AVS Forum banner

My New Theater - Version 2.0!

239K views 1K replies 120 participants last post by  mn_hokie 
#1 ·
Hi everyone. I'm in the process of completing my 2nd theater and was looking for some ideas on color schemes. My first go around was a burgundy/black split, but I want to do something this time around that's more of a mix between Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, and the Mummy, if that makes any sense. I'm thinking somewhere in the brown/black/amber family of colors. I've attached a picture of the sconces I'm considering using, and I'll be putting a yellow LED rope light in the cove of the ceiling to project that amber glow. Hopefull these two things will help drive the paint and carpet colors.


I'm very open to ideas at this point, so feel free to suggest. I'll be happy to add additional pictures as well once the room starts to take shape. Currently I'm framed out and have added Dricore to the floor. Next up is electrical.

 
See less See more
1
#3 ·
Ha! I immediately thought Temple of Doom when I saw it. What initiall drew me to the sconce was Jurassic Park. It was on the other night. The character of John Hammond carries a cane with a ball of amber (mosquito inside) as a knob on top. I really liked the color. Also, if you pay attention to the decorating inside the main building, they have similar colors. I think one of the colors we'll end up using will be a chocolate brown. I was thinking of doing a leather or suede finish to it, to give it that worn look.
 
#4 ·
Your query reminds me of that faucet commercial where this german architect is showing this obviously rich couple all of his accomplishments and when its time for him to ask what kind of house to draw up the wife tells him to design a house around a bathroom faucet.


That said, I'm drawn closer to a Raiders motif rather than the mummy simply because of the its got that search for holy grail sorta iamgery. But I can understand why the color of the light reminds you of the tree sap from Jurassic park


Victor
 
#6 ·
Maybe even one or more surfaces textured like rock (like a cave) with a LOT of relief. I'm sure you could make it work acoustically since this can be done from ordinary plaster or even foam products that go on top of drywall. That would give you a real over the top look...
 
#7 ·
Cool theme and you will have the whole gamut of earth tones to work with. Maybe you can bring some beat-up leather into it somehow? Like the Indy jacket look?
 
#8 ·
Leather and suede was definately something I was thinking of. Something with some depth and a little character. I really like the rock idea, but that might be a little too adventurous this time around.


I'm not 100% sold on the sconces yet, but they're growing on me.


I'm in the process of setting up my webpage to track costs, as well as pictures showing the progress. Until that's up, here's a link to some recent pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7279360...7602812896394/


Currently, I'm a little over $3900 into the project. This was for framing, 50% of the DriCore, and moving some pipes around in the basement.
 
#10 ·
#12 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by mn_hokie /forum/post/13076382


Leather and suede was definately something I was thinking of. Something with some depth and a little character. I really like the rock idea, but that might be a little too adventurous this time around.


I'm not 100% sold on the sconces yet, but they're growing on me.


I'm in the process of setting up my webpage to track costs, as well as pictures showing the progress. Until that's up, here's a link to some recent pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7279360...7602812896394/


Currently, I'm a little over $3900 into the project. This was for framing, 50% of the DriCore, and moving some pipes around in the basement.


Its coming along! nice!
 
#13 ·
Thanks. I'm hoping to get a pic of where I stand with the DriCore up later today.
 
#14 ·
Here's a picture of the DriCore down in the theater area. I need to finish the other half of the basement next before getting the riser and stage built.


I was originally going to use a 2X10 for the riser (which I used the last time around) but now I'm leaning towards a 2X12 with a step. I'll need to start searching the forums for some cool designs now.

 
#15 ·
I also have an issue that I identified early on. As you can see in the attached picture, I have a water meter in the basement that I still need to read on a monthly basis. We were able to reroute several of the water pipes in the ceiling to clean the room up, but the city would not let me move the meter.


The solution was to build a column around the meter. I framed out an additional column equidistant from the front wall. I'll be mounting a sconce on each column, but I'll still need access to the meter and the shutoff valve above it. The picture should explain things a little better.


The two ideas I've had so far are to (1) frame the entire column in wood while creating an access panel on the bottom half for getting to the meter or (2) cover the section where I need access in a fabric panel that can be removed.


Does anyone have any other suggestions or have similar issues they may have run into? If so, how did you tackle them?

 
#16 ·
Does anyone have any suggestions? I could really use some feedback on this one.
 
#17 ·
I'm still up in the air about the columns (any takers??) but I have another choice that I'm looking for some opinions on.


I went to the lighting store today to look at sconces. I saw a few that were interesting, but none that caught my eye more than the one I saw online:

http://www.bearsinthewoods.net/shop/...mpsm23956.html


I'm still thinking about this Indiana Jones type color palette, but as of right now all I know is that I will probably do some brown suede or leather paint for the walls. I really like what I've seen from Masland carpet

http://www.maslandcarpets.com/Broadl...dloom_main.htm


and I'm currently leaning towards something in a black, brown, or burgundy. I think we've decided to limit the black in the room to the front wall, seats, and possibly ceiling. The wife had talked about doing a brown/burgundy combo on the wall, but I'm not seeing it yet.


