The Valley Theater & Game Room (The Return of the Build Thread)

This is a new build thread for a new start on a project I started over a year ago. The original build thread along with the project it covered faded from memory to be buried in the dark recesses of the AVS forum. This is an attempt to breathe new life into my ailing project, A New Hope you could say.

Project Scope:
To turn an unfinished basement into a family entertainment center with a semi-dedicated home theater, a game room, pool hall, exercise area, bathroom & storage.

Timeline: No bloody way I am giving anyone a timeline... not this time.

Budget: See Timeline... I am not setting a strict budget but this is not going to be an extravagant build. At the same time there are some areas where I refuse to cut corners.

HT Size: HT Room is 11'-5" wide (expanding to 14' on one side) by 18' deep with 8'-9" ceilings. It is partially open at the back...

Usage: 35% Movies, 60% Gaming, 5% TV

Projector: Epson Home Cinema 8100

Screen: Elite Screens Silver Frame 100"diag 16 x 9 Screen

AV Receiver: Denon AVR790

Speakers: Infinity Primus Fronts, Infinity In-Walls for Surrounds, YAMAHA SW315 Sub (For Now)

Seating: First Row - 3 Berkline 12006s, Second Row: 2 Recliner Couch

Addiontal Equipment:
HTPC - For Digital Content / DVDs /Games
PS3 - For Blue ray / Games
Xbox 360 elite - For Games
DishNetwork HD DVR Box - For TV

Rack: Built-in...

Acoustic Treatments: Basic "Hang on the Wall" type for first reflection points... More as needed.

Other Stuff:
I have a great old 8' pool table with ball return that I am planning on refinishing for the "Pool Hall"... The "Bar" at the back of the theater and the "Game Room" will be wired for for LAN gaming...


Current Status: Complete 


Done:
Wall Framing
Soffit Framing
Hot & Cold Supply to Bathroom and Kit
6' Arch for the entry from the Pool Hall
5' Arch for the Kit
7' Arch for the Bar
3' Arch fro the Theater Entrance
2 10' Arches for the Theater
Hung Storage Pocket Door
Finish Framing Soffits and Ceilings in Pool Hall
Finish Framing Soffits and Ceilings in Hidden Office
Finish Framing Soffits and Ceilings in Bathroom
Frame Bathroom Pocket Door
Run new ducts and returns
Wire outlets
Decide on final lighting plan
Wire Switches, Lights & Fans
Run LV Cables and Conduit
Add Sheetrock Nailers where needed
Insulate
Hang Sheetrock
Finish Framing Walls in Exercise Area
Wire Exercise Area
Insulate Exercise Area
Hang more Sheetrock
Finish Sheetrock
Paint
Hang Fixtures and Install Can Light Trim
Install Outlets & Wire Insteon Switches
Build Stage & Riser
Install DryCore In carpeted areas
Install Cabinets for Kit and Bathroom
Tile Floors, Shower & Wall Locations
Tile Counters for Bar and Kit
Pick-out Carpet
Pick-out & buy seating
Buy Projector & Screen
Have Carpet Installed
Hang Screen and Projector
Wire all the gear correctly
Get new receiver and universal remote
Hang Doors
Tweak Projector & Receiver
Build new HT/Gaming PC
Program Universal Remote

Build and Fit two DVD Case Hidden-Doors
Seal Tile & Grout
Build Built-in Bookcase for the Pool Hall
Install Trim
Have fun with new area!


To Do:

It is done!

