Ministers entertainment Center

[tiralie]

I thought I would post what I have been working on for the past week or so. This work was all done on site, all with Festool products.

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This is an entertainment center for a baptist ministers house and I am doing the work for a friend who is the general contractor on this project. This design is an amalgamation of the original designers thoughts but mostly it's the contractors baby. Despite my early misgivings, I think it will look quite good when it's completed.
My part (building) is almost complete, I have 4 doors to hang and complete the trim on the panel on left hand side.
The cabinet is made from 3/4" MDF, with 3/8" hardboard stiles and rails with an applied molding to create the panels.
The cabinet is about 95" by 95" so almost square.
This cabinet will be painted, white I think, puck lights and glass shelves will be added to the two open top cabinets.
The first picture is of the wall before we installed the cabinets. The bump out in the wall is from a fireplace chimney. This room was added on to the house.

 

[BobKovacs]

Nice design. I don't think I've ever seen 3/8" hardboard- the thickest I normally see it is 1/4".  Looks like it worked well for making shallow recessed panels.

 

[honeydoman]

Looking good Tim. Is there a hidden door to stash all his cash in from the offerings?  [laughing]. 

But mdf?    You should of used MFG.  ..... Manufactured for god !  [laughing]

 

[jmbfestool]

Looking good Tim. Is there a hidden door to stash all his cash in from the offerings?   [laughing]. 

But mdf?    You should of used MFG.   ..... Manufactured for god !   [laughing]

surprised you didnt recommend Tim to use bead board to improve the look of the unit [tongue] [poke]

JMB

 

[Guy Ashley]

Tim

Good way of hiding/using dead space. I would never have considered using hardboard before but it serves its purpose as it is going to be painted.

You mentioned your reservations on the project, what would you have done if it was your direct commission?

 

[tiralie]

You mentioned your reservations on the project, what would you have done if it was your direct commission?

Guy
Good question.
From a design standpoint I would have brought the cabinets up an inch or two. The client wanted the center of the TV to be a certain height so initially I thought the design might look top heavy with taller cabinets and panels above the TV cabinet. It worked out ok, but not by design but more as a happy accident. You can't really see it in the photo but the top rail is about 2" wider than the others. Everyone likes the look and the client is extremely pleased but from my point of view it's not the best design. I would rather see more space at the bottom and the rails consistent width at the top.

The biggest design gaff was when the opening to the cabinets were changed to get allow for the widest stiles and rails, while increasing the inside dimensions of cabinet to allow for cables etc. to feed through the back of the monitor cabinet into the cabinets on the left. Originally the bottom left cab was built to have at least one shelf, but when a cabinet opening (measured diagonally) is less than length of the inside of the cabinet, you cannot put put the shelves in. I explained this to the contractor, to which he said, Ok no shelves in that cabinet.

I didn't have enough information to start.

Totally my fault. This resulted in a lot of my time was wasted redoing things.

I would have actually done a drawing with dimensions, got it approved, produced a cut list and then started cutting rather than laying it out and then having to change it on the fly 3 times.

The contractor showed me a drawing of the cabinet by another designer that had no usable dimensions, he assured me that we would be able to adjust the design to suit the requirements.  As this was my first project with the contractor, and he is a friend, I decided to let things progress as he wanted them to. This was a poor decision, and I knew it.

I would have spent some time with the client before I got to the site finding out what they wanted. Initial discussions with the contractor lead me to believe that it was not necessary as they had a designer do so drawings and I shouldn't visit the client. The contractor was much more focused on giving me directions on how to construct the cabinet (what panel should overlap which other) so that the cut ends of the MDF were covered by the applied molding or were not visible.

