For most of us, the television is part of our daily lives. It provides news and entertainment and keeps us connected with what’s going on in the world. As such, it becomes a room feature that is sometimes embraced or seen as an eyesore.  With the holidays over and that new TV staring us in the face, where do we put it?

A trend is to find a compromise, usually by putting it above a fireplace- my neck hurts just thinking about that… I understand that sometimes this is the only place that makes sense for a number of reasons but it sends a mixed message -what is the focal point? Is it the fireplace or television? The hearth is the symbolic center of the home and I guess the television is also becoming that – for better or worse.

In new construction or a remodeling, we have the opportunity to plan for how a space will be used and thus maximize the placement of these elements. I thought it might be helpful to review a few points as it relates to proper viewing and television setup.

Vertical Angle of View & Screen Height:
For optimum viewing, the eyes of the viewer should be level with the center of the screen.

Maximum vertical angle of view:
In those home theater set-ups where this is not possible, it is recommended that the maximum vertical angle measured at the seated eye height from the front row center seat to the top most part of the projected image should not exceed 35 degrees. This does not represent the optimum viewing angle but rather the limit beyond which the viewer will be subject to an increased neck strain.

Recommended Viewing Distance based upon the screen size:

26″   3.25-5.5 feet
32″   4.0-6.66 feet
37″   4.63-7.71 feet
40″   5.0-8.33 feet
46″   5.75-9.5 feet
52″   6.5-10.8 feet
58″   7.25-12 feet
65″   8.13-13.5 feet
70″   8.75-14.75 feet

Here is a television viewing distance calculator that can help determine the screen size and seating distances. Here also is another article on setting up a home theater.

I love kicking back with my family and watching a great movie with a big tub of popcorn on my lap. Why not maximize the enjoyment by thinking through the best possible viewing arrangement? Or just put the television into the fireplace…

Last year, I had built a fire in our wood burning fireplace -not unusual for a Saturday evening in the winter. It wasn’t a raging or large fire, just a normal one.

My wife went upstairs to get something to drink and yelled down to me that there were sparks falling on our deck. I thought ‘Big deal’, we do have a fire burning after all and a rouge spark falling in the snow didn’t seem unusual. I went upstairs to reassure my wife and my eyes went wide. It was raining sparks past our windows like hundreds of sparklers lit at once.

I ran out on the deck and looked up at the chimney. There must have been a six foot high flame shooting out of the top. And the sound, you cant’ forget that hum of the rushing air and flames. At the same moment, my neighbor was racing up the driveway. They said it had looked like a bomb went off and lit up the whole neighborhood. 911 had already been contacted, including by us, and we were told to get out of the house.

On my way out, I grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the wood fire and sprayed up into the chimney. The fire department came quick, even though that was the longest 10 minutes of my life. They used an infrared or heat detector to assess if there was still fire burning within the chimney or adjacent structure. They also looked down the chimney to visually inspect it.

They said it appeared that the chimney cap had a build-up of creasote and that was what had ignited.

The next day, I spoke with a Chimney Sweep and he said:
1. You should have the chimney swept every 2 years (every year it should be inspected if you have lots of fires).
2. Do NOT burn paper -even to start the fire. He said people often burn gift wrap this time of year and there are even more chemicals within that paper that creates creasote.

A typical chimney cleaning is around $150. Well worth it considering we could have lost our entire house let alone pets or ourselves! Here are a couple of other resources worth a read:

Chimney Fires, Causes and Cures & Facts about Chimney Fires

Oh and, a big thanks to the Hudson Fire Department!

Like most businesses during this tough economic time, our office gets resumes from recent graduates to those with years of experience. It amazes me that most of them arrive via email in what appears to be a blast to everybody under the sun.

When I graduated college in the late 80’s, it was a similar rough time to find a job. We did things the ‘old fashioned’ way of mailing resumes or actually hand delivering them. I put my line in the water like everyone else. After getting nowhere in my quest for a job, I realized I had to somehow set myself apart –be a shiny lure to at least get a nibble.

I took out my trusty X-Acto knife and went about making a pop-up introduction card. The images on the left are early prototypes I actually found in an old file folder –amazing what you keep! The final design was a bit more detailed with the prospective employer’s name cleverly typed on the building and a figure of me standing in front along with cut and paste text expounding my credentials. Needless to say, it was time consuming to make but it showed creativity and a seriousness that ended up sparking interest.

I made about a dozen of these and was called to 4 interviews. Not too bad! Most of them told me, when I walked in the door, that they weren’t hiring but wanted to meet the person who made such a great card. One of those interviews however happened to pay off. I was hired by RRTL Architects and began a 40 mile one-way commute to my new job! A friend of mine and I talk about those days often saying ‘You did whatever it took.’ So true. I painted toilet rooms, changed light bulbs, ran errands and blueprints that first year and rarely touched pencil to paper but I didn’t care. I knew I was lucky, I was happy and more importantly, I was learning.

That little pop-up card got me in the door and made me stand out compared to all of those others fishing for work. I got some nibbles and then a bite. They saw that I would ‘do whatever it takes’ to be the best light bulb changer, errand runner and eventually an architect. I will be forever grateful. This is a lesson I try to teach my children and that you need to be proactive in everything you want to achieve.

Here is an example of a student being creative trying to find an apartment in New York – Wanted: NYC Studio
If you are more handy then I am with an X-Acto knife, here is another way to set yourself apart with a pop-up business card. Amazing.

Why hire an Architect? I could list all kinds of facts such as:

• To become an Architect it takes 6 plus years of College, 3 plus years of Internship,  must complete a 7 part Registration Exam (typically 35% pass rate),  are required to have Annual Continuing Education focusing on Health, Safety & Welfare, Code/Zoning expertise, etc.
• We are trained in understanding Integrated Systems, Scale, Color, Proportion, Materials and Constructability

Or appeal to the financial benefits:

• Quality design can increase staff productivity, minimize utility usage and strengthen a corporate identity. On the residential side, a home’s value can increase by up to 50% -all things equal to a typical spec-built house.   When selling, Realtors will market as ‘Architect Designed Home’ -knowing that implies something special
• Architects know the efficiencies in selections of materials, structural and mechanical systems, electrical equipment/fixtures
• We understand and can help streamline City/state requirement/processes

But I won’t discuss these and other facts…anymore…at least for now.

Every building project is a major and nerve racking commitment.  Not unlike other professionals such as an accountant who helps you manage your money or a doctor that aids in your wellbeing, an Architect assists you in making appropriate and advantageous decisions related to your construction project.  The physiological impact of the built environment in which we live and work helps to define our productivity let alone our happiness.  The simple choice of a paint color, materials, window size/placement, flow in and around the space will effect how you feel and function.

Our real ability lies in helping to interpret your goals and dreams into a project that exceeds your original vision. We understand site, planning, and construction issues.  We know the latest materials and finishes. We are artists and sculptors, puzzle and problem solvers.  We are mindful of the impact that design decisions can have on the project’s function, it’s environment and your pocketbook. Our value goes beyond drawing ‘pretty sketches’.   We will be your advocate and maximize your resources to far exceed what would have been done without teaming with an Architect.