Fischer

       The Fisher home theater is more of a media room, with an enclosed home theater space connected to a finished kitchen area. The clients wanted a dedicated theater, but the layout and construction of their basement posed challenges. We opted instead to propose a large space with an area sectioned-off for the theater, and then an open gathering area and kitchen in the adjoining space.

We used an enclave of the existing basement layout to serve as the kitchenette, complete with a sink, dishwasher, and refrigerator, along with ample counter and cabinet space.

We constructed a wall to separate the remaining 70% of the space into the dedicated theater, complete with three rows of love seats for theater seating, a Dolby Atmos system, and Sony projector. In addition to the technology in the space, this project was a unique theater installation because we completed the construction of the project, including moving the HVAC ducts, painting the walls, carpeting the floors, and completing all other trim work in addition to installing the electronics.

The clients were quite impressed with the end result, having delivered an immersive home theater experience plus an adjacent kitchen and sitting area, all within the existing space and budgetary requirements.

       The Fisher project began with the desire for a basement Home Theater. The residence was builder-grade new construction, a wide-open room with a variety of structural obstacles: two large windows, and a large bump-out area at the back of the basement on either end to form a T-shape rather than a rectangle. Being one large open area, it was not conducive to a home theater build. That, in conjunction with other client requirements of having a kitchen and a sitting room, led to us shifting the scope of the project from a traditional home theater to a media room. (Of course, the client’s budget remained unchanged at $90k!)

To give the clients the home theater environment they initially desired, we decided to construct a wall to enclose 70% of the space, allowing for the remaining 30% to be an open sitting area with a kitchenette. We used one of the back niche areas for the kitchen space, complete with sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, and cabinet space. Without any closet space defined in the original basement construction, we had to build one with a louvered door to house the rack. Our team’s construction expertise and full time carpenters gave us greater flexibility to accommodate client demands while working within the structural confines of an existing space.

The clients were quite impressed with the end result, having delivered an immersive home theater experience plus an adjacent kitchen and sitting area, all within the existing space and budgetary requirements.

       The two main issues for this project were the spatial and budgetary constrictions. As the scope of the project shifted beyond a standard home theater to a larger media room containing a home theater, the retrofit space and the $75k limit called for creativity on our part.

As a result of dividing the room, we had to take apart the entire ceiling and refinish it once we had adjusted and extended the ductwork. The HVAC presented an issue for this room for two reasons: one, we were breaking one large room into two; and two, we were installing a Dolby Atmos system. The first reason dictated that we simply needed to ensure that our reconstructed space would be adequately heated and cooled. The second required a reconfiguration of the ductwork in order to allow for optimal positioning of the Dolby Atmos speakers.

As a result, we needed to take apart the entire ceiling. Not only did we rework the existing ductwork, but we needed to run extensions for the appropriate positioning in the front and back of the room. This allowed for the speakers to be in the appropriate spots, and for the newly divided space to have necessary temperature regulation.

We had to creatively design for a comprehensive kitchenette - complete with sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, and cabinets - in a confined location.

They wanted all A/V equipment hidden, in a basement where every square foot was precious space. With no existing storage area, we carefully designed a closet to house and hide the rack, and closed it off with a louvered door to allow for airflow in the confined space. Within the enclosed theater, we used fixed panels on the back wall and stretch fabric to conceal all equipment and hardware for a completely clean look.