 

Post with finished Pics:

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1136904/the-valley-theater-game-room-the-return-of-the-build-thread/180#post_22197937

Edited by jroyv - 3/26/13 at 8:58am

Inspirations

These are the models for my theater... They all have elements that I hope to emulate in my own space. Here's to hoping it turns out half as nice.
Jamis' Theater Thread - Jamis
Buffbaker’s Bar & Theater - BuffBakerGA
“The Get Away” Theater - djlemo
The Fog Valley Cinema - Driving_Hamster
Arbor Oak Cinema - BIGmouthinDC
PGA Theater - Wazzey

Great use of a small space...
Theater for Hobbits - Big screen, miniscule space - snowkarver
Framing starts soon and I'm not ready! Thread - BShaw@BedHandles'

Reference for Theater 2.0
Big Red theater build 21’ x 27’

Best Before and After Pics on AVS
MatFlix

Home Theater & Game Room


Screen Wall


The Final??? Plan

This is what we have to work with (click-able thumbs):

Future Home Theater	Future Bathroom & Electrical	Future Exercise Room
Future Game Room	Future Pool Hall

Before all of the "Delay Factors" last year I was able to get some basic framing done, added a drain for the Kitchenette (Kit) got "pink stuff" on the walls and replaced two of the windows with a 3 ft x 6 ft slider with BOTH sides removable... (This gave me an egress and a way to pass materials w/o going through the house.)

Old Windows	New Windows
Basic Framing	Kit Drain

This is the Kitchenette Area (or Kit as I call it... Why make the word for a small kitchen longer???)


Bar at the back of the theater and theater entrance (Arch to the right)


Bar and Kit (arch on the left)


View into theater as if you were sitting at the bar


Back of the theater looking from the screen


Game Room - It's a fairly small area and I'm still struggling with the layout. At least and LCD and some game chairs...


Arched entry into the Game Room / Theater area from the "Pool Hall"

View From Bar


Top View Theater and EQ Area


Top View Theater and Game Room


Bar & Kit

Gota love FedEx.. My front (L&R) speakers came yesterday: Infinity Primus P362s along with the 4th In-Wall: Infinity ERS210IIS for surrounds.

All that is left is a new center and subs. Not that I don't have PLENTY of time before they are needed.



I know they aren't high-end but they sound good to me and I got a REALLY GOOD deal on them!

Thanks Luke,

Daddy's helper above will be 5 this summer... She spent 2 hrs last Saturday sweeping up sawdust, thought it was fun

My little Delay Factor is 8 mo old... she wanted to eat the sawdust...

It's no barrel ceiling, like one rather nice build I saw here recently, but I think they add a little something

My helper and I installed some 6" flexible duct... Boxes are great fun aren't they

I'll post some build pics when I get the rest of my duct work in place...

OK I'm looking for some opinions here for general design or theme. For a variety of reasons I can't go crazy with a fully themed room but I do want to introduce some style into the room.

One Idea is to do a vague steampunk theme showing wires and brackets here and there but keeping it tasteful. If I go this route there would be more stained woodwork and built-ins along with bronze/copper accents. Here is a fixture as an example:


The other is to go with just a simple clean style to everything... a nice look and I tend to favor sparse and simple in my tastes... If I go this route I will be looking at more sheetrock, painted trim and built-ins. Here is a fixture as an example:


These are the type of fixtures I will have in the theater, mounted on the side of the soffits pointed down towards the seating area and an other set washing the screenwall...
Now I just need to decide on style. I know it seams a bit early in the process but there are some things I want to do differently depending on what style I choose.

Sure...

They are Home Depot fixtures only like $30 but Web Only...

They have several similar fixtures you can find by looking for "Iron Oxide" on the Home Depot site
or
Link to this specific Fixture

I am glad to see the responses for option #1 as I was kinda wavering that direction...
besides the matching pendant and 3 light fixtures make some other fixture choices easier:

An other little project I accomplished a while back... Moved some water pipes out of the middle of the room... I was tapping into them anyway and this made soffit framing much easier.

Before


After

A very eclectic mix of progress but progress nothing the less...

Finished framing and soffits everywhere except the exercise area where all the Sheetrock and materials are piled.
Finished rough-in plumbing except shower drain.
Finished HVAC except one return in exercise area.
Wired Sub-Panel.

Thumbnail views below click for full view.

