Furniture – Luno https://iamluno.com Tue, 17 Jul 2018 22:34:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://iamluno.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/cropped-fav1-32x32.png Furniture – Luno https://iamluno.com 32 32 INTERVIEW: FOUNDER JENNIFER FARMER https://iamluno.com/2018/06/15/interview-luno-co-founder-jennifer-farmer/ https://iamluno.com/2018/06/15/interview-luno-co-founder-jennifer-farmer/#respond Fri, 15 Jun 2018 22:04:42 +0000 http://www.iamluno.com/?p=3386 We wanted to give you guys a peek inside the minds behind LUNO with a couple of interviews with our founders. Both have incredibly cool and […]

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We wanted to give you guys a peek inside the minds behind LUNO with a couple of interviews with our founders. Both have incredibly cool and interesting backstories, we didn’t want to cheat you of any of the good stuff, so we decided to do this in two parts. So, to kick things off, using the metrics set forth by the master David Bowie in his song “Sound & Vision,” we’ll be starting with the vision half of this dynamic design duo, Jennifer Farmer. Her involvement with music runs deep, we’ve asked her to share some cool stories from her past life in the music biz. She also gives us some insight into her creative process, what goes into designing their amazing hifi record consoles, and a few hints about what’s on the horizon for LUNO.

Did you grow up with a record player/console in your house, did your family listen to much music? 

I was an 80s baby so I grew up with cassette tapes mostly. For my 3rd birthday all I wanted was a pink tape player and a Bon Jovi tape. I can’t help but think that this moment was where my love of music and quirky design came in. As far as the music in my family, my dad was a huge Zeppelin, Van Halen, Lou Reed fan so those are some of my earliest musical memories. My mom loved people like Queen, Bowie, Skynard, and Aerosmith. However, I think my the person who had the biggest impact on my musical taste was my older brother, Jason, who sparked my love for a lot of weird alternative and indie bands. He taught me about The Pixies & Frank Black, Nirvana, all of Steve Albini’s projects, My Bloody Valentine, Magnetic Fields (Stephin Merritt), Jesus & Mary Chain and so many more that I could go on about this question alone for 10 pages! Also, I’m from Texas and have a lot of family members who play country music so there was a lot of Willie Nelson and classic country music happening during family festivities!

FUN FACT: I one time got hired for a job assisting a famous Japanese rock star because I told him that my favorite music was Nirvana and Garth Brooks. He hired me on the spot because he thought it was so ridiculous!

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What was the first vinyl record LP that you purchased?

I believe it was Queen “A Night at the Opera” for .99 at Goodwill.

Do you have a listening room in your house, what’s your current setup like?  

We have about 10 “listening rooms” at our house thanks to Dan. Every room in our house has a record player/audio system of some sort. Even our bathroom has some sort of hybrid tube amp contraption Dan set up. Our living room has a Soundburger / Mister Disc portable record player that comes through our surround sound. Our bedroom has a Barbie Disco suitcase style record player I got at Goodwill that we refurbished and it actually sounds fairly good all things considered. Our office has a U-Turn turntable that Dan uses to test out a lot of our new speakers and listen to when he’s working. Last but not least, we finally just brought home one of our KC27 consoles that lives in our dining room. It sits at the end of our 12 foot dining table so it’s the perfect entertainment and conversation piece. (We would have brought the EGB2 but it didn’t fit properly, that thing is a beast!) We even currently have it voice activated so you can yell at it to play stuff for you which is pretty fun after a few cocktails!

kc27 stereo record console

What did you do before you started LUNO?

I moved to Los Angeles from Texas in 2003 to go to acting school – isn’t that why everyone comes to LA?! After a year of that, I realized that it wasn’t for me and I really like being behind the scenes. My boyfriend at the time was in a band and his manager also managed The Killers so I started helping him out occasionally. Also, all of my friends that I had met when I moved out here were musicians. I wasn’t even really aware of the “the industry” side of things before moving to LA nor had I considered it a career option, but found it fascinating and it seemed like everything was pointing me in that direction. I enrolled in MI and studied music business and interned at Interscope Records. From there, I went on to do radio promotion, marketing for a startup music platform, promotion for live venue, assisting a famous rock star, and artist relations for a guitar company. I dabbled in a bit of everything on the marketing side of the industry and absolutely loved it. It’s still my dream to someday own a beautiful live venue that I can design and Dan can do sound – future LUNO Lounge idea!? Working on the live side of things was by far my favorite experience. Everyday was something different and it was never boring. I loved being able to create experiences that allowed people to have a good time, which is something we try to do with LUNO. After I got laid off from my last industry gig, I had decided that I didn’t want to work for anyone ever again – it was natural for me as I’m stubborn as hell and both of my parents are entrepreneurs so it is in my DNA. While I was working on a startup I’d wanted to do for a while called BandPass (similar to MoviePass but for music) and trying to figure out my plan, I started painting vintage furniture in my garage as a hobby. I ended up putting some of it on Craigslist for fun and it sold. So I did more, and it sold. BandPass soon took a backseat. People soon started asking me for custom pieces, then started asking me build stuff for them (WTF) so I just sort of figured it out by being extremely obsessive and persistent! It was a very organic process and nothing I ever intended to do, but I fell in love with the design process. I studied and stalked everyone I could who knew anything about it sometimes hanging out at paint stores for hours on end. Just a few years later, we now have 2 successful furniture lines and LUNO has allowed me to combine my love of music & design. We’re planning on launching new products at ICFF 2019 and talking about doing a design show in NY this October, as well.

