I am pretty much down to only finishing touches for my basement.

100 inch screen (mitsubishi HC1500 onto Carada), 47 inch 1080P LCD above gas fireplace. Full bar, and an area where I will put either a 7ft pool table or a nice poker table (leaning towards that, looking for your thoughts.)

http://www.wheninrom.com/mediaroom/p2050181.jpg
coming down the steps leads to the bar straight ahead, and the personal size projection room to the left. TIVO3HD, Blu-Ray, 100a Receiver

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to the right is a small refrigerator, and I put in an 8 space rack that backs into the understairs closet.

http://www.wheninrom.com/mediaroom/p2050179.jpg
I have ordered a custom black anodized aluminum frame from "frontpanexpress.com" to replace the wood I have tacked in place.

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first reflection sound treatments are homemade out of corning 703 and fabric. I want this entire room section painted black, like the screen wall, but getting some resistance from wife. Painting the screen wall black was SUCH an improvement over light color.

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The guy who installed the Dupont Zodiaq built this custom shelf with cherry and matched the bar stain. Its a great place to put a beer.

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bar is custom made in solid cherry by a local woodworker, he did a great job, front and back bar for $5,000. To that I added cheap $30 barstools from lowes, i hate them, but will buy nicer when I can afford.

http://www.wheninrom.com/mediaroom/p2050187.jpg
Had to make sure the bar had "Kettle One" or I would never get my friend John over

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the TV above the fireplace can get the same feed as the projector, it was nice to feed both with TIVO for the superbowl. This room has 5.0 surround sound, all in-wall and ceiling mounted

http://www.wheninrom.com/mediaroom/p2050192.jpg
Its hard being a huge eagles fan. Season ticket holder since 1979

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here is the area where I will put either a pool table or poker table

http://www.wheninrom.com/mediaroom/p2050194.jpg

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IR repeater in closet feeds the electonics from two rooms, works like a champ,will never go back to that wireless crap that is more miss than hit

http://www.wheninrom.com/mediaroom/p2050197.jpg
Need to get an outlet BEHIND the bar so I don't have an unsightly cord. Perfection takes a LONG time. Glass tile will also go behind the bar. Installed quote was $1500, that can wait.

http://www.wheninrom.com/mediaroom/p2050198.jpg
here you can see the Left, Right for projector room are in-wall. Center speaker is the classic boston VR-10, sub is SVS. Note the IR pickup built into a wall plate.

Awesome set-up!! As far as the pool table/poker table? Only you can decide that, remember a pool table is virtually non moveable and takes up a LOT of space. Most people that I speak to that always wanted a pool table regret it later. Not saying you will, just saying a lot of people do, I still plan on getting the pool table but i bet it only gets used when we have people over which is maybe 4-5 times a year.

nice classy look you got there. Can a pool table even fit down there?

awesome set up! Sorry I didn't get back to about the sub

We had a pool table for about 10 years and over that time I actually learned to play low level "real" pool and accumulated a nice little collection of name brand sticks and etc.

From our experience please let me share that most people really don't begin to know how to play pool - it's like chess - most people know the names of the pieces and can move them around but really don't have a clue how to "really" play - maybe golf is a better analogy - many have sticks and go out and try to hit the ball but very, very few ever get decently proficient when strictly keeping score over 90% never break 100 and and almost 98% never break 90.

Back to pool - in limited space it is a space hog leaving almost no room for other fun options and a LOT of people are intimidated by the game plus only max. of four at a time can play.

We are so glad we sold the table and with with all that open space were able to replace it with four really nice pinball games plus a foosball table plus a coin-op standup arcade dart machine and even with all that there is more room for people to just stand around in alcoholic brotherhood and fellowship. In the same space as our pool table we have games that up to 24 people can all be playing at the same time and all the games are much more fun - just our opinion - than a pool table. We have the same emotion about a card table - sounds nice in your head but it is a dead space most of the time UNLESS you really sit and play a LOT of cards - same with pool - there are a lot more fun and simple home bar and entertainment room games one can have that take up a lot less space for the buck.
Best of Luck

Yeah, right now, i would say I am 90% a sweet poker table.

A pool table will take up too much room, make the trip to the bathroom uncomfortable for the girls and get used more like 3 times a year. Hardly worth it.

When I want to play pool, its only 3 miles to a local establishment.

A poker table also doubles as the place to put all the food during football parties.

Yeah, i think I have talked myself into a poker table. Now the question becomes, do I get a "bar height" poker table?

You have a great looking area there. I am partial to multi purpose rooms and it looks like you have a good layout for that.

