My little project - starts this weekend, advice?

[Hallsy]

Nothing major for me, but I'm finally going to be putting my LCD on the wall. Up to know I had a glass stand with all my AV gear on and the TV on top, with a mass of cables everywhere! I tidied that up earlier this year with an enclosed unit from Ikea (can't remmeber the name off hand!) but I've had to lose my centre speaker until the TV is wall mounted, but before I do that I have to move a radiator!!

So, first things first are for me to move a radiator to another wall, which isn't too much of a problem.

Next I need an LCD wall mount. Any suggestions for one that does the job and is nice and cheap? Holding up a Tosh 32WLT66.

Next bit is the channelling. I had thought about going with a floating wall and backlighting as so many on here have, but the other half wasn't keen.

The integral garage is the other side of the wall, and I had thought about just drilling through top and bottom to pass the cables through, but our house isn't the best insulated as it is so I'm now against that. Instead I'm thinking of cutting a channel in and putting in some sort of rectangular tube to pass the cbales down. Before I go hunting around any suggestions? Currently I have 2 HDMI's, 1 Scart, 1 co-ax and 1 RCA going up to the TV, although one of those scarts will soon be out of use, but it doesn't hurt to have more space than needed.

Then the actual mounting of the LCD, I have an un obstructed wall, so is eye level preferable for height?

As the unit is enclosed I'll need some IR distribution, so far I've looked at the Keene system, anything else comparable at similar price? Will also be installing a fan controller to stop it going into meltdown in the cabinet, but I have the bits for that, apart from a 12V PSU.

Only other little thing will be that I'll be hiding up the rear speaker cables, at the moment I am using 0.5mm copper twin, not specifically a speaker cable. Will this be OK or worth putting in something a little better if it's going under floor boards, etc? It'll be connected to a pair of Gale bipolars, nothing special. Even if I ever upgrade I'll keep with bipolars due to position & dispersion.

So, a few questions, hope a few of you can give me a few pointers with them before I get started. I'll get some pics up as I go, but it's nothing as fancy as some of the installs on here!!

Quite looking forward to it though, the missus is away all weekend so I should be able to get stuck in!

[scatterbug]

Are you going to use a channelling tool or drill 'n' bolster method? I've got hatred of dust so would go with your original plan of drilling through to the garage. But if insulation is a problem, so be it.

TV height is personal preference but I think a lot of people mount screens too high. I go with eye-line level with centre or top third of screen when seated.

While you have the opportunity, I'd run some decent cable for the rears. Loads of good stuff for <£2 pm.

[Hallsy]

Thanks for that, I'll be using a drill and bolster, I had considered a grinder but you end up with dust ALL over the house!! I can handle a little bit of dust, but don't fancy dusting the whole house afterwards!! I reckon I'll just cut in a channel deep enough to get cables in and out with plenty of room, then just line it with something smooth to aid cable pulling. Then probably just cover it with a thin piece of ply/plasterboard and give it a quick skim.

Looking at it now I have the TV probably just below eye level to centre when seated, so will raise it up a touch to eye level with centre.

I hear what you're saying about the cable, they probably run around 8m each so £2/m would probably be the most I'd want to spend. I can remember looking at it before, so may go with some VanDamme Blue Series 2x1.5mm which is around £1.20 a metre I think.

Been looking at LCD mounts, as I only want a flush to wall one they all look much of a muchness and as long as they've been made to a particular standard I'm guessing any will be fine.
One like this seems to fit the bill: Plasma Bracket LCD Bracket Super Slim on eBay, also, Wall Mounts Brackets, TV Accessories, Consumer Electronics (end time 09-Nov-08 19:49:41 GMT)

But then there are a multitude of flat mounts (30mm) on there for £20 also, so not sure on that one!

I can remember seeing some IR distribution kits on ebay once before but can't find them now, so reckon I'll stick with the Keene setup unless anyone has a better idea?

[scatterbug]

VanDamme Blue cable is a good buy.

Yes, there's not much between the different flat mounts available.

Good luck and remember to post pictures.

[xx Studawg xx]

Good luck with your project dude... Im also starting my project this weekend... I bought a bracket from tv brackets | lcd tv brackets | tv wall brackets | lcd tv brackets | lcd tv wall brackets | Brackets R Us It also included 2 HDMI cables wich was a bonus... all for £29.99

[Hallsy]

Right, time for some pictures and more advice/opinions!!

Here's what I'm starting with, I used to have a two tier stand which held the centre as well (AE307), but a little while ago I went for the enclosed Besta unit and until I got the TV on the wall, the centre had to be put away

Anyway, excuse the mess!

So as I said, originally the plan was to move the rad from behind the TV, and put it onto the wall opposite the dining table/adjacent to the stairs, and mount TV on wall where it is, chase in cables, etc.

Wednesday SWMBO said she wasn't sure about moving the rad, heat going up the stairs, need to move thermostat, etc. She said about moving room around again, which we've been over before!!

Anyway compromising (she doesn't like the dining table in view when watching TV), I said only other real option would be to have TV at stairs, so maybe stud up a partition, hide AV stuff under stairs and mount TV on new wall. She said it sounded OK but couldn't imagine it, so last night I knocked up a very poor photoshop of how it could look!!

With just the banister line:

Wall to ceiling:

and with a little extension at end to give me more room?

Excuse the screenshots, a work colleague put those on without me knowing!!

The other half likes the first option best, but still isn't sure.

My main thoughts around it are where I would put my stuff with the TV and speakers taking up most of the room. I suppose I could sink them into the wall under the TV just leaving the fascias on display. Cooling isn't too much of an issue as I have a fan controller, etc. I have a Yam RX-V640, Sony DVP, 360 elite and soundbridge to house.

