We purchased something from this line of furniture. Personally I prefer the look of the TV being displayed in a piece of furniture rather than on top of a console. The electronics are hidden below behind doors and the sides house pictures or books or whatever.

Here is a link that might be useful: Similar

I think those huge brown wooden behemoths can dominate the room. Ones that look like built-ins are more successful, to my eye.

I think if you could design a bookcase unit that was built-in, that integrated the TV and the accompanying electronics, that would be appropriate to a house of that age. I would recommend making the area where the TV goes fairly flexible since the technology changes quickly.

I looked at a house that had a lot of beautiful cabinetry with very specific areas for specific pieces of equipment and media: LPs, VHS tapes etc. that was all currently pretty useless.

If you design something along the lines of bookshelves that the TV happens to fit into that would be more flexible.

I think it all depends on your room. I agree with judie liking the look of the tv displayed in a piece of furniture rather an just on a console but I also agree with ideefixe that they can dominate a room. We had one built. With the big stone fireplace we have I think it balances out the room.
{{!gwi}}

This is the room that is to be extended. The far wall is where the cabinetry would go. Right now it is 7' wide, but will be 15' when the renovation is complete.

The windows will be longer and will be topped with transoms and fine molding. Furniture will be replaced, but the general color scheme will be retained with the exception of the couch which may not be red/brick.
I was thinking of top shelving - possible glass cabs - and a mix of open shelving and closed cabinets on the bottom.

While I initially thought off white painted cabinetry might work, I am concerned about the large flat screen and the big square black box it will appear like with off-white cabs. Perhaps a casual pine like the cabinet in the corner might work better. Thoughts???

Sue

We have custom built-ins like roseabbey's (but a little bigger). In our room we have 11 foot ceilings and a wall of 8 foot windows that balance ours out. I think the cheapy 1980's-1990's TV cabinets are the ones that look dated. Not custom built-ins. I think they would be very appropriate for your house. We have some glass-fronted cabinets in the top half as well. We have gotten many compliments on the built-ins.

This is our room in progress...

This was just after it the bookcase/entertainment center was built, before we accessorized it and before we added window treatments to the windows. I'll eventually post a completed picture(I have a few chairs on order - that are due to arrive any day now- yippee!And i'm hoping to replace the couches soon)

Yes, that's what i am thinking of doing - staggered heights and not too clunky. We will have 8' ceiling along that wall so it can't be too imposing.

Sue

Lishaana, love your rug!

thanks barb5! It's Safavieh Rodeo Drive collection (i think it's been discontinued, but you can still find it online).

Since you asked for an opinion, I want to be honest and say that, no matter how beautiful or well-designed, yes, they do look dated. You'll be locking yourself into a look that is already not current but which at the same time is not inexpensive. I would rethink my options and look for another solution.

Consoles may be the current trend, but they don't work for every application. We have one in the keeping room, but still use an entertainment armoire in the living room.

Here is a link that might be useful: console & hutch in cherry from Bob Timberlake

I would definitely do built-ins. (not a stand-alone unit, even custom) If you are already building, or doing something custom, why not?

Here is what we did, just as an idea ... We aren't completely done yet, and I still need to accessorize better (I HATE that part!). The TV is only 37 in., I think, but we can fit a bigger one because the shelves are adjustable. We can also move the TV out completely and add a shelf if we want (which we plan on doing when we build a media room downstairs).

We left some space open at the bottom, but you could certainly build down to the floor. And the panels up top would be nice as doors, but they are actually concealing soffits for ducts. The doors have wire mesh so that remotes will work through them. They really aren't as see-through as they look in the photo.

Anyway ... this is just to say you can do pretty much anything with built-ins! Drawers, bi-fold doors, etc etc.

Segbrown, just wanted to tell you that I clipped and saved your photos of your family room. I think the way you did your built-ins was nicely done. Pretty room!

Segbrown, I LOVE the way you did your built-ins. That is a perfect way to incorporate them without looking "too" specifically like a TV built-in.

I don't *think* entertainment centers are passe', but so what if they are? Do what *you* want, and don't be one to follow the so-called trends that sometimes last only 5 minutes.

I like entertainment centers, as long as they have doors to close off the tv~I don't consider a tv a beautiful 'piece of furniture', flatscreen, plasma, or whatever. Doors can be the type that slide back, open/close, or even up/down. IMO, the beauty of a room can quickly be changed by the sight of a big, black, screen~just putting in *my* 2 cents, so please don't 'take this to heart'...anyone. ;o)

I don't know if entertainment centers are "out" but I would suggest that you look at CL first. I've been browsing my CL for months and while I have no need or space for an entertainment center, I've often considered buying one just to break it up for the wood. Many folks here put costly custom ones up at highish prices only to be trying to practically giving them away a month or two later. There simply isn't much of a demand for them on CL.

whitedobe: What is CL???

