Building my own floating wall

M.D. Klapwijk · 04-06-2009, 9:21 AM

Hi all, first let me introduce myself. My name is Marcel and I'm about to start building a floating wall in my living room. I've been greatly inspired by Groove's work and will be using some of his idea's. (Well rip most of them...

)

So to kick this project off, here's is the first art impression I made with Photoshop:

Dimensions I'm going to work with:
- Wall: 4200 x 3650 mm
- Floating wall: 3600 x 2100 mm
- Frame: 3440 x 2020 mm
- Clearance: 77 mm
- Overhang: 80 mm

Components:
- Samsung LE46A756 LCD
- Audipack Flatfix mount (clearance 28 mm)
- Denon 2309 amplifier
- TMA 903MK-IV stereo speakers
- Canton Movie 150 QX 5.1 to complete 7.1 setup
- DIY Media computer
- Ikea Besta cabinets (2x1200x380x400 mm and 2x600x380x400 mm)

M.D. Klapwijk · 04-06-2009, 9:48 AM

Oops, made a little mistake resizing the image (resized without resizing the layer effects)...

hockfoci · 04-06-2009, 9:50 AM

Looking cool, keep the update pics coming

Started ours this week..........groove....you should have ©'d the idea lol

M.D. Klapwijk · 04-06-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockfoci

Looking cool, keep the update pics coming

Started ours this week..........groove....you should have ©'d the idea lol

Will be posting progres pictures, only need to buy a cf-reader since I lost the cable of my camera. Now I'm back to clearing the livingroom...

One should really call it a Groove Wall...

hockfoci · 04-06-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.D. Klapwijk

One should really call it a Groove Wall...

I agree, anyone asks ....I'm building a Groove wall

M.D. Klapwijk · 04-06-2009, 7:00 PM

Ok outer frame is standin... ehhh floating I meant. Tomorrow I'll be buying a card-reader and will post the first day pictures.

M.D. Klapwijk · 05-06-2009, 12:41 PM

Ok, here are the progression shots of day 1:

The tv, stereo, speakers...

... and cabinets...

... which all will have to make room.

Testing the dimensions in real life.

The first barn raising. I joined the frame with some corner irons, so I could lift it by my self. I then leveled the frame and marked the wall for mounting points.

Now it's level and fixated with 2 of 6 m6 bolts.

Time to place the first...

... and second outer leg.

Unmounted the upper part of the frame to drill the 4 other holes, mark them on the wall...

... and fixate the upper part again.

About to test the tube lightning.

DAMNED!

Repaired the 2 light zones, which were broken.

Testing the 8cm overhang. I think it's ok...

M.D. Klapwijk · 05-06-2009, 8:35 PM

And here's todays result:

Placing more of the frame...

... and an other one...

... and again...

... and finally the tv mount.

And here we go again, more frame...

...

Test fitting the Samsung. Once again I think it's ok.

Tomorrow I'll be painting the outerframe in a satin white for some more diffuse reflection and putting the wires in place...

M.D. Klapwijk · 06-06-2009, 10:05 AM

I think about placing horizontal beams at the bottom of the crosses aswell. Or would the 18 mm MDF be ridgid enough?

SparksCW · 06-06-2009, 2:42 PM

I would put some horizontal beams across in my opinion.

Also, you sure about the 80mm overhang? I've built a floating wall (albeit not for a tv) and have a 50mm overhang which seems to give a nice light around it, any wider I think the light wouldnt cast far enough out to give a nice glow. Just a thought anyways. Looking good though

Sorry for crappy picture but this is with a 50mm overhang. (excuse the non-matching bed sheets!)

M.D. Klapwijk · 06-06-2009, 3:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparksCW

I would put some horizontal beams across in my opinion.

Also, you sure about the 80mm overhang? I've built a floating wall (albeit not for a tv) and have a 50mm overhang which seems to give a nice light around it, any wider I think the light wouldnt cast far enough out to give a nice glow. Just a thought anyways. Looking good though

Sorry for crappy picture but this is with a 50mm overhang. (excuse the non-matching bed sheets!)

I know 80 mm is a bit more, but the spacing from the wall is 77 mm due to the depth of the HTPC. 80 is about the overhang wich blocks the lights from direct line of sight.

Check out this picture, the glow seems ok to me:

Will be creating some extra beams tomorrow though...

