We bought our home in April of last yr. It was described as a two story with a finished basement. Well it seems the original owners of the 3 yr old house pieced the basement together to add the phrase "finished basement" to the ad. Well it worked. Yet for the the last yr we didn't really use the basement and it was basically 700 sq ft of unused space. The kids didn't want to play down there because mom and dad didn't want to stay down there. To make matters worse it was cold. I mean freezing and that was in the summer months.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/martinhome.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/martinbasement1.jpg
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So during this time our good friends who happen to be our across the street neighbors and have the same floor plan finished their basement after 4 yrs. I must say that the work my friend did was excellent and he was very meticulous in his efforts. In addition he added a projector some surround sound and painted a huge screen on one wall. As many have come to find out, once you go PJ you don't go back. I was hooked and so we formulated a plan.

So I used the HGTV CAD software and laid out the basement floor plan. I'd add it here, but I can't seem to get it up. So anyway it included knocking out part of a wall, adding a bathroom, a PJ, surround sound, an office, and a bar. Well the bar has since been scrapped due to space and budget, but everything else is moving along.

To save on cost I took the initiative to do the demo. During this time I got a couple of quotes form contractor friends.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/March2009131.jpg
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A plan was set and a deal was struck and so we began. First, the remainder of the demo was completed along with a clean up. A wall separates the living room from 2 rooms on the east side of the basement as you come down the stairs. The far room was knocked out in favor of a kids area. During this time the HVAC guys came in to figure out how they could fix the heating/cooling issues. Turns out one problem was a large hole in the return was not patched and there for was sucking in cold air from the basement rather than from the upstairs and the furnace was working way too hard. So the ducting was patched, a portion at the furnace was widened and we know have 4 vents downstairs. Here is some shots to that point.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/3-30-09002.jpg
Kids area to the left, office/spare bedroom to the left.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/3-30-09001.jpg
Screen wall, storage behind it, and bathroom will be behind as well and to the right.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/3-30-09003.jpg
South wall with the indention where a bookshelf that hides the pullout media rack will be.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/3-30-09004.jpg

While the framing went up I started collecting a few goodies. I started off with the 7.1 surround system. Once lesson I learned from my neighbor's build was with kids, in-wall was the way to go. He has some floor stand speakers and I remember the first gathering we had to watch a kids flick, a surround was quickly knocked over. So I went with Polk Audio all around.
Left and Right fronts are LC65fx
http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/white/lc65fx.jpg
Center is the LCi-C
http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/white/lci-c.jpg
The sides and rears are TC615is
http://www.polkaudio.com/images/home/medium/white/tc615i.jpg
Originally I was going to use a Polk Audio CWS155 in-wall subwoofer, but have since leaned towards an HSU VTF-1 for the rear corner.
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/VTF1Bottom-big.jpg
I purchased a mount from Perfect Mounts for the Panasonic AE3000U I plan to get and a 42" Holovision pullout/swivel media rack.
http://www.gigaweb.com/files/productsimages/BL/rak-42s.jpg
The rack is a must after I learned another lesson from my neighbor's kids who seemed to like to touch and go as far as to stand on his new AVR in the indention. So we asked out contractor to enclose the area and this was the solution in order to get to the backs of the components.

So I must apologize as I'm going to skip some of the construction. It's all on my phone and I've yet to download the pictures, but I think we can catch you up with these.

The door leading to the basement was removed and will be squared off like the upstairs. Our neighbors find that they leave the door open all the time and I suggested this after seeing a home with the stairs leading to the basement in the living room. It was so inviting. You can also see where the carpet was removed from the wall and it's been framed off for the drywall.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/3-30-09079.jpg
As you make the treacherous 180 degree turn on tight stairway you can see the framed off entry way for the new door along with our GC.
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From the stairs a quick right will take you into my wife's office/spare bedroom.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/4-2-09033.jpg
Here's a look from inside the office.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/3-30-09082.jpg
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Today my wife requested a small closet be added.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/4-2-09035.jpg

