As often, I’m overdue for an update on good news already more than a month past. Better late than never? I’d like to showcase (although that sounds a little oversold for a scrapbook story) my nephew, Christoph’s, icehouse entertainment solution. Sounds unnecessarily cryptic. Actually icehouse entertainment system might be a bit of a misnomer, at least in the eyes of Christoph who prefers far more sophisticated technology integrations. His ever generous guidance and expertise are to credit for the successful reimagination of our antique Chinese armoire as a television cabinet.
At root, the vision was simple. Repurpose the antique Chinese armoire, purchased long ago in Manhattan, as a concealing cabinet for a television that would expand the icehouse’s non-work utility as an air conditioned place to watch a film after/before soaking in the hot tub.
The timeline for this metamorphosis some months back with a request to Christoph. Could he advise me on whether or not we could successfully use our Starlink connection in the icehouse to stream movies? And, if so, could he recommend a suitable television that would fit within our Chinese armoire?
Here’s a snippet of the conversation that followed.
Christoph: Happy to advise on this! Starlink will definitely be sufficient for streaming video. Would you be able to send a picture of the armoire, the whole space, and get a measurement of the armoire for me? Width height depth. And the distance between the couch and the armoire please. I’ll look into options based on those metrics.
Pam offered this handy snapshot for Christoph. There’s something poignant about this freeze-frame on our journey to movie-enabling the icehouse. Do you see that mysterious metal item on top of the cabinet? If so, you’re seeing the antique ice tongues that Pam gifted me. Seems appropriate that they are a peripheral but nostalgic nubbin in the little narrative.
Pam: So I’m measuring the larger opening between the shelves:
- 42-3/4” wide
- 20-1/4” deep
- 22-1/8” height
- Distance from couch to front edge of armoire is 10’ 10”
Christoph: Is the small upper shelf removable?
Pam: Yes.
Geo: Thank you, Pam. Are those side-to-side dimensions measured from wall-to-wall? Because I know that there is actually a narrower space if you consider the front face frame, hinges, door, etc.
Pam: Not from wall to wall. I measured the frame.
Christoph: And the lower one slides out?
Pam: The lower shelf is fixed. If you remove the top shelf the height would be 35″. Wall to wall is 46-3/4″ but then there are the shelf supports which will decrease the width by 2″ )1″ on either side).
Christoph: Thanks!
Geo: Thank you both!
Triangulating the icehouse cabinet and sofa (ie. viewing) conditions had been our collective challenge. But now it was Christoph’s challenge to determine what sized television would fit within the cabinet. It’s worth noting that he assured me from the outset that we really should focus on a larger TV rather than worrying about the cabinet. It explained that our viewing needs might not be quite as demanding as his!
In short order he suggested that we would be limited to a 50” HD television in order for it to fit inside the cabinet. He offered to figure out our best match to ensure that we purchase the appropriate hardware to maximize movie experience given limitations (i.e. screen size, Starlink internet, etc.) And then there would be the question of proper integration. Aware that my nephew is so generous with his time that he all too often inherits time consuming tech projects from his family, I suggested to Pam that it might be useful to hire the Geek Squad to come down and hook up the television as well as the Sonos sound bar and existing Sonos speakers (for surround sound) and to get everything working properly with Starlink.
And then this arrived from Christoph.
And this.
Above. And. Beyond. Above and beyond!
Needless to say, I was impressed. And super grateful because he had made my decision quick, easy, and risk-free.
Better yet, Christoph offered to undertake the installation and integration when the television arrived. Feeling more than a little guilty for accepting his generosity once again, I placed the order, let Pam and Glen know to be on the lookout for the delivery, and requested that the box be moved into the icehouse as soon as it arrived so that it wouldn’t get damaged by rain. And then, in that almost impossibly fast way that logistics *sometimes* transform orders into arrivals, the new television arrived at Rosslyn.
Glen placed it in the icehouse, and Pam celebrated the fact that Christoph would be hooking everything up since Geek Squad is apparently no longer an option in our area. Who knew?
The next thing I knew Christoph was beavering away in the icehouse. After some consultation about the whereabouts out of HDMI cables (and a photograph of a chubby woodchuck that spied on Christoph through the window) I received this photo update from Christoph.
Christoph: Complete. Scrap box is in the entry.
Few words. Big accomplishment. Massive gratitude from uncle to nephew. Thank you, Christoph! Thank you for threading the technology-meets-antiquity needle so that Susan and I can watch movies this summer. I truly appreciate you figuring out our best case scenario, finalizing our situational requirements/limitations for the television to fit inside the armoire, and then braiding all of these parts together so that we have the ultimate movie sanctuary only a few paces from our A+ sunset viewing hot tub. Perfection. And thank you Pam and Glen for juggling the other pieces of this puzzle. What a team!
I’ll sign off with this intriguing picture of the completed installation with a reflection of the north elevation windows reflected on the black screen…
Excellent!