What do to with the flat screen TV in a midcentury home? Jeff got creative — and designed and built a custom TV cabinet that holds a 32″ LCD TV, BluRay player, and soundbar. Envious? He’s in the Portland/Seattle area can make one for you, too!
Edited a bit for flow given we had some back and forth, Jeff wrote me:
After looking at hundreds of images of vintage cabinet TVs, I designed and built a retro TV cabinet to house a 32″ LCD TV, BluRay player, and soundbar. It matches my teak credenza, McCobb dining set, and surfboard coffee table. I didn’t work from a set of plans, but looked at a ton of pictures of old TVs and had a pretty good idea of what I wanted it to look like.
I thought your readers might like to take a look at them. Thanks!
I took the photos before Christmas (and before I read your suggestions on taking good pictures!). The red ribbon is because the unit was a gift for my wife, and the show on the TV is from “Christmas with Bing and Frank.”
The basic case is just 3/4 birch plywood with edge banding screwed together with a Kreg jig (affiliate link). I sized the top rectangle for the new TV that I bought — a 32″ 1080p LED TV, and tried to adjust the bottom two openings for visual scale. The unit is about 34″ tall and 30″ wide.
The gold panel in the center folds down on cabinet hinges and houses the Bluray/DVD player. I cut a big oval out of a piece of plywood and covered it with fabric for the bottom rectangle/speaker grille. The soundbar sits behind the fabric and a wireless sub sits behind the TV. I put a power strip inside so only one cord comes out. And, there’s a remote repeater inside, so you can run the unit without opening the front panel. The back is tempered hardboard (Masonite) that I custom drilled for a clean look. The legs are Waddell legs and plates (*affiliate link) from Amazon. The gold bezel that frames the TV is spray-painted hardboard.
I’m glad you like the unit and the look. Perhaps people will be inspired by the project, so let me know if you’d like to share it on your awesome website.
Thanks,
Jeff
Awesome, Jeff. I am personally very inspired. So much so that shortly after we started our conversation on line, I went searching and found a week-long woodworking class to take in April. I will learn all the basics about tools, etc., and make a new woodshop project every day. After the basic class, there’s another week on cabinet-making, and I may need to go for that, too. I’ve always been interested in woodworking — my Dad has mad skills — and Kate also inspired me tremendously. Let this be the year of epic DIY — with no sawed-off fingers, though!
Thanks for sharing all these photos! Fantastic!
To contact Jeff:
Update: Jeff made a website.
Sharon Haas says
Wonderful job!
Kate says
This is so cool! I would totally try and make one myself but the tv is hubby’s domain and I don’t think he would go for it. 🙁
Pam taking woodworking classes? Wow! Are you going to build your own tiki bar? Be careful! Remember safety first and no shortcuts — I don’t want to hear about any accidents like you had when you decided to use your end table instead of a ladder!
pam kueber says
You inspired me.
Carol says
We miss you Kate! Hope life is wonderful!
Eartha Kitsch says
Jeff. can you go into further detail on this?: “And, there’s a remote repeater inside, so you can run the unit without opening the front panel.” So you’re saying that the electronic component that allows you to turn the TV on and off, change channels, etc. is behind the mesh part so you can still use your remote? Thanks!
Jeff says
I used this product used a product called the BAFX IR Remote Repeater from Amazon (Pam added affiliate link). You just point your remotes at the speaker grille and the repeater sends the messages to your TV, DVD player, soundbar, etc.
Eartha Kitsch says
Thank you so much for the clarification! Great job on this. There is definitely a shortage of attractive cabinets that both hide modern TVs and look good in vintage homes. Nicely solved! 🙂
Robin, WA says
Oh my gosh, I love this! Plus I’m only four hours away in Walla Walla…
Amber says
Now I’m wondering if my Husband can do this. Our current TV sits on my favorite piece of furniture, a vintage radio/cabinet. I really love this!
Ethan says
Nice job! I’ve thought about taking a console T.V. from the ’70’s and replacing the T.V. with a modern one but I eventually came to the realization that building one from scratch would be a better idea. I have yet to do it but I am glad to see that you, Jeff, did something similar with great success. Nicely done.
The Atomic Fox says
That’s really incredible! He got the 1950’s look down pat. Good job, Jeff!
Dan says
Just great; it’s that little ‘Deluxe’ in gold script that really sells it! Also good to know we are not the only folks who do not feel the need for a TV the size of a dining table.
Elizabeth says
I am so impressed!
Uncle Atom says
Beautiful – the proportions look just right for the wide screen display. Nice idea!