Hideaway TV cabinet update - what else can we help you hide?

by Faith Teel

Remember those hideaway TV cabinets I mentioned a few weeks ago?

I got some fantastic feedback from you all, thank you!

First from both our moms, who each independently said we need to have more art options. ​So I've come up with a bunch more paintings we could use, including this beauty:

"Roses" by P.S. Krøyer, from the collection of the Skagens Museum

Isn't it gorgeous !?!?

But more importantly during this time when we're all setting up "satellite home offices," I received an intriguing suggestion from Lisa Wood, a local interior designer here in Asheville.

She saw the opportunity to build a fold-away multi-purpose desk for those who (unlike me) prefer to decorously hide their clutter away when they're not using it.

I got really excited about this, because it's got a million uses.

​Like a cocktail cabinet to surprise your guests at dinner parties...

...or maybe a glamorous dressing table that folds away to keep your kids out of your perfume and makeup.

​And when you're done "working" the little desk folds up, the shutters on the side close, and it's like it was never there.

Back to dozing in the rose garden.

This could be so nice for those of us who have our office in the corner of another room like a bedroom or a living room. Because sometimes you need to get away from your work, especially when you're working from home.

Now I have a question for you... but first a little background...

Arthur and I have one thing in common: we're obsessed with quality, which means we hate taking shortcuts on our furniture. We insist on using real wood or high-quality plywood (instead of particle board), we look for the sturdiest hardware, we use the most lasting finishes we can find, and so on.

One of my favorite pics, showing the attention Arthur put in to elevate this humble laundry counter into something special.

However, good furniture costs more, and we'll be competing in the marketplace with people who mass-produce their furniture cheaply in overseas sweatshops.

And you've all felt the pain of buying cheap furniture and having it fall apart almost as soon as you put it together.

So my question to you is:

Should we skimp so we can push the price lower?
Or should we make something really nice, even if it costs a bit more?

I already have my preferences, but I want to hear from you.

Tell me your thoughts