This was such a quick and easy upgrade that I don’t think I can actually call it a “project.” However, right now, at this moment, it is making me 100x happier than my painted windows which took infinitely longer to complete. We should all have easy projects like this in our life!
But let me back up. A couple of months ago, Brad and I were able to take what we wanted from my Dad’s old records before the rest went to the nonprofit that I work for as a donation. I didn’t intend to start a record collection (I’m not a hipster) but there was something sentimental about them being from my Dad, and he has great taste so there were a lot that we wanted. Thanks, Dad!
However, that opened up the question: where to put them?
For quite a while they just sat in a pair of my Dad’s old crates in the dining room. Our dining room is only about half furnished with mismatched pieces, so this really didn’t do much for the overall look. We call it “clutter chic.”
Then, to make matters worse, my parents sent me home with the rustic crates that we had used to support the tall flower arrangements at Abby’s wedding. (To be fair, these were my crates and I had irresponsibly been leaving them in my parent’s basement for years…)
I picked these up at an antique shop many years ago, well before I had a house and a blog, and before I had really figured out my style. Since then I’ve moved pretty far away from the rustic, shabby chic look, so I was at a loss for what to do with them now.
However, that didn’t mean that I was motivated to carry these downstairs to the basement where they wouldn’t be in the way. So these were cluttering the dining room, too, when I finally realized that by combining these two problems, I would solve them both! It only took about five minutes to stack the crates on their side and load the records in.
Please continue to forgive the photo quality in these posts while I get my camera fixed…
This is actually working pretty well for me! It probably isn’t my permanent storage solution, but I could very well keep it this way for years. It fits the space and I think it looks pretty good. The rest of the room doesn’t have any rustic elements, so I am kind of loving having this bit of contrast.
With the records now accessible, I wanted something to play them on. (If you give a mouse a cookie…) However, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a habit I wasn’t even planning on taking up, so I spent a bit of time researching affordable record players. Crosley is the most prominent option and is EVERYWHERE, but as I was looking around I realized that I wanted a clear dust-cover, so I could have it closed but still see the record while it was playing. I also don’t love the suitcase look – just a personal preference. I almost bought this Audio-Technica option from Urban Outfitters – and still think it is quite pretty in crisp white – but decided that it is more than I was willing to spend.
I ulitmately decided to go with the Ion Max LP (affiliate link – read our policies), which I found on Amazon for about $85.
It was reveiwed for decent sound quality, and I liked the natural wood and that it has built-in speakers but also can be hooked up to external speakers if I decide to go that way in the future. I also liked that it comes with the software to convert records into digital files, so we can load these onto our computer and have them on the go if we want to.
It was super easy to set up, and is so far working really well! I am not a snob about these things at all, but to me it sounds like music. And it is plenty loud enough to be heard throughout the house if we want.
I am enjoying playing records more than I thought I would. Maybe I AM a hipster, because I think this is a nice little set-up to have hanging out in the dining room! How very blogger…
Do you listen to records? Do you think there is really a big difference in sound, like people claim?
Really clever and it looks super. But I mostly wanted to comment and say what I love about your home is all the plants! They look so lush and you have not-your-garden-variety houseplants and I’ve been coveting.
Thanks Elizabeth! I can’t imagine a house without plants. I love mine, they are actually pretty low-maintenance and super easy to keep looking good. I’ll do a post on that sometime!
Interesting! I have several records that I inherited from my Dad too. He has worked in radio his whole life (still does) and his record collection numbers in the thousands. I rarely play them though, because I haven’t found a good/accessible place for them and when I do play them, the albums seem so short! (Spotify-spoiled.) You’ve inspired me to re-think the records and the player. They really are cool enough to be center-stage.
WOW – thousands! I am so glad I have these accessible – it may be hipster/very-blogger but I think they are really cool looking to have out. It definitely warms up the room. I hope you do put them out and enjoy them now and then!
I still have my old record collections as well ( in storage ) and I haven’t thought about them in years . At this time I have no access to a record player . I know that vinyl is becoming the favoured choice for listening but I do not know about the difference in sound quality . My grandkids tell me that my CD’s are now passe , but I did not want to give them more ” ammunition ” by asking what the ” in thing ” is – LOL .
I think the “it” thing is always changing. Honestly, I am not a big new music person – if I have a small stock of high-energy music to listen to while I’m working on a project, that is all I need! So I haven’t kept up with all the trends 🙂 But the good thing about records being “in” is that there are loads of affordable, decent record players that you could get if you do want to listen to them again.
BTW – your display looks great .
Oh, thank you!
I love listening to records although our collection is still very small. You could slap some hairpin legs on the crates to sleek them up if you ever decide to change ’em up, although they look great as is too. Would make great end tables.
Thanks, Sarah! I was originally thinking that they may be destined to be end-tables, so that makes perfect sense 🙂
I love your setup!
I don’t own any records, but my sister does, and I think that it does sound way better than cd’s or playing mp3’s. Although I’m not sure if its the record or the player? Or both?
I just don’t care enough to invest in everything since I would be starting with nothing, but if I suddenly came in to a record collection, I would happily embrace it! Enjoy!
Thanks, Jess! Probably the record player makes a big difference, you’re right. I would probably hear more of a difference with external speakers? It does sound different, for sure, but I’m not sure if it is more “pure” or “warmer” like I’ve read it is supposed to be.
I feel like this is a hard topic to get an unbiased professional opinion on. Like if you were to walk into a store that specializes in record players, where they probably have a lot of helpful info but you have to take it with a grain of salt because its all coming from ppl that are passionate about sound, and so they are willing to upgrade and perfect something that maybe you are fine with having something less precisely perfect. But ya, my sister did get these giant speakers as a hand-me-down from my dad when he was downsizing his house, so that probably really helps the sound. I agree with you in that I don’t really think I would describe it as a “purer” or “warmer” sound, I guess I would use an adjective like “deeper” to describe it. Its actually kinda hard for me to articulate the difference, which is interesting to me because I’ve never really spent any time thinking about this before your post. Who knew that when asked, I can’t really explain how music sounds? But back to the speakers: if I was in your shoes, I would try to find some speakers to try out or borrow to see if that affected anything, because I’m not all that passionate about music, and I don’t think I have a particularly keen ear, so at some point I may not really benefit from more upgrades. But that pretty specific to me, so you do you!
After my divorce, I had lovely records but no player (natch!) and then my son bought me a crosley for my birthday, which was a brilliant surprise! I love it, but seeing your Ion is making me a tiny bit jealous.
I think there’s a difference in the sound but that may be (for me) because when I play records I’m really listening. Having to turn them over makes me more involved in the process.
I raided my mum’s collection recently and as well as some mint Bob Dylan I also grabbed The Muppet Show and the Grease soundtrack, can you tell I like my music with a side of cheese?
More involved in the process is a gret way to describe it! I definitely notice the music more because I have to pay attention to keeping it going.
That is a great surprise gift! You have a smart son 🙂