Chimney install - the start...

[JAYSY]

Hi Everyone

Just about ready to start my living room, but want to run past the layout and ideas with you guys...


I am going to mount a 40inch LCD on the chimney breast along with a surround sound setup.

From research i have decided i want a combination of these too setups....

The recessed screen with a potential backlight. However dont like the gear to the left of the chimney breat


So looking to incorporate this idea below of using the fireplace space to put front speaker and Sky HD box/Xbox 360/ Sound sound DVD player Amp.
As i can then use the chimney pipe as a great way to route cabling..



To make the recess for the screen I dont really want to smash down the chimney breast like the guy above did and make a fake one - so open to suggestions...
Was thinking about making a stud wall in front of the breast to make it recessed.

My chimney breast - not sure whats under the plaster?? Its an old house - its the wall that separates the next house down. I have stripped the wallpaper back and found that the previous people have boarded out the original fireplace and boxed and plastered over it. So i will just pull all that back out for the AV rack - sky box etc

Here are a few pictures for you to see the layout of the room.... Please ignore all the junk - thats my bathroom suite !!!






So what do you guys think??
Only thing i am not too sure on is routing the cables to the rear speakers and getting it from the chimney all the way unders the bay window to the rear. Might just buy the philips wireless rear setup and be done with it??

If anyones got any good pictures of what i have decribed wout love to see them along with work in progress pictures .

cheers all.

[richard plumb]

rear speakers you can just tuck it under your carpets if you have them, or remove any architrave you have for your wooden floors and pop them in there.

I'm trying to work out something similar, but can't help feeling I need a fire in case I sell in the future. It'd certainly be cheaper not to have one (after I've chucked out my current coal thing)

[Matt_C]

I deffo like the recess for the source gear below the screen in place of the actual fireplace.

But I HATE that backlight around the screen in the first pic. It looks awfull (IMO) and doesn't compliment the screen or picture at all.... DON'T DO IT!!!!!

[jonny round boy]

Easiest way to do it would be as follows:

1. Knock out plasterboard to open up fireplace
2. Make a frame from 3"x2" timber & fix to face or chimney breast
3. Frame out inside of fireplace opening
4. Put all cables etc in place
5. Plasterboard over the new frame & in the opening
6. Skim

The combination of 3x2 and the plasterboard, fixed to the face of the chimney, would give you a recess depth of around 80mm. If you wanted a bit more depth, you could use 4x2 instead.

As for speaker cables, either run them under the carpet, or if it's a wooden floor drill through & run them under the floor & back up again (you'll probably need access to the underside, either via a cellar or crawlspace for this).

[JAYSY]

Hi Guys thanks for your comments..

rear speakers you can just tuck it under your carpets if you have them, or remove any architrave you have for your wooden floors and pop them in there.

I'm trying to work out something similar, but can't help feeling I need a fire in case I sell in the future. It'd certainly be cheaper not to have one (after I've chucked out my current coal thing)

The previous owners knocked the lounge thru into the dinning room and there is still a real fireplace in the dinning room bit, so guess they thought they didnt need the lounge one so boarded it up. They had their lounge round the other way to what i want it.

@ Matt_C
Yeah i was undecided on the backlight, couldnt make my mind up...
But i guess your right does look a bit cheesy..

@ The round boy

Cheers for the steps - sort of what i had in my head.. Just need to get my head around the measurements - Still not quite decided on my TV or Kit yet...
On the timber frame do you just make it a few mm away from the vertical edge of the chimney breast so that when you plaster board you put a thin piece of plaster board on the two flanks ready for a skim on the three sides - the front and the thin side edges.

I will be sitting 8FT away from the screen will a 40 inch be about the right sort of size? I was trying to decide between the new sony or samsung screens either 40 or 46inch - dont know whether the 46 will be too big and dominate the room???

[Gunner Rob]

Jaysy

When deciding on size of recess to build on front of existing chimney breast check measurements of any kit you intend to put in (particularly amp).
From your photo it does not look as if the fireplace opening will be very deep ( add at lest 50mm for cabling etc ).
Don't forget to allow vent for air flow up the existing chimney (to prevent damp )
Also any cable runs thru voids, including in chimney and under floor, should be run in conduit or ducting to protect them.

Good luck with the project (and the bathroom!).

[jonny round boy]

Originally Posted by JAYSY

On the timber frame do you just make it a few mm away from the vertical edge of the chimney breast so that when you plaster board you put a thin piece of plaster board on the two flanks ready for a skim on the three sides - the front and the thin side edges.

Yes, that's it exactly.

[JAYSY]

Thanks for the help guys i will be starting this shortly - after i get the bathroom in this week..!!!! im on a mission..

Gunner Rob

When deciding on size of recess to build on front of existing chimney breast check measurements of any kit you intend to put in (particularly amp).
From your photo it does not look as if the fireplace opening will be very deep ( add at lest 50mm for cabling etc ).
Don't forget to allow vent for air flow up the existing chimney (to prevent damp )
Also any cable runs thru voids, including in chimney and under floor, should be run in conduit or ducting to protect them.

Good luck with the project (and the bathroom!).

No it wont be very big your right, same size as the one in the dinning area - will never know without smashing the plaster board covering the fireplace . Only other option is that i rack my kit where the DVD's are shelved at the minute and go through the side of the chimney brest to run wires. I was thinking of putting in a nice open bookcase type setup to house everything neatly in the side chimney recess next to the window.

But how hard would that be to go through the chimney that way?

Think with having the kit below the TV i think it gives you more space though - depends on how far i have to come out with the frame i guess.

[Gunner Rob]

Jaysy

If your chimney wall backs on to next door then the back of the fireplace will be the same distance back as the adjoining wall (hope that makes sense!).
If you want to drill the wall be prepared, it could be up to 40cm thick (at fireplace level, possibly thicker above) and you would still need to open up fireplace to get cables out. Alternatively, leave a sleeve (50mm waste pipe or similar) in the framework that you build on the front to pull cables thru.
If you do decide to drill thru side of chimney consider hiring a dry diamond core drill, lots of dust but nice neat hole.

Rob

[a3nige]

Hi JAYSY,
check out my new setup, it may help you. If you want any info I will give you what I can.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showt...77#post4040277