Mervin I Bespoke HiFi Cabinet

This one-of-a-kind record player stand was commissioned as a refined piece of bespoke furniture, designed to house a full HiFi system while sitting comfortably within a traditionally furnished home. The cabinet is made from solid cherry, with birdseye maple panels and a matching birdeye maple tambour that allows the turntable to be concealed when not in use.

A key feature of the piece is the tambour - this allows the record player to be completely hidden away when closed, while sliding cleanly out of sight during use. It was an elegant solution to a practical requirement: the client wanted their turntable accessible but protected, particularly from young children. The result is a record player cabinet that shifts easily between open, functional use and also a lovely piece of furniture within the room.

The cabinet also incorporates a marquetry panel depicting a magpie resting on a sprig of cherry blossom. The house for which this piece was commissioned takes its name from a magpie in a story, and is surrounded by cherry trees, making this a subtle but highly personal detail. These kinds of references are one of the bits about designing bespoke furniture that I love the most and it makes it even more meaningful and special for the client.

The form here is deliberately classical and simple, allowing the materials to clearly shine. Cherry provides warmth and depth, while the birdseye maple provides a lovely contrast to break up the form of the cabinet. The grain-matched birdeye maple tambour adds some fun movement to the piece whilst handles are also carved from the same birdseye maple to keep the whole piece in harmony.