THE ILLUSIONIST

How to maintain the illusion of a technology-free space in modern smart homes. Ollie French, Commercial Director of support innovators Future Automation, explains the magic.

Displays are a necessary fixture in almost every home. However, integrating them in a way that doesn’t interrupt a carefully curated space has proven a challenge for interior designers and architects.

Previous tactics deployed by designers such as painting walls behind the display darker, built-in cabinetry, or hanging artwork around the display do help to reduce the prominence of the screen when it isn’t in use. While these options can offer good results, they aren’t going to convince guests that you don’t have a brand new 85in display in your living room.

Designers are now looking to use designfocused displays into their projects, so they complement their project’s aesthetics. However, achieving a perfect blend of design and technology requires innovative mounting solutions to convincingly hide a display in plain sight.

WHAT ARE LIFESTYLE TVS?

‘Lifestyle’ TVs aim to turn a display into a framed piece of artwork when it isn’t in use. Samsung’s The Frame and LG Signature series are now commonplace in many modern smart home projects. Each offering attempts to recreate the look and feel of artwork with attachable frames, anti-glare screens, and built-in software to add convincing matte frames to photographs.

This shift in display design has been embraced by interior designers who can now give their clients a wall mounted TV where a piece of artwork would previously have been hung. It’s a more versatile option but is one that needs careful pre-planning to convincingly mimic a traditional piece of artwork.

HOW TO CABLE MANAGE LIFESTYLE TVs

Keeping these new displays thin has necessitated placing the AV controls into a separate control box which is often connected to the main display via a delicate fibre cable. Concealing this AV equipment from view in areas without additional furniture can prove challenging when you have multiple inputs.

We’re now so accustomed to technology in our homes that the sight of visible cables will immediately identify an object as ‘smart’ in some way. This can somewhat spoil the illusion of having a beautiful piece of bespoke artwork hung on a blank wall if there’s a power cable hanging from the bottom of the display to the AV connection box below.

To save designers snaking long fibre cables across the room bracket, manufacturers such as Future Automation have created In-Wall Boxes which can be installed directly behind a display in a stud frame. This creates a void behind the display with enough room to install the external control box along with any other AV accessories that clients may request. Knock-out plates let you install your power points inside the box to power all the necessary AV equipment.

Pairing this solution with a Pull and Swivel (PS) bracket from Future Automation makes servicing and upgrades simple. The PS bracket can be effortlessly pulled forward to reveal the rear of the display without the need to unhook the TV from the wall. Convenient cable management points along each arm of the bracket keeps the fibre connection safe from snagging or breaking as the PS bracket is opened or closed.

By eliminating all cables from view, the illusion of a technology-free space is maintained without the hassle of unhooking the display from the wall when it’s time to upgrade a piece of AV equipment.

FREEDOM TO MOUNT A DISPLAY AT A COMFORTABLE HEIGHT

Display mounting is often dictated by soft furnishings, sun glare, or architectural details. In-Wall Boxes paired with PS brackets give you more flexibility to install a display exactly where you want it.

Removing the requirement to mount a display above a piece of furniture allows you to install your TV at a comfortable viewing height. Eyestrain and neckache can make for a less than ideal viewing experience if your display is mounted too high on the wall. As lifestyle displays in larger sizes become commonplace, their placement on a wall will be a vital component to achieve an ergonomic setup.

THE RIGHT RESULT!

Giving clients an uncompromised viewing experience that matches their design aesthetic is more sought after than ever before. With careful pre-planning and attention to detail you’ll be able to achieve a convincing technology-free space for your clients. PROVIDINGSOLUTIONS FORCIPROFESSIONALSSINCE 2000