It sounds like you’ve met a lot of celebrities in your work, any stories you can share?

I think it’s inevitable that living in Los Angeles, you’re going to meet and know celebrities especially when working in the entertainment industry. One that stands out in my mind is when I met Paul Stanley of KISS when I was working at Daisy Rock. It was Halloween and I had no idea he was coming by and I was wearing a Kurt Cobain costume, as I would. He was not in a costume. It was such a random experience and he was super nice! I also got to meet Shonen Knife, who I had been a fan of for a while. We ended up becoming friends and they sent Dan and I a wedding gift that we still have, a beautiful Sake Set! Meeting Davey Havok from AFI deserves an honorable mention too because he’s one of the nicest people on the planet.

Jennifer Farmer dressed as Kurt Cobain with Paul Stanley of Kiss

If you could make a custom hifi console for anyone, who would it be, describe the style and design for us?

My original intention of doing a lot of the custom designs (such as Prince, Bowie, etc) was to make them for the artists, sadly they never came to fruition. I really love the design and customization process and the ability to make something so wild that totally reflects a specific person’s style. I’m currently obsessed with trying to make a Yeezy console for Kanye. Dan and I are HUGE Kanye fans and Kanye is also a huge interior design and furniture fan and I recently read that he’s opening up a Yeezy architecture branch so I think it’s in the realm of possibility?!

What speaks to you about mid-century modern style?

Mid Century Modern style evokes a nostalgic feeling. When we launched at ICFF almost every person that came into our booth (one of them being Terry Crews) immediately would smile and say “this brings back some memories.” This is the exact feeling we wanted to create and the Mid Century Grandma aesthetic brought that to the table.

If you could choose one record to describe yourself, what would it be and why?

Neil Young’s ‘Harvest’ because damn near every song on that record is perfect and relatable.

“Think I’ll pack it in and buy a pick-up

Take it down to L.A.

Find a place to call my own

and try to fix up.

Start a brand new day”

Can you explain to someone what the experience of having one of your record consoles is like?

From someone who doesn’t know much about audio, I can say that they sound like being at a live concert. Dan is a phenomenal live sound engineer and really makes it feel like an immersive experience. We even had a customer once say as soon as we turned up the volume “Sounds like a concert!” – there is a video to prove it! In terms of the design, we tried to take a lot of aspects of the vintage players that we liked and clean them up a bit. I used Marshall Grill Cloth to really make it feel as authentic to the old stereo cabinets as possible. For our custom consoles, the sky’s the limit, you want me to wrap one in hundred dollar bills or add a mini-fridge – let’s do it! The funkier, the better! I’m up for the challenge.

What was your first concert, who did you see and what impression did that have on you?

The first concert I saw alone with friends was The Smashing Pumpkins Zero Tour in 97 or 98, I believe. I was hooked from that day forward. I remember going to the after party at a local club called Numbers hoping they would be there (they weren’t.) I’m still upset about that. Call me, Billy.

Can you tell us about the creative process of making one of your record consoles? Where do you take your inspiration from?

Typically it starts out with me seeing something I like and trying to incorporate it into one of our pieces somehow. No matter if our cabinet makers tell us it’s not possible, we always figure out a way! I’ll send my sketches to our designer and he’ll make them actually look good (and realistic) not like a 5 year old drew them. From there, my cabinet makers and I figure out what is and isn’t doable – the former always wins if I have anything to say about it! Dan spent a lot of time developing the audio components and sound quality of the consoles so we do have certain restrictions we’re working with but in terms of the cabinets & design aspect, we can get pretty funky (within reason) as long as the materials don’t affect or hinder the sound in any way. It’s a bit of trial and error when working on new designs. Most of my inspiration comes from pop culture, I would say, I’ve always been fascinated by it.

You’ve designed a lot of very unique custom hifi record consoles, can you tell us about a couple of your favorites?

My favorite to date by far is the new Limited Edition piece we just designed. I can’t get too much into it until we announce it but it’s stunning and was an extremely complicated process. It took multiple people with various skills to pull it off.  Besides that, I did a really cool Louis Vuitton piece that I’m in love with, and the Bowie was very interesting because the base had a welded constellation pattern which looked really amazing.

Can you tell us a little about what’s coming up for LUNO?

