Hutch with 55" TV - Help please

[JCLP]

Hello everyone. I have been asked to design a hutch that will house a 55 inch TV. The hutch will be 10 feet wide by 8 feet in height. This will be in the eating area of the kitchen. The eating area is 13 feet wide by 15 feet in depth. The kitchen and this area is one large room. The lady of the house wants to make it look like a hutch and not a media centre. I have been searching the web for days for ideas and have not found anything the comes close to what she wants. Would anyone have done anything like this and be willing to share some of your ideas? I'm stuck and would like to get this project underway. Thanks.
JC

 

[bkharman]

What about using a hutch and incorporating a Reversica TV mount. It would be very slick if you trimmed out the non-TV side to match the cabinet style.

 

[tiralie]

The lady of the house wants to make it look like a hutch and not a media center. I have been searching the web for days for ideas and have not found anything the comes close to what she wants.

I find that asking what my clients like even if they can't put their finger on it helps to define a design. What style hutch or furniture Shaker, Arts and Crafts, Early American etc, type of wood and finishes does she like?
Budget is a big determinate of what will be possible. Is she thinking of >10-12K+design fee  or

 

[tjbnwi]

I agree hutch design first, then figure out how you'll make the TV work.

Tom

 

[land_kel]

Is this to separate the two rooms, thus it must look good from both sides. Is it ok to see into each room from the other, except where the TV is?

She must have some general idea of what she would like, and as Tim says, incorporate those into the design.  More info is needed to help at this point.

David

 

[mastercabman]

Try  houzz to get some idea
You can do a search for hutch related pictures

 

[JCLP]

Thanks to all for your comments.
I would like to use the Reversica TV mount but unfortunately the man of the house is a big sports fan and the TV would always be visible and never hidden.
I have met with the client and they did show me many ideas on what they like but none of them had a TV in it. I will have to grab some of her ideas to design the hutch first and then place a TV in where typically a glass front cupboard would be. The bottom portion of the hutch will be a combination of cupboards and drawers. It's the top half hat has me a little challenged. This unit will not be dividing the room, it will be against one wall with a French wine bottle Riddling rack that I will make on one side made from wood ( Fir ) that is over 200 years old that I managed to salvage from the old house my good friend bought. I forgot to mention that I need to hide all the electronics such as amplifier and cable box as well. Too bad this wasn't a family room then this would be easy.
Off too the drawing board. Cheers.

 

[tiralie]

Too bad this wasn't a family room then this would be easy.

Nothing easy about this stuff, otherwise they wouldn't need you.

Off too the drawing board. Cheers.

If you have time post the drawing(s), I'm sure we can help sort out the design.
Tim

 

[tjbnwi]

I would use a simple Peerlees mount for the TV, single swing arm that way you can pull the TV out, make the connection and swing it back in. You will need to secure the unit to the floor or wall. The TV pulled out is a lot of weight on a lever.

To handle the cables (or cable, HDMI cable should be all you need to the TV) create a chase in the back of the unit where the TV will go. This one can be viewed for all sides. There are blocks for the mount between the back of the unit and the panel behind the TV. The hole allows the cable to be past to the lower section. If your going to put the equipment behind doors, you have to consider cooling. RF compatible equipment for remote control or an IR eye will be needed.

Tom

 

[JCLP]

I would use a simple Peerlees mount for the TV, single swing arm that way you can pull the TV out, make the connection and swing it back in. You will need to secure the unit to the floor or wall. The TV pulled out is a lot of weight on a lever.

To handle the cables (or cable, HDMI cable should be all you need to the TV) create a chase in the back of the unit where the TV will go. This one can be viewed for all sides. There are blocks for the mount between the back of the unit and the panel behind the TV. The hole allows the cable to be past to the lower section. If your going to put the equipment behind doors, you have to consider cooling. RF compatible equipment for remote control or an IR eye will be needed.

Tom

Thanks Tom for your ideas. Very nice unit. I really like the top portion. I could see that sitting on top of the base units and having cupboards with glass doors and shelves on either side. How did you create the black stripes? I will have to search for an IR eye as the client doesn't want to see any electronics. I was thinking of using a perforated back on the cupboard that will house the electronics for cooling purposes.

 

[tjbnwi]

Routed the grooves, tapped off the flat area, sprayed the grooves black.

The newer equipment is switchable between IR and RF control. Check the manual for the equipment before you buy an IR repeater. RF will work through closed doors.

Tom

 

[NEW2FES]

IR repeaters work well but not 100% especially when the command operates 2 components. Also if your area requires a cable box having an IR repeater can be a pain as you never see the box which has the channel info. The problem comes when the TV goes on but the box doesn't or they get out of sync. AT&T box has it's own sort of repeater and is easily hidden where other cable Co's don't.

Nothing worse the trying to put on a TV and something doesn't sync. I know make the box visible. Been there and it looked great but the family hated it.

 

[gkaiseril]

There are some IR repeaters that use low power radio signals so walls and direct line of site become less of an issue.

 

[Gary in Texas]

IR repeaters work well but not 100% especially when the command operates 2 components. Also if your area requires a cable box having an IR repeater can be a pain as you never see the box which has the channel info. The problem comes when the TV goes on but the box doesn't or they get out of sync. AT&T box has it's own sort of repeater and is easily hidden where other cable Co's don't.

Nothing worse the trying to put on a TV and something doesn't sync. I know make the box visible. Been there and it looked great but the family hated it.

Hmmm, I will have to disagree with your comments ONLY on the context of technology available today that more or less resolves the issues you describe above.

I have one of the Logitech Harmony remotes (for about 3 years now) along with (as I best recall) the 6 unit repeater.  This allows multiple audio/video devices to be placed behind the wood doors of our unit.

If we hit the command tab to watch tv, and let's say that cable box doesn't come on, well....all we have to do is hit the "help" button which allows the remote to check what might not be turned on, and the remote will in most cases fix that issue.  Seldom do I need to open the door to resolve an issue. ;D

I say go for the hidden A/V components, and advise to purchase a good remote!  I agree with another poster above, it is a more important and potential issue if you don't provide some type of cooling/air circulation within the unit to keep the A/V components cool.....

 

[dfuller]

+1 on houzz.com  It is a really great design/idea website.  Also a great place to advertise/sell your work.