Since replacing our RV stereo with a separate home receiver, and replacing the small built-in speakers with a pair of bookshelf speakers, we've been looking at that dead spot between the counter-top and the fireplace on our entertainment center for quite a while. I finally started tearout of the stereo and speakers and removed a bit of wood to create a full-width, five inch high opening.
Today we picked up all the lumber and materials to make a pullout drawer to fill the space. We put a piano hinge along the front so the front face can flip down. I also built a fence around the drawer to keep things from sliding around too much while in transit. A couple magnet latches hold the face up in place and I used soft close drawer glides to pull the drawer in (though we're still working on a more solid latch for in transit days).
The front face is actually two shelves from the unit we removed from behind the TV mount (so we could move the TV mount back and have more counter space for the turntable). I found that they were cut from the same piece of wood because the grain lined up. The two pieces are currently joined by several angle brackets on the back side (campground engineering at its finest) which works for now. I'll do something nicer to them when I get a chance, but they're solid as-is.
Still a little work to do on the unit (latching, maybe a couple pull handles), but all in all, we like it. It fills the space nicely when closed and provides some more handy storage and a place to work (I have a Mac Mini hooked up to the TV) if I want.
This is a reference picture to show what was in that space before (note that the receiver now resides in the overhead cabinet above the TV).
Here is the finished project when closed.
Here is the drawer opened. A pair of magnet latches hold the face upright.
Here is the front folded down.
