Hi,

I've been reading through forums and surfing the net looking for ideas for my new house.

It has a media niche that sits 23 inches off the ground.

http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/razemania/4.jpg

I have a Sony FD Trinitron 36" HDTV that is great so there is no need to upgrade to a flat panel.

At my old house, my tv sat on an entertainment center that was about 20" off the ground. As you can imagine, using this in the new house would put the TV too high for viewing comfort. So I am looking for ideas to put the AV equipment above the TV.

So far I really like the idea posted at avforums.com: (sorry I'm new and cannot post links)
How Too.. "DIY Floating Shelves" ..finally!.

I also like some of the OmniMount TRIA glass shelves:

I haven't found any photos or ideas on using either of these types of solutions above the TV so I thought I would turn to the forum for feedback and ideas. Do you think this idea would work.

I am also thinking of how I would earthquake proof this as I live in California, but don't think there is much to this - I can simply use straps to attach the equipment to the studs.

Many thanks in advance.

Brian

This looks like it could be a good space for a drop down screen and PJ too.

What are you thinking about using for sound?

This looks like it could be a good space for a drop down screen and PJ too.

What are you thinking about using for sound?

That is a great idea I haven't thought about.


For sound, I am running speaker wire through the attic space above and either into the top of the media center, (will have to hide it because some sort of track) or if I can manage, through to the back. I have a set of 5.1 Boston Acoustics (similar to the 8000 series).

Brian

Whatever you do in that niche, make it temporary. 36 inches isn't going to last very long in that room, in a new house, if you are hanging around this forum. Seriously though, plan for having a 50" in there at least and work around that. It sounds like you are just planning on putting the TV on the bottom of the niche, so this shouldn't be a problem.

For now, put the TV on the bottom of the niche and then find a couple shelves to put above it that fill the niche. I don't think I would do anything more permanent than this for a little while. Honestly, I don't think I would do anything permanent until you start using the room and the space and have lived in the house a little bit. That way you can have more info about what you need in there.

Just my 2 cents (refer to signature)

Whatever you do in that niche, make it temporary. 36 inches isn't going to last very long in that room, in a new house, if you are hanging around this forum. Seriously though, plan for having a 50" in there at least and work around that. It sounds like you are just planning on putting the TV on the bottom of the niche, so this shouldn't be a problem.

For now, put the TV on the bottom of the niche and then find a couple shelves to put above it that fill the niche. I don't think I would do anything more permanent than this for a little while. Honestly, I don't think I would do anything permanent until you start using the room and the space and have lived in the house a little bit. That way you can have more info about what you need in there.

Just my 2 cents (refer to signature)

I think you are right on... I've been eyeing the 50 inch Panasonic plasma. I just have a hard time getting rid of the Sony, because it is a good TV. It's way to heavy and I'm sure, soon to be too small.

I like the "temp" idea. I was also looking at some basic shelf brackets at Lowes, thinking I could do something that will come out easy.

On a side note, i was able to drill a 3/4 - 1 inch hole in the top frame from the attic (not sure what you call it) - the 2 2x4s above the wall of the media niche. I then created a 1 gang hole in the top of the media niche and will run speaker wire for SS and outside speakers this weekend. I'm very happy to have found this route since the house isn't already pre-wired.

Brian

Paint the niche - either the wall color or black.

Paint the niche - either the wall color or black.

I couldn't agree more.

I ended up painting the entire downstairs a lighter shade of brown. (Those were the colors when we bought the house.)

So now the media niche is the same color.