Everyone who's ever tried to camouflage a large flat screen television certainly knows the dilemma. How do you make something that's both ugly and necessary disappear, but remain useful, on a daily basis?
We've seen some solutions to the TV problem over the years. Mostly they involve visual styling tricks that distract us, or minimizing an eyesore's presence in the room — mostly by adding other things. I'm talking about gallery walls, crammed bookcases or, if you're on HGTV, a custom wall cabinet that hides the offending object when not in use. Television? What television?
But what if that television could completely vanish?
This week's New York Times profiles the concept of Invisible Design. Proponents of the philosophy embrace seamless environments that easily flow without physical, or visual, interruption. These design professionals and companies search for clever, often technology-driven, ways to eliminate protrusions and bulky sight lines. This leads to solutions like flush-mounted electrical outlets, like the one above by Trufig, and drawers that open by touch versus a handle.
We've seen some early iterations out in the world. Anyone who's watched MTV Cribs, for example, knows all about televisions that emerge magically from the footboard of the master bed. Buttons are also less likely to be found on the front of dishwashers these days. These few examples, however, seem ham-handed and/or small fry when compared to more recent projects, like an architect-designed bed that raises from the floor to reveal a hidden bathtub, and stores in the ceiling. Or glass shower walls that fold up when not in use. To continue our example of the television, the one above by Seura becomes a mirror when it's not on.
You can see the potential. The ugly factor aside, it's ultimately about making the home more livable. For a harried parent, there are less nooks and crannies to clean, or cords to trip over. For a city dweller, it means maximizing precious space in a small apartment.
What do you think? Does this philosophy hold particular appeal? Can you see it in your household, or is it too Jetsons or unrealistic for everyday homes?
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(Images: 1. Lonny; 2. The New York Times; and 3. Media Design Associates)
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Can someone tell me where the art is from in the first picture of this post? It all would go perfectly in my apartment.
My large-ish flat screen TV is a great improvement over my previous old fashioned deep TV. The TV no longer seems to dominate the room, even though it's out in plain sight.
I would also love to have more information on the artwork in the first picture!
I have an even better solution: get rid of your television. There is nothing necessary about television.
Another suggestion: don't get such a big freaking TV. If you want a picture that big, go to the movies. My 37" flat screen sits quietly on a credenza, doesn't bother anybody, art fits on the wall around behind it.
Ditto on the art work- the whole room set up is gorgeous.
It's always bothered me in real estate and design shows when people are impressed that the refrigerator or dishwasher is hidden in the kitchen. Those are tools in a workspace, so to hide them is absurd. On the other hand, one of the better solutions for storage I have seen is hidden closets lining the entire length of a wide hallway. Closet storage exists to hide things, so to have the closets themselves hidden makes perfect sense.
I think the solution is to design more attractive televisions, not to get rid of them or limit their size. You may be averse to having a television, but I really enjoy watching mine. To each their own.
@PI - I agree wholeheartedly. Although some people don't enjoy watching television, I enjoy mine too, for there are many shows that are still worthwhile (PBS, Classic TV, or movies anyone?). Like you said, to each their own. I was able to incorporate my 32" flat-screen television into the design of my back room quite tastefully.
@TERRY IN SILVER SPRING, I agree -- today's TVs are so much less obtrusive than old models that I barely notice them in rooms. They're not all that different from a mirror now. That would be a neat tech development -- screens that turn into mirrors when they're not in use.
"aesthetic anorexic" says it all.
That said, I do like control pads to be hidden. But not everything needs to be hidden.
I think you can mount a flat screen behind a 2-way glass and it would appear as a mirror when not in use.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpJALiRYqMI
AT-How about a post of sliding hardware for doors and artwork to hide TVs and other unsightly stuff in the home? I read the one from yesterday but it lacked detail, you have to list vendors for this stuff!
the painting on the left was from the flea market and the one on the right was made my the designer's sister. the middle one used to be red and she painted over it:
http://lonnymag.com/issues/13-jan-feb-2011/pages/3#p41
You don't need to hide your TV any more than you need to put a skirt on your piano's legs to protect its modesty. Seriously, people.
Flatscreen TVs look nice in contemporary-styled rooms, but they can be an eyesore in more traditional rooms. I really like the Idea of the TV having a mirrored surface when it's turned off. I watch maybe 3 hours of TV a week and I like the idea of it being less obtrusive when not in use. That big black rectangle can actually suck a lot of light out of a room.
Why would anyone need a TV over the sink. Ugh!
I've always loved old bookcases that hide secret doors, very victorian and oh so mysterious. Multi-function and hidden household items pique my interest in a similar way. I'd kind of love a slim tv that doubles as a mirror and hides a safe or bookcase. Or maybe a tv that functions as a window covering at night (since that's when we do our minimal tv watching). Though I think the ultimate would be to untether the tv from the wall entirely, maybe one day a high res projection system built into our phones or tablets and you just set it up when needed. It's good to keep thinking out of the box when approaching new design ideas!
I think the main problem with TVs is that it is usually a focal point in a room (why wouldn't be, that's half the function of a living room a lot of the time). They are also very limited in design (black and shiny, unless you can find an working 'wood' TV). I think if you were able to add a different frame to the TV, and then pop a DVD of a slideshow of family photos or even just random photos and art of your taste, it could be quite nice and a conversation piece.
I would love to know how the designer's sister made the white/yellow painting on the right. I have a blank canvas about that size and I've been trying to figure out what to paint (and how) in white/aqua to hang over my bed. That would be perfect! Any way we could find out?