M.D. Klapwijk · 06-06-2009, 7:58 PM

Well that was a day well spent, watching the paint dry. Done some work in the toilet and bathroom though...

Tomorrow 08:00 painting the backside of the MDF boards and then the wires.

M.D. Klapwijk · 10-06-2009, 9:49 AM

Quick update:

Extra beams and the backside painted.

Right and...

left panel made and test fitted.

Testing the ligtning, again.

M.D. Klapwijk · 10-06-2009, 2:37 PM

Just finished the center plate:

Now I finally can screw the plates to the frame, ehhh, no need to vacuum first...

M.D. Klapwijk · 10-06-2009, 8:08 PM

Last update for today:

Finally fixed the center board to the frame.

Testing lights and tv again and fitted the wires.

Cabinets check!

The lights seem a bit hard in the picture, but in real they're more yellow.

Later this week I'll be fixing the left and right board to the frame. So what do you all think so far?

SparksCW · 10-06-2009, 8:16 PM

I think it's looking really good! Personally would have the TV a bit higher but I'm really liking those cabinets and the whole effect is coming together nicely. Can't wait to see it finished.

M.D. Klapwijk · 10-06-2009, 8:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparksCW

I think it's looking really good! Personally would have the TV a bit higher but I'm really liking those cabinets and the whole effect is coming together nicely. Can't wait to see it finished.

Well the center of the tv is at eye height, when one is sitting on the lounge sofa's. This is for viewing pleasure the best height, imho. (By the way ceiling height is 2655 mm)

sworrall · 10-06-2009, 9:46 PM

looks really good, keep the pics going and dont forget to leave some access so you can replace the rope light as mine dimmed and broke in sections after about 10 months but was reaplced under warranty

M.D. Klapwijk · 11-06-2009, 7:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sworrall

looks really good, keep the pics going and dont forget to leave some access so you can replace the rope light as mine dimmed and broke in sections after about 10 months but was reaplced under warranty

The rope lights are removable, without moving the cabinets. The warrenty is a bit of a problem, since I bought them at TLC and had them shipped to the Netherlands (It is not that there is now warenty, but I'm not going to be using it if the lights break down). But since then I found a local Dutch hardware store which sells them aswell...

conan · 12-06-2009, 8:42 PM

Looking great so far, I really like your concept, the red wall against white looks very good.

*Do not deal with me as I'm a scammer* · 12-06-2009, 9:08 PM

this has givin me a good idea, ill be doing a similar project soon

Member 354643 · 12-06-2009, 9:11 PM

I think it looks good

M.D. Klapwijk · 14-06-2009, 8:28 AM

Minor updates:

Left and right wall placed and some filling done.

All holes and lines filled for the first time.

Some friends were coming over so some room dress-up was needed (and vacuuming!).

Later that night...

Today I'll be sanding the holes and connections between the boards, hope the special MDF-filler holds itself in the way it should...

M.D. Klapwijk · 14-06-2009, 11:03 AM

Done some sanding using the Bosch Ventaro (sorry couldn't find it on the UK pages of Bosch) and I must say it's a bliss. It throws out little to no MDF sanding dust, perfect!

M.D. Klapwijk · 14-06-2009, 12:01 PM

Coffee break update:

Sanded the filler by hand.

Fully sanded the wall for the first time, using the Bosch Ventaro...

M.D. Klapwijk · 14-06-2009, 7:09 PM

Last update for today (and probably for the next few days, since my day off has been cancelled):

Some more filler...

... and much more sanding.

Later this week I hope to put the first base coat on and do even more sanding.

Jamie S23 · 16-06-2009, 9:10 AM

Good work, the sanding must have taken a while!

M.D. Klapwijk · 16-06-2009, 9:58 AM

And I suspect another day of sanding...

illingworth22 · 17-06-2009, 10:30 AM

Are you going to cover the MDF? This has really got my imagination running and given me loads of Ideas... keep the pictures coming!

M.D. Klapwijk · 17-06-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illingworth22

Are you going to cover the MDF? This has really got my imagination running and given me loads of Ideas... keep the pictures coming!

No I am going to have it sprayed with either spagtelputz (white) or a non-shiny dark red/purple spray paint...

In other words, no I'm not going to try and paint 7m² of mdf board with a roller...