Big Pool Hall soffit


Part of the joists above the Pool Hall area are 2x10s and part of it is 2x12 leaving a variance in height. Fixed by applying a ripped 1/2 ply and a 2x4 to the bottom of each.
How to change a 2x10 to a 2x12... Near...


How to change a 2x10 to a 2x12... Far...


Game Room Soffit #1


Game Room Soffit #2 - I was tired of square soffits


Sink & Toilet plumbing


Shower Plumbing


Main Lug Sub-Panel


Rear Theater Vent - 6" Flex


Front Theater Vent - 6" Flex


Game Room Vent - 6" Flex


Over-sized Theater Return


Pool Hall 8" Supply - Screwed up here the register SHOULD have fit between the 16" on center joists... I forgot they were all doubled... so I had to drop it down and build yet an other soffit...



Lowered Bath Room ceiling with Vent - 6" Flex


Lowered Office Ceiling - 6" Flex


and finished walls in the game room & pool hall


I am lucky compared to some... My ceiling height is such that all of my lowered ceilings and soffits have well over 7' of clearance.

Ready for Electrical and LV wiring!!! Yea!

Yea I thought of that but they don't have a longways 90 in that size... not at HD or Lowes anyway...

What did I get accomplished this weekend? Mostly spent money...
Ordered these from HD:

one 3 light fixture at the end of the hall in front of the the Equipment area...


2 pendants for over the pool table


And six of these for the theater


I bought these Insteon switches from Smarthome for lighting control.


I also got my truck stuck in my back yard while dropping off materials... I should have taken some pics but I was too pissed at the time. Getting it out did provide a use for all the overly warped lumber cluttering up my basement.


I managed to pull about half the electrical wiring for the entire basement... So the weekend wasn't a complete loss.

Installed 6 of the 18 cans and the ceiling boxes for the rest of the fixtures last night. Still pulling wire...

On the 422nd day he said "let there be light" and there was...

Front theater lights... I know we had discussed something with a bit more style but for only a buck each how could I resist...


j/k... cheap temp fixtures are useful though... the two above the screen and the 4 mounted on the soffit above the seating area will be the single light iron oxide fixtures (see two posts above)


Pool Hall lights (1 Ceiling Fan, 6 cans, 2 pendants)


2" flex from equipment room to projector...

Here is the lighting plan (you can see an example of the fixtures that will eventually be there in this post):

Theater: low profile ceiling fan & 6 of the single light iron oxide fixtures (2 by the screen, 2 on the sides of each soffit over the seating area.
Game Room: 2 - 5" Cans & 1 Ceiling Fan
Pool Hall: 2 iron oxide pendants over the pool table, 6 - 6" cans & a ceiling fan (double fan fixture)
Exercise Area: 3 - 6" cans
Bath Room: 6" can & shower light/vent combo
Bar Area: 2 - 5" cans
Hall: (by the theater) 2 - 5" cans & the 3 light iron oxide fixture
Hidden Office: 2- 6" cans


Outlet placement plan the different color outlets are non standard placement, like for the projector and above the bar... still have to do my LV plan


Here are the ceiling fans I am using...
Theater:


Pool Hall (Mine has a light off of the middle post):


If you haven't guessed yet I am a big fan of ceiling fans both for practical use and for style. So my question is since the plan is so open (you can see all three fans from one spot) would it be weird to choose yet a third style of ceiling fan for the game room in the middle???

The off-line vote is in favor of using a second "Roanoke" low-pro ceiling fan in the game room. Any more opinions be fore I pick up a second one???

For those who may be interested here are the other low-pro fans that were in consideration for the theater area.


Cool fans huh... So why did I choose the "Roanoke"?
1. It was almost a 3rd the price and was of the style I was going for.
2. no remote... the fans and their lights will be wired independently and controlled by my Insteon switches. The remote features of the other fans would just be in the way.
3. The bottom of the light is only 11.6" from the ceiling. Perfect for projecting under.

It is Hampton Bay exclusive HD brand though I have never seen it on line and only one of the 4 Home Depots I frequent has it.

Will have to post my light control plan too...