FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In
Square One: Good Home Design Starts Here

A Custom Built-In Entertainment Center

By Rob Yagid
The living room is a place to read and relax. With the doors closed the tv does not impose on the space or interrupt the activity within it.

A lot of homeowners choose to put their TVs and stereo equipment on prominent display in the living room. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see the family flat screen bolted to the wall above the fireplace mantel. Not everyone is into that look, though, and the viewing experience can be awkward. (Read this article on how to sensibly position your TV).

Duncan McPherson, of Samsel Architects in Asheville, N.C., recently encountered a retirement couple who wanted to use their living room mostly for reading and relaxing. Since the living room shares a common space with the home’s dining room and kitchen, the clients wanted to keep the TV hidden most of the time. Duncan designed a custom built-in cabinet that highlights a gas fireplace, but keeps the clutter of TV and stereo equipment cleanly concealed. The unit is wrapped in fiber cement siding, which meets ASTM E 136 as a noncombustible material. Combined with a zero clearance fireplace, the arrangement offers the simplicity and safety the clients were looking for.

It’s not often that you see a modern home designed to keep technology at bay, but this design is certainly refreshing.

Architect: Duncan McPherson

www.SamselArchitects.com

*Interested in more information on this project? Look for a complete feature on this home in the coming months.

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Code Check 10th Edition: An Illustrated Guide to Building a Safe House

It would be great if this book didn’t need to exist, but it's definitely a must-have. It's a one-size-fits-all code book that's easy to understand and will help you sail through your inspections.
Buy at Amazon

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave

Joanna Gaines may have started as a celebrity designer on HGTV, but she’s proven to be the real deal. This book help you understand how and why good design works so that you can recreate it on your own.
Buy at Amazon

Pretty Good House

For anyone interested in a sensible and cost-effective approach to designing and building a home that is comfortable, healthy, efficient, and durable, this book is a fantastic starting point (really, it may be all you need!).
Buy at Amazon

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

View Comments

  1. NCMomma | Jan 10, 2012 07:26am | #1

    Nice! We've recently become tired of our entertainment center explosion in our living room: cords, devices, videos, video game controllers shoved haphazardly on our creaky entertainment center. We haven't even watched that much tv lately and would love to 'hide' all of this away without purchasing a large, bulky armoir. :)

  2. Dreamcatcher | Jan 24, 2012 07:28am | #2

    Rob, while I am for the most part in agreement with this article, I think there are a few techniques which should be included in your article.

    The first thing I notice when I look at the example above is the lack of symmetry. A fireplace out of center warrants a whole list of theoretical and philosophical concerns. But to most it just looks funny. A good method of handling this is to flank both sides of the fireplace with matching cabinets. One side could conceal the television while the other side could hold the a/v equipment or if using a natural fireplace it could just hold wood.

    I think, if they would've planned ahead on this fire/entertainment centre they could've built the whole thing into the wall instead of jutting out into the room. Anytime you break the wall plane with a "built-in" the item degrades from being part of the house to being an object on the wall. With most built-ins, the more integrated, the better.

    Looking at picture #3 above, I see the client has a collection of media. It should really be obvious by now that physical media, while still a viable method of purchasing content, is a horrible way of storing content. The price of large capacity hard drives (terra-towers) these days is lower than ever and the space savings - not to mention convenience of storing and accessing media in the digital environment is no longer the way of the future but everyday practice.

    As a small note - if one should consider storing their a/v equipment in such manner as shown above it may be necessary to install a "remote eye" lest you will have to get up to adjust sound or pause the movie as most remote controls still cannot work through closed doors nor around corners.

    Also note that the future of home a/v will be completely digital and almost entirely wireless (wifi). While when designing a built-in entertainment center it is still smart to plan ahead to provide wire chases and plenty of electrical outlets (mind your circuit loads!), the future of most a/v equipment points to wire free connectivity... which includes connecting to your laptop or tablet. In that sense it may be better to pre-plan your next built-in as a home command center rather than simply an entertainment center.

    Finally, don't forget the heat. While a/v equipment has come a long way in terms of energy efficiency, it all still produces quantities of heat which must be mitigated if stored and used in a closed cabinet. Simple breather holes can be cut in the upper and lower rear of the cabinet (vented to the room) or you could even install heat sensing fans. Not venting your equipment could seriously shorten the life of the components.

    Can't wait to read the article.
    DC

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

More Square One: Good Home Design Starts Here

View All
  • Residential architects to meet in September
  • A Smart Beverage System for the Kitchen That Has Everything
  • Hot intro for cool appliance
  • Board-and-Batten Siding Reborn
View All

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Podcast Episode 694: Bath Fans, Too Many Minisplits, and Second-Story Additions

Listeners write in about fire-rated doors, using seven minisplits for cooling, and how to build a second-story addition.

Featured Video

SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than Before

The 10-in. Jobsite Saw PRO has a wider table, a new dust-control port, and a more versatile fence, along with the same reliable safety mechanism included in all SawStop tablesaws.

Related Stories

  • A Practical Perfect Wall
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Building Codes
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Roofing on Commercial vs. Residential Buildings

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All Videos
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Building Codes
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Roofing on Commercial vs. Residential Buildings
  • A Drip-Free, Through-Window Heat Pump
View All

Design and Planning

View All Design and Planning Articles
  • Preservation and Renewal for a Classic
  • A Postwar Comeback
  • With Swedish Arts & Crafts Precedent
View All Design and Planning Articles

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in