We have a new Limited Edition console coming up that we collaborated on with a famous artist so keep your eyes peeled for that! I’m extremely proud of the design, it was a long  process but the end result is phenomenal and some of the best work we’ve done. We also have a desktop/portable type console that we’ve been working on for a while that will be announced soon, as well as several cabinet designs sans equipment. We also collaborated with a whiskey company on multiple pieces that they’re using for a giveaway so you may have a chance to win one! Lastly, we’re in the process of moving our listening room aka “LUNO Lounge”, production facility, showroom, all under one roof so that’s really exciting! We’ll be able to hold inventory, have listening parties and all that cool stuff that’s been difficult to do so far.

I hear you’re also a musician, can you tell us a little about that and your current project?

I wouldn’t really call myself a “musician” per se. I learned to play bass for a band called Ghostel than Dan, I, and our friend Bryce had for a little while. It was super fun and our song “Buckley Get Your Gun” got a placement in the trailer of an Oscar nominated film called “Mustang” so that was pretty wild and got us a decent amount of attention. I’m not formally trained on any instruments and pretty much only know how to play our songs! I sort of made up my own tablature and Dan worked with me and taught me in a way that I understood.  It’s a really fun experience and I love the rush of being on stage and hope to do it again soon. The full album entitled 1414 was just released on Spotify. Currently, we’re so busy with LUNO and MVV that Dan and I write some songs here and there for fun and hope to turn those into a new project at some point in the future and release it on vinyl!

Ghostel Band Live Show

If you could give anyone a single piece of advice what would it be and why?

My dad always told me you gotta spend money to make money! So basically buy one of our damn consoles and it’ll make you rich!!!! No, but seriously, in the words of one of my favorite professors “Try to make one room in your house as beautiful as possible.”

 

 

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TOP 5 VINTAGE MID-CENTURY MODERN RECORD CONSOLES https://iamluno.com/2018/06/20/top-5-vintage-mid-century-modern-record-consoles/ https://iamluno.com/2018/06/20/top-5-vintage-mid-century-modern-record-consoles/#respond Wed, 20 Jun 2018 21:16:08 +0000 https://www.iamluno.com/?p=3494 Some of the coolest home furnishings ever designed were the incredible mid-century modern hifi record consoles of the 1960’s. During an era where everyone looked to the […]

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Some of the coolest home furnishings ever designed were the incredible mid-century modern hifi record consoles of the 1960’s. During an era where everyone looked to the future with great optimism, the interior design of the day also captured the excitement and possibility of living in a space-age utopia. These were the centerpiece for many households, during the single largest pop music explosion in history, when bands and could incite hysteria and music became a driving force in pop culture unlike it had been previously seen. Some of these designs have to be seen to be believed, including one of our favorites, which once belonged to David Bowie himself. Here are our Top 5 Vintage Stereo Record Consoles in no particular order.

 

Electrohome Apollo 711

Electrohome Record Console - Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

Electrohome Record Console – Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

These bubble-domed record consoles proved to be a lasting style icon of the 1960’s, with its futuristic sci-fi design, it could blend in your typical mid-century modern home or on the deck of a interplanetary space craft. Electrohome, was well known for having manufactured the first phonographs in Canada, and would later go on to become a television broadcaster in their country. By 1965 after a period of tremendous growth Electrohome products would be available in 23 countries around the globe, and they would become very well known for producing the Electrohome Apollo 711, named for NASA’s famed launches. During the lounge music revival of the 1990’s this striking record player from space would end up on album covers, magazine photo shoots and featured in films that wanted to reference this incredible era of style and design.

 

David Bowie’s Custom Brionvega Record Player

david-bowie Brionvega turntable - Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

david-bowie Brionvega turntable – Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

 

This custom record console, made for Mr. Stardust, was conceived as a “musical pet.” This incredible turntable was able to fetch a whopping $324,000 at a recent auction. Brionvega an Italian company that also produced other notable designs, including the “Cubo” television, which is on permanent display in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

 

Clairtone Project G

Clairtone Project G - Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

Clairtone Project G – Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

One of the most unique designs from the mid-century modern era of stereo consoles is this series of players, known as Clairtone Project G. With its instantly recognizable globe shaped speakers, and space aged minimalism. This was an extremely high end console when it sold originally, with a price tag around $2000 in the mid-1960s. Clairtone, a Canadian company, became an extremely well known design of the day, even though only less than 400 units were ever made. It gained notoriety from features by celebrities like Frank Sinatra and a feature on the set of The Graduate.

 

PAAM Tube Turntable

PAAM TUBE TURNTABLE - Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

PAAM TUBE TURNTABLE – Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

Europe provided of the most interesting designs of the mid-century modern era of style, with this French design from 1968. The aeronautics-trained designer created this eye-catching cylindrical stereo turntable, with built-in speakers on both sides.

