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LOCAL TALENT HOME THEATER PROJECT

Movie Screen Hung - 3/13/05

We hung the screen against the wall this past weekend.

Update: Entertainment Center - 8/13/05

The entertainment center is really split into three sections. The bottom section will house the electronic equipment. The top section is the facade around the movie screen. The middle section hides the connection of the top and bottom sections.

The first step is to build the bottom section. We used 3/4" oak/plywood. Since the width of the section is greater than 8 feet, we had to separate the bottom sections into three parts. The middle part would be rectangular and hold the electronics. The outer two parts would be the curved shevles to hold the sub woofer and other items. These would be then all be connected to each other.

On this day we were only able to manage cutting the pieces and attaching the base of the middle section. We propped everthing up to see how it would look and were happy to see it turn out so well. Next, we'll have to attach everything, glue it together and put the sliding drawers in the center to hold the electronics.

Update: Entertainment Center - 9/02/05

Last week we finished gluing the bottom section of the Entertainment Center together. See below:

I spent the next night staining the wood.

I first ran into areas where the glue had dried and the stain would not apply properly. So, I have to sand those areas down. The second issue is I ran out of stain. So, I have to pick some more up.

The next part of the plan is to frame out the upper part of the Ent. Center with some 1/2" plywood. This will then be covered with 1/4" oak plywood, stained to match the lower section.

We want the bottom section to be able to be pulled out, if required, so the upper section will be attached to the wall, with molding to cover the section where it meets the bottom section.

Part of the challenge of building the framing of the upper section is that it needs to cover the outer sections of the screen, but allow the screen so move up and down. So, the result was to create an L shaped frame that would cover the outer edges of the screen. These were attached to the wall with L brackets and anchors in the wall.

To hide the screen, we have a facade across the cross beam. It hides both the movie screen and the wooden curtain rod in front of the screen that will hold the curtain. The curtain is important so that I can cover the screen from accidental marking or accidents that only my kids will be able to devise.

Another challenge is that the width of the Ent. Center is greater than 8 ft. This is problematic because you can only get plywood up to 8ft in length. That's why the bottom section of the Ent. Center is split into three areas, the center section and the two curved corner sections. For the upper part of the Ent. Center, we'll have to split the distance across the top cross-beam section in two and cover it with a center piece. I have an idea, which I think will be cool. I'll have more on that later.

Of course, I still have to finish the electrical work behind the bottom section and then fill in the wall with drywall. The goal is to finish the majority of the big work this weekend, sans the riser, which I can do without help from others.

Update: Entertainment Center - 9/05/05

We neared completion of the entertainment center. One of the design obstacles I had to overcome was to find a way to house the speakers and to hide the bottom of the pull-down movie screen. I designed a "shelf" that would look as if it were attached to the top of the lower part of the entertainment center, yet pulled out from the wall so the movie screen could fall behind hit. See below:

The "shelf" sits on top of the bottom section of the entertainment
center and will hold the speakers.

The same shelf that houses the speakers will also hide the movie screen,
which will pull down and hide behind the "shelf."

Here you can see a side version of how the "shelf" is pulled out away
from the wall, but aligned to the side frame.

Another challenge that arose was that the width of the upper frame was
over eight feet. Since finished plywood only goes up to eight feet
the upper cross beam would have to be made up of two separate pieces.

To hide where the cross beam pieces meet, I came up with the idea to
hide the connection and tie the entertainment center with the mosaic tile
design at the same time.

So, we printed out the Local Talent Logo, used a razor to cut out the palm,
sun and waves design, wet it, centered it on the wood square and
spray painted it. The stain, however, started to remove the spray paint.
So, my wife used permanent pens to fill in the design again. When put
into place I think it looks very cool.

Update: Entertainment Center - 9/20/05

Here is a picture of the semi-finished Entertainment Center with the screen down and some of the electronics in place. After the carpet is in place, shifting the bottom half up 1/2" to 3/4", I'll finish it all out with moulding.

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