Well, that may be overstating it, but I've had to re-think a few things.
Because we got an HDTV.
The fact is that we rarely go out to movies, and watching baseball and Notre Dame football is a big part of some people's lives around here. In this house. So this is our entertainment center for real. After raising a bunch of teenagers I realized that the person with the biggest TV wins (actually, the person with the least supervision at home wins, but that's not going to happen here).
For some folks it works to ditch the TV, and a lot of them are our friends. They just don't have it, and I admire that.
In our family, everyone would just go off to someone else's house if we didn't have a TV!
I think you have to be honest about what kind of a family you are, and then make the best of it, rather than making invidious comparisons.That goes the other way too. That you should not feel judged by me!
I see the value of getting rid of the TV altogether, and you have to know your own children. I also see the value of appreciating that one's husband works hard and if he'd like to relax in front of the Red Sox, then that's what he'd like to do.
And honestly, a lot of TV is amusing. Some is amusing at times and then suddenly becomes offensive. I would like my children to be inured to clicking away from such things. At home we've popped videos out and abruptly turned it off. And lo! life goes on. That's a lesson I'm glad they learned at home, since they certainly will watch TV at friends' houses and later, at college.
When they were younger, Phil and I got them into the habit of muting the commercials during sports events (and wow, do you ever have to do that). It's sort of the price of admission (which I now have to remind a certain child of when he gets home).
Besides the real vulgarity of many ads, there is just the mesmerizing, annoying noise. There is so much you can do during the commercials, and muting them seems to bring a release. Unmuting them seems to glue everyone's eyes to things that are at best a waste of time (well, the whole thing is a waste, but like I said, that's a moot point).
So that's it, there's my justification for our worldliness. Also, we had scored that nice big cabinet with doors, and the Eye of Mordor could be shut out of our lives when we weren't partaking.
Now, though, the new TV is just too big! I thought you might be interested in a low-budget solution for where to park it, although it's only partial, since it's not behind doors. I do have an idea for that, but it's a long way off to being realized, and at least the thing isn't ugly. It's big all right, but not horrible.
After much searching on the interwebs for a decorating solution that wouldn't break the bank, I decided I wanted this:
Design Sponge: Anne-Claire |
Some kind of nice mid-century credenza that would be low enough to put the TV on and also have room for all the stuff that goes along with it. The person whose photo this is makes me jealous, because I can assure you after months of looking that no such thing can be found on my Craigslist.
So then I started searching for any kind of credenza. It had to be five feet wide, because that's the width of that spot, and it would be nice if it were shallow, since the darned thing is already dominating the room, and it would be nice to take advantage of its thinness to reclaim some floor space.
I did find this on Craigslist :
It's an Ikea credenza that goes for $250 new, and the lady was selling it for $70. So although it's way too metro-modern for me, I decided I wasn't finding anything else. I swapped out the handles for something a bit more “me” and we got it set up. Removing those middle doors made room for the accessories, and I'm proud of myself for doing it that way, because the wires and ugly stuff are hidden behind the doors that are left.
However, we quickly realized that it was sagging! Yes, that's right, that's only one leg, in the back, there in the middle. Isn't that odd?
So Phil made another two legs for it — one in the center and one in the front — and because the floor is very uneven it still sort of isn't plumb. I'm very glad I didn't pay $250 for it! It's really not well made.
The next problem was all these wires underneath, both for the TV and my computer which is on my desk to the left. Thinking….thinking….
I got some matte black cotton from the fabric store and glue-gunned a little curtain underneath the credenza, about four inches from the very back. Voila! Disappearing cords!
When you are sitting on the sofa you really don't see that black fabric at all! |
Now onto the devotions part of this redo.
Because, as you know, another benefit to that big oak cabinet was that I could use the top of it for a Nativity display, or a statue and candle, or our all souls' devotion in November.
My plate rack in the kitchen, where we always are anyway. |
November is the month the Church prays for the dear ones who have passed on. If you'd like to know more about this, go here.
And remember what I told you — Catholics think about death all the time, so it doesn't make us lose our hope when it happens. Which it will.
I love that many people offer visitors prayer cards for their dead. It's such a great reminder to pray. The last two wakes we went to, there were no prayer cards. I felt so disappointed! You can bet there will be a prayer card at my funeral! Because you better pray for me!
For now, this is my solution of the problem of where to put the prayer cards this November.
