"Leon" lcb11211@swbelldotnet wrote in message
...
My wife said that if I built in our entertainment nook I could but a new
70" LED TV. ;~)
Well the price dropped on the top of the line model that I have been
looking at and we got the TV at a reduced price, $900.00 off the going
price. I got the TV and the savings will pay for the entertainment
center.
We are going for a different type look. Walnut panels mounted vertically
and floating out from the existing wall behind the TV and a walnut
console, for the electronics and storage, that will remind some of you of
a 60's console stereo.
The electronics will be under the top and behind the front 3 grilled
doors. Top access to ease adding equipment and routing wires.
Comments?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lcb11211/9622250273/
Having some problems with my newsreader. I will try this one more time.
These are my opinions only! Ya wanted comments, so here goes. ;-)
1) I find those flat screen furniture that hide the screen to be big, bulky
and not that interesting. If you are gong to a fancy display to show off
that big ass TV, display it proudly! Show it off. Just give it a wipe down
now and then to keep the dust away.
2. The idea of dark around the screen is good. It is easier on the eyes.
3. Want to hide the other components? You may need to see them to operate
them. Changing channels, etc. is much easier if you can actually see the
display.
4. Make it remote friendly. I had to modify a couple entertainment centers
when folks who were sitting in their easy chair could not activate the
components that controlled what was up on that big screen. On one such job,
I had to cut out much of one side of the opening to allow access to the
infrared ports on the cable box and DVD player. On another, I drilled some
holes. Neither were very attractive. Just functional. But they had too
much money into everything to pay for something custom or nice.
5. To continue the past point, make everything future upgrade friendly. I
just replaced my cable box a few days ago. It was smaller and the infrared
port was on the opposite side. I had to reposition the box and angle it
slightly. The opening allowed this. But I had to put a block under it. Or
stand to use the remote.
Sooooo....., You need remote access now, and into the future. Plan, and
build accordingly.
6. And speaking of remotes, here is an idea. I saw this a couple of times.
Why not a custom "cabinet" for the remotes? Ideally something that would
allow you to "put it away" after use. Ya know, to keep the dust off of
them. I never met a remote that did not get dirty and dusty. And they get
misplaced from time to time. Create a nice little "home" for them and they
tend to stay healthier, cleaner and accessible. Maybe a place to put drinks
down as well. Or the TV guide, etc. A dedicated cabinet that takes care of
all your need by the easy chair while viewing your favorite programs.
7. One of my pet peeves about big cabinets for electronics is that they
often become junk collectors. People stack all kinds of crap on them. Use
this for the electronics and nothing else. If you need to store something,
stash it away inside a drawer or cabinet. Keep the overall appearance clean
and uncluttered. Out of that context, try to design it so that is a
shortage of available space to stack crap on it that doesn't belong there!
I gotta run. That is all I could think of off the top of my head. (To
maintain your wrec credibility, you need to use at least 432 dominoes on
this project!) :-)