Sunday, January 24, 2010

No. 24 Hanging Entertainment Center -Reader Idea Week

     Hanging Entertainment Center is the idea submitted by Ken Weinert, his second in this series. The basic reasoning behind his request was that entertainment centers have been a staple for years, yet remain relatively unchanged despite the growing popularity flat panel TV's. A hanging cabinet to go with a hanging TV makes perfect sense.
     I have to admit that this sketch suffers from two problems: a mind with too many ideas and a day with too few hours. This, nonetheless, is the result.
     The piece consists of three elements; a top display shelf, two vertical "supports" and the main cabinet. The top shelf can be used for storage of speakers or decorative items, but also serves to supply overhead lighting to surfaces below. The "supports" are little more than hollow pieces for routing necessary wires. The main cabinet has three sliding doors. The doors conceal components in the upper half of the cabinet, and drawers for CD/DVD storage in the lower half. To give the bottom of the cabinet a finished look I added "interlocking timbers" which also tie into the vertical pieces. This base also conceals an infrared receiver allowing components to be used with the cabinet doors closed.


As I suspect will be the case with all the reader ideas, I wish I had more time to devote to this worthy concept.

Don't forget to submit your own designs and join the community over at furnituredesign.tumblr.com

6 comments:

jamon schlimgen cabinetmaker said...

You win the prize Dale!* I was thinking the same thing after I had scanned the sketch and was doing the write-up. In fact I was going to mention it then decided I would much prefer to see who else picked up on it.
*(The honor IS the prize in this case. Sorry)

jlsmith said...

Realizing that you are cranking these designs out in short order, I don't want to be to critical. However, I find the proportional disagreement between the front elevation and the perspective sufficient enough to raise the question as to which is your intention the elevation or the perspective? I would argue that the lateral extension of the base, top and upper shelf in elevation seems excessive. Thanks for your willingness to provide a view into this design challenge you have decided to take on, I will continue to watch.

jamon schlimgen cabinetmaker said...

jl
I do agree that they do appear to be different. While I don't know if I would call the front elevation overhangs excessive (I like the look of dramatic overhangs though), I would probably favor something closer to the perspective version for this piece. Thanks for watching and for your comments.

Unknown said...

So, I like the unit itself. Just not on the wall. While it does make vacuuming a breeze, I still feel like "Oh, so that's where I put the entertainment unit!" Kinda strange.

Jhon Smith said...

Today’s modern Tv stand and AV Rack is responsible for presenting, protecting, supporting, surrounding, and for being a beautiful, high tech piece of furniture worthy of partnering with the high tech, expensive, very fashionable equipment that is today’s entertainment center.

Anonymous said...

I've been thinking of designing and building a similar console for some time (just don't have the time), so was glad to come across your concept. I had pictured narrower sides - wires run through the wall rather than through the unit itself. I like your proportions and appearance, but agree with others about the base. Only question I have is "will the necessary depth of the unit (receiver + wiring + front trim) make anything you or I build look enormous when it's nailed to the wall so to speak?