I would like to be able to close a cabinet via IR, is this possible. Any ideas on how to get started. I guess I could settle for a curtain system. Could anyone provide any info as to how to get started.

How big of a cabinet? swing or sliding doors? And do you want to make it all yourself or do you want a pre made solution?

small cabinet, I'm guessing the door will only need to be about 10" high by maybe 18" wide. I plan to build it myself. Don't care if it's a swing or slide.

Just an idea that struck me, I'm not going to put endless money into it, but it sure would be handy.

It's for a bedroom. The light displays on the front of the devices bug me when trying to sleep. It would be nice if a panel closed to cover up the devices when I shut it down.

hedge, check out Auton for some great motorized HT ideas:

http://www.auton.com/content/gallery.html

http://www.auton.com/content/images/plasma_ani_sm.gif

A simpler idea would to do a regular door then add an IR distro system to the components behind the door it that is what you are hidding.

If you do want to automate it what you could use an IR relay controler that can handle the power of a motor and a power suppply for this.
You could use a regular gear motor with a gear track on the back of the door and have the motor slide the door. Or same idea but use a small actuator to push/pull the door. Actuators do take much more room however.

there are tons of ways you could use a small motor to open and close the door. pully system,tracks,wheeled motion.

biggest thing is the IR controler, I have sent you a pm with a hobby site for ideas of controllers available. I cant post it because its a retail site and I dont know any of those types of sites that are not retail.