 

Weltron 2007

Weltron 2007 - Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

Weltron 2007 – Mid-Century Modern Hifi Record Consoles

Appropriately referred to as the “spaceship” this unit added an AM/FM radio and cassette deck built into one compact unit, it is said that the Weltron 2007 was inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Weltron 2007 made it’s debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in 1975, and sold for $399, which today is equivalent to over $1,800 adjusted for inflation.

If you enjoyed this tour through some of our favorite turntables and record consoles of the space age mid-century modern era, take a look at our versions of their modern day counterparts, such as our EGB2 Record Console,  KC27 Record Console, J2B2 Record Console, and the beautiful standalone cabinet (without turntable) THE SHELL.

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LUNO Guide To Mid-Century Modern Chairs https://iamluno.com/2018/06/26/luno-guide-to-mid-century-modern-chairs/ https://iamluno.com/2018/06/26/luno-guide-to-mid-century-modern-chairs/#comments Tue, 26 Jun 2018 22:18:33 +0000 https://www.iamluno.com/?p=3667 This is first part of a series that spotlights one of this year’s most popular design trends, mid-century modern chairs and furniture. We’re big fans of […]

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This is first part of a series that spotlights one of this year’s most popular design trends, mid-century modern chairs and furniture. We’re big fans of this era of design and style, and love to see so much attention being brought back to it in the world of interior design. There’s a wide range of variety and styles that comprise mid-century modern home furnishings and we wanted to give you a brief primer into some of the most iconic examples of mid-century modern chairs.

 

670 Lounge Chair

Mid-century modern chairs - 670 Lounge Chair Charles & Ray Eames

This beautiful lounge chair is an icon of mid-century modern style, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, this shine to comfort captures both a feel of classic Americana mixed with a sleek futurism, but still functional enough to find a place in the family room of many homes in the 1960’s.

 

BALL CHAIR

Mid-Century Modern Chairs - Ball Chair

At the opposite end of the spectrum are these space-age pods that were epitome of 1960’s futurism. The Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio looks like it could find a home on the set of a Stanley Kubrick movie just as easily as it could blend into a swinging bachelor pad, with a beautiful hifi record console playing an Esquivel record.

 

LC3

Mid-Century Modern Chrairs - LC3

From time to time you’ll run across some of these chairs still in use, once a popular waiting room set, that many have knocked off into close but less than perfect copies. The low back is the trademark of these Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand designed masterworks. What they are is a masterpiece of comfort, once you sit down in one of these, not only will you not want to get up, you will find it very challenging to go against your better instincts to ever remove your body from these mid-century modern miniature sofas.

 

WOMB CHAIR

Mid-century modern furniture - womb chair

The mid-century modern designers were extremely into aesthetics, but designs like this also over-delivered in the comfort department. Designer Eero Saarinen created this chair as a commission for a fellow designer Florence Knoll who wanted a chair that would give her the experience of sitting in a basket full of pillows. There’s something about this era of designers that was a lot of fun, they took chances, sometimes creating designs that were totally unlike anything that had come before.

 

EGG CHAIR

Egg Chair - Mid-Century Modern Furniture

It’s hard to think of mid-century modern chairs without these egg chairs by Arne Jacobsen, a staple of 1960’s television and a chair your probably associate with some of your favorite shows of the era. This chair was designed to be a dramatic frame for whoever sits in it, to be a complement and a striking setting for whoever occupies them. Arne Jacobsen believed deeply that a chair should not only work as a functional piece of furniture, but also very importantly as a work of art.

If you liked these, make sure you check out our interpretation of the mid-century modern chair, we call it The Buckley Listening Chair.

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Interior Design Tips That Make A Major Impact https://iamluno.com/2018/06/29/interior-design-tips-that-make-a-major-impact/ https://iamluno.com/2018/06/29/interior-design-tips-that-make-a-major-impact/#respond Fri, 29 Jun 2018 21:45:05 +0000 https://www.iamluno.com/?p=3793 We all want to transform our living space, to create a place that looks great and reflects our personality. We have a few interior design tips […]

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We all want to transform our living space, to create a place that looks great and reflects our personality. We have a few interior design tips that make a major impact on your home, that almost anyone can implement. Most people don’t realize that it doesn’t take a total re-design to beautify and transform a room, sometimes a few small improvements can go a long way.

 

Room Lighting

Home Decor Interior Design Room Lighting LUNOThe impact that lighting and has on a room cannot be overstated. If the lighting is either too harsh, or you have areas that could use brightened up. Coming up with lighting scene that provides a nice even, diffuse lighting can make a room a much more pleasing environment to dwell in.  Interesting and decorative lamps can usually be a fairly inexpensive upgrade to your room, but will make a big difference in the overall appearance.

 

Less Is More – Remove Extraneous Clutter

Interior Design Clutter Free Room Interior DesignThis tip is more about having discipline when deciding what will go in your space, a lot of us have items that we’ve been hoarding for years and we end up buried in a cluttered space, at one point I had two sofa’s in my living room because of an odd sentimental attachment. So lesson one is let go of any piece you’re not in love with that you feel is overwhelming the room. Make sure that surfaces are for the most part not overly burdened with nicknacks, and overall you feel like you have some space for the eye to rest.

