[uncle_albert]

Hi All,

This forum is a great source of inspiration!

I decided to build a false wall with a cabinet in front of it, having initially thought of just buying a TV cabinet!

I bought some goodies:

- LG 60PS8000
- LG BD370 (free with TV)
- Onkyo 806
- Monitor Audio 5.1 Vector
- Harmony 1000
- Omnimount

Plus I had already:

- PS3
- SKY HD

I drew up the plans myself and got a carpenter mate to start the work.

The piccies show where we are at.

Still to do:

- plastering
- coving
- painting the wall
- painting the coving
- building the cabinet
- ventilation holes in cabinet and wall
- set up the equipment

I'll keep you posted.

Cheers,
Unc.

This is Dazza doing his business. My role is to make the tea, laugh at his jokes and take the piccies


More noggins and studs


Omni mount is on


Plasterboard, note lots of spirit levels - very important!


Holes cut out for the speakers


Kit arrived last week from Currys

[M.D. Klapwijk]

Just started and you're almost as far as my project is at the moment?!

Succes, with the rest of the build.

[uncle_albert]

Just seen your post M.D - looks very impressive - much more grander scale than mine!

Is yours going to plan?

My carpenter is on hols for 2 weeks so the cabinet won't be build.

It'll give me a chance to paint and sort out the AV at least.

[M.D. Klapwijk]

Tomorrow I'll be putting the base paint on the wall, 2 weeks later than antecipated, but this is due to lack of time, not to set backs, so I'm happy...

Now back to your project, since this is your thread...

[rnzaf_dodge]

Wow this is looking good
Please lets have lots more pics as you progress

[uncle_albert]

A quick check that the Monitor Audio's fit:



And whilst I'm having a break, here is the first coat on the plasterboard and coving:





The wife and I want a very minimalistic effect i.e. to make it look as if the TV and speakers are part of the living room.

The cabinet (once built) will have doors with no handles (a magnet mechanism will be used), so all kit will be hidden away.

Harmony arrived today:



and I'll unveil the LG60PS8000:



Right better get back to coats 2 and 3

[uncle_albert]

Under coats done and then 2 coats of paint to match the rest of the walls.

Will do the final coat for the coving tomorrow.



I'll create a thin door here so I can access cables etc.





Some advice please - the gap for the centre speaker (height wise) has about an inch or so clearance.

I can close this gap to make the speaker sit flush, but I think I should maintain the gap for ventilation - what do you guys think? Hot air rise and all that!

[uncle_albert]

Right, carpenter is back from his long holiday so the work can recommence!

Need to make a gap for cable and ventilation:


Toughest part of the day - putting the TV on. Gosh its a heavy b*stard! Seriously thought project was in doubt as I didn't factor in plasterers beading and 4 coats of paint so TV was incredibly difficult to secure.

If I was to do it again, I would secure the TV first and then plasterboard around it.

Had to take the wall mount off and realign it before getting the TV on:


Cupboards are taking shape. We opted for high gloss white in the end.


TV hasn't fallen off!


More cabinet construction:


Got the cables all lined up. It helps to label them.








Looking good!


TV on for the first time! Picture of Nasser Hussain looks great!






The end panel and the skirting are left to do. Plus all the cabinet doors need to be lined up. Tasks for tomorrow. I need a drink!


2 door cabinet on the right is for my DVDs and box sets. Not all are in yet.


Centre single door is for sub with shelf on top.


2 door cabinet on the left is for the Onkyo, SKY HD, Onkyo Dock, Logitech RF Extender and the small device above the Sky box is the sensor for the intellipanel (great piece of kit btw):

PS3 is in the room next door which is a designated games room. Using a splitter I have connected the PS3 to the Onkyo for Blu-ray.


Looks nice and clean:




Any comments are welcome.

Hopefully further updates tomorrow.

[gokhan]

wow looking very very nice congrats

one question are the cabinets from ikea ?

if so which range and where did you get the high gloss top ?

thanks

[uncle_albert]

Thanks for your comments gokhan.

The cabinets are actually kitchen units!

Bought from Howdens Joinery (see google).

Best and cheapest way to bespoke your cabinet, my carpenter told me.

The 5 doors (high gloss white), 3 carcasses, 2 end panels (high gloss white) and 3m white matt worktop cost about £600 which is pretty good me thinks.

Forgot to add the doors will be opened by the Whatlock mechanism so no handles required and its really good for security.

[jt2k6]

lovely looking setup, nice use of kitchen cabinets for the storage,
one question does your mount secure to the battens only or go through into the wall?

thanks

Matt

[Philius]

Looking great m8, is the whopping big hole in your wall for ventilation? Personally I would've left slightly more room round the TV for the vent and not had the hole, each to their own though, if we was all the same it would be boring eh?

But top notch nice n clean looking

[Philius]

Oh and meant to ask, doesn't the sub in a cupboard comprimise the sound or cause booming?

[stumac46]

Just wanted to say congrats - that looks superb. Exactly what I've got in mind for my little project.

I assume the open end is for ventilation?

I've been 'advised' by the electrician working at my home NOT to recess my LCD in the wall as he says it'll overheat.

I think I'm going to politely say thanks for the advice and then try and do as good a job as you have. Well done mate.

Cheers,
Stuart

[27neth]

Did you pay £600 just for the cabinets and worktop? or was that the supply and fit.

John.

[uncle_albert]

lovely looking setup, nice use of kitchen cabinets for the storage,
one question does your mount secure to the battens only or go through into the wall?

thanks

Matt

The mount is secured onto studs and noggins, not onto the party wall since it appears that there was no studs to use!

[uncle_albert]

Looking great m8, is the whopping big hole in your wall for ventilation? Personally I would've left slightly more room round the TV for the vent and not had the hole, each to their own though, if we was all the same it would be boring eh?

But top notch nice n clean looking

Oh and meant to ask, doesn't the sub in a cupboard comprimise the sound or cause booming?

Thanks for your comments skars.

The big hole is the last thing that will be boarded over with screws so I can take it off if needed to access cables etc. I'll post some piccies when this is done.

I've left a gap at the top of the centre speaker - I think you can make it out in the piccies - for ventilation. Putting my hand there I can feel the heat coming out so hopefully it'll be ok.

The sub seems ok - my design brief (from the Mrs) was to keep everything minimal, so no cables or equipment showing so some compromises needed to be reached.

[uncle_albert]

Did you pay £600 just for the cabinets and worktop? or was that the supply and fit.

John.

£600 for the cabinet and worktop. The supply and fit was included in the carpenters time (3.5 days). He's done a good job.

[27neth]

Thats very expensive for the supply only, you could of got them for half that price...

John..

[uncle_albert]

Finished!

I cut out a piece of wood and screwed it onto the side 'gap' so it can come off easily. Used brass screws and covers to make it look nice.



I put the rear speakers onto brackets (B-Tech 33's) and used some electrical tubing to run the cables up the walls



Here's pictures of how the whole living room looks.







Electric recliners!




Really enjoyed the project but wouldn't want to do another one in a hurry!