Boho Workbench Debuts the First Functional Wii Controller Coffee Table

“I don’t really build traditional things, and I want to keep it that way.” – Charles Lushear

repare to have your minds blown. Someone has figured out how to make a beautiful, handcrafted coffee table that doubles as a functional Wii controller. Yup, you heard that right!

Introducing Charles Lushear of Bohemian Workbench. Some of you may recall hearing about the functional Nintendo controller coffee table from Lushear earlier this year. He’s taken it a step further and really outdone himself by bringing us the first functional Wii controller of its kind. It even includes a Zapper used for menu selection (translation = the “Duck Hunt gun” for us 80’s babies). Hand-carved out of exotic wood, it vibrates and has a speaker just like the original controller.

The masterpiece debuted at the Abbot Kinney Festival a few weeks back, and to say it was the highlight is to put it mildly. It would have been impressive enough to build a basic table that also functioned, but the gorgeous woodwork is clearly crafted by the hands of an artist. The table is made of rich African Bubinga, Quilted Maple, Birdseye Maple, and Mahogany and features mid century modern legs – my absolute favorite. (Don’t worry, I don’t know what most of those are either, but it sure sounds fancy.)

I swooned at first sight and had to meet the brains behind this artful contraption. Turns out he’s as smart and interesting as you’d imagine. Woodworker, musician, classic car aficionado and self-proclaimed Excel geek. To put it in the words of my husband, “He’s basically a really handsome nerd. So unfair.”

Check out some folks having fun on the Nintendo table and an entertaining interview with Mr. Lushear himself. (Video demo of the Wii version coming soon!)

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A Beautiful, Fully-Functional NES Controller Coffee Table You Can Actually Buy

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If you missed out last time a functional NES controller coffee table was put up for sale, rejoice, because Charles Lushear is offering examples on his Etsy store. The 42″x 18.25″ x 18″ tables are handmade from maple, mahogany and walnut with dovetail joinery and mid century modern legs, and feature a removable glass top and retractable cord. In addition, customers can choose from four different versions to suit various preferences and budgets, including composite and nonfunctional models.

FUNCTIONAL NINTENDO CONTROLLER COFFEE TABLE GIVEAWAY

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We were so impressed with the Functional Nintendo Controller Coffee Table, that we decided to purchase it for our visitors and give it away to one lucky and loyal site visitor. Entry is quick and painless. Just use the entry form below and follow the instructions. Earn more chances to win by “following” us on Twitter and “sharing” this giveaway with your friends. All can be done from within the entry form.

Coffee table doubles as functional NES controller

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The world needs more luxurious gaming furniture and less of those gaudy leather gamer chairs with built-in speakers.
Gaming decor goes to the next level with this coffee table that actually works as a fully functional Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) controller. Talented woodworker Charles Lushear sells the massive controller table on Etsy for $3,500 (plus shipping). The exotic item’s 42 inches long, 18.25 inches wide, and 18 inches high, and you might want to seek permission from your significant other before purchasing it.

We truly admire how accurate the table appears compared with the original NES controller. Lushear assembled the coffee table with “maple, mahogany, and walnut with dovetail joinery and mid-century modern legs,” according to the description. The glass top removes easily for gameplay, and it features a retractable cord so nobody trips up after a marathon Mario session.

COFFEE TABLE IS A REAL GAME CHANGER

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If you put an Xbox or PlayStation controller in my hand, I will look at you like you just handed me a dodecahedral hand puzzle wrapped in Chinese finger traps. What am I supposed to do with this thing? There are, like, a trillion buttons. And the joysticks? Pfft. No thanks, I’ll pass.

On the other hand, put an original Nintendo controller in my hand and, brother, game on. Best thing about this icon? Two buttons. B and A. One four-way directional pad. Start and Pause. Simplicity, folks, that’s where it’s at. As Shakespeare wrote, “Brevity is the soul of wit.”

Look, I realize my controller cantankerousness dates me. You young whippersnappers are probably snickering on your sofa, punching each other in the shoulder and saying, “Look at grandpa over there. Maybe we should get him an EZ Eyes keyboard, too.”

Mock me if you must. I don’t care. I will go to my grave still defending the original NES games, too. And I also understand the folly of exalting 8-bit graphics in an era when we can play dazzling, high-def, 3-D games on our phones.

