A TV wall on a brick wall is one of those projects that looks simple until you open it up. In a lot of older Toronto homes, the wall you want to build on isn’t the standard wood-framed wall everyone assumes is back there. It’s solid masonry — and that changes everything about how the cables and the TV box get hidden.

That’s exactly what happened on this project. Here’s what we found, and how we solved it.

Why Older Toronto Homes Make TV Walls Tricky

When most people picture mounting a TV and hiding the wires, they picture a wall with a hollow cavity — wood studs, drywall, and empty space in between to run a cable or recess a box. That’s the normal case, and it’s easy.

But many older homes in central Toronto don’t work that way. The exterior walls can be solid brick, with the masonry sitting right behind the interior finish and no stud cavity at all. There’s nowhere to fish a wire and nowhere to recess a box. If you don’t check for this before you start, you find out the hard way — mid-install, with the cabinet already on site.

What We Found Behind This Wall

On this project, we planned a clean recessed setup: the TV mounted flat, with a recessed box behind it to hold the connection gear out of sight. Standard approach.

When we opened the wall, it wasn’t framed the way we expected. Behind the interior finish was the exterior brick itself, with an unusual mix of plaster and old wood — and no insulation, no stud cavity, nothing to recess into. A normal recessed box was off the table. We had to find another way to hide the cable without cutting an open channel into solid masonry.

Cable routing solution for a TV wall on brick with no stud cavity

How We Solved the Cable Routing

The goal didn’t change — the cable still had to disappear. We just had to get there differently.

Why a standard recessed box wasn’t possible

A recessed box needs depth inside the wall. With solid brick directly behind the finish, that depth simply wasn’t there. Forcing it would have meant cutting into the masonry — messy, risky, and unnecessary. So we left the wall intact and moved the solution into the cabinetry instead.

Routing the cable and fishing it behind the cabinet

We routed the cable through the wall where the construction allowed, then fished it out and ran it behind the cabinet, concealed by the millwork itself. From the front, the result is identical to a textbook recessed install — no visible cable, clean flat TV — but it respects what the wall could actually take. The cabinetry does the hiding the wall couldn’t.

Before and After

The wall went from a blank, awkward masonry surface to a finished built-in with no visible wires at all.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you mount a built-in TV wall on a solid brick wall?

Yes, though it takes more planning than a standard stud wall. On solid brick with no cavity we can’t always recess a box the usual way, so we design the cabinetry and routing around what the wall actually allows. The result still looks fully built-in from the front.

How do you hide TV cables when the wall has no stud cavity?

We route the cable through the wall where the construction allows and fish it out behind the cabinetry, so it stays completely hidden without cutting an open channel into solid brick. Planning this before fabrication is what keeps the finished wall clean.

Why can’t every TV wall have a recessed box?

A recessed box needs space inside the wall. Many older Toronto homes have solid masonry exterior walls with no framing behind the finish, so there’s nowhere to recess into. In those cases we adapt the design so the cabinetry conceals what the wall can’t.

Do you work with older or unusual wall construction?

Yes — it’s one of the reasons clients hire a design-build studio rather than a standalone installer. We assess the wall on a site visit, catch issues like missing studs or odd masonry early, and design a solution that works instead of discovering the problem mid-install.

This kind of problem-solving is exactly why we recommend hiring a TV wall designer who also builds rather than a standalone installer. It’s also why we start every TV wall with detailed drawings — catching wall surprises before fabrication. You can see the finished result of this project in our custom TV wall with built-in storage.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

Real reviews from real Toronto homeowners.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 9 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Marie-Josée Cadorette 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had such a great experience with Habitual Homes. The deadline and budget were respected, they kept the house clean and protected the areas they weren’t working in and above all, are real perfectionists. Really recommend them if you have works to do in your house!
  
 
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   Garrett Bangsboll 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great team of professionals. They delivered exceptional work and you can tell they really care - their approach is centered on making the client happy, not just finishing a “job”.
  
