Walnut Entertainment Center (Side sections going in!)

[Jonhilgen]

Ok, so here's the sketchup drawing (thanks Peter!) of an entertainment center that I just finished installing.  The client was a bit wary to bite the bullet and do the whole wall at once, so they asked if it could be done in phases.  Best of both worlds, I get the job, and if I do the first section right and they're happy I get another bite at the apple (and they just gave me the ok for the sides!)

I'm only posting the drawing right now due to time constraints, but I have some pictures of the build and the final product that I can't wait to post.

I can't take credit for the design unfortunately.  After many designs, they fortunately found a picture in a magazine while they were on vacation, and they loved it.  I think I did it justice (I'll post the magazine picture too.)

 

[tiralie]

After many designs, they fortunately found a picture in a magazine while they were on vacation, and they loved it.  I think I did it justice (I'll post the magazine picture too.)

Jon
Congratulations. Looks like a great project.
Curious, how tall is that unit?
I will be interested to see the picture of the design you used.
How wide are the horizontal bands? They look like they are the same width/height as the crown molding.
Tim

 

[Jonhilgen]

Tim,

The unit is nine feet tall.  The horizontal bands, the countertop, and the stiles and rails  are all three inches wide.  The crown was a little bigger, but the client opted to not install the crown because she liked the clean lines of the unit without it.

Here's a couple of pictures from the magazine.

 

[tiralie]

Thanks Jon!
The  picture helps to explain the design.
Hopefully after they see the completed center unit you build they ask you to complete the side units.
I think the design would look a little strange without the side units.
Tim

 

[Jonhilgen]

Tim,

It does look a little lost sitting there in the middle of the wall.  Luckily, they did give me the verbal go ahead for the sides (hopefully will find a check in the mailbox later today.)

Some pics of the build.  I thought I took more...

 

[tiralie]

Jon
The other thing I would check (like you need another thing) is the height of the TV.
While it looks nice where you put it, it looks like the bottom of the TV is more than 40" from the floor and if you are sitting on a couch it will get pretty uncomfortable looking up at it after a while. If you are sitting at a (dinning) table to watch it's not such a big deal.
Of course if this is in the living room, and most wives hate TV's in the living room it may be just uncomfortable enough that the family (boys?) will go elsewhere to watch TV....
Good luck.
Tim

 

[Frank Pellow]

I like the unit very much, but I like it as a whole, not just with the middle, so it is good that they decided to go ahead with the whole job.   A see that you used walnut plywood (which I would also have done), but I would like to know if any part is going to be solid walnut.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Tim, you're spot on with the height, the av guy actually wanted it higher.  as it is right now, its actually quite comfortable since the couch is pretty far back, and the clients desk is behind the couch (its his office as well as the play room).

Frank, all of the banding (and the countertop front edge) as well as the doors are solid.

More pictures, I have some better ones that are on my camera, but its sucu a pain to transfer them sometimes.

 

[tiralie]

Jon:
Looks good!
How did you join the panels for the top? I assume those are 4'x8' book matched walnut veneer panels. That's a large, nice looking expanse of walnut.
I think that unit suits the room better than the original one in the magazine does. I think the TV looks great where it is. The client should be pretty happy with it.
Do you finish it on site or in the shop?
Tim

 

[GPowers]

Your client need to get a BIGGER flat panel TV. The TV looks lost on the great looking case work.

 

[maxpower10]

I could sell them a really nice 65" Runco Plasma.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Jon:
Looks good!
How did you join the panels for the top? I assume those are 4'x8' book matched walnut veneer panels. That's a large, nice looking expanse of walnut.
I think that unit suits the room better than the original one in the magazine does. I think the TV looks great where it is. The client should be pretty happy with it.
Do you finish it on site or in the shop?
Tim

Tim,

The plywood was joined in the middle with Dominos using RonWen's Domiplate, which made it a breeze.  The mitered returns of the upper section were domino'd together as well, and this is where the domino really shines IMHO.  It really makes great, strong miters with little or no hassle.

The plywood actually wasn't bookmatched, I just tried to find a couple of pieces that had similar grains and ran with it.  I went through a lot of trouble to make sure the grains all followed/ran up the center section but the client went with such a dark stain, you can't even tell.

Also, the unit was finished in the shop (I sub the finishing out to an incredibly talented individual).  It really makes the installation and overall experience much quicker and less stressful on the client (no stinking up the house with lacquer).

Your client need to get a BIGGER flat panel TV. The TV looks lost on the great looking case work.

That's the first thing the client's wife said when she came home later in the day!  "Oh my, he's gonna want a bigger TV..."  The husband originally planned on a 50" or larger, but ended up with only a 47.

Thanks guys.  

More pics from an actual camera and not a phone.

 

[GPowers]

That's the first thing the client's wife said when she came home later in the day!  "Oh my, he's gonna want a bigger TV..."  The husband originally planned on a 50" or larger, but ended up with only a 47.

They need  a 65" to fill up the space and make it look good. Your work only deserves the best!

 

[peter halle]

Really nice work.  I love the fact that your work has a more contemporary / modern feel.

Peter

 

[tiralie]

That's the first thing the client's wife said when she came home later in the day!  "Oh my, he's gonna want a bigger TV..."  The husband originally planned on a 50" or larger, but ended up with only a 47.

More pics from an actual camera and not a phone.

Looks good Jon! Looks like the ceiling is covered with  stained T&G pine or fir, did you do that too?  It will be interesting to see the sides in place. The client probably really want the larger TV when he sees the sides installed.
Thanks again.
Tim

 

[honeydoman]

Jon. Looks real nice [thumbs up]. And a bigger tv would be good. Thanks for posting and keep us up to date as the project progress!

 

[Jonhilgen]

Looks good Jon! Looks like the ceiling is covered with  stained T&G pine or fir, did you do that too?  It will be interesting to see the sides in place. The client probably really want the larger TV when he sees the sides installed.
Thanks again.
Tim
[/quote]

It's actually beaded tongue and groove pine (Kreg would love it!) that was installed by the builder.  I just stopped by the house today to double check my dimensions and now that the room is furnished, the TV doesn't look lost up there.  Still think it needs to be bigger.

Parts for the sides are in the process of being cut and assembled!

Jon. Looks real nice [thumbs up]. And a bigger tv would be good. Thanks for posting and keep us up to date as the project progress!

Thanks Kreg, I appreciate it.

 

[ScotF]

Jon,

This looks awesome!!  Very nice work indeed!  Any pics of the build per chance?

Scot

 

[Jonhilgen]

Alright, install started on the side sections.  Forgot to take some pictures of the process of building the shelves on site, but will try to remember to do so tomorrow.

Any questions please feel free to ask.  Should have more pics tomorrow, with more to show.  The install is going to take a couple of more days.  I'm basically cutting prefinished sheet goods and liners to fit this thing all together, but the cabinets were preassembled.

Thanks,  Jon

 

[tiralie]

I'm basically cutting prefinished sheet goods and liners to fit this thing all together, but the cabinets were preassembled.

Jon:
Looks great. The side cabs really seem to make the design come together.

Do you mean you assembled the cabinets off site?
Tim