One thing that I have learned in this business is that nothing stays the same. Cool editing furniture looks great, but in 5 years (at the rate that equipment changes) it may become a waste of valuable space.

Remember that video equipment changes (most of the time faster than we would like) and the amount of space that it takes up is different.

What I have ended up with is a pony wall (false wall) of 2x3 studs on 18" centers (to allow for the equipment to fit "between the studs" and mounted floor to ceiling metal shelving brackets on each. Then placing the necessary 'shelves' where I need them. The adjustability allows me to change positions of equipment at will. So if something isn't working for me or a certain piece of equipment is just out of reach, I can move it. On the back side of the studs are continous power outlet strips.

The beauty of this system is that you have access to the back of all of the equipment for swaping cables, etc., just as long as you leave at least 2 feet between the pony wall and any other wall.

If you want it to look good (for impressing your clients), you can sand & paint (or stain) the 2x3s and shelves and use wire ties or split-tube wire looms to make the cabling neat.

I give you an idea on just how much equipment that you can fit on this kind of wall, I have 2 PC editing systems (each with a 19" tube monitor), a third PC (backup editor/DVD label creation), a JVC Edit Desk linear editing system (3 S-Video decks), a Mackie VLZ1402 audio mixer, a stereo 10 band graphic EQ, a Behringer compressor, a TEAC cassette deck, an Pioneer 100 CD deck, a Panasonic and a Pioneer DVD recorder, (2) 13" Panasonic monitors, and a Epson Photo 900 DVD printer. This all on a 6 foot wide wall about 7' high. The PC towers are below the desktop as is a Microboards PrintFactory DVD printer.

Now if I want to move a piece of equipment, retire one or replace one with something new, all I have to do is to move a shelf or two and get back to work.