Other thing, what would be best issue with actually building the wall/banister? I was thinking of studding out the part under the stairs to meet the stairway, then maybe add a few more studs to banister and screw plasterboard to that. Or would I better ripping the banister down completely?

Trouble is, now the other half is undecided and says, well, just do what you were going to orignally!!??

I'm not sure, I'm not fussed about work but don't want to mess about with the stairway if it'll end up looking rubbish. Likewise, I see where she is coming from about the radiator, it will be quite close to the landing opening and may not offer much heat into the lounge.

Any opinions?

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

I would go with number 3, its a good compromise between looks and space. Can you access underneath the stairs from anywhere else so you can hide equipment? When you build the new stud you could put lighting on the other side to light the stair treads, that might sweeten the deal with SWMBO a little bit.

Have you considered a vertical radiator on the wall to the right of its current location? On the wall opposite the tv is that 2 sets of patio doors? A vertical radiator between them?

[cdm22]

Could you not put the table/chairs in front of that radiator and put the tv etc on the wall with the 3 pictures/mirrors? Moving the other sofa to where the table is now but further into the room?

[Pisto_Grih]

Originally Posted by cdm22

Could you not put the table/chairs in front of that radiator and put the tv etc on the wall with the 3 pictures/mirrors? Moving the other sofa to where the table is now but further into the room?

Thats what I would say. I think thats a better layout for the room, but it does mean the dining table would be in the very corner of your vision.

[mark_curd]

You got some nice space you could work with. I like the 3rd idea with the extra part added. But............... The idea that "cdm22" mentioned seems the best option, only I would leave the dinning table where it is and move the sofa where the mirrors are at the moment to near the dinning table to create a little sectioned off area there. Leave the other sofa where it is. That way you would not have the table in the corner of your eye.

Then you will have the wall that the mirrors are on to mount the tv etc maybe even a floating wall to give it nice touch.

[Hallsy]

Originally Posted by cdm22

Could you not put the table/chairs in front of that radiator and put the tv etc on the wall with the 3 pictures/mirrors? Moving the other sofa to where the table is now but further into the room?

We've done that before but SWMBO doesn't like it like that, and in reality the table/chairs get quite close to the left speaker. Ideally we want a new table which would look a lot neater than the oval one with chairs don't tuck under neatly! We keep meaning to buy a new rectangular one, but that's for another day!!

I rigged it up with the TV infront of the stairs today and tbh it looks a little tight on space, and almost like we've chose the smallest place possible to put the kit!! I reckon I'll be back to moving the rad and mounting the TV where it is.

I had thought about a vertical rad right in the corner next to the TV but was still concerned about a hot area near my kit, and also the missus isn;t that keen on vertical rads I don't think.

Hopefully have the plan all set by tonight

[Hallsy]

Originally Posted by mark_curd

You got some nice space you could work with. I like the 3rd idea with the extra part added. But............... The idea that "cdm22" mentioned seems the best option, only I would leave the dinning table where it is and move the sofa where the mirrors are at the moment to near the dinning table to create a little sectioned off area there. Leave the other sofa where it is. That way you would not have the table in the corner of your eye.

Then you will have the wall that the mirrors are on to mount the tv etc maybe even a floating wall to give it nice touch.

That has also been considered/tried once before, albeit with a larger AV stand and possibly CRT. I might rig it up tonight to see how it looks with the new setup.

I think before we felt a little close to TV and maybe too sectioned off. Good idea though as the blue wall would be the best place for the TV, being the 'feature' wall and all!!

[Hallsy]

Home from work now, and with lounge as it is (TV at stairs) it seems very spacious, but almost like everything is stuffed down one end of the room. The TV looks OK in front of the stairs but there is little room for the speakers with the right one being very close to the wall, so not much breathing space. I've taken some pics so will get them up soon.

Going to quickly re-arrange as suggested above also so get a few more snaps and hopefully come to a decision.

The missus is away for the weekend now but I've been filling her in on the ideas and asked her to come up with something ASAP so that I can get stuck in tomorrow!

[mark_curd]

Originally Posted by Hallsy

The missus is away for the weekend now

So you have full decision powers!

It's got to be on the feature wall

[Hallsy]

Well, here are our three options (apart from the original one - 1st four pics of thread).

TV in front of stairs:

It looks quite spacious, but I'm not happy with the sofa's and table all being up one end, and also as I've said, I feel the space in front of the stairs is too small. Maybe if I went mad and studded a wall almost right across it would work out different, but I don't want to do that as it will make the lounge smaller, and also block out some light. So I think this one is out.

Next option, TV on blue wall with dining table in corner:

I quite like this, moving the TV over a bit means that the speakers don;t interfere too much with the table, and also it's not in view too much. As I say, once we buy a nicer rectangular table I think it will look a lot nicer anyway. Also thought about locating the AV cabinet a little out of the way, down where the dog bed is, so it looked a little more subtle, maybe just a floating shelf underneath holding the centre and soundbridge? Only thing about is the main seating distance is further than we're used to and makes me want for a bigger LCD. But that's another hurdle all together!!

And lastly the dining table near stairs, sofa in front:

Not so fond of this, not much room around the dining table and sofa/coffee table are very close to TV. Feels too cramped. The coffee table is pretty big, and not necessarilly a keeper, but even so I'm not too keen on this layout.

Once again, sorry for the mess on the tables, I've got a few little things on at the mo!!

So for me I think it's between the first option, moving rad and mounting TV on wall adjacent to doorway, or the third option, of dining table in corner, TV on blue wall, probably with AV unit tucked away in the corner.

Just waiting on the missus' thoughts now!!

Any more opinions?