Entertainement center

[Louis Gaccione]

Hello fellow Kregers . I am looking to build a Intertanement center w/ base cabinets and book shelfs around a TV. Has anyone built this kind of project, and if so can you share the plans w/ me if you have them. Also what kind of lumber is best to use for this..

Thanks

Lou

 

[KregRep]

We recommend Ana White (www.Ana-White.com). All of her project plans are free.

You can search the catalog here: http://ana-white.com/plancatalog.

[KregRep]

Also, check out the sidebar with "Helpful Links." We list some other great sources for free project plans there.

[Jay Boutwell]

Hi Louis, building an entertainment center is a nice project with lots of room to explore different styles of construction.  How you build it will depend on many things such as it is a build in or a stand alone piece.  It is a wall with straight runs or it a corner unit.  Some can be straight forward with book cases used as the ends of the TV of which you build a bridge between the tops of the bookcases to provide a top for the cabinet.  Under the TV can be a seperate cabinet of which provides the surface for the TV to sit on as well as storage for electronic pieces such as the VCR and receiver.

When it comes to what type of lumber to use, here again it will depend on where or not the piece is attached to the wall or is a free standing unit.  It will also depend on where it is a paint grade or a stain grade.  Traditionaly the stand alone units are considered as furniture so if I was building it I would stick to solid lumber and do glue ups for panels.  You could also use furniture grade plywood and then use the same type of wood for face frames and doors and drawer fronts.  The last large one I built I use some plywood for the case construction and then hardwood for the doors and drawer fronts.  The piece was then painted using automotive lacquers and then hand rubbed out.  It is not one with book cases built on but you can change some of what I did to make book cases on the sides.  There many designs and you should pick one of which suits your likes and needs.  Photos of the one I recently build is located on my page.  This one was for a corner of a family room.  If yoiu have questions and or need help please do not hesitate to contact me.