When we first got to the site last week the client explained that they didn't like how close the cabinet side was to the doorway. Apparently the (interior) designers intention was for the space between the door way and the cabinet side (gable end) to be equal to the opposite side of the door way. The client liked the idea that when he was sitting on his couch the door way would be centered between the wall on the extreme left side of the cabinet. We went back and forth with cabinet openings, and rail and stile widths to adjust the width of the cabinet so it would allow some offset away from the door opening. This was a real waste of time and it back extremely difficult to keep all the changes organized. A lot of time was used up in checking and rechecking dimensions.  A drawing would have been so much better than standing around with a story stick to show where the cabinet would end up and then remarking it up for every change so I could actually create a cut list.

Like I said, all this could have been avoided if I had done what I should have done. No harm done, we are still friends, I got paid and the client is happy.

On to the next project.

Tim

 

[tiralie]

Nice design. I don't think I've ever seen 3/8" hardboard- the thickest I normally see it is 1/4".  Looks like it worked well for making shallow recessed panels.

Bob:
The hardboard creates the correct height (shoulder) from the molding to create the panel and a bead.
It is quite an effective detail.
I will post a picture of the hardboard and molding detail later.
Tim

 

[tiralie]

Looking good Tim. Is there a hidden door to stash all his cash in from the offerings?   [laughing]. 

But mdf?    You should of used MFG.   ..... Manufactured for god !   [laughing]

surprised you didnt recommend Tim to use bead board to improve the look of the unit [tongue] [poke]

JMB

Funny enough, the original design (long before I got there) was specified with bead board on the doors. You might be able to see that there is T&G wainscoting on the walls.
Tim
Tim

 

[jmbfestool]

You mentioned your reservations on the project, what would you have done if it was your direct commission?

Guy
Good question.
From a design standpoint I would have brought the cabinets up an inch or two. The client wanted the center of the TV to be a certain height so initially I thought the design might look top heavy with taller cabinets and panels above the TV cabinet. It worked out ok, but not by design but more as a happy accident. You can't really see it in the photo but the top rail is about 2" wider than the others. Everyone likes the look and the client is extremely pleased but from my point of view it's not the best design. I would rather see more space at the bottom and the rails consistent width at the top.

The biggest design gaff was when the opening to the cabinets were changed to get allow for the widest stiles and rails, while increasing the inside dimensions of cabinet to allow for cables etc. to feed through the back of the monitor cabinet into the cabinets on the left. Originally the bottom left cab was built to have at least one shelf, but when a cabinet opening (measured diagonally) is less than length of the inside of the cabinet, you cannot put put the shelves in. I explained this to the contractor, to which he said, Ok no shelves in that cabinet.

I didn't have enough information to start.

Totally my fault. This resulted in a lot of my time was wasted redoing things.

I would have actually done a drawing with dimensions, got it approved, produced a cut list and then started cutting rather than laying it out and then having to change it on the fly 3 times.

The contractor showed me a drawing of the cabinet by another designer that had no usable dimensions, he assured me that we would be able to adjust the design to suit the requirements.  As this was my first project with the contractor, and he is a friend, I decided to let things progress as he wanted them to. This was a poor decision, and I knew it.

I would have spent some time with the client before I got to the site finding out what they wanted. Initial discussions with the contractor lead me to believe that it was not necessary as they had a designer do so drawings and I shouldn't visit the client. The contractor was much more focused on giving me directions on how to construct the cabinet (what panel should overlap which other) so that the cut ends of the MDF were covered by the applied molding or were not visible.

When we first got to the site last week the client explained that they didn't like how close the cabinet side was to the doorway. Apparently the (interior) designers intention was for the space between the door way and the cabinet side (gable end) to be equal to the opposite side of the door way. The client liked the idea that when he was sitting on his couch the door way would be centered between the wall on the extreme left side of the cabinet. We went back and forth with cabinet openings, and rail and stile widths to adjust the width of the cabinet so it would allow some offset away from the door opening. This was a real waste of time and it back extremely difficult to keep all the changes organized. A lot of time was used up in checking and rechecking dimensions.  A drawing would have been so much better than standing around with a story stick to show where the cabinet would end up and then remarking it up for every change so I could actually create a cut list.

Like I said, all this could have been avoided if I had done what I should have done. No harm done, we are still friends, I got paid and the client is happy.

