ELECTRONICS
For this particular project, the client wanted to frame out an existing wall to install a fireplace and TV niche. The firm inserted a patterned panel into a cabinet door, and attached it to the allotted space. "This niche not only hides all of the wires for a nice, clean look," says Summit's design consultant Emily Miner, "but it also allows for heat and air circulation for the electrical components." Most electronic equipment emits heat, so it's important to make sure that whatever area the TV components are in has ventilation. And if you're worried about your remote, try installing an RF repeater — which sends a signal to the cable box — under the TV.
The panel for this niche was ordered online, and a carpenter framed and installed the door so it's flush with the wall. The client wanted the cabinet to be virtually unnoticeable, so the panel was painted to match the wall. The inside of the cabinet is painted black, so the cords can't be seen through the panel. This space already had framed sides with enough room to create a recessed niche. If this isn't the case in your home, Miner says you can build out more wall space to accommodate a niche. Make sure to frame the space so it's a little bigger than your electronic equipment. Add a shelf, cut a hole so that the wires can feed through to the TV, hang drywall, and you're all set!
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