Console tables for consolation

Entryway console tables are the unsung heroes of home organization. Junk mail, loose change, and old bike lock keys magically gather by the front door. Crumpled receipts hold audience with pocket lint and paper clips. Appropriate entryway storage helps keep things sorted (or at least hidden from sight).

A stylish and practical entryway designed by Lauren Nelson.

Why am I talking about console tables? Clearly I have bigger problems, like my house is covered in a giant tarp and we don't have running water in our kitchen. Thanks to permit and planning problems, we are indefinitely stuck living in a half-demolished house. Since there's nothing I can do but wait, I've been distracting myself by planning out the entryway.

My ideal console table is narrow and sturdy. It needs drawers. It should match our furniture without grabbing attention. Also, it should cost under $1500 because it will inevitably get a few coffee rings (husband), nibbles (dog), and scuff marks (me).