From stage lights to living room lights: Chesterfield musician launches bespoke media wall business

“It’s been a big change from spending my weekends on stage, but I’m really enjoying building something for myself.”

A Chesterfield tradesman has swapped life on stage for a new career transforming living rooms, after turning an unexpected career change into his own growing business.

From music to media walls: Chesterfield businessman Marv White, who spent 12 years as a professional musician before retraining as a plasterer, has launched his own bespoke media wall installation business, MW Media Walls. | Marvyn White

placeholder image — From music to media walls: Chesterfield businessman Marv White, who spent 12 years as a professional musician before retraining as a plasterer, has launched his own bespoke media wall installation business, MW Media Walls. | Marvyn White

Marv White, founder of MW Media Walls, spent 12 years working as a professional musician before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted him to explore a completely different career.

Having spent years performing in front of audiences, Marv decided to learn plastering, developing a new set of practical skills that would eventually lead him into the increasingly popular world of bespoke media walls.

From the stage to the building trade: Marv White performing during his 12-year career as a professional musician, before swapping his guitar for a plastering trowel and eventually launching Chesterfield-based MW Media Walls | Marvyn White

After gaining experience working with an established Chesterfield media wall company and later subcontracting for a fireplace business in Mansfield, Marv decided the time was right to launch his own venture.

The result was MW Media Walls, a Chesterfield-based business specialising in designing and building bespoke television and fireplace feature walls for homeowners across Derbyshire and the surrounding areas.

“Music was my life for 12 years, so moving into the building trade was quite a change,” said Marv.

“But I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, and once I started building media walls, I realised there was an opportunity to create something of my own.”

Swapping guitar strings for plastering trowels: Chesterfield businessman Marv White putting his plastering skills to work after leaving behind a 12-year career as a professional musician. His new trade eventually led to the launch of his own business, | Marvyn White

Media walls have become an increasingly popular home improvement, combining televisions, electric fireplaces, integrated lighting, shelving and storage into a single feature.

Marv believes their appeal comes from the ability to completely transform a living room without undertaking a full renovation.

“People are really investing in their homes now, and the living room is somewhere families spend a huge amount of time.

“A media wall can completely change the appearance of a room. Some customers want something modern and minimalist, while others want a real statement piece with a fireplace, lighting and bespoke storage.”

Unlike businesses that specialise in just one aspect of an installation, MW Media Walls offers a comprehensive service, incorporating construction, joinery, plastering and finishing work.

Despite the dramatic career change, Marv says there are similarities between performing music and running his own business.

“When you’re performing, everything comes down to the audience enjoying what you do. With this business, it’s about seeing the customer’s reaction when they walk into their finished living room.

“There’s a real sense of satisfaction in standing back and looking at something you’ve created from scratch.

“It’s been a big change from spending my weekends on stage, but I’m really enjoying building something for myself. I’m proud to be running a local business, and hopefully this is just the beginning.”