Hidden TV/Mirror TV
Discussion
Hi Folks
We're in the middle of a house renovation and I need to think about a TV for our living room. I'm not keen on having the TV on display all the time, it's an old house, traditional decor and frankly TV's are ugly at the best of times!
The wall it will sit on is going to be wood panelled & I was hoping to be able to sink it into the wall behind a movable panel but it's looking like I'm not going to have enough depth to do that.
I've seen various sites offering dielectric glass mirrors that are traditionally framed & go over the TV so it looks like a mirror when not in use. This seems like the perfect solution. Has anyone got one or had any experience of one? Anything I should be aware of?
Cheers
James
We're in the middle of a house renovation and I need to think about a TV for our living room. I'm not keen on having the TV on display all the time, it's an old house, traditional decor and frankly TV's are ugly at the best of times!
The wall it will sit on is going to be wood panelled & I was hoping to be able to sink it into the wall behind a movable panel but it's looking like I'm not going to have enough depth to do that.
I've seen various sites offering dielectric glass mirrors that are traditionally framed & go over the TV so it looks like a mirror when not in use. This seems like the perfect solution. Has anyone got one or had any experience of one? Anything I should be aware of?
Cheers
James
Would a Samsung Frame TV work rather than a mirror setup?
https://www.samsung.com/uk/lifestyle-tvs/the-frame...
There are different frame options for it.
https://www.samsung.com/uk/lifestyle-tvs/the-frame...
There are different frame options for it.
Jammez said:
I had a look at those, the frame choice is pretty limited to modern simple styles. I assume you could probably just get it framed by a 3rd party with any frame style.
I assume they're left "on" all the time when in Art mode?
I did a quick search and found these. You might want to be sitting down before you look at the prices... I assume they're left "on" all the time when in Art mode?
https://www.frameyourtv.co.uk/the-frame-collection...
https://21stcenturyservice.co.uk/product-category/...
https://www.pictureframe.tv/mirror-tv/
Jammez said:
I had a look at those, the frame choice is pretty limited to modern simple styles. I assume you could probably just get it framed by a 3rd party with any frame style.
There are a number of 3rd party suppliers of frames, but not sure how many are UK-based, but as an example - https://decotvframes.com/This company and its competitors do a range of motorised TV brackets/lifts etc to conceal a TV.
https://www.futureautomation.co.uk/TV
https://www.futureautomation.co.uk/TV
So two different ideas / directions to answer here.
Mirror TV's have a couple of disadvantages in my installer / retailer mind. Yes they can be great, but you have to go into it with open eyes, if you excuse the pun.
Firstly, the mirror effect is still infront of the TV when the screen is on, so if you are in a bright room or with something vivid on the opposite side of the room, you will see it reflected in the glass of the mirror/tv. The darker the room the better, but then even light sources can be an issue with pendant or wall lights etc.
Secondly, they can end up being DEEP and if this is not accounted for, they can look very bulky on the wall. They way most of the screens are photographed in the marketing is either almost straight on (not directly straight on, because then you see the photographer in the reflection!) or they are recessed into the wall so that the picture frame is the only perceived depth to the system. Catches alot of people out this one.
Then there are the Samsung frames.
As has been said, There are a couple of 3rd party manufacturers that make different frames for them, so going traditional shouldnt be a problem. There are even a couple of manufacturers that make matching, framed SoundBars (Passive) to site below them at an identical width, which is a stunning look.
They are quire shallow, but you need to check on that and be happy. However, they have traditionally (I havent checked this years models) come with a seperate (stupid and fugly) media box and umbilical cord to connect to the screen, so you need to plan for either a void behind or cabinet close to the screen to hide it. Following on from that, if you have a void behind, then you also need to think about mounting the screen on some sort of pull-out bracket to be able to get to it for servicing and potential re-setting.
I usually design up these voids for customers to be hidden within the studwork of the wall and an expensive, but very very good pull-out, swivel bracket to give access to them.
V.
PS, Future Automation is deffinately the right way to go for hidding screens, if you have deep enough pockets. And their PS range are the only Pull-Out-Swivel brackets I use.
Mirror TV's have a couple of disadvantages in my installer / retailer mind. Yes they can be great, but you have to go into it with open eyes, if you excuse the pun.
Firstly, the mirror effect is still infront of the TV when the screen is on, so if you are in a bright room or with something vivid on the opposite side of the room, you will see it reflected in the glass of the mirror/tv. The darker the room the better, but then even light sources can be an issue with pendant or wall lights etc.
Secondly, they can end up being DEEP and if this is not accounted for, they can look very bulky on the wall. They way most of the screens are photographed in the marketing is either almost straight on (not directly straight on, because then you see the photographer in the reflection!) or they are recessed into the wall so that the picture frame is the only perceived depth to the system. Catches alot of people out this one.
Then there are the Samsung frames.