 

Add Accent Decor

Interior Design Lamp Sculpture Home Decor LUNOAlways keep a look out for an interesting item, a coffee table book, or vase that can add interest to a surface. But word to the wise, don’t overdo it, like we said in the last tip, less is more. Having a few interesting sculptures, table runners, or arrangements can really enhance any negative space that feels overly vacant. This is where your interior design sense should take over, and guide you to pieces of interest that you feel reflect your personality.

 

Create An Accent Wall

LUNO Interior Design Tip Accent Wall

Sometimes you don’t need to paint an entire room to transform it, select a wall and make it your centerpiece or focal wall in the room. Giving it a burst of color on one wall that complements your color palette can really liven things up. Going brighter can liven up dead space, but even a more subdued color that highlights the darker shades of your furniture can also pull everything together for a more cohesive look.

 

Decorative Storage

Vinyl Storage - Flip Tabletop Record Storage UnitOne thing we really understand is maximizing space, and creating attention getting pieces that are as beautiful as they are functional. Making items like your record collection, which can consume a lot of room space, work as a decorative item, not only looks awesome, but provides a conversation piece for guests. Items like our Flip Tabletop vinyl storage, allows for you to have your albums browsable while showcasing a great piece of interior design.

 

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How To Create A Mid-Century Modern Listening Room | LUNO https://iamluno.com/2018/07/04/how-to-create-a-mid-century-modern-listening-room-luno/ https://iamluno.com/2018/07/04/how-to-create-a-mid-century-modern-listening-room-luno/#respond Wed, 04 Jul 2018 18:18:11 +0000 https://www.iamluno.com/?p=3907 Having a space that was meant for entertaining, unwinding, enjoying a cocktail and listening to your favorite records was an essential part of a home for […]

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Having a space that was meant for entertaining, unwinding, enjoying a cocktail and listening to your favorite records was an essential part of a home for many years. The mid-century modern style shifted the focus of the centerpiece of this room to the stylish record consoles of the day. These beautiful audio cabinets had all of the stereo components you needed built in, and would serve as the family entertainment center. We wanted to make a guide to show how you can put together your own mid-century modern listening room with some of the pieces that we offer here at LUNO.

 

SELECT A STEREO CONSOLE

The stereo console is the centerpiece of the listening room, make no mistake it is an investment, but it’s meant to be an heirloom piece, and the hours of enjoyment that this sound system brings are priceless. Not to mention the style points that a piece like this brings to your home are off the charts! LUNO’s flagship model, EGB2, is a timely update of the classic record consoles of the 50’s and 60’s. The beautiful Mid Century inspired design, boutique minimalist turntable, pull out MiniBar and custom gold rimmed whiskey glasses effectively evoke the luxurious style and modernist design of the Mad Men era. Each EGB2 is crafted by skilled artisans and craftsmen in Los Angeles, CA using American Walnut and would undoubtedly be a conversation piece based on it’s stylish design alone.

 

FIND A MATCHING LISTENING CHAIR

Once you sit in a listening chair, you’ll realize why they were made, and you may not ever want to get up from it again. Our Buckley Listening Chair is the perfect companion piece for our consoles. Built with the speaker height in mind, it’s positioned for you the get the maximum listening experience, so kick back with a glass of whiskey and enjoy your favorite record! Ottoman included. No mid-century modern listening room is complete without one of these!

 

FIND STYLISH MID-CENTURY MODERN ACCESSORIES

Finding utility in accessories and room decor makes the piece all the more cool. This simple vinyl storage solution is made of solid walnut and solid brass. It’s perfect to sit on top of your desk or credenza and makes flipping through your collection ever so easy. Choose your favorite records and add them to your everyday rotation. When you start equipping your mid-century modern listening room you’ll recognize the value of having record storage that keeps a selection of your favorite vinyl LP’s accessible.

 

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH RECORD STORAGE

Once your begin developing a vinyl record addiction, this storage solution and decorative piece will not only make sense, but it may save your life. This stunning modern storage unit is for the serious and stylish collector holding up to 500 records. Made from exotic Zebrawood with black lacquered legs, it’s a one of kind showstopping item that will hold a large record collection with sophistication. Custom finishes & sizes available. This is an essential item for any mid-century modern listening room!

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ASK AN INTERIOR DESIGNER – VINTAGE RECORD CONSOLES? https://iamluno.com/2018/07/05/ask-an-interior-designer-vintage-record-consoles/ https://iamluno.com/2018/07/05/ask-an-interior-designer-vintage-record-consoles/#respond Thu, 05 Jul 2018 18:10:24 +0000 https://www.iamluno.com/?p=3920 We’re answering the most common questions that we receive via e-mail and social media. We’re calling this series, Dear LUNO. If you have a question about […]

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We’re answering the most common questions that we receive via e-mail and social media. We’re calling this series, Dear LUNO. If you have a question about interior design, mid-century modern furniture, home decor or record consoles and accessories send them to info@iamluno.com.

