A home entertainment system that blends 1950s charm with cutting-edge tech? That’s exactly what Bill Morelan of Bilmor Studios created. His handcrafted retro TV system features a 50-inch flat screen, a record player with a vintage vinyl collection, and a 36-inch soundbar, all housed in a nostalgic mid-century cabinet.
When author and artist Morelan shared his completed project, it received over 174,000 reactions. We went straight to the source to learn his process so you can make one yourself.
Where did you find the unique supplies for this project?
“I found the knobs, logo, and speaker cloth through a little searching on eBay. But when I run across unique objects in flea markets, I always buy them and save them for later projects,” Morelan shares. “The time to buy unique items is when you see them because you may never run across them again.”
What tools do you need?
If you’re handy around the house, you might already have the tools required to make a retro TV entertainment system like this one.
“A project like this is easy to do with a table saw, power nailer, bar clamps, etc. But I only had a circular saw, a drill, rope, and hand tools. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention,” he says.
How long did it take to make this piece?
Despite working in a makeshift corner of his home with minimal tools, Morelan completed this project in just two days. “With a well-equipped wood shop, this would have gone much faster,” he explains. With the right tools and workspace, you could finish this project in no time.
How can someone recreate this retro TV entertainment system?
Morelan says this project is fairly straightforward since it’s essentially just a fancy box. He provides all the details in the Retro TV cabinet plan image below, but he also gave us a basic explanation of how he did it.
The first step is to cut everything to size per the plans. Once everything is cut, you begin assembly by completing the outer box.
Next, add the interior partitions, then the TV surround, and finish by adding the remaining components—the door, the speaker cloth, the logo, and the knobs.
You can stain and seal either once the parts are cut (before assembly) or after the basic unit is assembled—before adding knobs, cloth, etc.
Want to bring a touch of the ’50s into your home? Try building your own retro entertainment system — Morelan’s blueprint makes it easier than ever.
