Slim and Trim

<b>Flat-screen TVs are easy to integrate into a home’s décor</b>

America’s absolute love of home-entertainment systems has turned a major corner. Gone are the days of the behemoth televisions, free-standing “big screens” and smaller but chunky models. Dare I say that the television’s form has finally caught up with its function? The answer to every designer’s prayers has been provided: aesthetically pleasing flat-screen plasma and LCD televisions that we can work and live with.

No longer are we forced to hide that unattractive, dust-catching, wire-bearing — but beloved — provider of endless entertainment behind closed doors.

In the not-too-distant past, breaching the subject of where to place the television with clients was challenging. I’m amused when I recall some design solutions we were forced into making to accommodate the family’s prized big-screen TV — often as big as today’s MINI Cooper. The husband was always so proud of this TV as he would rationalize exactly why it needed to sit front and center in the family room — enormous speakers and all.

Meanwhile, I would be caught in the middle as his wife argued to sequester the beast behind closed doors in an enormous custom cabinet, or better yet, banish it to the basement or garage.

My job was to find common ground (I knew my love of psychology would one day be needed).

The days of those spacewasting entertainment centers are over. The typical depth required to house a television has gone from 24 inches to a mere 6 inches for today’s flatscreen TVs.

These televisions and their installation options are not only a welcome change, but a true example of designing forward.

Viewing comfort is a major factor to be considered when picking a location for your flat-screen TV.

Though the new generation of flat-screen televisions provide us with many simple options for installation locations, it is still important that we understand the pros and cons of each potential application.

Mounting above a fireplace: Many times, the most obvious choice to locate a television in a room is on the main focal-point wall, which is where the seating group is most likely anchored. But wait a minute, isn’t that where your fireplace is located? It, too, enjoys being front and center. And why not? The fireplace is a major architectural element that provides not only warmth and ambience during those chilly nights, but added value to your home.

Though I have had many successful installations of flat-screen televisions over clients’ fireplaces, there are factors to consider before making this important decision.

In order for the heat from the fireplace to be properly diverted away from the face of the television, it is best to have a mantel, which acts as a heat barrier. Heat from within your chimney walls should also be taken into account. Temperatures over 90 degrees may adversely affect your television. Check your manufacturer’s warranty as this may also void it. Try out this simple test: Tape a thermometer to the face of your fireplace at the television’s potential location, light up a fire and take a reading. Remember that wood emits more radiant heat than gas logs, so be sure to take that into account.

Your viewing comfort is a major factor to be considered. The most natural position for viewing the television is at, or closely around your seated eye level. Many times, televisions that are placed over fireplaces may prove to be aesthetically pleasing, but literally a real “pain in the neck.” Try this simple test: Take a seat on your sofa while facing your fireplace. Now sit back as though you were enjoying your favorite movie, then cast your eyes toward the fireplace and make a mental note of where your most comfortable eye position lands. Now, focus your eyes above your fireplace directly at the potential location for your television. How do your eyes and neck feel? Are you comfortable? Or will prolonged viewing put strain on your eyes and neck?

Pre-wiring must be taken into account for any wall-mount application. But it’s critical for fireplace installations because of insulated chimney ducting and wall cladding. Be sure to pre-determine the location for all of your audio/video equipment so that the proper electrical conduit can be put in place.

The master bedroom can be the most ideal room for a flat-screen television mounted over the fireplace. Most people will view the television while in bed or while walking about the room getting ready to start or end their day. When viewing the television from bed, your line of sight is substantially higher than while viewing from a sofa or chair.

And lying in bed in a reclined position may prove to be a more comfortable viewing configuration.

Mounting above or sitting atop an audio/video storage unit: This is the most convenient application. In spaces where a fireplace or a main architectural focal point is not present, this clean slate could prove to be very successful — if handled properly. An eye-catching console that houses the audio/ video equipment with flat-screen television above just might be your “E ticket” to your aesthetically pleasing focal point as well as complete entertainment enjoyment.