 

Dear LUNO,

I’ve been looking into purchasing a vintage mid-century modern record console from the 1960s, and some of the models I’ve considered look like they’re in excellent condition, but are selling way above what I’ve noticed the original price tags were. Are vintage vinyl console record players worth the price, and how do they stack up against just investing in a new stereo console? What should I look for in a record console beyond the basic style that I’ve been seeking? 

Thanks in advance for your response,

“Confused Console Shopper”

~~~~~~

Hi “Confused,”

Where to begin? There are so many options out there for vintage record consoles, and a wide variety of quality. Depending on the brand you’re looking at, the price for some of the rarer heirloom vintage stereo record consoles, or collectors pieces, can be astronomical.

Here’s the main issue, most vintage 1960’s consoles weren’t known for impeccable sound quality, so depending on whether you’re looking to use the piece as a decoration, or as an actual daily use working hifi stereo system, should help you decide if you should look for a brand new versus a vintage unit. Consoles like our EGB2, and other brand new mid-century modern style consoles have significantly better components than they put into their classic 1960’s predecessors.

You should also check to see if the console you’re looking into has all of its original components, or if they’ve been updated to new equipment, which in many cases will give you much greater fidelity. For the money, purchasing a new unit can give you exactly what you’re looking for, and in many cases with LUNO’s consoles, you can customize some of the features, so you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Another suggestion is to look for units that are entirely analog, many new record consoles have equipment that allows you to output to a digital signal, and other digital equipment, which compresses the full original analog signal into a digital signal, and kind of defeats the purpose of listening to a vinyl record. LUNO’s record consoles are 100% full analog from stylus to speaker, giving you the warmth and fullness that analog records are so well known for.

If you have a specific console that you have questions about drop us another line, and we’re always glad to help out!

Yours truly in interior design,

LUNO

 

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Coolest Features of a Mid-Century Modern HiFi Record Console | LUNO https://iamluno.com/2018/07/09/coolest-features-of-a-mid-century-modern-hifi-record-console-luno/ https://iamluno.com/2018/07/09/coolest-features-of-a-mid-century-modern-hifi-record-console-luno/#respond Mon, 09 Jul 2018 21:44:09 +0000 https://www.iamluno.com/?p=3942 Mid-century modern record consoles have an elegance that could lead you to believe they materialized from a 1960’s James Bond movie. Like one of Bond’s gadgets, […]

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Mid-century modern record consoles have an elegance that could lead you to believe they materialized from a 1960’s James Bond movie. Like one of Bond’s gadgets, they also have some of the coolest hidden features that you may not have heard about. Unless you’re in the know, own one, or are among the community of Interior Designers, you may not know about some of the well kept secrets of these incredible decorative luxury furniture pieces. Here’s a quick list of some of the coolest mid-century modern record console features.

 

The Hidden Whiskey Bar

luno record console whiskey bar glasses

Let’s get started with a bang, easily our favorite feature of LUNO’s mid-century modern style record console, the discrete whiskey bar. It’s your own hidden turntable powered speakeasy, and comes with 4 beautiful gold rimmed whiskey glasses. It has the capacity to hold 4 full average sized whiskey or wine bottles, just in case you want to change it up. It really is the perfect complement to your favorite classic vinyl LP, check out the whiskey bar on one of our most popular consoles The EGB2.

 

Standard Marshall Salt & Pepper Grill Cloth

One of the coolest things to know about LUNO’s record consoles is that they come with the standard Marshall salt & pepper grill cloth, it doesn’t get more classic than that, Marshall amplifier grill cloth! You actually have one of the most iconic elements from the history of rock & roll music built in as part of the DNA of LUNO’s record consoles.

 

Apple & Airplay Compatibility

Apple Airplay Compatibility Record Console LUNO

Airplay compatibility means you can connect your other Apple compatible devices and stream them on your high quality LUNO stereo console, giving you an extremely full and rich audio experience. One of the comments people frequently make is how impressed they are by the enveloping sound that comes out of our consoles. Which actually gets at another feature that we didn’t have room to include, which is high quality audio components, that are hand-wired by our in-house audio gurus.

 

Deceptively Large Vinyl Storage Capacity

When you slide open the cabinet doors, you will see a perfectly measured space to store your copious vinyl collection. This baby holds 150 standard size vinyl records, and believe me you’re going to need after you hear one of these record consoles in person. Every record you currently own in any other format, you will begin a mad hunt to track it down in its original pure analog format.

 

Line-In Other Media & Audio Sources

The thing I love most is being able to connect other older analog tape players through the built-in amp and console speakers. It makes even these old tapes sound rich and warm, and the EQ controls it gives you, allow you to adjust for some of the deficiencies and decay that can be found as tapes age. Also, if you want to have the coolest looking home theater setup known to man, this unit can act as the core of your surround sound, and then some.

