Let It Hang with Evo System

The evo framing system from Vantage Point lets you attach speakers, TVs and shelves to the wall without having to pull out your power drill.

Vantage Point's new modular shelving system promises to mount your equipment on any wall, and look good doing it.

Hanging a flat-panel TV on the wall isn’t as easy as it sounds. The set may be skinny, but it’s still heavy, which means you’ll need to brace it to a stud—if you can find one in the spot where you want the TV to go.

There’s also the wiring to contend with. You’ll either need to drill a few holes in the wall so wiring can be hidden behind it, or you can drape the cabling down the surface of the wall for all the world to see.

These are just a few of the many issues you can encounter when designing a wall-mounted entertainment system for your home, says Don Burns, CEO of Vantage Point. “You might also need to move or add an electrical outlet, you might not have the proper structural support, and in some homes you might be faced with concrete, brick or plaster walls.”

Fortunately, the long-time manufacturer of TV and speakers mounts has discovered a workaround to the many roadblocks do-it-yourselfers can face by developing a practical and fashionable framing system.

The evo system is composed of sturdy steel rails that can be attached to any type of wall surface. The brackets form a “frame” for your TV, speakers and other equipment as well as a place to tuck away all the wiring, surge strips and other devices, eliminating the need to cut into the wall.

Sixteen-by-sixteen-inch wooden veneer panels snap into the frame, giving the evo system the finished appearance of a piece of furniture. Your TV, speakers and shelves for DVD players and satellite receivers mount either directly to the wooden panels or to channels on the aluminum frame. The panels can be removed at any time to allow access to wiring and outlets, and the entire frame can be reconfigured and expanded to accommodate upgrades, additions and changes to your entertainment system.

The evo system sells for between $600 and $4,000, depending on size and configuration, and is available through specialty retailers.