Here are a few guidelines:

<b>Choose an audio/video storage unit no more than 42 inches high.</b> This will allow you to view at a comfortable eye level. Many storage units come pre-wired to make running those unsightly cords that much easier — a real plus.

<b>Consider the overall width of the storage unit in comparison with the width of your flat-screen television.</b> Don’t make the mistake of purchasing a storage unit that is narrower than your television — this is a design faux pas. A general rule is to allow a minimum of 6 inches of the unit to extend beyond each side of the TV.

<b>Verify that the remote controls for the equipment stored within the unit will work when the unit’s doors are closed.</b> You do not want to have to open the doors each time you want to change a CD or DVD. There are many units available that have glass doors or no doors at all. A little planning will save you a lot of future aggravation.

When deciding whether to mount your flatscreen television on the wall above the unit or place it on a stand atop the unit, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I need the additional surface space atop the unit to place accoutrements or additional components, or do I want a cleaner look? If it’s the latter, wall-hung is your best choice.

Do I want to hang shelves above my television? If so, sitting on a stand may be best.

Have I taken into account the following dimensions?

 - A flat wall-mount bracket averages 1.25 inches in depth.
 - A tilt wall-mount bracket averages 1.75 inches in depth and tilts 15 percent to 20 percent vertically.
 - The typical stand averages 4 inches to 6 inches deep and 4 inches to 6 inches high.
 - The typical viewing angle is 160 degrees.

<b>Turn TV into a work of art</b>
By David-Michael, Freedom News Service

<i>FRAMED: You can make your flat screen seem more like a work of art by surrounding it with a frame to fit your décor.</i>

Still grappling with the idea of having your flat-screen television out in clear view? Well, what if I told you that your flatscreen could be turned into a breathtaking piece of art? So let’s transform it into a high-definition art gallery complete with sound and custom frame.

GalleryPlayer Inc. has developed a state-of-the-art product that enables you to transform any screen into a dynamic showcase for renowned artwork and breathtaking photographic imagery via cable, the Internet and widescreen DVDs.

When the company points out that you can have access to the “world’s finest” artwork and photographic imagery, it isn’t kidding. GalleryPlayer has been granted eight patents to showcase famous works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Andy Warhol Foundation; National Geographic; Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts, New York; the New York Public Library; and the Museum of Modern Art.

Imagine being able to set the perfect mood in your home at the touch of a button.

“Think of it as iTunes for artwork,” said Rusty Citron, vice president of marketing for GalleryPlayer.

Panasonic saw this emerging need with consumers and recently signed on with GalleryPlayer. They are imbedding GalleryPlayer’s technology into every HD television sold in the United States.

Don’t worry about the images being permanently burned onto your screen, as in older “screen-saver” technology. As Citron put it, “Screens no longer need to be saved, they need to be enjoyed!”

Today’s flat-screen televisions are typically available in a variety of metallic, powdercoated or glass finishes. But what if you are looking for a more finished look by adding the warmth and depth of a custom frame in wood or even a metallic? Well, look no further because the people at Frame MyTV.com have worked out all of the technical details for you.

Framing an LCD or plasma TV is different from framing a work of art or a photograph. There’s a new set of issues such as ventilation, mounting and remote-control operation.

FrameMyTV.com’s frames are custom-made and available in a variety of metallic and wood-grain finishes, said Kevin Hancock, company owner. Each frame is designed to complement any living room décor while enhancing your viewing pleasure. His company has even designed a battery-powered infrared system that can simply attach to the bottom of your TV, increasing your remote capabilities (two triple A batteries will last up to two years).

Will the frame interfere with built-in speakers within the television?

The AcoustiMat System masks the built-in speakers, which previously prevented many televisions from being framed. The acoustically transparent fabric for the mat is custom-designed to your specifications. The Acousti-Mat System slides into the back of the frame just like a mat in a picture frame. Even if you don’t have built-in speakers, you can have an Acousti-Mat System inserted into your new frame for the look.

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