Designing AV Before the Millwork: Why Timing Is Everything

Millwork and AV share the same real estate, and they have to be reconciled on paper before anything is built. Display sizes dictate opening dimensions and viewing heights. Speakers need depth, backing and acoustically appropriate openings. Equipment racks need ventilation, access and cable pathways. Decide these after the cabinets are fabricated and the answer is almost always a visible compromise.

When AV is designed alongside the millwork, the opposite happens. Screens sit flush, fabric-wrapped openings hide speakers, and the rack lives in a ventilated, serviceable location out of sight. Cable runs are planned to land exactly where the components will be, so there are no surprise penetrations or exposed wiring.

The takeaway is simple: AV is an architectural trade, not a finishing touch. Coordinating your integrator with your designer and millworker early is what turns a room full of equipment into a space where you only see the experience.