La contessa and I decided that it was time to buy a flatscreen telly so we did that.
The question then arose as to how fit it onto our old [---] wide hi-fi cabinet, given that the latter already had kit stored on top and that the new TV
measured [-]? Further storage space was also required for media.
Time for a glass of wine and some lateral thinking... One of those 3-level glass stands did not pass muster, since you can view all the cabling as well as the TV, like it or not. A minimalist solution was called for, but one that was
[--------] across, so that all the crap could be stored in an accessible, operable but not unsightly way.
The Net yielded little satisfaction. Anything that most companies had in that size was not only very expensive, but also boringly uninspired in that good old 'G-plan' look. Ideal to suit the magnolia wallpaper. ;-)
Suddenly bingo! On the Net, I found these guys who were down the road in Windsor.
They offer high-quality inspirational Oriental, Japanese and Contemporary furniture. Check the site!
If they don't have it in stock, you might have to wait for it to slowly sail from China in a junk (ours took 3-months), but I wanted it, I was going to have it and I bloody got it!
Very helpful people: order tracking on their site, order confirmation mailed as a PDF etc.
I spent a long time laid on the floor connecting things up and using some rather ripe language, but it's in now. The amp will eventually go under the record deck for ease of access.
Disadvantages?
You have to open the left hand door (but only a tiny bit) so you can tell Sky what you want to watch. (Added): The friendly guy at the store told me you can buy a discreet unobtrusive widget called a 'Skye Eye' which will sit on top for 'closed-doors viewing'.
You can only store CDs flat in those drawers, but that's no issue, because I have a separate stand for them located otherwhere.
Excellent company now I want a Han-dynasty lacquered cabinet to store bogrolls in and a smaller one would do nicely for one's stash.
If you live down this way, check them out.
I see them as a quality 'solution provider'!
Added: STOP PRESS!
80%-off sale from 16.10.08 to 19.10.08. http://www.supatra.co.uk read more