Blocking off bay window

[JeffW]

I am going to block off my living room bay window and convert it to a built in entertainment center. It is 96 inches wide and 55 inches tall and 15 inches deep. I do not plan in removing the windows, and I am thinking of building two large panels 55" x 48" out of MDF. I am think that I can probably use 3/4" mdf as stiles and rails and 1/4" panels. I was planning on just painting them black on the inside and white facing the windows.

Any one think of a issue on this plan?????????



http://www.bt3central.com/attachment...1&d=1140010861
Back frame.jpg

[JR]

Jeff,

It looks ok as far as it goes. But how do you plan to support the shelves? Do you plan to put doors on the front?

I'd think the answers to those questions would determine the "doability" of the project.

JR

BTW - nice to see you posting again!

[JeffW]

The piece I showed was only to block off the window. The sides, top and bottom will be encased in 3/4 birch ply dyed and glazed. Shelves will be held with pins. The upper two shevles will have supports built in and only hold light weight items etc. The components will be on the side. The boxes on the bottom will be drawers for dvd and vhs tapes.

The face frames, doors etc will all be mahogany.


http://www.bt3central.com/attachment...1&d=1140021042
tv2.jpg

[LarryG]

Jeff, there's nothing inherently wrong with what you're proposing to do. We do a lot of traditional architecture in this office; the exterior elevations are often rigidly symmetrical WRT to window placements and sizes. This does not always dovetail well with a typically modern interior arrangement, so as a compromise we will occasionally blank off a window using a detail roughly akin to yours. I wouldn't say we do this a lot but it's not exactly a rarity, either.

One thing you should do, however, is provide a means to get a little bit of air movement between the glass and the blanking panel, to take care of any condensation that may form. Some small weeps at top and bottom are usually adequate for this.

You must also consider the possibility of glass replacement. If the windows are inside glazed (meaning the glass stops or entire sash can only be removed from the inside of the house), you must devise some way to replace the glass in case of breakage.

[JeffW]

Good points on the air and glass breakage. I had thought about a small type fan to extract the hot air and exchange it with room air. I had not thought about condensation and glass breakage. I need to think about a smooth way to remove the panels to replace the glass if it ever happens. I really don't want to have to pull everything out to repalce a window pane.

[JR]

I really don't want to have to pull everything out to repalce a window pane.

It may be farfetched, but...

How about putting the whole ent. center on casters? Put a piano hinge on one side, then you can pull it out from the other side. This would do dual duty of providing access to the window as well as access to the back of the ent. center for wiring!

JR

[JeffW]

The window is 15" off the ground. I don't think that will work, but but a good idea otherwise.

[tfischer]

Biggest issue is the room is going to seem VERY dark afterward... I'd sure hate to lose such a nice window in my place, but everyone's different...

-Tim