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What to do with built-in entertainment center

8 years ago

Hey everyone,

Wanted to pick some people's creative brains to see what kind of ideas may come from this. I just purchased this home and they had large built-in entertainment center built into the wall in the main family room. Unfortunately it was made for an older tube TV and doesn't fit the flat screen TVs I'm looking at. The unit itself is nice and in very nice condition so my first hopeful idea is to modify the current design. Worse case, I remove it, but I'd prefer that to be the last option due to the patch up work then needed (carpet, walls, ceiling, paint, etc.). There is wiring already set for a TV (as you can see, that's a coax line coming from the wall), and the two furthest left/ride rectangles has speaker cable coming from it. I'm an audio nerd so I will eventually bring some hi-fi setup into this room but that's not important currently and is slated for the future.

I'm planning to put a 65" TV in this setup, 55" at the smallest. The entire length of this entertainment center is about (158 inches) and its height is about (95 inches). The center opening is about (40 inches) wide and about (31 inches) tall, and 50 inches diagonally.

I'm trying to avoid mounting the TV in the back of the opening and having it in-front of the entertainment center, I personally have never been a big fan of that, especially if the TV is large it can look a little off.

Photo attached of what this setup looks like, ignore the objects on it, just temporary moving storage :)

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BeverlyFLADeziner

8 years ago

You can call in a millwork contractor to reconfigure this but it's not likely to be inexpensive, and it will still be this dated oak design. I eliminated the doors with the speakers and reduced the depth of the center area but expanded the width of the center to accommodate the flatscreen

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Comments (8)

lynartist
8 years ago
That looks great Beverly! Now it just needs a nice paint job.
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yvonnecmartin
8 years ago
Would your furniture arrangement work with the TV in one of the end cabinets? If so, that might require fewer mill-work changes. Then you would have to fill the center hole, but a great poster, tapestry (native american or oriental, or fish tank could take its place. You could even have an interesting or black pull-down door put on it to hide a built-in desk or bar.
Brandi Nash Hicks
8 years ago
Paint it and all trim Bm simply white 2016 color of the year, a great white that goes with everything
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Joanna Shirin Design Studios, ASID
8 years ago
Agree with above comments-modify the Millwork to accommodate your tv size, prime and paint with BM off white color w satin finish. This will significantly improve the overall look of the built in, making it more current! Good luck!
2badkittens
7 years ago
I would put doors on everything. Add shelves in the old t.v. space. I would make the doors symmetrical and add neat hardwear. Now have someone chalk and wax it in white or a color that will go with your decor.

You could do it yourself if you are crafty. You will be turning this aging unit into a great place to store everything!! Do we ever have enough storage??

Another thought to throw out. Why don't you install some type of pull down/ fold out desk.it would be a nice place for you or your children to work on.

It always feels great to re-purpose a sad aging piece of furniture.

Hope you like my ideas!!
Laura Speer
5 years ago
We have a similar issue, and are thinking of taking all the top shelves off, leaving the base cabinets and either staining or panting this portion of the cabinets. Large piece of art that hides the TV above and new hardware for the bottom doors. It's hard to get rid of all this storage but the top is just a catch all for our household.
Sara Sana
4 years ago
How did this project turn out? I am in a similar boat :(. Pls help me.

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