Now Showing: Home Theaters

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The calendar may say spring is right around the corner, but winter seems to be hanging on for dear life. If the mere thought of bundling up and braving the fierce March winds to catch a movie sends a chill up your spine, you might want to think about installing your own home theater. The growing interest in home theaters has sparked an entire new industry that specializes in the audio- visual components of this trend. I will defer to those experts on the electronic/technological issues surrounding home theater projects, but I encourage you to consider these important design features before you embark on a project that, by the time it is finished, may have a budget the size of a Hollywood blockbuster:

Room Size: Make sure you have a room that is big enough to accommodate a large screen TV or even projection-style system. At a minimum, the room should be at least seven to eight feet deep – nothing smaller – so that you can sit far enough away from the screen to avoid eye strain. Check out this website for viewing distance and sound calculators: www.myhometheater.homestead.com/.

Windows: Ideally, you should choose a space that has few – if any — windows unless you are willing to invest additional dollars in blackout shades.

Wall finishes: There are pearlized paints (www.theaterthings.com) on the market today that enable you to use your entire wall as a video screen but they do call for white walls so think about your color choices before deciding whether this type of “screen” is right for the overall look and feel you want the room to achieve. If your wall is neutral enough in color, a portable projector that runs off a laptop computer is another way to turn a living room into an instant movie theater. Almost any light color will work. After your eye adjusts to the color of the projected image, whites will look white.

Insulation: Given the elaborate surround- sound systems available for home theaters, the proper insulation of walls and ceilings is crucial, not only for those in the room who want to enjoy the movie- theater experience, but also for those in other rooms of the house who aren’t interested in catching today’s feature presentation. If you are renovating the media room you can add Acoustiblok® (www.acoustiblok.com) membrane directly to the studs or use Quietrock® (www.quietsolution.com) soundproof sheet rock. Soundproofing should always be installed by a certified expert. The final step in sound proofing is the floor insulation. Thick pile carpet is great, but beware of the spill and spot factor. Unless you want your carpet cleaner to be on retainer, get a neutral to dark color and a fiber that can be cleaned – preferably a polypropylene product, which also has antistatic properties. To be fully on the safe side, go with carpet tile, so you can replace individual squares when disasters occur.

Amenities: If you truly want a self-contained movie theater feel, install a wet bar with a sink, refrigerator, and microwave for popcorn. If you are a Woody Allen fan, try an updated version of the “orgasmatron” as a mini wetbar: www.treehugger.com.

Seating: You can spend literally thousands of dollars on luxurious recliners with built-in drink holders and massagers. Many home-theaters also feature tiered or stadium-style seating on raised floors, but before you commit to this, make sure you have enough clearance to accommodate the resulting loss in floor-to-ceiling height. We found the selection from R & R Contract and HomeTheatre Furniture especially appealing. Go to www.randrcontract.com for your nearest dealer.

If you don’t have a spare space that can be dedicated just to movies and TV, you can consider having home theater components worked into the design of your living and/or family rooms. Due to their low profile, flatscreen TVs are best for this type of dual room use and can be incorporated in the room design by being placed over the fireplace mantel, for instance. Just make sure the TV is braced and insulated properly so that the heat the fireplace produces can be deflected. You might also want to consider a hinged painting or photograph that can be swung away to reveal the screen. This is especially ideal for apartments or other small spaces where you don’t want the TV to be the focal point of the room at all times.

To make the most of your home theater project, call on the expertise of home theater specialists for system installation, but enlist the help of your interior designer for the overall space planning and tasteful choices that will make the room a true show-stopper.

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