skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

Please 'Splain 4HD TVs, Curved Screens, Etc.

10 years ago

I'm starting to see prices fall for 'advanced' TVs. We don't need a new TV at the moment, and we probably have no place to put one of these huge things, but I'd like to know what the bells and whistles *are*.

(Not buying the $6K Samsung 4-door fridge with cameras either. Cameras?)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

User
10 years ago
I think the cameras are for when you are grocery shopping to see what you need to buy.
nanny98
10 years ago
Cameras....OHHH, do I want to see who is raiding it in the middle of the night? (Not really me, but do you remember Dagwood building his mega sandwiches in the wee hours? Paints a funny picture!)

Haven't read it yet, but Consumers Report has some kind of lengthy article about TV's in the latest mag. We need one, but it looks too daunting to absorb or read.
Related Discussions
Do you love your screened porch?
Q
Comments (47)
Our first house which we lived in for over 30 years had a small screened porch which was screened on a north and east wall. We started using it here in NH as soon as it was warm enough. Both rain and snow came thru the screens. My husband always swept the excess out the door since the porch was over the basement tool area. The amount of rain/snow depends on how the wind blows in your area. I never keep track of weather patterns and in New England they seem to depend on the type of storm we are having. The ceiling fan helped a lot even though the house was on a shady lot and the porch did not get afternoon sun. Our current porch faces east. We will build an additional porch that will be off the new kitchen (currently being totally renovated). It will wrap around the garage that is being built now. My husband wants to put a cot out there for hot evenings. We have a ceiling fan in a livingroom but not in the kitchen/dining area. Although the livingroom has south windows it is much cooler because of the fan. We will put fans on the new porch which will have a dining area and a sitting area. We ALWAYS eat on the porch as long as it's warm enough or not too hot. I have not noticed the furniture getting wet although for bedding purposes keep in mind that on muggy, damp days you might not want to leave bedding on the porch all the time. The cats love the porch BUT we do not let them stay out on the porch at night because we have coyotes in the area. Ours might be high enough off the ground but the old porch that was closer to the ground was a problem for a relative. A bobcat came right thru the screens to get his cat. My husband has seen a screens badly damaged by a hawk that tried to get a small dog (we're in NH). The dog escaped into the house. We can sit on the porch when it rains, you just don't want to be close to the screens.
...See More
photo of room with TV on wall next to fireplace?
Q
Comments (11)
I was at a friend's house and they had a built in similar to yours. They had the TV on a sliding shelf in the built in and pulled it forward for viewing , but then had the option of pushing it back all the way and actually had doors that shut to hide it. That may be overkill to close doors to hide the TV, but it looks like you could have a retractable shelf in your built in for the TV. Can you do without the loveseat in the room? I think the loveseat interrupts your flow into the room, both physicially and visually. Instead, how about moving the chaise where the loveseat is and maybe getting a nice upholstered swivel chair to put over on the fireplace side which could be turned to face the TV or the fireplace. It could be placed close to the couch and angled in so it doesn't block the fireplace. Or, if you aren't set on having a chaise, an upholstered swivel chair could be placed on either side of the couch-nothing too big. That would leave the entryway less blocked. I think that would made the room look larger. I really like to look into a room and see an unblocked expanse of floor all the way to the other end, if possible. With a chair on either side of the couch with a small table between each chair and the couch, you'd only lose one seat from what you have now. If you really want something to recline in, consider a smallish lazyboy for one of the side chairs. We love our leather lazyboys. Also, I would move the grouping as far back toward the breakfast nook as possible. I love the built ins, the fireplace and the glass doors out to the deck. It's going to be lovely when it's all furnished.
...See More
It's getting harder to find a TV that's not "smart."
Q
Comments (29)
There are two TV's in this house -- a really small 20 inch one and one that I think is about 36 inches. Both are flat screen, neither are "smart" -- and I have no desire to replace either until they die of natural causes. I just don't watch TV much. The larger will be in my future living room, and the smaller will be in the guest bedroom once I move. Alisande: I have been watching Mozart in the Jungle on my Kindle via Amazon Prime. First season was good and besides... there's the music! I started second season -- seems like less music and I may drop it. (I probably never would have watched any of this but for the broken leg I'm dealing with.) loonlakelaborcamp: No, I don't want my TV spying on me.... especially camera feature. (Do I have to be fully dressed to sit in front of my TV????)
...See More
Show me your TV set up, please!
Q
Comments (57)
Thanks Lars! My house is 1150 sq feet so I've found it really difficult to decorate with size appropriate furniture. So much seems to be designed for bigger homes, most homes in my area are in the 3000+ sq foot range. My friends all have lots of decor and tchotchkes, and while I like that look I've found simple works better in my limited space. Its really hard to edit down decor, but it makes cleaning my house much easier! I bought the grandfather clock when I was in my 20s and I've been in love with it ever since. My house fortunately has a full basement which was unfinished when I bought it, so my husband and I finished it ourselves. BTW, even though my user name looks like it, I'm not actually a Mr :) Anyhow, a couple years ago we built a dirt cheap budget theater down there, and since it does include a tv, I'll add a photo of that as well. The tv can be a mirror of the screen, or work independently. It's a 42" wall mounted plasma tv, an Ikea besta cabinet holding a receiver, roku, tv tuner, blu ray, and misc electronics. The screen is 10 foot diagonal, and is just flat paint and wood molding directly on the drywall. There are 7 speakers and a subwoofer hidden throughout the room, and 4 power leather recliners.
...See More
Aprile
10 years ago
I am not sure if I would buy the fridge with the camera on it. That is what looking in the ridge and making a list is for before you go shopping.

