Child Friendly AV Stand - Advice Please

[meltonboy]

I have an AV stand that i am very happy with. Not sure of the brand but it has very heavy solid glass selves and metal legs that were avaialble in various lengths. It is wide enough for 2 standard width boxes to sit side by side on each shelf. i think it cost about 300 - 400 quid.

The problem i now have is that the rack is totally open as it is just legs and shelves ie no doors - and now there is a Junior Meltonboy around, in a few months he may well enjoy pressing buttons.

Does anyone have any suggestions ie a similar solution but with doors ? I would like a 2 box width one again and probably 3 shevles.

Alternatively, does anyone know of a good place in North or Central London to see racks in the flesh ? Most of the AV shops i know don't have a big selection of racks, presumably because of their size.

Am happy to spend 200-400 quid on something decent.

I would appreciate your help.

Thanks

MB

[lovethechang]

I too am looking for a child friendly option for my av kit, with the exception that I will soon have 3 little lovethechangs running around (identical triplet girls due 4/9/08)

I am like you OP, with a 120cm wide 3 tier open glass and chrome legged stand with everything open and would like to keep everything working and out of reach of sticky fingers when the time comes.

Someone in a different thread mentioned the benno stand from IKEA @ £100 - tv is mounted on a backboard with av gear behind doors/drawers although not sure which. As I have time yet, I will be follwoing this thread to see if anyone else makes any suggestions.

[meltonboy]

Hey, thanks for that. I'll check out the ikea option.

I think that we are ok if we want to have a wooden rack, as they can be made to order, but i have yet to see a glass option with doors.

I have thought about some sort of fireplace style gaurd ie to cover the front and one side with mesh. That will allow for plenty of air circulation and i can take it off completely when i need too. Plus i would not need to replace the stand itself. So im going to see if i can visit some fireplace shops over the next few weeks.

A friend of mind has made the point that if the rack of gear arrive before the curous infant, he/she might not take any interest in it. i think that might be a little optimistic

Ill post any fireguard solutions on here.

MB

[ElmoP]

I've got a little one coming in 2 months time, so I invested in this Alphason ABR 1100 stand about 6 months ago. There's a thread on them here:
Opinion needed on Alphason ABR 1100-B please

It has toughened glass doors and a latch could easily be fixed to the side. But I think we're all going to have to face facts eventually, the kids will find a way in!!

[meltonboy]

Originally Posted by ElmoP

I've got a little one coming in 2 months time, so I invested in this Alphason ABR 1100 stand about 6 months ago. There's a thread on them here:
Opinion needed on Alphason ABR 1100-B please

It has toughened glass doors and a latch could easily be fixed to the side. But I think we're all going to have to face facts eventually, the kids will find a way in!!

Had a quick look at the pictures posted on that thread and i think that it looks quite good. I quite like the idea of glass doors rather than wood. A definate possibility for me.

Another friend has had his dvd player put out of action as his 3 year old decided to see what happens if you put 3 kids films in the tray at once Perhaps he thought that finding nemo would be on screen with cars...

MB

[CTR_Paul]

I had a similar dilemma, no little people but they'll be coming soon. The immediate concern was keeping the cat away from the stuff!

So I look at the Alphason and it wasn't ideal as I wanted to incorperate my centre speaker

I then found one of the Germania stands (they make lots of desks etc) at a very reasonable price (sub £200 from Furniture123, although if you look round they can be had for less now), and it looked ideal for what I wanted, so long as one of the centre drawers could be removed and turned into a home for my centre speaker...

It works incredibly well hiding all the AV gear from sight and dust/damage whilst still allowing IR signals through the glass. I'm not sure if the glass is child safe or not, but it's pretty thick and you could always apply kiddie glass film to it if you were worried. The doors open on a spring loaded magnetic thing, give them a poke and they spring open:


Next project is to think about changing the colour of the bottom drawer to black, in order to match the other bits... but for now it's on the back burner. Everything you see in my sig resides in or on that cabinet, so there's a good deal of room in it. The only downside is that 430mm wide components mean that the glass doors have to come off to fit them in, as it's a snug fit.

[HandsomeBWonderful]

Originally Posted by lovethechang

I too am looking for a child friendly option for my av kit, with the exception that I will soon have 3 little lovethechangs running around (identical triplet girls due 4/9/08).

Well to ne honest I'm not really interested in a child friendly av stand (as I made one myself to keep the little ones out) but I am interested in how lovethechang is getting on. Any news yet?

[ndg_uk]

I'm in the same boat as most of you guys, except I'm looking for a corner unit.

Any recommendations?

[lovethechang]

HandsomeBwonderful - Thanks for asking - the oh is going into hospital tomorrow morning (7:30) for the elective caesarean. She has done very well to get to 34 weeks and 2 days, and will be glad to have them out and home very soon.

I know its a little OT, but I will endeavour to put a couple of links up when i get home of piccies of the babies for you to see.

[lovethechang]

Hi all.

After a hectic day the OH has had our triplets - 3 beautiful baby girls. Its hard to tell them apart!!! Mother and babies are doing well, and for HandsomeBWonderful I will put up links to some pictures once ive had some sleep.

[meltonboy]

Originally Posted by lovethechang

Hi all.

After a hectic day the OH has had our triplets - 3 beautiful baby girls. Its hard to tell them apart!!! Mother and babies are doing well, and for HandsomeBWonderful I will put up links to some pictures once ive had some sleep.

Hearty congratulations to you and Mrs lovethechang !

[HandsomeBWonderful]

Originally Posted by lovethechang

Hi all.

After a hectic day the OH has had our triplets - 3 beautiful baby girls. Its hard to tell them apart!!! Mother and babies are doing well, and for HandsomeBWonderful I will put up links to some pictures once ive had some sleep.

Hey-hey, great news - well done lovethechang... and I'm sure Mrs lovethechang played her part too
I have little 3 girls myself (although we wisely spaced them out over 4 years), you're going to have many, many sleepless nights but it's all worth it.

[PFM]

Congratulations!

3 in a row We have 2 under 2 and that is a handfull!

Enjoy your new family

Best wishes

PFM