My dear wife, Handan, had a solution to
help fill some of that space and increase storage space: a built-in media console with storage space below flanked by two tall bookcases. The original plan was for me to build everything from scratch, but my merciful wife took pity on me and found two beautiful IKEA bookcases. It was up to me to design and build the media console to go in between the bookcases.
I designed the console using Sketchup, and built it primarily from one sheet of 3/4 inch birch plywood. I made the doors from 1 x 3 pine and the top from three planks of shiplap. I designed it to be 6 feet long, which would not only accommodate our current 60 inch TV, but allow for an upgrade up to about 75 inches. I chose a height of 21 inches, which I determined to be the optimal height for a television. It took hours and hours of grueling on-sofa movie research, some popcorn, a little ice cream and one or two dry martinis, but it was worth it, and I’d gladly duplicate my research should there be any doubt.