My dear wife, Handan, had a solution to help fill some of that space and increase storage space: a built-in media console with storage space below flanked by two tall bookcases. The original plan was for me to build everything from scratch, but my merciful wife took pity on me and found two beautiful IKEA bookcases. It was up to me to design and build the media console to go in between the bookcases.
I designed the console using Sketchup, and built it primarily from one sheet of 3/4 inch birch plywood. I made the doors from 1 x 3 pine and the top from three planks of shiplap. I designed it to be 6 feet long, which would not only accommodate our current 60 inch TV, but allow for an upgrade up to about 75 inches. I chose a height of 21 inches, which I determined to be the optimal height for a television. It took hours and hours of grueling on-sofa movie research, some popcorn, a little ice cream and one or two dry martinis, but it was worth it, and I’d gladly duplicate my research should there be any doubt.
I can only fit 15 photos here on Hometalk, but there are over 100 pictures over at our blog, so I’ll just hit a few highlights before the glory shots. Those interested in making a console like this one can find cut sheets and diagrams in the blog post. The link is at the end of this post.
I started by pulling off the baseboard.
I cut and labelled all of my pieces, so I could easily assemble them later. I mark the pieces to be drilled with pocket holes with arrows.
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I installed the console between the two bookcases and wrapped the entire base with crown molding to give continuity to the whole ensemble.
Don’t forget to visit the blog post to get the full tutorial with cut sheets and diagrams.
Thanks for reading!
-Greg