The south wall with that dang pole. The pole really dictated the layout. If I could've removed it I would have.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/4-2-09027.jpg
Here is the indention where the rack will be. I've set up a 3 channel box for a monoprice 7.1 wall plate and a couple of double HDMI wall plates up toward the ceiling. The bookshelf that will cover all this will open up on a piano hinge and run from floor to ceiling.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/3-30-09087.jpg
This is the kids area. A couple of headaches here was the water supply line at back left and the electrical panel on the south wall. Everything was frame out and a door will go over the panel. A built in bookshelf extends out and covers the supply line which has an access panel built in. Two large cabinet at the base will house toys.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/4-2-09030.jpg
A bench/toy chest was built in order to house more toys. I have 3 little girls and this has been a personal pain in the you know what for me. I think the extended family has more to do with this, but it needs to find a home. The bench will face a small flat screen tv for them to watch cartoons.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/3-30-09090.jpg
Here is the opposite wall with the lone window.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/3-30-09089.jpg

This is the screen wall. It's 102" wide and about 83" to the drop ceiling. It's flanked by two doors. Right one leads to a framed off area that will eventually be a bathroom and the left is a small access into the storage behind the wall. You can see the speaker enclosures I built all snug in place. I read alot about the disadvantages of in-wall speakers and the lose of performance due to some of the non enclosed design. Polk Audio makes a performance enclosure for some, but not all of the speakers I got, but at $250 a pop I decided to build my own. I used 1/2" mdf and the speakers are about 55" tall and 14" wide and 3.5" deep. It will all be hidden by the drywall which is coming next week. We are leaning towards a 92" electric perforated screen but not sure. My wife insist she will not have a mounted screen as an eyesore though.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/4-2-09032.jpg

Eyesore :eek:

Eyesore :eek: That's what I said! I'll leave her office to her as she should leave the media to me.

well start pricing motorized perf screens verses DIY fixed and she mite change her mind :)

I would have to say a screen is not an eyesore. In fact, the large screen on the wall is what gets the best reaction when people view my basement, and that is before I even fire up the projector.

I agree with W00lly, a DIY screen will be much cheaper than an electric acoustically transparent screen. also with kids running around it might be nice to just have a wall or piece of laminate that you can scrub clean as opposed to trying to figure out how to clean a retractable screen. I know that is why you want to go retractable, but this past weekend I popped in spiderman 3 to show off my system to some friends and as soon as the menu came up their 4 year old ran up to the screen wanting to grab spiderman.

It looks like you have a good start to your basement theater. I never knew that painting the concrete walls and laying down some indoor/outdoor carpet constituted a "finished basement." It would have made my job a whole lot easier! Looks like you are doing it right this time around, I am definately jealous of your in-wall speakers. That is the first thing I would upgrade in my theater now that it is done.

Pmac

Be careful with this crowd, they won't let many comments like this slide by...

"So I used the HGTV CAD software and laid out the basement floor plan. I'd add it here, but I can't seem to get it up."

Nice looking project, can't wait to see how it turns out!

haha...better think about what I type before hitting the "post" button. Not much done today. Plastic sheeting was strewn about on all the exterior walls in prep of the drywall. The closet in the office was framed and I think it's a waiting game now.

Drywallers came out yesterday and confirmed the only way in is through the egress window with 4x8 sheets. Normally, they cut a slit in the siding and slide it through to the basement, but with the drop ceiling that is a no go. Anyhow, they'll be here tomorrow all day and I'll have pictures on Saturday for you.

Drywall is here and the hangers are amassing outside the house. You know how it is...got to get your 2 smokes in and talk about last night's episode of American Idol before getting to work.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/4-2-09036.jpg

They began at 11am and I left for work before they finished, but here are the results.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/4-4-09004.jpg
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Texas Bob,

Taking shape and looking good. Bet you're glad you hired it out.
Are you also hiring out mud/taping?

Keep up the Good work and the photos!

Looks like it's going to be fun project Texas Bob now that the rock is hung. I hung the rock myself to save a few bucks and boy was it time consuming and took months. Not sure I'd tackle that again!

Ok it's time to catch everyone up to where we are. Basically it's been a lot of finishing work and it's slow going.

Painting has been going on. After a couple of samples and both my wife and I being very wishy washy on what we wanted, I made the executive decision while she was out of town. Needless to say I think we like it but don't love it. Thankfully paint is one of those things that can be changed.

