Integrator transforms spare room with custom AV furniture

Transforming a residential space into a fully functioning media room is never just about hardware - the very best installs demand seamless integration of technology and interior design. One vision uniting different disciplines.

It’s a message CEDIA has been driving home for several years, witness its recent sponosrship of WOW!house 2026, the annual showhouse presented by Design Centre.

For smart home integrators, delivering great AV is only part of the challenge. Increasingly, clients also expect that technology to disappear seamlessly into beautifully designed interiors.

So when DSE Digital, a specialist smart home and AV integration company, needed to elevate a project in Gosforth, Newcastle, with bespoke furniture as part of its brief, it turned to Belvedare Bespoke, a specialist in custom furniture fabrication.

Working alongside integrators and AV professionals, Belvedare designs and manufactures bespoke furniture specifically around the requirements of modern technology. From the initial concept and CAD drawings through to detailed 3D renders, manufacture and installation, the aim is to provide integrators with a furniture partner who genuinely understands both design and AV integration.

Transforming an unused room

In this case, the client's brief was to transform a room in the property that was rarely being used into a dedicated bar and entertainment space. Somewhere that could be enjoyed with family and friends, incorporating high-quality sound, video, lighting and control.

Rather than designing the furniture first and then trying to accommodate the technology afterwards, Belvedare and DSE Digital approached the room as one holistic project.

The bar and surrounding furniture were designed in CAD, taking into consideration both the appearance of the finished room and all the tech that would eventually be integrated within it.

Then detailed 3D renders were produced, allowing the client to see how the completed space would look before manufacturing began.

This stage is an important stage, says Belvedare, giving both the client and integrator the opportunity to review the design, dimensions and equipment locations before signing off the project.

“Good design and detailed 3D modelling are fundamental to a successful installation,” explains Belvedare Bespoke’s Tony Arnsby. “They allow the client, designer and installation team to see exactly how the finished space will look before anything is manufactured or installed,”

Only when once approved, does the furniture enter production. The typical manufacturing turnaround takes approximately eight weeks.

“For us, it is about much more than creating attractive furniture,” says Arnsby. “The design process allows us to consider every detail, equipment locations, ventilation, cable routes, access, speaker positioning, lighting and first-fix requirements, so that the technology and furniture work together as one complete solution.”

For this project, finished cabinetry featured a clean, handleless design, with colours selected from Paint & Paper Library to create a sophisticated contemporary appearance.

Technology designed Into the furniture

For DSE Digital, one of the major advantages of working with furniture designed specifically for sound and vision, is being able to consider every aspect of hardware installation from the outset.

Equipment locations, cable routes, ventilation, access for servicing, speaker positions and lighting were all considered during the design process rather than becoming problems that need to be solved on site. Time and money saved.

“Working with Belvedare Bespoke has been a breath of fresh air,” says David Slater, DSE Digital. “They genuinely understand what’s required when integrating technology into bespoke furniture. That makes a huge difference to us as an integrator, because the furniture is designed around the technology from the outset rather than us having to find solutions once everything arrives on site.”

For the Gosforth project, LED lighting was incorporated directly into the furniture, with the lighting controlled through RAKO intelligent dimmers. DSE Digital then unified system control through Control4, bringing the different technologies together into one simple, reliable system.

“Although there was a considerable amount of technology behind the scenes, the client shouldn't need several different remote controls to operate it,” says Arnsby.

With Control4, the entertainment system could be operated from a single remote, giving the client simple access to television, audio and the room's different entertainment sources.

Sound and vision were also accommodated within the Belvedare’s cabinetry - an LG OLED was chosen for the display, a product DSE regularly uses because of its reliable integration with Control4.

Amplification was supplied by Yamaha. Configured as a 5.1 surround system, the room was more than capable of delivering far more than everyday TV viewing.

The system's video and entertainment sources also included a PlayStation 5 and a karaoke system, appropriate for a room designed from the outset for entertaining.

From workshop to finished installation

Once manufacturing was complete, the installation was carried out on site, over approximately one week.

As the furniture had already been designed around AV requirements, the electronics could be integrated cleanly into the finished cabinetry without compromising the overall room aesthetic.

The result was a space where the furniture, lighting, audio, video and control system felt like elements of one design rather than individual products added after the fact.

The finished result was extremely well received, with the client delighted by both the transformation of the room and the simplicity of operating the technology.

A furniture partner for the Custom Install industry

Projects such as Gosforth highlight what Belvedare Bespoke seeks to offer the professional integrator - a white glove service that leaves nothing to chance.

Bespoke furniture is often one of the most challenging elements of a custom installation. Technology has very specific requirements, but those requirements are not always understood by conventional furniture manufacturers or joinery companies.

Belvedare takes a different approach.

Furniture is designed with AV integration in mind. Consideration can be given to equipment dimensions, ventilation, cable management, servicing access, speaker integration, displays, lighting and control equipment while still delivering the level of finish expected from high-end bespoke furniture.

Before anything even reaches site, integrators can be provided with CAD drawings, 3D visualisations and information relating to electrical and first-fix requirements, helping different trades understand what’s required and reducing potential problems.

Belvedare also provides experienced installers on site, helping take responsibility for the furniture element of the project from concept through to completion.

“The installation team was exceptional,” says Slater. “Their attention to detail was outstanding and, just as importantly, they were incredibly helpful and accommodating with everything we needed during the installation.”

The Gosforth bar project demonstrates the end result of that collaboration: beautifully designed bespoke furniture, intelligent lighting, integrated AV and simple smart home control – all working as one.

“Ultimately, the most important result is the finished project and the client experience. The furniture looked fantastic, the technology was integrated exactly as required, and we were left with a very satisfied client.”

For more information on Belvedare Bespoke visit https://www.belvedare.co.uk/ .