How do I embed my AV gear into chimney breast?

[dscott21]

Hi Guys,

Inspired by all the different threads on floating walls etc, and also recently having our 1st baby. I'm wanting to know if it's possible to embed my AV equpment into an existing brick chimney breast for a better av experience and also creating a space for a 'Toy Corner' where the current 'TV Corner' is.

I've thought about taking the chimney breast out completely and replacing it with a custom built false chimney breast, however that's not an option. The current chimney has to stay.

I've attached a picture of the current setup and the chimney breast.

I'd be looking to embed the TV, have a section out for the centre speaker, replace the current fire with a narrower but wider fireplace with a glass front, and also a cut out for the Sky+ HD, AV AMP, Bluray player.

Can this be done with the existing chimney breast?

[edward]

Sounds like a good idea if you don't need the fire place.

How are you going to ventilate the installed kit - without it getting covered in rain, soot and bird poop?

Where are your speakers going? I wonder if the alcoves either side of the chimney breast are going to do interesting things to your sound.

[dscott21]

Originally Posted by edward

Sounds like a good idea if you don't need the fire place.

How are you going to ventilate the installed kit - without it getting covered in rain, soot and bird poop?

Where are your speakers going? I wonder if the alcoves either side of the chimney breast are going to do interesting things to your sound.

Some valid points and thanks for your reply.

We hardly use the existing fire to be honest, we could get rid of it altogether or maybe a stylish electric one maybe ok?

With regards to ventilation, I plan to have the recesses built large enough so that there would be enough room around the components for ventilation.

The left and right speakers would be on the walls either side of the chimney breast - is this a bad idea, would they be better positioned either side of the TV once recessed into the chimney breast?

I'm not much of a builder so don't even know if this is possible or how it can be done, hence the reason for the thread.

[Sofa-loafer]

Hi dscott21 - Have a look at my link below to see if its any use to you...

It's a build-on-a-budget experiment. I was refurbing a bungalow to sell on, hence the budget part!

SL...