But to try and explain the joy I get from blowing the dust off the cartridge pins, shoving it into the slot and playing a game of RBI Baseball would be like trying to tap the Dalai Lama’s source of enlightenment. Maybe I should join these guys.

The original hive of this enlightenment, if you will, was the basement of my friend Mookie’s house. It was there we wasted countless sunny afternoons playing long stretches of Tecmo Bowl and Baseball Stars. It was in these dark, subterranean confines, surrounded by Cool Ranch Doritos and Dr. Pepper, that the genesis of our misanthropic leanings first took root. And for the record, my punk band is totally going to do a cover of the Tecmo Bowl theme song.

About the only thing that could have made Mookie’s basement gaming den even better is this: a coffee table that is a fully functional Nintendo controller.

The table comes compliments of weaver of dreams and furniture maker Charles Lushear. Just to prove that we’re all adults here, with refined adult tastes in furniture design, Lushear made the piece out of maple, mahogany and walnut woods, which only adds to its elegance. The dovetail joinery and retractable cord are lovely flourishes, too.

And guess what? When you’re not conquering Contra, the controller face sits underneath a removeable glass top. That way, you don’t need to worry about spilling Diet Mountain Dew all over the place.

If I were a wealthier man, I would surprise Mookie and buy him this table for his birthday next year. But because it’s priced at $3,500, he’ll have to be happy with a paperback. For those who don’t have an NES system, Lushear says he’s looking into making a controller compatible with the Wii.

And now, I leave you with an homage to the great controller — a little finger ballet, compliments of the code to Contra: Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A.

Custom Coffee Table Acts as Giant Nintendo Controller

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Charles Lushear of custom design studio The Boho Workbench in Venice Beach, Calif., has created this fully functional Nintendo Controller Coffee Table. The table (which is 42″ x 18.25″ x 18″) ditches plastic in favor of maple, mahogany and walnut, and lets you play NES games using the aesthetically designed piece of furniture.

The table features a removable glass top for when you aren’t playing games, a retractable cord, dovetail joinery and mid century modern legs. A nonfunctional version is available, as well as a composite materials version that is painted to look exactly like the original controller.

USB capability can also be added, and the designer is currently working on an inverted color scheme version and one with Wii capability for those without a NES console. The coffee tables are made to order and the production time is four to six weeks. The functional table costs $3,500 and this first creation is currently being raffled off by DudeIWantThat.com.

Functional Nintendo Controller Coffee Table

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Proving that there are, in fact, more awesome things in this world than L.A. Lights, some dude in Venice came up with the best thing ever: a coffee table made of maple, mahogany & walnut that looks like, and actually functions as, a controller for an 8-bit Nintendo. And, sure, you’re probably already thinking, “Nothing is more awesome than L.A. Lights” but also, “Wait, this coffee table is a working Nintendo controller??”, which’s exactly what we said and why we ran this thing down to Thrillist’s super-secret subterranean testing lab to see how this greatest invention ever stacked up with the handheld-sized one:

Test 1: Contra, 1-player mode, sharing controller with Shawn Bradley
Normal Nintendo Controller: Dude, who let Shawn Bradley into our super-secret subterranean testing lab? Also, this controller is totally not sharable.
Functional Coffee Table Nintendo Controller: No seriously, who let Shawn Bradley into our super-secret subterranean testing lab? But also, this controller is totally sharable!

Test 2: Super Mario Brothers 3, 1-player mode, after a trip to the dispensary
Normal Nintendo Controller: Wait, this normal Nintendo controller is a working Nintendo controller??
Functional Coffee Table Nintendo Controller: Wait, this coffee table is a working Nintendo controller??

Test 3: R.C. Pro-AM, 1-player mode, throwing controller at TV outta frustration over computer cars’ unfair turbo boosting
Normal Nintendo Controller: Ahh, that feels so much better.
Functional Coffee Table Nintendo Controller: Eff. This is really heavy.

Test 4: Battletoads, 1-player mode, while drinking Pibb Xtra and inputting GameGenie codes
Normal Nintendo Controller: Code invalid? Seriously? That just took me like 20min to put in. And now I’ve spilled my Pibb Xtra everywhere due to my frustration. This controller is ruined.
Functional Coffee Table Nintendo Controller: Samesies, except, this controller is totally fine thanks to the glass protector top!

Test 5: Ninja Gaiden, 1-player mode, trying to attack dudes while climbing ladders
Normal Nintendo Controller: Fail.
Functional Coffee Table Nintendo Controller: Fail.