Everything old
is new again
The equipment --
including projection unit, screen, surround sound components and speakers --
had been used for a couple of years in the family room of the homeowner's previous
house. The system worked well, but the surroundings lacked the ambiance and
realism of the theater experience. So the challenge lay in designing a home-theater
space that would give his components a home setting that would recreate the
thrill of experiencing a movie in a theater.
Mindful of the
ideal operating environment for his components, we examined the room and designed
a space that integrated desirable movie fixtures. A faux box office -- staffed
by a large stuffed frog flanked by a beverage-toting butler -- greets "theater-goers"
upon reaching the base of the stairs. Upon entering the room, stadium seating
complete with four real theater chairs in each of the three tiered rows is on
the left. And a concession stand (complete with jumbo boxes of confections)
is available from preview to final credits to sate the most intense sweet-tooth.
 |
|
In addition to
designing the room layout, we conceived a lighting plan with recessed downlights,
sconces, rope lights to help define the steps, and controls from Lutron. An
automatic curtain can be opened to reveal the 10 foot diagonal movie screen.
Left and right front speakers were installed unobtrusively into grilles on both
sides of the movie screen; the center channel speaker, rear speakers and subwoofer
were mounted inconspicuously yet in acoustically correct positions. And an accessible
but hidden through the wall component rack simplifies access to the DVD, VCR
and LaserDisc players, while making for easy connections and not taking up any
floor space, or creating a potential eyesore.
Working together
To simplify the
operation and interaction of components in the home theater, an integration
control system was installed. A Niles Intellicontrol wireless touchpanel serves
as the primary control unit. The touch of one particular button causes lights
to dim, the curtains to open and the audio-video equipment to start up. Once
the movie concludes, another button touch raises the lights, closes the curtains
and shuts off the projector.
We took a collection
of equipment from his old house, designed the room to house it all, added some
new controls, lights, and a little magic to create this new room for an old
client.
Home theater doesn't
get more convenient ... or realistic ... than this! |
The magic of the movies ... with none of the hassles
