I also have this dresser in our spare room that might go better since our coffee table is dark

That is a possibility, but there are some things to keep in mind:

-can you place your components in the drawers and still have the remote read them?

-are you will to drill holes in the back of your dresser so that wires can connect?

-finally, the height. Most dressers are too high for comfortable tv viewing. With the tv on the dresser in the man cave, is viewing comfortable for you?

A dresser is usually too high for comfortable viewing and it provides no proper storage as CDR said. Both of these look like they will be too small too. A TV console should be at least 50% longer than the TV, which right now neither of the dresser nor the current console are.

Given the considerations mentioned by CDR, and if ok with them, a dresser is fine but I think will look much better with the tv mounted on the wall so that you can decorate the top and it won't feel as overwhelmed by the tv. Chose the dresser that best suits your living room furniture and if using the maple, would suggest painting it. The tv would be no higher than when people place over a fireplace.

Off-topic: Call the Midwife is one of my favourite shows and is largely responsible for the existence of our youngest child so be careful lol.

All good advice above. I think the dressers you have are too short and possibly too high for this purpose.

You could look for rustic benches, antique hope chests to fulfill your purpose. Craigslist, eBay, consignment shops, second hand stores are your best friends when going for a honey cabin feel :-)

I like the darker one. I think it is a great idea.

Haha I love Call the Midwife. Great show although the fiance does not care for it.If I were to try it for a bit and see how I like it, should I go with the lighter or darker? which one would fit the homey cabin feel better do you think?

I vote darker. It looks more living-room worthy and has the added benefit of not requiring your man to change his space which it looks like he is pretty attached to.

The first dresser definitely better suits a cabin feel and milk paint (don't have to sand first) for a great rustic look.

The lighter dresser would fit the homey cabin feel better.

My Tv is on the wall over a sideboard ..Sky box etc in side ..holes in the back for wires and ventilation and a little gadget thats stuck to the TV to change the satellite station without having to leave the sideboard doors open

Be sure you measure the width of your dresser that you want to use. Your TV is quite large and the dressers look too short width-wise. The modern one you have now is too short....TV is wider. Also sit in front of the TV, where you usually sit and your eyes should be somewhere around the middle of the TV. Then you won't get a sore neck from looking up all the time. I like the blue one Maureen posted, but with the TV hung a little lower.

The look you want will best be achieved by mixing and matching a variety of furniture styles and eras. So one of your dressers is just as suitable as the other and it's really a matter of which one you and your fiance like more in the space.

The size issue is an important consideration in a future purchase. Am I correct that you want to make do with what you have for now? If so then try them both out, see which one works best. It would be good to keep in mind the dimensions that would be optimal, so that if you come across the perfect piece unexpectedly you'll recognize it!

Yes eventually I would get something else to use a tv stand but i am trying to make do right now. I have a more space I am going to be working on too after the holidays like our guest room and what not. We bought his grandmothers house when she moved to Florida and she left a lot of the furniture so I am trying to use as much as I can between ours and hers.

Fun! We are in a similar situation except the lady from whom we bought the home was not a relative, and is deceased. It can be a really exciting challenge to incorporate all the furniture in an attractive way :)

This is one of my favourite "inherited" pieces:

Your goal will definitely be achievable with creativity and patience!