But I will admit I have a 4k TV with 3D. A big one 72". Mine is an LG with the ultra black what not technical speak stuff that I really don't understand. What I do know is the picture is incredible and so much better than my old TV. We don't spend money to go to the movies but we do do movie night once a week. A group of us get together and eat snacks and watch movies and just hang out. Because of that I wanted a really nice TV with all the bells and whistles with a surround sound system. The picture quality during movies is outstanding almost to the point that it looks like you are there. The 3D movies and TV channels are immersive and give you a completely different viewing experience. For everyday viewing for things like Sports games there is a big difference.

If you do not watch a lot of movies or sports I would not recommend a TV like this as you would never use it to it's full potential but if you watch a lot of movies and as I said sports it is well well worth the money if you can afford it. I did spend over $6000 for mine knowing that it would be many many years before I would replace it. The great thing for me was if you buy at Best Buy and it goes on sale they will refund you the difference and sure enough shortly after I bought it it went on sale and I got over $2000 refunded which in my eyes made it a great investment.

Related Stories

MORE ROOMS Tech in Design: Where to Put Your Flat-Screen TV

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

Popcorn, please: Enjoy all the new shows with a TV in the best place for viewing

FEEL-GOOD HOME What Really Makes Us Happy at Home? Find Out From a New Houzz Survey

By Mitchell Parker

Great design has a powerful impact on our happiness in our homes. So do good cooking smells, family conversations and, yes, big-screen TVs

HOME TECH Design Dilemma: Where to Put the Flat-Screen TV?

TV Placement: How to Get the Focus Off Your Technology and Back On Design

FUN HOUZZ A Sports Bar in the Family Room

By Mitchell Parker

Stadium seating, 4 TVs, a corner booth steps from the beer ... these Cincinnati fans went long on building their dream game-watching room

MORE ROOMS 5 Ways to Decorate Around a Flat-Screen TV

By KitchenLab Interiors

Color, Placement and Accessories Help that Big Black Screen Blend In

DECORATING GUIDES TGIR: The Case of the Disappearing TV

By Mary Jo Bowling

They Got It Right: If you can’t beat it, camouflage it. See how these designers made TV screens almost unnoticeable

HOME TECH Is the Timing Finally Right for Framed Digital Art?

By R. Daniel Foster

Several companies are preparing to release digital screens and apps that let you stream artworks and video on your wall

DECORATING GUIDES Ask an Expert: How to Decorate a Long, Narrow Room

Distract attention away from an awkward room shape and create a pleasing design using these pro tips

The Unofficial Houzz Academy Awards for Movie Homes

By Becky Harris

Grab a front-row seat as we hand out honors to superb homes featured in 10 flicks. The envelope, please ...

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Give Curb Appeal a Self-Serving Twist

By Billy Goodnick Garden Design

Suit yourself with a front-yard design that pleases those inside the house as much as viewers from the street

Sponsored

Wannemacher Interiors

26 Reviews

Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Franklin Cnty OH

More Discussions

Hello Pumpkin....

19

Drosophila — fruit flies!

27

11/4 Survivor tonight

7

Your Fall Foliage AKA Outside Your Window

13

Thursday's Daily Quiz

7