My Lounge makeover including a floating wall.

Dandle · 26 Feb 2009 at 20:35

Hi not really posted in here before but thought I'd post the start and current progress of my lounge makeover. Got the idea of Grooves floating wall thread here.

My original kit was a Panasonic TH50-PX70 with a Marantz SR5200 amp, Mission M35 floorstanders, Mission M7DS rears, Mordant Short MSC20 centre. Also have a PS3, Wii and Squeezebox in the front room. Just before Xmas we bough Ikea besta units and I'll start with some pics of the lounge as it was in January.

With the new wall I needed to chase and run new mains, three network cables. Also I wanted to hide the four LNB feed cables two of which run to the back room, fit aerial and magic eye feeds to the bedroom. Also had to chase into the wall my QED silver anniversary XT speaker cable to run to the rear speakers, which runs in the coving once it gets to the ceiling.

Network point chased and light switch moved to the other side to change the side the door opens.

Dandle · 26 Feb 2009 at 20:40

Once the cables were in I could make good the walls.

We decided to put in spotlights into the ceiling.

Then it was time for plastering.

The coving went up before the room had dried fully which took about 4-5 days.

Dandle · 26 Feb 2009 at 20:45

Once the Plastering dried we white washed the walls with watered down emulsion and then properly painted the ceiling. Lights were then fitted so we could work later intot he evenings.

Dandle · 26 Feb 2009 at 20:47

The TV was so high up on the wall as when we bought the house several years ago it had a false fireplace surround in there and the TV was mounted just above it with the centre speaker on it. It didnt really look odd until we bought the Ikea units and then as you can see it looked really high.

Dandle · 26 Feb 2009 at 20:50

With the help of my dad we started building the actual false wall yesterday and by the end of today we had the middle board mounted on the wall. All the mains, network sockets and tv/sat sockets were mounted too.

Dandle · 26 Feb 2009 at 20:56

kingy666 said:
Wow, you must be tall as your plasma screen was very high on your wall, its usually middle of the screen is at eye level when you are sat down.

Looks like your 50PX70 has lasted longer than mine as i have just posted a new thread on what has happened to mine

Hope it looks nice when you are finished, are you buying any new gear or just using what you have now?

Well funny you mention the TV, I had news today that as we dropped it when removing it and broke the PX70(you can see it in the bottom pic of the first post) the insurance company are supplying me with a PZ80 now. The rest of my gear was sold on ebay with the idea of buying Keff 3500SEs and the Yamaha RX-V1900. Had some news in the meantime though which ment I had change the plan somewhat so now we have Q acoustics 1010is and the Yamaha DSP-Ax863Se.

Dandle · 1 Mar 2009 at 18:04

More pics.
Wall completed and holes filled ready for sanding.

and a couple of pics with the light thrown over to get an idea of what it will end up like

and now the wall undercoated ready for flatting and final paint.

Hopefully the room will be finished by the weekend and will just be waiting for carpet.

Dandle · 1 Mar 2009 at 19:32

Sabotaj said:
Looks very nice mate.

Just finished something close to Grooves floating wall setup but added a projector / Kuro combo.

Still waiting on one Besta Jagra unit that doesn't come damaged. Joke really that I have to wait 2 weeks each time for them to get another from Sweden. When the Warrington branch has 10 in stock...

Any pics of your setup? We had a nightmare getting to Croydon Ikea took over an hour to go 15 miles and most of that time was the last 3 miles. Got there then had an arguement with the wife over the units so went home empty handed

. In the end we paid the delivery charge and vowed never to go near the place again. Our units turned up with in a few days though.

jolie77 said:
Ver very nice mate !! must be fun at your house !!

Cheers. Been busy for the last month on and off doing the room up, now the end seems so near.

jolie77 said:
What TV is that mate >>??

The broken one is a Panny TH50-PX70.

Dandle · 3 Mar 2009 at 08:03

Cheers for the comments. Carpet is now ordered and waiting for the glazing company to replace the frame in the bay window as it was made wrong. That should be sometime this week im told.

Wicksta said:
Why did you go to Croydon ikea and not the Wembley one dandle?

The Wembley one didn't have the units in we wanted. I dont think they do lounge stuff at Wembley at all.

SiD the Turtle said:
Looking good so far. What's the benefit of a 'floating wall'? It is just to hide the cabling?

Its just an effect wall with back lighting with the bonus that all the cables are hidden. The units that will fit at the bottom of the wall will fit flush so no wiring will be on display.

Dandle · 8 Mar 2009 at 19:15

Finally got the wall finished and the room painted and managed to get the tv on the wall.

Getting the speakers mounted tonight and the carpet should be here next week sometime.

Dandle · 8 Mar 2009 at 21:04

It isnt led lighting. I was going to get leds but was put off by the fact you cant dim them, also the fact we used a brown wall ment most different colours would have an odd effect. Its a mains powered rope light with normal bulbs in it and only cost about £1.95 per metre, including the end kit and tracking to run it in it cost about £30. http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/DT611W.html

Heres a pic with the speakers mounted although you cant see them that well.

Dandle · 8 Mar 2009 at 21:46

We have three Ikea besta units that will span the whole length of the wall and sit a little higher than the end peices of my floating wall. They push flush onto the wall which is why the cutouts are at the bottom to allow cables to run to the different boxes.

Dandle · 8 Mar 2009 at 22:08

Wicksta said:
That looks great dan, I can't wait to come over when you get the new carpet and spill beer all over it.

LOL as long as I have christened it with beer first. Its beer proof anyway.

Dandle · 13 Mar 2009 at 20:42

Ive been pretty ill this week so not much has happened. The carpet is down but thats about it. Ill get some pics up as more happens.

Dandle · 16 Mar 2009 at 22:08

Right got some pics tonight although the three units on the bottom need leveling properly but they are in and it gives the right idea. Got my PS3 back online too now

. Need to level the front spots too.

I have to say I'm really impresses with the Q acoustics speakers and Yammy amp they really sound nice together although at some point I may upgrade the fronts to 1020is.