a pedigree, a small and inconspicuous hole probably isn't the end of the world.

I had the same dilemma. I cut the hole.

Luckily, the sales guy pointed out that back of my danish style credenza was finished and if I were to cut a hole... I should put it through the bottom to preserve the piece for future use/ resale.

Furniture is/was made to be used. I say.. ingenuity! go for it. Just make sure you only drill the size you need for best preservation!

Good luck.

Keep the 'plug' for when you change your mind. I can't see anything wrong with doing it. In a few years it'll be back out of fashion anyway.

when you are deciding on the size of the hole to cut out (and i love the idea of testing with papertowel beforehand!), remember that most plugs disconnect from the "machine's" end (i.e. from the vcr's end, as opposed to the plug into the wal). the end that connects to the machine itself is usually far narrower and smaller than the wide end of the electricity plug, meaning your hole can be smaller.

i'm not a big fan of imagining a vintage piece getting cut out... but in the end, if you plan to keep it and not resell it, i suppose it doesn't make a difference.

I'd say it comes down to what the back is made of - if its finished, I'd be hesitant to ruin its original integrity.

On the other hand as others have noted, if its like the vast majority of danish modern credenzas with a unfinished back made of thin particle board or similar material, then drill away.

I think it is fine to do it, I have done it to one, and recently found an original Jens Risom credenza at a yard sale for $15 hehe and I am planning on drilling into it as well.

A way to clean up the hole after you drill it is to used some type of plastic or metal fitting or gromet to go over the hole and cover the edges. It will give it a cleaner more finished look. It also might make you feel better about the hole.

Why not pop off the whole back? It will give your electronics air circulation, and if it has doors in the frount it wont make any difference at all. Most I have seen are attached with little nails or some else easy enough to replicate if you wanted to stick it back on for resale

I don't care about resale. Nevertheless...Small hole only.

thanks for the ideas, everyone. very helpful!

Hell, I completely re-made a piece of 1920's furniture that I found on the street, and as far as I'm concerned it most certainly couldn't have ever looked as good as it does now that it hold my TV. I took out drawers and added shelves, etc. Do it; live it; be it. As long as you know that it's going to look amazing and be functional.

I love mid-century Danish as much as the next person, but it's not like the stuff's exactly rare. I'd go ahead and make the changes you need to make the piece work for you. Who knows -- if you do end up passing it along some day, the next person might want it for a similar purpose and be glad that you made the tough decision for them. (Note: I feel the same gratitude toward those brave people who paint ugly brick and overly dark, heavy wood trim, god bless 'em.)

We just bought a Danish credenza last week (unfinished particle board on the back) and cut out not one but three holes for all our media components (three shelves, no way to cut only one hole). I don't feel bad about it a bit! I don't anticipate reselling the piece and if we changed its use someday (unlikely), we can just put a new piece of particle board on the back.