The Miami Herald recently ran an article on how flat-panel TVs are making ye olde TV armoire obsolete ("TV Armoires Get Reinvented," June 29, 2008). While the people in the article were doing things like turning their TV armoires into office storage or display cases, I asked myself, "How have shelter mags covered this?"
Martha Stewart would turn it into a craft armoire -- or perhaps an area to store baby things. Sure, she also flogs the home-office idea, but come on -- everyone's doing that.
Cottage Living suggests turning an armoire into bathroom storage galore, or into a kitchen storage space. I'm sort of smitten with the latter -- a lot of the older houses in Alameda have kitchens when there's little storage but plenty of odd-sized nooks and crannies for a standalone piece like the one here.
Personally, I'm disappointed not to be able to find the one conversion I was sure someone had done: turning one of these monsters into a bar. Think about it! You could nestle a wine rack in the bottom drawer, put the glassware in another shelf, then tuck your ice bucket and liquors into the shelves that rest where the 37" Triniton used to go. Then, you're bringing over your special man friend (or lady friend, whichever) and you're like, "Can I mix you drink?" and don't you look smooth?
Please, someone, repurpose your TV armoire and show me what you did.
Were TV armoires ever popular? I don't mean to sound snide-- I'm genuinely curious. I can't think of when I last saw a TV armoire outside of a furniture catalog or hotel room.
That said, the converted bar sounds awesome.
Posted by: Emily | 2008.07.01 at 17:59
My godmother has one! They have a flatscreen and a bar in an old tv armoire in the living room. This way, they can watch tv in the living room when they don't have guests and when they do have guests, they can make drinks and no one has to see the tv.
Posted by: Michelle | 2008.07.01 at 18:45
I like the bar idea. Makes me want a white russian, Gary. But where would my poster of Nixon bowling go? It really tied the room together.
Emily, they have been popular. If you watch HGTV, they are always hiding people's tvs in them. It is very hotel room, IMO.
Posted by: molly | 2008.07.02 at 08:29
We're actually using an old stereo cabinet as the bar right now. Same sort of re-purposing, I suppose.
Posted by: Brianne | 2008.07.02 at 08:33
I used a TV armoire as a dresser while in grad school. I loved it -- lots of room for stacking sweaters and T shirts and drawers for everything else. I didn't take it with me when I got a real job, but I wish I had.
Posted by: Rebecca | 2008.07.02 at 11:38