Hide Your Flat Panel TV
hen flat panel TVs first came out, people would never think of hiding them and many still don't. For many people, a plasma or LCD flat panel TV is a status symbol. For others it's still just a TV, and an eyesore when it's not in use. Still, others don't have an issue with seeing the TV, but because they desire surround sound, find that there is a conflict for the space above the fireplace. Unfortunately, this also happens to be the common focal point of a room. So, what is a homeowner to do? In the case of the conflicting space over the fireplace there are several options.
One option is a product called Vision-Art. VisionArt is a framed Fine Art Print on a motorized retracting canvas designed to conceal a plasma television. Now you can cover your TV with a framed Fine Art Print that rolls up when the TV is turned on, and back down when the TV is turned off. VisionArt's Premiere Gallerie presents over 150 "limited edition" images in 9 different categories, and is regularly updated with additional works from new and featured artists. The Décor Gallerie features 32 "unlimited edition" images, and is a cost effective way to conceal a flat panel TV. VisionArt also offers 29 different frames in various profiles and finishes.
One of the many nice features of this product is the ability to surface mount the TV and the VisionArt. Let's face it. Unless you're building a new home or renovating an existing one, the chances that you are going to want to knock out a 40 to 60 inch hole in your wall is pretty slim. What if the wall is stone? With the help of a professional A/V installer, you can have the TV over the fireplace, and still have a pretty picture.
There is another company that uses artwork to conceal TVs, but their method is different. This company is Auton. Auton has an enormous selection of products designed to conceal TVs. One product that is particularly unique is their IN-VIS-O-TRAK concealment system. This product allows homeowners to use their own favorite piece of artwork to conceal a flat panel TV. This product requires the TV to be built into the wall. So, unless you are competent with a hammer and saw, you're going to need help creating that 40 to 60 inch hole.
The way the IN-VIS-O-TRAK system works is it mounts to the wall and attaches to your artwork. When the TV is powered ON, the motorized track moves the framed artwork vertically or horizontally to reveal the TV. When the TV is powered OFF, the art moves back into place, and the track disappears.
What if you want your TV to rise out of a piece of furniture? Auton, Chief, and Inca make lifts for a myriad of applications. These lifts allow homeowners to conceal their TVs and projectors in just about any piece of furniture strong enough to handle the weight of the TV and lift. There are even lifts that swivel or extend forward once the lift is at full extension.
Can you install this product yourself? Perhaps, but unless you have excellent carpentry and mechanical skills, it would be prudent to work with a fine furniture maker, designer, integrator, architect, or builder.
Another method that has been used to conceal flat panel TVs is the use of two-way mirrors. When the TV is On, the TV's image shows through the mirror. When the TV is OFF, the mirror becomes functional. While I find this method of concealment to be pretty nifty, I'm not a big fan of it. I personally can't justify spending the kind of money required to purchase a flat panel TV only to obscure the image with tinting and distracting reflections. The exception to this sentiment might be in a bathroom where the mirror could come in handy, and the TV could be insulated from the moisture.
Other concealment products that are on the market for flat panels are wall mounts, and under-cabinet mounts. These are especially popular in kitchens and bathrooms where TVs tend to be smaller, and space can be at a premium..
This article has been provided by Custom Audio Video
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