Sue

Sorry! It's CraigsList. I look at the Atlanta and I'll put the link below. If you go to that page and look to the right you'll see a bunch of cities that CL serves.

If you go to the "furniture by owner" and put just the word "entertainment" into the search function, you'll see what I mean but them popping up all over. You can even put "entertainment" and "custom" and find many. I watched on for a couple of months that started out at over $5000. (They said it was a great deal since they'd had it custom built for a lot more.) I don't know what it wound up going for but it was under $500 by the time it went off the list.

Here is a link that might be useful: Craigslist

I think 'entertainment' centers are dated because entertainment technology has changed tremendously. TV screens are meant to be installed on walls now. Audio equipment is much smaller and some are wireless.
Especially the 70s and 80s oak entertainment centers are totally out :)

However, tastefully done wall to wall, or built in shelving for books and other things is still in. It is timeless. Use of furniture quality cupboards in living rooms is also timeless.

My thought is that not everyone has changed their TV to a large flat screen.

Not everyone lives in a home that has large amount of open wall space for built-ins. Or, the money to have built-ins.

Not everyone who has a flat screen wants to mount it on the wall.

I have a Romweber entertainment center that I purchased a few years ago, and I just love it. Living in an old cape cod, it's perfect for my home's physical set-up. Whether it's still in vogue or not doesn't matter in the least to me.

People have different tastes, and I respect them all on this subject. I decorate for my taste - it works for me!

My3dogs, I agree completely! We have a 36" flat screen in the keeping room and that's as big as we'll go. Still using two tube TVs in other rooms. When they're replaced it'll be with something similar in size.

No desire to ever mount a TV on the wall. I love the cherry entertainment armoire in our living room. The pocket doors let me hide the TV and all the A/V equipment.

The question, however, was whether they are still in vogue. This has nothing to do with someone's likes or dislikes, but rather whether they're in style, and I think many of us would agree that they're not.

And, many of us enjoy them and feel that they are - so this question isn't a 'right or wrong' - the OP was asking for opinions, and got them. Naturally some feel they are, and some feel they aren't.

Some say 'Potay-to and some say Pota-to. Neither is incorrect; it's what they prefer.

Ingrid, since they're still being sold and custom built I think it's safe to say they're still in style.

Very interesting! I was told that a local consignment store stopped taking the entertainment centers because they weren't selling. I like them but considering that, I would not want to pay a whole lot for it. I agree with the CL suggestion. At least you wont be out a lot of money if you change your taste or tv later.

....so who *here* cares if they're in style or not? I say, down with trends and who are 'they' anyway, those so-called designers? Promoting = $$$$~enough said!

my3dogs~R-E-S-P-E-C-T!! Right on!

Natal, what....no tv hung on the wall! I second-the-motion, but hey, do what *you* love, not what designers say is *in*.

Tryingtodecorate, i'm going to be hitting some consignment stores! An entertainment center can be made into another piece of furniture with a little imagination. ;o)

if i'm getting built ins (not wall to wall, but floor to ceiling flanking fireplace) which will house a 65" flat screen, do you think i potentially could want to go even bigger down the road?

I had mine custom built last year. I used newhomebuilder's bookcase as inspiration (THANKS NEWHOMEBUILDER!). I have adjustable shelves, and I put beadboard in the back painted the same color as my walls. Now excuse me while I go clean those fingerprints off my TV and hide those wires:)

newhomebuilders lovely bookcase (my inspiration pic)

We have an entertainment center for our 48" TV. It's modular, so down the road we can adapt it for a different setting. The TV sits on a console that we could use by itself and the two side bookcases could also be used by themselves. This isn't the best picture, but it's the only one I have right now.

I agree with My3Dogs and Patty Cakes . . . very wise and classy answers, Ladies! I agree that it depends on the style of your home, the money you have to invest and how long you plan on making your present house your home.
Lynn

I was told that a local consignment store stopped taking the entertainment centers because they weren't selling
I would venture to guess that the reason they aren't selling is that the hole for the TV in these older entertainment centers that people are getting rid of is too small for current TVs.

That is to say, it isn't the entertainment center itself that is out of vogue, but in fact the inherent design of older ones that is no longer useful. Again, that makes me stress to be careful about size, especially when doing built-ins. Technology is continues to change at an exponential rate.

"I would venture to guess that the reason they aren't selling is that the hole for the TV in these older entertainment centers that people are getting rid of is too small for current TVs.