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How To Clean & Care For Vintage HiFi Record Consoles | LUNO https://iamluno.com/2018/07/10/how-to-clean-care-for-vintage-hifi-record-consoles-luno/ https://iamluno.com/2018/07/10/how-to-clean-care-for-vintage-hifi-record-consoles-luno/#respond Tue, 10 Jul 2018 23:13:39 +0000 https://www.iamluno.com/?p=3951 A well constructed high-quality piece of furniture can be passed down for generations as a family heirloom. Hifi record consoles like the ones we create at […]

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A well constructed high-quality piece of furniture can be passed down for generations as a family heirloom. Hifi record consoles like the ones we create at LUNO are built to last, our flagship console The EGB2 is made with American Walnut, and can provide years of enjoyment, but to keep it looking and sounding great you have to put in a little bit of work. We get a lot of questions about how to clean and care of these console units. These consoles just like many of their vintage mid-century modern predecessors have the potential of becoming collector’s items, so it’s a good idea to figure out how to start out on the right foot. Luckily for you, if you’re a LUNO console owner, the surface requires minimal care, but here’s our guide on how to clean and care for both new and vintage hifi record consoles.

 

First Tip: Use A Microfiber Cloth 

No matter how durable your finish, you want to use cleaning tools that won’t scratch or mark your surface. When you’re dry dusting, a good suggestion is to always use a microfiber cloth, or at the very least a lightly damp soft cloth. Resist the urge to use a lot of force, try to use a light touch.

Tip Two: Don’t Be Shy With Those Coasters Or You’ll Get Ring Stains

If your record console has a had waxed finish, make sure you don’t place any hot or wet cups directly on the surface, or you could damage your finish. If you have a shallow spot, try rubbing it out with your finger directly on the surface, or if it’s a more substantial mark, use a few drops of household ammonia on a soft rag or microfiber cloth and rub lightly until the mark is lifted.

Tip Three: Caring For Your Wood Finish

To protect a finish like our EGB2, which is hand waxed, you can use furniture wax or a silicone-based polish on the external surface, twice a year is recommended to keep it looking great. However it’s important to note that you shouldn’t wax furniture that are finished with polyurethane varnish, the only danger here is causing a proliferation of wax buildup. If your console has an oiled finish, apply a thin layer of linseed oil once annually, rub it into the wood briskly until the oily texture absorbs into the wood.

Tip Four: Keep Your Records Clean

Luckily we make this job easy with our Groovewasher record cleaning kit, the G2 Fluid included in the kit is designed for maximum cleaning effectiveness of the delicate vinyl surface and microgroove. Anti-static action on contact, which really helps to get the record to release all of the dirt and dust on the surface to release. Also, it’s a good idea to wipe the surfaces of the record player with the included microfiber cloth after each use.

Tip Five: A Clean Record Stylus Is Important

Typically, it’s suggested to clean your record stylus or record needle as they’re more commonly called after each use. There are stylus cleaning brushes that you can use for this, or you could use a very soft paint brush. It’s important to always make sure you wipe it from back to front, if you brush it from side to side you could risk bending or breaking it.

Tip Six: Dust Is Not Your Friend 

Overtime dust, rust and other buildup in your audio equipment can lead to noise and popping sounds. Keeping the surface of your amp, turntable and speakers, especially near the connections, dust free is a great practice to limit the build up that can happen in and around your audio equipment. It’s always a good idea to use an anti-static cloth, and for getting into tight areas near the tone arm, and around cables, a can of compressed air can be used to blow away debris.

 

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Top 5 Interior Design Trends For 2018 | LUNO https://iamluno.com/2018/07/14/top-5-interior-design-trends-for-2018-luno/ https://iamluno.com/2018/07/14/top-5-interior-design-trends-for-2018-luno/#respond Sat, 14 Jul 2018 22:08:51 +0000 https://www.iamluno.com/?p=3966 We scoured the interior design blogosphere, and researched with some of the top names in design to determine our top 5 interior design trends for 2018. […]

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We scoured the interior design blogosphere, and researched with some of the top names in design to determine our top 5 interior design trends for 2018. Each year we see new styles becoming more widely available for hardware, materials and finishing touches, and believe us there is a lot out there. We wanted to create a guide to help you navigate all of these options, and give you home decor and design ideas that will give your space an up to the minute modern feel.

 

HiFi Stereo Console Room Centerpiece

For years now we’ve allowed televisions to overtake a room and become the focal point, sometimes without even intending it to be. Now people want to return to a room that brings us back to making conversation and human interaction the focal point. HiFi record consoles are a great way to do that, providing pure analog sound quality and ambiance, and a conversation piece that will put the human touch back into your living space for entertaining.

 

Chrome Details & Hardware