The candle is out of reach of little hands. |
priestswife says
About the tv- 'all' of my friends but one don't have tv (meaning cable or dish)- but we all have computers. So, yes, I can see almost any show I want eventually. The one friend who has tv has it for sports- that seems to be the last bastion of tv need
womanofthehouse says
You did a great job re-doing the credenza. We no longer have a TV, but we do watch videos and stream Netflix over our computers. My extended family about passes out whenever our TV-less status comes up, but we are happy with our arrangement. 🙂
(Lutherans think about death a lot too. lol)
Anitra says
I almost laughed out loud when I read: “I also see the value of appreciating that one's husband works hard and if he'd like to relax in front of the Red Sox, then that's what he'd like to do.”
We have our TV for other reasons (video games, especially group-focused ones), but THAT is the reason we shell out the extra money for cable. Because you can't view (most) Red Sox games without spending at least $30-50/month.
Pippajo says
Very nicely done! It looks so nice and neat! I couldn't bear to show you our current set up (though it does, mercifully, have doors so I can enclose the entire nightmare as needed)!
Our TV habits have run the gamut during our family history. For a while there we had a TV but no cable hookup and the TV itself was in our (rather large) closet at the foot of our bed. That way, we could cozy up on our bed and pop a movie in the VCR if we wanted to (and this was when Redheaded Snippet was small so there were plenty of those times) but it wasn't a constant, intrusive presence. Then we moved and had no closet large enough for a TV so we had no TV whatsoever. Then I was put on bed rest so the TV came back into our lives complete with cable. After I was back on my feet, we got rid of the cable again but kept the TV. I just have a hard time justifying paying for garbage to be piped into my children's hearts and minds (and mine and The Viking's for that matter). But right now, for some crazy reason, we have cable despite the fact that we have not asked for it, are not paying for it, and have informed the cable company of that fact more than once. And I've noticed that one is a lot more susceptible to garbage without cable than one is with it these days. So we block certain channels and try to enforce viewing rules.
I agree with you that you have to know your family and its habits. If we didn't have a TV, the computer wars would be way more intense than they already are. And we find the TV a lot easier to control than the computer. But that's a topic for another day.
One more thing: Eye of Mordor! Perfect description! It made me literally laugh out loud!
Camille says
Thank you for this post! I am not a huge fan to TV nor am I a huge TV watcher, but my husband is and it has been a struggle for us to balance the TV with the kids! I often feel so guilty for allowing my kids to watch TV even though it is either PBS or Netflix videos I choose (usually Thomas!). I think the bottom line for me is exactly what you pointed out — they will just go somewhere else to watch. Eventually they will be on their own. I have this time to train them how to watch the programs through a sieve and not just let TV “happen” to them.
Melissa says
I love your solution to hiding the cables under the new credenza. My DH is a techie and so there are cables everywhere in our house and it drives me crazy! Got any more solutions for taming them around the house?
Marie says
Great idea for the prayer cards. I never know what to do with those after I pick them up. It makes sense to put them in an area that you will see them. Then you can say a prayer for them whenever you look up at the card.
Thanks for such great posts. I check all the time to see if you have any more pearls of wisdom for me, they always seem so timely. I have two boys ages 4 and 2 and the clothes posts fit right in here.
LJ says
“Eye of Mordor”… hysterical! That's what you should have called this post!
🙂
Ashlee says
You are so funny! Eye of Mordor! Ha! We have a tv, but don't subscribe to cable or dish. I use it for watching movies from the library. I'm watching Little Women tonight.
Dawn says
I loved the Eye of Mordor comment! And the black fabric is an awesome solution!!
Christine says
the curtain is a great idea! and, I love the credenza.
margo says
I just love all the details for how you arrived at your solution. Ikea stuff can be so hit or miss with quality.
I think you are right that comparisons are odious. Whenever our family does something different than others, we like to say, “well, in our family, we. . . . . .” And this establishes a family culture and also (hopefully) doesn't come across as judgemental.
We are TVless, but ha, the computer is just as bad for sucking up free time and brains. So we do still deal with the Eye of Mordor (GREAT NAME and makes me want to get out my Tolkien again and re-read).