I like pool more than poker so that would be my pick, but it comes down to what you would use more. Plus, if you are squeezing a pool table in, you might as well not even do it. Playing pool without room to comfortably take a shot isn't much fun.

I have a separate room for my pool table and I want to have a bar in it, but it would limit the space for pool like mentioned above. I am thinking I am going to go with a shelf similar to what you have just outside your theater area, and maybe a little fridge like you have.

By the way, that liqueur collection is pretty impressive. With a collection like that, you almost need a bigger bar!

Pmac

i saw a local ad here the other week for a free, regulation-size craps table (only catch was had to pick up, of course). how cool would that be i exclaimed! of course it would be very cool, but would take up more room than a pool table and get used even less. so wifey talked me down.....still say that would be cool to have if only for show (or running an underground gambling parlor....)

So i did some electric and put an outlet behind the bar, so no more ugly cords. While i was at it, i wired the cable, and electric up on the wall where a flat screen could potentially go.

Getting some flack from the wife since the basement already has a 100" projection and a 47 over the fireplace. But i really want a TV above the bar.

I want the opinion of the folks here, overkill? The wife says keep the bar for conversation only. I say the TV does NOT have to be on. Heck I would even comprimise and have it in a cabinet, do a build in thing on the whole wall that holds liquor bottles, glasses, and as a pair of doors at top that open to TV?

http://www.wheninrom.com/mediaroom/bar.jpg

Thoughts? Photoshop mockup showing where I would put TV.

A pool table with a ping pong topper can be used as a crummy poker table. :D

But i really want a TV above the bar.

.

Yes, you should have a TV above the bar. Essential.

a tv does belong in the bar (if budget allows). i'm thinking the same thing myself. conversation will happen just fine when it does. when it doesn;t tv helps anyways. and best for hanging there when a game's on

I have the 100" PJ screen, a 42" TV in another area, and WILL have a flatscreen at the bar.....That is absolutely NOT overkill :)

TV ABOVE THE BAR......Just tell the wife she can watch "her" shows on it too and she will be on board. But a TV over the bar is a MUST!!! Like cold beer:p

So i did some electric and put an outlet behind the bar, so no more ugly cords. While i was at it, i wired the cable, and electric up on the wall where a flat screen could potentially go.

Getting some flack from the wife since the basement already has a 100" projection and a 47 over the fireplace. But i really want a TV above the bar.

I want the opinion of the folks here, overkill? The wife says keep the bar for conversation only. I say the TV does NOT have to be on. Heck I would even comprimise and have it in a cabinet, do a build in thing on the whole wall that holds liquor bottles, glasses, and as a pair of doors at top that open to TV?


Thoughts? Photoshop mockup showing where I would put TV.

A tv behind the bar is a necessity. I have a 110" PJ screen, a 42" Plasma for behind the bar, and heck, I even have a 22" LCD in the bathroom (as not to ever miss a minute of the big game).

Just tell the wife its a must!

A tv behind the bar is a necessity. I have a 110" PJ screen, a 42" Plasma for behind the bar, and heck, I even have a 22" LCD in the bathroom (as not to ever miss a minute of the big game).

Just tell the wife its a must!


I agree with the rest, a T.V. behind the bar is a must, especially if you can make it run on a different channel that the projection, 2 sports games on at once...now thats a conversation starter :D

that spot is dying for a TV above the bar.

nice pics, looks like a fun area.

A more important issue than if a TV should be up there is why there aren't more single malt scotches... :D

maybe golf is a better analogy - many have sticks and go out and try to hit the ball but very, very few ever get decently proficient when strictly keeping score over 90% never break 100 and and almost 98% never break 90.

Nice!!! I'm in the top 2% of top golfers in the world!! Woohooo :):o

Actually, I "was" is more appropriate...my wife and kids killed my golf game!! :(

But seriously, I have a pool table and we love it!! :) My 3yr old is starting to get the hang of it too. I think it's a game the family can enjoy even if you're not all that. But we do entertain a lot, and our friends love to come over and play.

I do agree, that if you don't have the room, or barely, it may not be worth it. Nothing is worst than having to reach for a shorter stick to take as shot in cramped space. I remember those days at a buddy's house...

How about Shuffle Board?!! :)
I will be ordering a 12' long table soon. it doesn't require a ton of space either, and the "most" ladies prefer that over pool any day..
Old

ps, forgot to mention, TV at the bar is definately key. I put one in my bar and my wife also thought I was being ridiculous, but she's not saying that anymore now that it's up...