Once you know how many records you need to store, the next question is usually the harder one: what wood should it be? A record console sits in the middle of the room for a long time, so the species matters more than it might on a smaller piece.
Every record console we build is made to order from solid hardwood, and most are offered in six species: walnut, white oak, maple, cherry, madrone and myrtle. Here is how we talk people through the choice in the shop.
Start with the room, not the wood
Look at what is already there: the floor, the other furniture, the light. A dark walnut console on a dark floor can disappear, and a pale maple one in a room full of white can look unfinished. Most people already know whether they want the console to blend in or stand out. That one decision narrows the list quickly.
The six species we build record consoles in
Walnut
Walnut is the classic mid-century choice, and it's the one you'll see most in our photos. It's deep brown with a lot of movement in the grain, and it makes record jackets pop against it. Pieces like the Bainbridge Vinyl Console and the Vissing Vinyl Console are shown in walnut. We also offer Willamette Valley walnut, salvaged from orchards and urban trees in the Pacific Northwest at the end of their lives. It has chocolate brown, coffee, red and vanilla tones swirling through every board, so no two pieces look alike.
White oak
White oak is light to mid-toned with a strong, straight grain. It reads clean and calm, and it works in Scandinavian and modern rooms as well as more traditional ones. If you want something lighter than walnut that still has visible texture, start here.
Maple
Maple is the palest of our species, with a fine, quiet grain. It suits bright rooms and lets your record collection and your stereo be the color in the room. Its smooth surface is also why we use solid maple for the dovetailed drawer boxes in pieces like the Sesto Vinyl Console, 2 Drawers.
Cherry
Cherry starts out a warm, pinkish tan and deepens toward a rich reddish brown as it sees light. That change over the first few years is part of its appeal. If you like the idea of a piece that gets warmer as it ages with you, cherry is a good fit. The Wilkinson and Sesto 2 Drawer consoles are both shown in cherry on our site.
Madrone
Madrone is one of our Pacific Northwest species, along with myrtle and Willamette walnut. These trees aren't farmed. The lumber comes from fallen trees, collected as responsibly as we can manage. Madrone has a warm, rosy color and a dense, lively figure. The Okopal Vinyl Console and the Heath Console are shown in madrone.
Myrtle
Myrtle, from the Pacific Northwest coast, is the wild card. Color can swing from golden to gray-green to brown within the same board, and the figure can be dramatic. It's for people who want the wood itself to be the conversation piece. On some of our bookcases, myrtle and madrone are offered with an open back only.
Finish options
Every piece gets a clear, hand-rubbed penetrating oil finish with no VOCs, and on the tops of consoles we commonly add a hard-wax finish for extra durability and some water resistance. We also offer two finish variations you can sample: Walnut Charcoal and White Oak Mist 5%. Custom stains are possible for an added fee, though a stain is always a close match rather than an exact one.
Expect character
We use real, natural hardwood, so knots, sapwood and color shifts come with it. We look at every board and decide what to cut away and what to keep. Your console will function the same as the one in the photo, but the grain and color will be its own. We think that's the point.
See it before you decide
Screens are bad at showing wood color. The best way to choose is to hold the wood in your own light, next to your own floor. You can order wood samples one species at a time, or get the sample bag with the six most common species we work with.
Frequently asked questions
Which wood is best for a record console?
Any of our six hardwoods will carry a full load of records for generations. Choose by look: walnut for depth, white oak or maple for a lighter room, cherry if you like wood that warms with age, and madrone or myrtle for something uniquely Pacific Northwest.
Are your consoles solid wood?
Yes, with the exception of backers and shelves, our furniture is built from solid hardwood.
Is every console offered in every species?
Most are offered in six. A few differ, so check the wood options on each product page.
Can I see the wood in person?
Yes. Order samples, or visit our workshop in Kent, WA, Monday through Thursday or by appointment on weekends.
Next step: Order a sample, then see the collection in your wood.
