Atocha Design LP Storage Cabinets

Ron Resnick · Jun 5, 2018

As we get a bit closer towards being able to return to our repaired house later this year I recalled that all I have done for the last five years is buy boxes upon boxes of new LPs, which remain sealed in their unopened boxes. I do not want to line the listening room with shelves, so where to put all of these new LPs?

While researching LP storage cabinets I found Jenn Atocha of Atocha Design, in New York.

https://www.atochadesign.com

Atocha Design makes high-quality, custom LP storage cabinets. Interestingly. the drawers of her cabinets let you peruse your albums the way you would in a record store -- rather then struggling with a flashlight to read the tiny vertical print on record cover spines.

Jenn uses natural wood veneers and offers a wood base or steel, powder-coated base. The drawers are designed to support easily the heavy weight of 95 LPs.

Jenn will also entertain requests for custom sizes of cabinets.

I am planning to order a 6 LP drawer cabinet and a matching taller cabinet, two drawers wide and four drawers tall, for tapes. Jenn can make the cabinets less mid-century and more current contemporary by using the steel base, power-coated in black, and by "ebonizing" the walnut to create a black finish.

DaveyF · Jun 5, 2018

The problem I see with that kind of storage is that you will always have to flip through numerous LP's to get to the one you want. Instead of being able to see from the spline what it is that you are looking at, which is what you get when you utilize the shelf method.

GMKF · Jun 5, 2018

What about an acrylic/glass display shelf?
It isn't as offensive as a "normal" shelf.
The upside is that you can still see your vinyl

The only downside I can think of are the mediocre acoustical properties of glass- This only matters if you place the shelves in you listening room.
A normal shelf can "act" like a sort of absorber.

GMKF · Jun 5, 2018

Something along those lines...

Ron Resnick · Jun 5, 2018

DaveyF said:
The problem I see with that kind of storage is that you will always have to flip through numerous LP's to get to the one you want. Instead of being able to see from the spline what it is that you are looking at, which is what you get when you utilize the shelf method.

Each set-up has pros and cons.

Ron Resnick · Jun 5, 2018

GMKF said:
Something along those lines...

We are trying to keep it more contemporary rather than less, and for me I prefer not to see the albums in the distance.

still-one · Jun 5, 2018

Ron
That is a interesting solution. Much better than looking at the clutter of albums lining the wall(s) of a listening room.

ddk · Jun 5, 2018

Dear Ron,

Just my taste but this stuff looks boring and mundane. Why don't you look for something in Europe or have custom units built there and have it shipped over. IME unless you're willing to pay through the nose US sucks for furniture.

david

rockitman · Jun 5, 2018

Looks like something my parents would store their records in during the Magnavox console record player era. That is not practical for a large record collection.

rockitman · Jun 5, 2018

GMKF said:
View attachment 41663

Something along those lines...

Nice trains..Fleischmann ?

ddk · Jun 5, 2018

rockitman said:
Looks like something my parents would store their records in during the Magnavox console record player era. That is not practical for a large record collection.

They've got your parents system in their ad too!

david

ddk · Jun 5, 2018

You can hire an architect you like locally to design the cabinet for you and have your contractor build it if you don't want to deal with shipping from overseas. This stuff isn't rocket science to build, you just need the right design.

david

PeterA · Jun 5, 2018

Ron, I've got my collection in containers on the third floor of my house, far away, out of sight. They allow me to flip through like those drawers do. I like that because I may see an album that I was not thinking about. I then grab a few for a listening session. I also do like the idea of nice shelving for large collections in a dedicated listening room like MikeL's. His solution is quite excellent looking, IMO. I would consider locating your collection in that adjacent room where the equipment is located, close by, but out of sight.

GMKF · Jun 5, 2018

rockitman said:
Nice trains..Fleischmann ?

Top "floor" mostly HAG with some Märklin in-between.
Second "floor" Märklin and one Liliput BR05.
Third "floor" mostly Märklin with some HAG in-between.
Bottom floor Märklin and One Roco A/E 6/6 and A/E 8/14 III plus Fulgurex/Roxy AE 6/8 I and II.

KeithR · Jun 5, 2018

I prefer shelves as well to drawers.

I also love these record dividers:

https://koeppeldesign.com/

Ron Resnick · Jun 5, 2018

Thank you, David, but I am quite content with the 6 LP drawer model in black with a contemporary black steel base. Everything in the listening room and the equipment room will be silver, grey or black.

Ron Resnick · Jun 5, 2018

PeterA said:
Ron, I've got my collection in containers on the third floor of my house, far away, out of sight. They allow me to flip through like those drawers do. I like that because I may see an album that I was not thinking about. I then grab a few for a listening session. I also do like the idea of nice shelving for large collections in a dedicated listening room like MikeL's. His solution is quite excellent looking, IMO. I would consider locating your collection in that adjacent room where the equipment is located, close by, but out of sight.

Yes, Peter, this LP cabinet will be in the home theater/equipment room adjacent to the listening room.

Ron Resnick · Jun 5, 2018

If one were to convert a small closet into built-in record shelves, what is the ideal height for the shelves? How much taller than the record jackets themselves should be the bottom of the shelf?

So if the LP jacket is 12” tall, should there be two inches of clearance above the jackets? More than two inches?

Mike Lavigne · Jun 5, 2018

beautiful furniture. and i'll bet not cheap.

not to be negative, but it does not look substantial enough to last with hundreds of Lp's and those skinny little wood legs. Lp's will eventually break down anything not really well supported. the constant pulling and pushing Lp's in and out of any space (especially a drawer sliding on rails) will loosen things. I'd recommend something that has the whole length sitting on the floor. and avoiding the combination of drawers and Lps.

or plan on replacing or repairing the furniture regularly.

Mike Lavigne · Jun 5, 2018

Ron Resnick said:
If one were to convert a small closet into built-in record shelves, what is the ideal height for the shelves? How much taller than the record jackets themselves should be the bottom of the shelf?

So if the LP jacket is 12” tall, should there be two inches of clearance above the jackets? More than two inches?

I have some of my Lp shelves with 13" openings, and others with 14" openings for boxed sets.

Atocha Design LP Storage Cabinets

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