Originally a large
cavity was built into the space above the fireplace
mantle. The cavity previously contained a tube
television.
The cavity was framed in, drywalled
over, textured and painted to match the existing
walls. A 3⁄4-inch plywood panel was centered
behind the finished wall to provide the mechanical
strength necessary to mount a 75-pound plasma
TV.
A provision for a center channel
speaker was built in just above the mantle. The
speaker frame and grill were dyed to match the walls.
Dye, versus paint, better adheres to metal and plastics
and is much tougher.
Even the concealed penetrations and
wall plates up and under the plasma TV are dyed
to match the wall.
Around
the corner and hidden from view we installed a new
cabinet to conceal the A/V electronic components.
Two adjustable shelves provide for an audio/video
surround sound receiver, cable TV tuner and a DVD/CD
changer.
The ceiling contains four fullrange
flush mounted speakers, one in each corner.
A Pronto universal remote operates
the three concealed electronics via radio frequency
and operates the plasma via infrared. Although there
are other Pronto remotes in the house, one operates
in the IR mode only while the other uses radio frequency
on a separate carrier thereby eliminating any interference.
The Pronto remote includes a charging docking port.
A pair of radio frequency wireless
headphones allows a night owl to watch TV without
disturbing their partner.
In
the master bath a TV is slave to the master suite’s
system. The bath also includes two overhead ceiling
speakers. Other approaches to a bathroom TV is a
cabinet flushed into the overhead wall (usually
in new construction) or a flushed-in LCD panel at
eye level. Once you’re used to watching the
morning news while getting ready for work it’s
a luxury you won’t ever give up.
