apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Nothing new, but I think that muro unit is GORGEOUS!

This isn't a wall mount but I think it looks pretty damn good...
http://loguestudio.com

And I have to give a shout out to http://simplifiedbuilding.com for the idea.

or you could just give me the tv and be done with it! just kidding.

i like the muro or crate and barrel. my 2c.

Actually I've decided to go with the MDF Italia LCD/Plasma_TV Panel system mentioned on this site:
http://hometech.apartmenttherapy.com/hometech/cables-cords/mdf-italia-plasma-tv-panel-028109

It's not $6000 unlike one of the posts on that page, but it's closer to $3800, and you get 15% trade discount if you go through an architect/designer. I got this price from Domus Design Collection. The TV rests entirely on the panel, and the panel rests on the floor, but does need to be anchored to the wall at the top. The Domus people will do the complete install.

If you like the look of it mounted on the wall then just mount it to the wall and be done with it. The mounting brackets work fine on drywall as long as you use enough anchors.

I have a 50" and a 42" mounted to drywall in my condo. In both cases I made sure to find at least one stud and then put about a dozen molly bolts into the drywall. When I was done hanging the mounts I literally held myself on the mount to make sure it would hold more weight than the TVs and to be certain that there was no wobble or looseness. A year later I wonder why I was so worried about the TV falling off.

TheRealCMJ,
I do like the wall-mounted look but I worry about how flexible the wiring is in case I need to change something. Also I feel the Tv-on-wall-bracket look is a bit industrial/commercial. I like the MDF italia unit because of its "flush" look within the panel, and it comes in interesting colors (lacqueur white or red is my favorite). Plus there's no need to talk to contractors to get the thing done, and the whole setup costs the same (or less) as having to install plywood backing in the wall to support any brackets.

There are really good reasons to NOT mount on the wall. First, you really should have it professionally installed and the wiring hidden. That can cost as much as the TV did. Then there are practical things like changing out components or moving the system somewhere else in the future.

A lot of people are discovering that once a flat panel is on the wall, it's not going anywhere. So if you sell your home or move, you'll probably end up leaving the TV. That kind of knocks some significant cash off the price of your home.

And a lot of moving companies won't move plasma or LCD TVs, particularly out of state. They're too delicate and damage easily. This might be changing as flat panel displays become more common, but there's a lot to recommend using a stand.

And the Muro is pretty spectacular.....

I wall mounted my 32" TV using an Omnimount cantilevered/articulated bracket. I used the plastic loop closures (the ones the police use as handcuffs) to secure the wires to the bracket so they stay neat as I pull it out and push it back against the wall. It was easy (though getting it straight is important for aesthetics) and I think no big deal to take down if I ever were to leave. And it's surprisingly secure with only two LARGE bolts attaching it to the wall.

another choice is look at Harvey Electronics-- www.harveyonline.com
They had some ingenious solutions, along with the one on a traveling ceiling mount...yee ha!

The Omnimount Studio 4 is another option. Freestanding false wall, it even pivots. I did a quick search, and it appears to retail for around $850.

http://www.omnimount.com/consumer/product.aspx?ProductId=317ab4c2-e265-49b1-a51f-5b1faaaaf2f1&CurrentId=3.1.4

pchalasani,
Did they have this model in the showroom at DDC? I just called about the Frame wall unit and they did not have it there to see.

Want2bmod,
no I just saw pictures on the web. Troy-NYC is another dealer that carries this unit, they may have a unit to see.

Purchased dark grey shleves from the container store. wall mounted them and created my own wall furniture.
www.containerstore.com

The are on sale at this moment

*Their

**They're ;)

After much deliberation, we ended up putting our flat screen TV in the fireplace. Not, not over it. IN it. It works great! All the cables are hidden, and we also put speakers back there. The components are in a console nearby. I ran cables through a baseboard-type cable thing. No drilling or other construction necessary. We never had fires anyway.

As I`m not terribly efficient at D.I.Y and have had nightmares in the past with less than competent tradesmen, I took the easy option and purchased this beautiful Bonaldo Plasma stand.
No drilling, no filling, just easy, instant coolness!!

See what you think @ http://www.modenza.co.uk/shop/product.php?cat_id=2&sub_id=16&pro_id=199

Austinist -- I'm dying to see your TV in the fireplace. What a great idea. Do you have pics to share?

If money's no object, you can always do what Gwyneth Paltrow did in the current House & Garden:

http://www.houseandgarden.com/trends/2007/10/gwynethpaltrow_style?slide=10

(Would that be WWGD?)

I actually got the muro and mounted it. Let's just say, it's a lot harder than it looks, but I'm thrilled it's done. The big thing is that they don't include screws to mount the bracket to your TV, so I had to take a screw out from my TV's stand and make an arthritic old man bend down on his knees to look through all the machine screws to find a match at the hardware store. Also, I had to saw off some of the side, with a handsaw (!), to get it to clear the lower trim, which was all a lot more DIY than I expected from such a yuppie object.

However the cable management is great, and I can still make changes and rewire things. It looks great, the only problem now is that my family all want me to install one in their respective homes.