Faith says
My cabinetmaker husband would thank you for saying the Ikea credenza is not well-made– he can't stand walking into an Ikea. (I, on the other hand..) I love the idea for hiding the wires! Your home is so inspirational!
ecoMILF says
WE have the same Tv. My son doesn't watch any and I watch a little but my hubby can't live without it for sports and news. I find it to be so ugly and invasive as well. I like the table you have it on- very thrifty. We also have an ikea tv stand that sagged and had to put an extra piece of wood on it. If we owned our own house I would put the TV on the wall so it wasn't on a piece of furniture at all. Happy viewing. xo m.
_Leila says
Well, we thought of the wall, but you still have the cords and the cable box (have to have cable or we wouldn't get any reception at all here on the hill, and what about baseball???) and the DVD player…so we'd still need a piece of furniture….
I'm still looking for that mid-century credenza though. In some dusty corner…
Anne says
In addition to the fact that most Ikea furniture is badly made of bad materials, you should also know that unless the piece is specifically sold as a TV stand or “media solution” as the retailers put it, it is not designed or guaranteed to support the weight of a TV. If the TV makes it sag even a little, shore it up with additional supports through the center and x or a frame supports along the back. It would be terrible for your new TV to come crashing down because of bad furniture. It may sound unnecessary or extravagant, but these days you really do need to get a stand specifically designed to support the weight of a TV to prevent disaster
Oh, and I think your TV-viewing norms are eminently reasonable. 🙂
April L. says
Okay, first off, I may have to adapt that curtain idea for our home office. Brilliant!
Our house was actually broken into earlier this year, and the TV (along with everything else electronic, and my grandmother's wedding ring) was stolen. We talked about it, and decided (well, more like I decided) that perhaps it was a blessing in disguise, and we didn't need a TV. We were going to be better than all those people who just sit around, slaves to the tube. We were going to actually spend time together. *Ahem* Humility is not my strong point. So we went without for a while–a month, I believe? And you know what? We spent *less* time together! I was in one room on the home computer or reading a book, while he was in another room fiddling around on his work computer. We were both just doing our own thing. And then we realized that watching TV is something we actually like to do together! It's not all we do, and we don't abuse it. But I had been feeling a lot of pressure from a lot of the “simple living” crowd, and it was an experience that taught me that there isn't a right or wrong answer for absolutely everything. This is what works for our family, and that's okay. 🙂
MaryBeth Mahoney says
I love your big tv and hope to have one someday soon (sports watching is so much more satisfying to watch on a nice tv). And I love your November devotion with the prayer cards. I'm copying it.
Cyndie says
I love how you make do, and just love the black curtain idea. I hate these big top heavy Tv's though. They could topple over onto a little one if not tethered with a safety strap. It is rare but devastating occurance when it happens. ( I work in a hospital)
Milehimama says
We had the same problem finding a good stand for our TV. I ended up buying two wooden bookcases and shoving posterboard behind them to hide the cords – http://www.milehimama.com/2010/08/21/living-room-…
We hung our TV on the wall so I can use the top of the shelves as a “mantle” of sorts for candles and whatnot. I hate looking at all the cords, too!
Roxie says
I think we have the same TV. I got it for my husband for Christmas last year. I also got him a Blue Ray (what ever that is) I knew I did not want some particle board piece of junk in the den….so I went to my favorite 'furniture' store. The Salvation Army Thrift store…Right when I walked in the (like they knew I was coming) was the perfect piece. It was buffet from a huge dining room set. They sold me the piece for just $50.00….it is in near perfect condition. My husband had to cut holes in the back for wires but it is perfect.
Heather says
I made a fabric cover for our flat screen. To get the right width without any seams, I used a large tablecloth. I folded it in half and basted along the existing seam lines–forming a “pillowcase” style pocket that slides easily over the set for $10. Finally, I cut a slit to accommodate the anti-tip safety bar in the back. I chose a fabric that blends well with the wall, but I could imagine chosing a complementary fabric instead.
freckledhen says
Gosh you are so good at problem solving! How did you get like this? Your credenza (that is a regal word by the way) looks really nice…I like how it is black and how it blends uniform with the tv.
I have a love/hate relationship with the tv. What we pay every month to watch it kind of makes me ill.
dhkile says
Santa brought us a new HDTV for Christmas (a few weeks early… it's football season!), and I have been searching for just the right piece of furniture for it. I am not having any luck. I know the perfect piece is out there for me… just waiting for me… somewhere…
~Heidi
armarios correderos says
I also see the value of appreciating that one's husband works hard and if he'd like to relax in front of the Red Sox, then that's what he'd like to do.”