That is to say, it isn't the entertainment center itself that is out of vogue, but in fact the inherent design of older ones that is no longer useful. Again, that makes me stress to be careful about size, especially when doing built-ins. Technology is continues to change at an exponential rate. "

Yes, TVs are wider now, but they are also flat, so you don't need a deep cabinet like you used to.

We tried to sell our ent. armoire on CL ... well, we did sell it, but we were lucky. It was a very nice piece, Drexel Heritage, distressed pine, and we received exactly one call on it. Someone wanted to turn it into a bar.

It is my opinion that they are not "in vogue" (which is what the question was) although they might be the best answer for a particular person's situation. Nothing wrong with that. But I don't think you can ever go wrong by adding built-ins to your house .. .they seem to be a plus for resale (real estate), plus (IN MY OPINION) they just look better.

By the way, this is coming from someone who has had entertainment centers and armoires in the past, and just finally got her first built-ins. So I totally understand going the previous route. It just seems that the OP's situation makes built-ins just as doable as a stand-alone unit, and in that case I'd almost always choose the built-ins.

...I always thought this was a cool treatment, if I could figure out how to make it look good. Not sure if it's practical, though.

Great point about the size of ETs and built-ins. Mine can hold a 40" x 40" TV, and I know I will never have one that large, as I just don't care for large TVs. I also won't replace my 'tube TVs' until they no longer function, and lucky for me, they are working as well as the day I bought them. :-)

My ET (or armoire) holds so many things that I just love it and its adjustable shelves. I can move it to any other room, and re-purpose it if I choose to. To me, and it's just my opinion, it's a beautiful piece of furniture that I enjoy having in my home.

That IS beautiful ... I hated getting rid of ours, but there was no place for it to go. It wouldn't fit into the basement, and it was too big to go anywhere else. We turned a nicer armoire into a bar, so .... oh well.

Of course, the OP is talking about a 50something-in. TV, so armoires are out of the question.

Our new house has a huge wall just calling for an entertainment center. Otherwise I would have no idea what to put on the wall. I like the idea of having the storage in the lower cabinets and a place to put photos or knick-nacks on the shelves. We are considering the Covington Media Wall Unit at Bassett Furniture. (You can see it on their website).

Thanks for your thoughtful replies. I'm leaning toward actual buitins at this point. I found these pics online which reflect the spirit I am looking for. We are undecided about whether these will look best in an off white to reflect the kitchen cabinets in the other side of the space, or to do a medium-colored wood.

The only issue I see with white is the large gaping black space the TV screen will create. Although I would like to have doors to cover the screen, in reality the TV will be on when we're home.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Sue

Sue, I was looking at houzz website and saw this pic and thought of you. So, here is another inspiration pic for you.

[eclectic family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2104) by other metros interior designer Jane Ann Maxwell

Kden71. yes, thats a very good example. I don't have the ceiling height but definitely along the lines of what I am looking for.

Thank you very much for posting it.
Sue

I think the outdated look is the one where the entertainment center is too big for the room.

When it overwhelms everything in the room and is the center of attention. That "look" is outdated but the actual entertainment centers are not IMO. Here are a couple pics of mine. It's huge. But the room is huge and is open to the kitchen and the ceiling is 18' tall so the room isn't overwhelmed by the furniture's mass. I've included a full view of my room just to illustrate that there are other more important things to look at in the room than just the entertainment center. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
{{!gwi}}


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Kden71,

I am in the middle of trying to design an entertainment center. Could you tell me what size cabinets you used?
Your unit seems to have good proportions. How high is the base and what is the width and hight of the shelves on the sides of the TV? Also how big is the TV opening. The cabinet maker was talking about using 35" high base cabinets, and 36" high shelves. I think the base is too high. What size did you use? Thanks Gail

Hi Gail,
To answer you questions regarding my entertainment center:
base height 35" (I wanted it to be the same height as my chair rail) shelf height 52" overall height 87"
T.V. opening width inside 49" (T.V. is 40") overall width 92"=side shelves width 20", middle shelf 52".
The shelves are adjustable. I hope I answered everything. If you have any other questions, just let me know. Kden

I agree with the others that think you should decorate
to suite your taste and needs. Most of the old wall units
were made for 36" tv's that is why many of them are history.
Think of all the people that got rid of things that they
considered outdated or not in vogue :) They are now priceless antiques.
Joann

kden71- I am just in the process of getting quotes for a unit very similar to yours. If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to have yours built and which part of the country are you in. We are in calif and the first quote I got was $3300 for a similar size and specs to yours but in dark wood. Thanks!

lovetoshop,

My entertainment center was $2300. I had it built 2/09, and I live in SC.

Hope that helps, Kden

I think the built in ones in this thread are gorgeous!