Here is the entrance way.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09001.jpg

After the narrow 180 turn a solid core door was added at the base.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09002.jpg

Here's from the other side of the door. You can see my wife's office and spare bedroom.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09008.jpg

Around the corner is the kids knook. I need to get my mother-in-law to add a cushion to the top of the tow bench.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09007.jpg

The media center is coming along. The eVision Rack is on a box that we'll add some tubs to for storage below. I put the Direct TV sat box in already as my kids would go nuts if they could watch a little tv upstairs during the build. I really like the ease of pulling the rack out to get to the backs of the components. BTW, we had to take off the runners and move them up closer to the front of the self in order for everything to fit in the cubby hole.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09004.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09010.jpg

Our one window. Good look of the drop ceiling.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09003.jpg

The screen wall. The speakers look off center for a reason. Due to the large column, everything is shifted over a tad so when the seating is in it everyone would line up on center.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09009.jpg

Here's my Center Stage XD screen material from Chris Seymour. The plan is to have a 100"X42.6" 2.35 image.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09013.jpg

And while this isn't as exciting, my wife's office. The color is Taste of Berry. She thinks it's peptobismo so it may change. As well, Reese shows off how she can fit in the new closet.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09011.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/5-9-09012.jpg

Ok, 2 big additions are done. The hidden media center turned out nice. The oak bookshelf keeps the dvds and VHS (these are kid safe) and then opens up to reveal the pull out and swivel rack.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/IMG00003-20090609-1930.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/IMG00006-20090609-1934-1.jpg

Next, with the help from Seymour AV I put together the fixed frame screen. Before anyone asks, it's off center due to the large pole on the left which would have interfered with seating. The material is the acoustically transparent Center Stage XD and it is in 2:35 aspect at 100"x42.6".
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/IMG00009-20090616-1447.jpg

cool progress...I had no idea houses in texas comes with basement. Then again, texas is a huge state (must be up north then).

I love your secret door AV rack. Have you mounted the projector yet?

Ok, 2 big additions are done. The hidden media center turned out nice. The oak bookshelf keeps the dvds and VHS (these are kid safe) and then opens up to reveal the pull out and swivel rack.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/IMG00003-20090609-1930.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/IMG00006-20090609-1934-1.jpg


I like how your bookcase door came out. Do you have any details on the build/design?

And do your remotes pass through the secret door or do you have to have them open to control your bits?

Sorry, I haven't been on for a while. Let me see if I can answer some of these questions. We are not in Texas but in fact in Illinois. I am from Texas and the screen name is never taken when I register on sites. I am a big UT fan still so it's fitting. I have not mounted the projector as I haven't purchased it yet. The design is fairly simple. The rack sits on a box essentially and the oak shelves are in two pieces. They stick out a tad due to the size of the rack rails but are attached by piano hinges on either sides and a lot of screws. I have not hooked up my remote yet as I'm waiting for the projector and another Direct TV sat. box. The remote I have is a Monster AV300 and it was used for the upstairs tv while all the equipment was in the same basement location before the remodel. I'm sure with the RF extender it will do fine. In fact, I'm probably going to need a second one or similar product to separate upstairs and downstairs functions.

Your RF extenter extends through walls? That's amazing.

Hey looking for more progress photos; Also sent you a PM

Ya my Monster Remote comes with an Omni Link extender. It is made by Logitech and can be had for about $180 used on Amazon. I want to find something similar not by Monster as I think the remote is rather chincy looking but yes, through floors and walls it worked. It controlled the HD DVD player, VCR, Satellite, and Pioneer Receiver in basement while we viewed the tv above the fire place on the main floor.

What brand is the rack if you done mind the question?

What brand is the rack if you done mind the question?

42" Holovision pullout/swivel media rack

That hidden bookcase looks great!! Did you build it or buy it?

The DVD shelf that hides the media rack was built. I'm finding that one issue I've had is the heat build up when things are running for a while. On Saturday's this time of year when I'm not policing our own IL home games I veg out down here to college football. The need for a fan I think is going to be a priority pretty soon.

In other news. Like I've alluded to, we've been watching stuff finally. I ended up returning my mount for the Pani and brought home the new Epson. It's pretty awesome. I have yet to really dial it in though and I think I'm in need of one of those lens' to convert it to 2:35 as that is what the screen's gear for.

On Vetrans day we purchased a leather sectional. We had been using a free futon and it sucked. That along with this huge fabric bean bag that can accommodate like 3 adults. Now we have to wait 3 to 4 weeks for it to be delivered. I'll post pictures of the mostly finished product when it arrives.

Here is a picture of the undelievered sectional. My wife was back in the furniture store and took a picture with her phone. Sure looks pretty.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q71/Tanksniper1/sectional.jpg

use a quiet bathroom exhaust fan. doesnt have to exhaust outside either, can just blow the air into the furnace room or something.


couch looks nice!