Singaporean designer Nathan Yong’s Line Media Console evokes a particularly embarrassing childhood anecdote. So the story goes, my three year old self had been captivated by the melodious music of one John Denver emanating from the mysterious fabric covered wooden box in our living room. What else to do but poke one’s way in with a knife and discover the source of these magical sounds? Thankfully, no one was injured in the foray, except for the protective textile of my parents’ imitation mid-century stereo console. In spite of the profound interest it held for me, that piece didn’t have anywhere near the moxie of Yong’s louvered design, nor, I’d wager, would Yong’s millennial demographic be caught within ten miles of a John Denver album.

Line Media Console. Designed by Nathan Yong.

Neat Lines and Clean Design for your Media Cabinet

Yong’s cabinet has a slightly Asian feel. The long, thin louvers somehow remind me of the portico ornamentation on a Buddhist temple, and the medium-toned wood seems just somber enough to encourage a meditative mood. Yet the piece also feels very So-Cal. In fact, Line’s lines remind me of the characteristic flat-roofed style of all those desert homes that began to dot the Palm Springs vicinity circa 1950. As with those innovative designs, the Line Media Console has good thermal properties. The piece encourages air flow, thus keeping components cool, and, perhaps most importantly, out of view. The slatted openings are also appropriately sized for the pinpoint penetration of remote controls, thus avoiding the frustration of pointing and shooting but missing the mark. The handsome piece also exhibits excellent cord management, thereby creating the illusion that there’s no infrastructure at all behind those long, lovely, modern lines.

Via BetterLivingThroughDesign.

About the Distributor: Design Within Reach was born because of founder Rob Forbes frustration with “going modern.” As he attempted to outfit his London apartment with a quintessential mid-century look, he discovered that endeavor was easier said than done: “the work of designers like Saarinen, Eames and Bertoia were out of reach of anyone who did not know the secret handshake or have the patience to wait months for delivery.” The business model is simple—procure modern furnishings and get them out into the public purview, where they can be pushed, prodded, and explored before the client commits. Design Within Reach carries both classic and contemporary pieces, all of which are “brilliantly conceived, simply executed and consistent with the enduring principles of modernism.”