You Can Flaunt That Big-Screen TV

Interior designer Susan Westbrook plans to hang part-time impressionist art in a client's family room. When it isn't a Van Gogh, it's a flat-screen TV.

Technology that converts TV screens into classic works of art is just one method designers use to integrate the latest media trends into home decoration.

There are two trains of thought when it comes to designing a room that has a high-definition or plasma screen: flaunt the TV and design the room around it, or find ways to make it blend nonchalantly into the dcor.

"For many people, the most expensive, central piece in the room is the TV, and in that case, they might want to showcase it. Others want to minimize it," says Westbrook.

How these TVs are displayed depends in large part on the style of the home, she adds. "In an Old-World, colonial motif, it might look out of place. This is when an armoire or chest might work. In a more contemporary, abstract setting, you might want to celebrate the technology."

Designer Deborah Smith, owner of Cornerstone Interiors, says several factors go into deciding how to design around the latest technology.

"It depends on what you have to spend, what the style of the house is and how much emphasis you want to put on the media. There is no right or wrong," she says.

Westbrook and Smith agree that the preference for displaying large TVs often splits along gender lines: He wants it to be the center of the room, while she wants to hide it. "Usually, if there are cabinet doors, they're for the wife," says Westbrook.

Smith concedes she has had this argument in her home with her husband. Their compromise is an armoire with pocket doors that can hide the TV when it isn't in use. "If it were up to me," Smith laughs, "those doors would be closed all the time except when we're watching TV."

The designers say armoires are among the more popular ways to house TVs of all sizes and shapes. "The traditional armoire is not going away," says Smith, though it has been updated to accommodate more modern technology. "There is a product out there for just about everybody when it comes to armoires and entertainment centers."

American Home sells a large assortment of armoires and entertainment centers for big-screen TVs. Because the newer televisions aren't nearly as bulky as they used to be, the newer armoires aren't as deep, decreasing in size from 23 inches or more to 15 inches or less.

But older, more traditional pieces still work for modern media; simply move the thinner TV to the front of the armoire, says Deb Paczynski, senior vice president of merchandising for American Home.

One armoire featured at American Home is a behemoth multi-media center that stands 10-feet high, has an assortment of shelves, drawers and cabinets in black, distressed wood with red accents and hand-painted doors. It can easily house a big, 48-inch TV, but it also has a big price: $2,599.99. For another $800, you can get an even more ornate armoire with hand-carved bifold pocket doors.

But you also can find more affordable armoires that will comfortably house today's high-definition and plasma televisions, says Paczynski.

For smaller areas like bedrooms, Westbrook suggests mounting a lightweight flat-panel television inside the lid of a chest so that when not in use, it can be hidden inside. She says be sure to use strong, childproof hinges so the chest doesn't slam shut and damage the TV.

"It's fabulous at the foot of a bed. And you can hid the cords underneath the bed," she says.

More intriguing choices

Another option is a pop-up console that uses automatic lift systems to move the TV in and out of a cabinet, typically at the touch of a button. But buyer beware. That piece of furniture can be extremely expensive, the designers say, costing thousands of dollars.

Less -- much less -- pricey options can be found at American Home, which offers several styles of consoles, bases and carts for big-screen TVs to sit atop.

"These can be very inexpensive, which is good news for people who are tapped out from spending so much money on the TV," says Paczynski. A cart that holds a 50- to 60-inch television can cost as little as $200. Turn it into an entertainment center by adding complementary cabinets, shelves, drawers and hutches.

American Home also sells a cabinet with an LCD mount that swings, tilts and swivels. The cabinet, which can hold up to a 32-inch TV, is perfect for a child's room, a bedroom or a small apartment. It sells for $350, says Paczynski.

Another option for displaying bigscreen TVs in newly constructed or remodeled homes is built-in wall units and consoles. Westbrook says some homeowners opt to include a small closet behind the unit to hide wires and components like DVD and CD players, as well as movie and music collections.

Where a closet won't work, the designers suggest using chases or even molding painted the same color as the walls to hide wires.

Still another designer idea: media rooms. Like a mini-theater for the home, a media room centers on the big-screen TV, but keeps it from becoming the center of the house. Westbrook creates media rooms that reflect the look and feel of movie theaters, complete with heavy velvet, pleated curtains, oversized chairs and theater-style carpet.

Media rooms work well in basements and garages without windows. And the beauty of the design is the converted rooms don't have to neglect their storage responsibilities. The heavy curtains can hide boxes of Christmas decorations, tools and other items typically kept in basements or garages, says Westbrook.

And then there's the art option. Westbrook works with a company called GalleryPlayer that creates art and photography for high- definition and plasma screens. Simply change the channel and the large panels become replicas of artistic masterpieces or notable photography.

Featured artwork runs the gamut from replicas of paintings by Monet, da Vinci and Warhol to photography collections from the Life magazine and George Eastman collections.

There are several ways to get these images on big-screen TVs -- download them from the Internet, access them through cable TV or purchase them on DVDs.

With so many options, the designers assure that big-screen TVs can easily find a niche in home dcor.

"I think you can successfully maintain the integrity of a room without sacrificing technology," says Westbrook.

(c) 2007 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.