The style of polished chrome and stainless steel has been an evergreen, but as this favorite has gone in and out of favor over the decades, but we’re seeing some incredible uses as details for furniture and hardware in 2018. The subtle use of chrome in both the kitchen and living room can provide an extra level of detail that gives you a look that’s both stylish and modern.

 

Matte Black Finished Accents

Matte black finish hasn’t been as heavily utilized in the past in both kitchens and bathrooms, but now we’re seeing a trend toward warmth and a more modern feel, rather than some of the more antique inspired styles that have been popular in recent years. Tying in black matte wood into your room’s accent colors can give your space a more intimate and inviting feel.

 

Vinyl Record Storage Furniture

Furniture that makes a statement about your personality is always a great idea, but this year we’re seeing furniture that displays your record collection come more into the forefront. Vinyl media storage allows your guests a window into your personality and you get to showcase all of your cool vinyl finds. Our Jax vinyl storage unit delivers a cool mid-century modern style, and provides you with ample multi-use storage space, that can be a blank canvas for your accents and interior design ideas.

 

Kitchen Dining Tables

Eating in the kitchen has been a trend at some of the world’s finest restaurants, now this trend is coming to a kitchen near you. Entertain your guests while preparing the meal, not only engages them in the process, but allow you to chat while you’re prepping to serve. They say the kitchen is the centerpiece of the home, now it can be the centerpiece for functional entertainment as well.

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LUNO Guide To Record Cabinet Customization https://iamluno.com/2018/07/17/lunos-guide-to-record-cabinet-customization/ https://iamluno.com/2018/07/17/lunos-guide-to-record-cabinet-customization/#respond Tue, 17 Jul 2018 14:19:49 +0000 https://www.iamluno.com/?p=4062 The most commonly asked question we get is usually about customization of one of our record consoles or record cabinets. When people see these beautifully stylish […]

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The most commonly asked question we get is usually about customization of one of our record consoles or record cabinets. When people see these beautifully stylish design pieces they instantly to bring one home and blend seamlessly into their color scheme and decor style. Well, I have some very good news for those of you who like to have things your way, there are some amazing options for finishes and speaker fabrics that can give your record cabinet a look that perfectly fits as an expression of your personality. Here’s LUNO’s Guide to record cabinet customization.

 

 

EGB2 RECORD CONSOLE

homepage3 - EGB2 Record Cabinet
LUNO’s flagship model, EGB2, is a timely update of the classic record consoles of the 50’s and 60’s. The beautiful Mid Century inspired design, boutique minimalist turntable, pull out MiniBar and custom gold rimmed whiskey glasses effectively evoke the luxurious style and modernist design of the Mad Men era. Each EGB2 is crafted by skilled artisans and craftsmen in Los Angeles, CA using American Walnut and would undoubtedly be a conversation piece based on it’s stylish design alone. The most exciting part is that there are 6 gorgeous finish options, and three speaker fabrics that you can choose from. What you see pictured is the classic Marshall amplifier salt and pepper grill cloth, in my mind it does not get any more classic and couldn’t fit the style of this beautiful piece more perfectly. Here are the full selection of finishes and fabrics for the EGB2:
EGB2 Record Cabinet Custom Options Guide Options
Cut from the same cloth as our flagship console, we are pleased to announce our newest console. The KC27 is a streamlined version of our EGB2, simplifying the components while still retaining many of the essential elements that make it’s big brother console such a spectacular piece. The KC27, like all LUNO products, is handcrafted and hand-wired in DTLA by skilled artisans and features a unique eye catching cross grain walnut pattern. The KC27 has a selection of beautiful finish and fabric options just like the EGB2, but with the KC27 you have some options for the mini-bar:
  • Storage For 2 Average Sized Liquor or Wine Bottles
  • Storage For 4 Cocktail Glasses – glasses not included

Don’t forget to check out the full options on the KC27 page:

EGB2 & KC27 Record Cabinet Custom Options Guide Options

 

 

The Shell Stereo Cabinet

Due to popular demand, LUNO is pleased to announce it’s latest design, “The Shell.”

Contrary to our fully equipped Mid Century inspired record consoles, The Shell is a streamlined stereo cabinet option featuring a simplistic modern design for those that want a hub to house their existing audio system.

The two large enclosures to each side can house your own speakers, under the left lid you can place your very own turntable, the right lid can house accessories or optionally, one of our LUNO faceplates connected to the same power amplifier found in our top of the line consoles.

Not only can you build out this incredible unit with whatever turntable or media device your heart desires, you can also select from a few additional options that allow you to make The Shell the custom record cabinet of your dreams:

  • 2 Door Options
  • 2 Leg Options
  • 2 Finish Options
If you’re a trendsetter that can’t be boxed into painting inside the lines, you can contact us here with your requests, in most cases if you can dream it, we’ll try our best to make that dream a reality.

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