As has been said, There are a couple of 3rd party manufacturers that make different frames for them, so going traditional shouldnt be a problem. There are even a couple of manufacturers that make matching, framed SoundBars (Passive) to site below them at an identical width, which is a stunning look.
They are quire shallow, but you need to check on that and be happy. However, they have traditionally (I havent checked this years models) come with a seperate (stupid and fugly) media box and umbilical cord to connect to the screen, so you need to plan for either a void behind or cabinet close to the screen to hide it. Following on from that, if you have a void behind, then you also need to think about mounting the screen on some sort of pull-out bracket to be able to get to it for servicing and potential re-setting.
I usually design up these voids for customers to be hidden within the studwork of the wall and an expensive, but very very good pull-out, swivel bracket to give access to them.
V.
PS, Future Automation is deffinately the right way to go for hidding screens, if you have deep enough pockets. And their PS range are the only Pull-Out-Swivel brackets I use.
Edited by VEX on Wednesday 6th January 17:07
Thanks for all the comments folks. Vex your info on how the mirror systems actually look was one of my main concerns - the marketing blurb always makes them sound amazing so I'd really like to be able to see one in the flesh. There seems to be some more recent developments in the mirror tech too which claim improvements.
To give you a bit more info on the room it's been completely stripped back to the bare stone & new stud work & insulated plasterboard installed. The challenge I have around the depth of that wall and creating a void for a TV is that the adjoining wall on the right has a window very close to the corner and increasing the depth of the stud work on the TV wall starts to creep across the window opening. The only way to recess a TV would be to loose the insulation element which I'm not keen to do. I've probably enough space to ensure a bracket is recessed but not a TV & it's bracket.
What I do have is what we call an Edinburgh Press up here. Fancy name for a shallow cupboard on the left of the wall which is perfect for holding all the gubbins associated with a TV or hi fi. Hiding the box from a Samsung TV wouldn't be an issue.
I think I'm leaning towards a Samsung Frame TV at the moment & getting a framer to put a chunky traditional frame on it, sounds like it might be the simplest option
To give you a bit more info on the room it's been completely stripped back to the bare stone & new stud work & insulated plasterboard installed. The challenge I have around the depth of that wall and creating a void for a TV is that the adjoining wall on the right has a window very close to the corner and increasing the depth of the stud work on the TV wall starts to creep across the window opening. The only way to recess a TV would be to loose the insulation element which I'm not keen to do. I've probably enough space to ensure a bracket is recessed but not a TV & it's bracket.
What I do have is what we call an Edinburgh Press up here. Fancy name for a shallow cupboard on the left of the wall which is perfect for holding all the gubbins associated with a TV or hi fi. Hiding the box from a Samsung TV wouldn't be an issue.
I think I'm leaning towards a Samsung Frame TV at the moment & getting a framer to put a chunky traditional frame on it, sounds like it might be the simplest option
Edited by Jammez on Thursday 7th January 09:53
It would be my prefered option too, especially as you have somewhere to put the media box, in your case, it would actually be better to have one than not, then all the source connections and switching can be done in the 'Press' with just a single link to the screen.
If you can look at getting some form of ducting between the screen and the press, so that cables can be changed and replaced if and when needed.
V.
If you can look at getting some form of ducting between the screen and the press, so that cables can be changed and replaced if and when needed.
V.
Edited by VEX on Thursday 7th January 14:10
Jammez said:
There are some clever installations out there but the sceptic in me wants to avoid any fancy powered movements as I know they'll play up at some point!
Samsung announced a new 'The Frame' at CES '21 - only 24.9mm thick - popped up in my Google feed earlier https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tv/news/samsung-th...(I had a similar press in my flat but it was a Glesga press! Press comes from the Gàidhlig/Gaeilge 'preasa', meaning cupboard - was on a Zoom with the lads the other week, two are in Ireland and one mentioned press and apologised for using the Irish term for cupboard, told him I knew fine well what he was talking about as my granny called it the press too 'it's ben the loaby press, if no it's ben the scullery press'
) stevoknevo said:
Samsung announced a new 'The Frame' at CES '21 - only 24.9mm thick - popped up in my Google feed earlier https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tv/news/samsung-th...
(I had a similar press in my flat but it was a Glesga press! Press comes from the Gàidhlig/Gaeilge 'preasa', meaning cupboard - was on a Zoom with the lads the other week, two are in Ireland and one mentioned press and apologised for using the Irish term for cupboard, told him I knew fine well what he was talking about as my granny called it the press too 'it's ben the loaby press, if no it's ben the scullery press' )
Ahh the Glesga Press, a very different thing! There’s no way the East & West would agree on anything!(I had a similar press in my flat but it was a Glesga press! Press comes from the Gàidhlig/Gaeilge 'preasa', meaning cupboard - was on a Zoom with the lads the other week, two are in Ireland and one mentioned press and apologised for using the Irish term for cupboard, told him I knew fine well what he was talking about as my granny called it the press too 'it's ben the loaby press, if no it's ben the scullery press'
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