With the way space planning has evolved, especially in newer home areas such as Florida, Arizona and California, there has been a tendency to provide “built-ins”. Built-ins are essentially a specific function piece of furniture that is not meant to be moved around. These may be preferred due to the angled walls, nooks or even the window and door arrangement which almost necessitate where furniture will be placed.
Two of the most common built-ins are entertainment centers and home office areas. New homes are having specific areas designated with media centers and computer spaces in mind. Here are a few design notes for both types:
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
Typical entertainment centers are a minimum of eight feet wide which allows for a set of bookshelves flanking a space for flat screen TV. The majority of TV’s are at least 36” wide, so allowing 42” in the middle would mean two 18” wide bookshelves on either side. Of course, the TV opening can be wider as well as the shelves, plus doors and drawers can be integrated for a finished look.
With the add-on devices such as PC’s, game consoles, blue-ray players and surround sound, you may need extra shelving and cabling to accommodate them. Most custom built-ins can be adapted to accommodate the wall plugs, cable outlets and HDMI/CATV/USB cabling. Don't forget that power strips and surge suppressors are vital for the health of the electronics, so make room for them as well.
Since most TV’s are connected to directly to the wall, the entertainment center must also allow for the mounting hardware. The brackets are fairly adjustable and nowhere near the size of the TV, but the angles and side space definition could cause some issues. Along with that, cabling from the TV to other devices should be accounted for in side panel holes with grommets covering raw wood.
HOME OFFICE OR KID’S STUDY ZONE
A place to organize today’s busy household also includes a place for internet connections, paying bills, current records and surfing for the latest bargain. A computer nook, somewhere between five feet and as large as a whole wall, can be designed to hold all of the house’s needs. The need for built in file drawers, keyboard trays, upper and lower cabinets plus all of the computer peripherals (printers, fax, scanner, external hard drive, etc.) should be measured an accounted for.
You need a minimum of 24” for a chair to slide in comfortably, 30” is the typical desk height and upper cabinets start at the 54” mark (sometime higher depending on ceiling and personal preference).
Children’s study zones, whether in their room or a shared space, should de designed with their needs in mind. This is a creative space, so allow for corkboard, lots of printing, adjustable chair and possibly their own computer. Remember that music is a big player for them, so make sure speakers and headphones are in place to enjoy and share!
Call your local custom closet firm, such as Closet Tailors, as they typically can customize your space without the expense of an actual finish carpenter. They also know the best sizes to accommodate the pieces and parts in today’s busy digital lifestyle!
Chuck is the owner of Closet Tailors of SW Florida since 2007. He has built and installed hundreds of custom storage systems in homes and businesses. You can find more info at:
Closet Tailors of SW Florida
http://www.closettailors.com/capecoral