 
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   Sean Kavanagh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thank you so much Habitual Homes for the outstanding work on our new home. The process was flawless - your digital renderings, your willingness to modify based on feedback, your respect of project schedule, and execution were all perfect. We're absolutely thrilled with our new media wall / desk and look forward to our next project with you! Thank you again, Sandra and Johanna, for your incredible work!
  
 
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   Yusuf Khan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sandra, Johanna, and her team truly brought our vision for our living room media wall to life. Going through a whole house renovation, we were looking for something super modern and contemporary but not boring, and these guys really came through. From start to finish, Sandra’s communication has been incredibly prompt and very helpful when questions arose. They were also open to additional modifications to the project or custom requests like an extension of the slats, more lighting elements, and handle-free cabinet doors. Something else that also truly shined about their work was their ability to match a very very similar shade of walnut wood finish from our kitchen cabinets. It turned out better than expected and the aesthetic and continuity they’ve brought to our house is chefs kiss to say the least. Their work is a true statement piece for our house and I’m sure it will be for all their future clients as well. Once you see the work, the pricing makes sense, it’s all worth it when you see the final product. Great job Sandra, Johanna, and team. If I ever need this kind of work done, I’ll know exactly who to call. Easy five stars from me
  
 
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   Ayesha Raza 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a wonderful experience hiring Habitual Homes for our powder room project. They seamlessly helped our vision come to life, provided renderings ahead of time and worked diligently to complete the job on time. We will definitely be working with them in the future and recommending them to friends!
  
 
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   Raj Singh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sandra and Johanna provides a professional service for home improvements and designs. They have lots of ideas. I got my bedroom and family room popcorn ceiling removed, painted, baseboards and crown moulding added in these two rooms. Johanna spends lots of time protecting your area and cleans the place every day before done for the day. I have never heard of rooms actually mopped after work is done. Johanna literally looks for imperfections on the walls and ceilings using headlamp. She is just amazing. I am attaching the picture of the room they left after painting and removing popcorn from ceiling. Keep up the good work ladies. It was an amazing experience working with you. Every dollar spent was worth it. Looking forward to the next project of living room and fireplace renovation. P.S: I removed the electrical outlet cover for replacement.
  
 
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   Howard C 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt thanks to Habitual Homes – Sandra and Johanna – for the amazing work they’ve done on my new home. I had a vision, and they brought it to life, executing every detail of the design exactly as I had imagined. They presented me with renderings that showcased the layout and design, allowing me to see how my furniture would look in the space. Despite encountering some challenges, including a car accident, they remained professional and finished the project on schedule, delivering outstanding results. I am truly delighted with how they transformed my new place into my own personal sanctuary. Thank you again, Sandra and Johanna, for your incredible work! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
  
 
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   Paloma Jimenez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was my first time working with Habitual Homes. Sandra and Johanna built a wall unit in my condo, and they made the process very easy. They were responsive and accommodating, and sent the design very quickly when I first contacted them. They understood the concept I had in mind, and brought it to life even better than I had imagined. In the initial consultation, they came over to see the space and brought options so I could choose among various colours, patterns and materials. They also provided great advice based on what they thought would work best for my place. They had great attention to the detail, prepped the place before, and cleaned afterwards. They exceeded my expectations and i’m thrilled with the final results!
  
 
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   Sobia Shaban Ali 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Johanna helped us with a few projects around our first house. I must say I really admire her work ethic! She did such a great job and got the projects done within the timeline given! Sandra’s design expertise were really helpful too. Thank you both!

Have a Brick or Older-Home Wall? Let’s Plan It Right.

A TV wall on a brick wall is very doable — it just needs a team that checks the wall before it builds, not after. If you’ve got an older Toronto home and want a built-in TV wall done properly, we can design and build one that works with your wall instead of fighting it.

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