Out of Hiding
Home entertainment furnishings no longer conceal audiovisual equipment behind closed doors.
For a long time, the primary function of furnishings that housed TVs, DVRs, audiovisual equipment and the like was concealment, not display. But the days of hiding home electronics behind closed doors ended with the
advent of wafer-thin televisions and slim, single-component
audiovisual systems.
Today’s trend in home entertainment furniture is to proudly show off the sleek and slim looks of contemporary electronics equipment. Some furnishings that house televisions even boast decorative moldings that “frame” the video screens, elevating mere pieces of electronic equipment to the status of art.
And now that most televisions are flat rather than bulky, many of the furnishings they rest on or in have taken off a few inches as well. Those reduced proportions make current electronic cabinetry a less imposing presence in a room, so it complements rather than dominates the décor.
1. Kincaid’s Chateau Royale collection
includes a media chest with a Double
Vision Media Mirror. When the flat-screen television housed behind the mirror is off, all you can see is your reflection. Turn on the TV and the mirror “disappears.” $1,699; kincaidfurniture.com.
2. The Loft 102 Metro Black collection from Sligh is the ultimate multi-tasker. It includes entertainment, office and storage components designed to mix and match. $635-$1,545; loft102forthehome.com.
3. Revo’s rotating base allows for optimum viewing from many vantage points. It comes in the cherry finish shown, and also can be ordered in dark oak wenge finish. $999; Scan Design locations in Altamonte Springs and Orlando or visit scandesign.com.
4. Sleek and sculptural, the Hollywood TV stand is crafted of polished stainless steel with a frosted glass shelf. It holds a flat-panel television of up to 42 inches. $1,699; Scan Design locations in Altamonte Springs and Orlando or visit scandesign.com.
5. A perfect illustration of the TV-as-art trend is the Picture Frame Entertainment Unit from aspenhome’s Origin collection. $950; aspenhome.net.