On to the next project.

Tim

I know what your sayin dude! I get this all the time!  A small builder I work for at the moment never wants me to talk 2 the client in person always through him first so he can make the decision first before consulting the client!  Which is fair enough especially if its a problem which needs discussing!
BUT
the problem is the builder often has his own ideas and if he thinks its a better way he will tell me to do it that way! I then find out later when the client comes in and has a look whats been done and says y have you dont it like this!  I go  [eek] and my brain goes into over drive and ill try and think of a valid reason to why its been done like that and if I cant I just say I was told to do it this way
BUT
when the clients askes would you of done it this way I get worried! Cus often it would not be how I would of done it not saying what was done was bad but I would of done something which properly cost more money and all and cus I work through the builder you not always sure what the budget or whats been discussed!  

I kinda got annoyed working like this and told the builder I would like to discuss with the him first and then with him AND the client together so every one is happy he said fair enough!  I think he get worried that something said which could get him into trouble or something I dont know.  

Well the other week the clients and builder was discussing how to approach this problem we had the client and builders where talking I was on the scaffold! I then stopped working my self and looked towards the area where the client and the builder where discussing what to do the client must of seen me looking and shouted what you thinking then MATE!  I looked at the builder thinking should I say what I think or just say oh nothing! Welll I decided to say what I thought would be the best way the client said yes I like it we are doing it his way no more discussions about it and he then walked off. I felt kinda bad thinking im not going to be in the builders good books if I had undermined him! The builder walked up to me and said  what do you need and ill get you the stuff to do it. FEWWWW!  [blink]
Well he cant be angry with me cus he had offered to pay me more money from out the blue last week! I never asked for more money he just said he was pleased with what I have done and said I should charge him more money per day.

JMB

 

[GPowers]

Wow, and I thought there was a lot of politics going in my office.

 

[tiralie]

Looks like it worked well for making shallow recessed panels.

Here's a detail of the molding against the 3/8" mdf/hardboard.
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....and the cabinet with primer on it.
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Tim

 

[BobKovacs]

Ugh- the most dreaded part of the job for me- priming and painting.......

Looks great otherwise!

 

[upscale]

The first picture is of the wall before we installed the cabinets. The bump out in the wall is from a fireplace chimney. This room was added on to the house.

I like how you camouflaged the chimney bump out to have the entire cabinet appear to be a full sized shelving unit. It takes a relatively difficult to use wall area and makes it look like a piece of furniture that should be there. Kudos.

 

[honeydoman]

tim,  looks good  dont forget to sand then paint with good paint,  sherwin williams super paint i like best.

also hate to bring this up is the frames off a bit in the pic with the molding or is it the picture.  as it looks higher on one side by a 1/4" or so.  no big deal

 

[tiralie]

tim,  looks good  dont forget to sand then paint with good paint,  sherwin williams super paint i like best.

also hate to bring this up is the frames off a bit in the pic with the molding or is it the picture.  as it looks higher on one side by a 1/4" or so.  no big deal

Kreg:
Ya, it does look like it's off. Not sure what's going on there...looks like it moved. The photo is a small section of a larger one and it probably looks off because of the perspective in the photo.

I am not painting this, I just went over to the house yesterday and took the pictures.
The painter is a real character, always joking around.
Tim

 

[tiralie]

also hate to bring this up is the frames off a bit in the pic with the molding or is it the picture.  as it looks higher on one side by a 1/4" or so.  no big deal

Kreg:
You were right, by the looks of it (in my other photos) this is about 1/4" off.
Damn, really bugs me.

Good eye, thanks for catching this.

Tim

 

[Electric Trim]

tim,  looks good  dont forget to sand then paint with good paint,  sherwin williams super paint i like best.

also hate to bring this up is the frames off a bit in the pic with the molding or is it the picture.  as it looks higher on one side by a 1/4" or so.  no big deal

Kreg, do you finish your own projects?  Or do you have a painter that follows you?