Does anyone have a theater they've done or see that uses something similar? I'm really having hard time visualizing the look. I'm also wondering if a brown might go better on the ceiling. Considering I'm pulling the theme out into the hall and up the stairwell, have most people painted their lobby area ceilings dark or just left it white?


Thanks a bunch for the comments. I'm really starting to dig in to this (electrical going in in less than 2 weeks) and the feedback really helps.
 
#18 ·
Lots going on in the build of theater 2.0 right now. I PROMISE to post pictures before the weekend.


Electrical rough-in is now done. I decided to go with the Lutron Spacer system for lighting control. The equipment rack, projector outlet, sub outlet and popcorn outlet (yes popcorn!) are all on their own 20 amp circuit now.


My sconces are on order and hopefully will be here soon.


I nixed the idea of a rope light for riser lighting and instead decided to use 3 step lights (1 in the step and 2 on the front of the riser) to light the way. These are the same lights that I've installed going down the stairs to the basement as well (pics soon).


The dricore is just about finished and I still need to run my low voltage. Insulation is next and I'm in the process of getting bids to hang, tape, and mud the drywall.


Oh, I ran an HVAC line to the theater as well.


Seeing as how I need to run my low voltage now, I have a few questions about what I need to run for future proofing.


I picked up a 500 foot spool of 14/2 wire for all speaker runs. I'll be running this from the equipment closet to all speaker locations. I'm also running the 14/2 through the riser to each seating position. Does anyone have a diagram showing how to wire up 6 shakers? I did 4 the last time so I'm assuming i can just daisy chain one more on to each row like i did before?


I'm planning on running HDMI, Component (2 maybe), VGA and CAT5 to the projector. I'll install a PVC conduit as well and keep it empty for any future wiring I need to do. All current runs will be outside of the conduit.


For the riser, I was planning on running RCA, USB, CAT5 and termintating it into a plate either on the floor of the riser or on the front edge.


Two questions I did have were regarding the front of the room. I need to run a cable to handle an IR repeater and would like to eventually install a Wii in the theater. I see people mounting sensors up front for the Wii. Is this something I need to prewire for? Also, could someone steer me in the direction of what I need to look for in terms of IR repeaters?


Am I missing anything on my runs? If not, I'm hoping to get my cable order in tomorrow so that I can get busy once I'm done with the Dricore, which hopefully will be wrapped up this weekend.
 
#20 ·
Thanks Mike. You guys are great to work with.
 
#22 ·
Hokie,


I think as long as you have coduit installed, that is the best way to future proof the room. You never know what the next big thing is going to be and conduit is the easiest way to update. I don't think you need to install the current wiring outside the conduit. If you run it in there now, then you can use the existing wire to fish through any future upgrades.


I don't know much about some of the other things you mentioned, but there are a couple of different wireless sensor bars for the Wii. Bud has one that plugs into a standard outlet, our you can a battery operated one. For my HT I am going to make sure I have an outlet close by and get the plug in one.
 
#23 ·
Thanks. The general feeling in the forums seemed to be to run new wire outside of the conduit and keep the conduit open for new wiring. I can always install a fish line to provide easy pull through.


So, I ended up ordering a handful of things tonight from monoprice:


HDMI 1.3a Category 2 Certified CL2 Rated (In-Wall Installation) Cable (22AWG) - 25ft (Gold Plated Connectors)


PREMIUM 25FT 3-RCA Component Video RG-6 18AWG 75Ohm CL2 Rated Cable


25Ft SVGA Super VGA M/M Monitor CL2 Rated (For In-Wall Installation) Cable w/ ferrites (Gold Plated)


25FT Triple RCA Stereo Video Dubbing Composite Cable (3 x RG59U)


25FT 350MHz UTP Cat5e RJ45 Network Cable - Orange


100FT 350MHz UTP Cat5e RJ45 Network Cable - Purple


HDMI Male to DVI-D Female adapter


DVI Male Digital/DVI Male Digital Dual Link (24AWG) Cable - 3FT (Gold Plated/Black)


The DVI cable and adapter are for my TV and cable box upstairs. The 100 foot network cable will go from the equipment closet, through the basement, under the crawl space, and up in the router in the office. This is how I'll get wired internet into the theater.


I still need to get some bare CAT5 for various drops, but I think that covers it. I also need an RCA jack for the wall (black) so people can plug in ipods, game devices, whatever while seated.


Thanks for the comment on the Wii sensor. I'll check out Bud's thread and see if I can research it more. I just don't know enough about the technology.
 
#24 ·
BTW,


If you don't mind my asking, what did the Dri-core end up running you? I am on the fence about whether or not I want to spend the extra money for it.
 
#25 ·
In my opinion it was relatively inexpensive in the grand scheme of things. I have a little bit more to put down, but I'm looking at roughly $700 to cover the entire 480sft area I'm doing. The theater was about 60% of that amount. I picked it up at Lowe's for $5.98 a sheet (2x2 square). Even without the carpeting in yet, I can tell a dramatic difference between standing on the Dricore and standing on the bare concrete.
 
  • Like
Reactions: john171
#26 ·
Man.. my thread is getting no love.. dissapointing



Hopefully posting some pics this weekend will help.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top