LEVEL 4: Center for Entertainment build - Page 9

The panels will be dark dark brown, just like the ceiling.  I already have the fabric, but an accent color might have been cool.  Ah well!  I kind of figure that my three colors in the room are the mint green, brown, and the walnut stain in the wood.  Also, I have the black accents for the screen and the columns.  Having said all that, i think I'm set for colors... maybe?  I dunno, I'm clueless, too, like J_P_A :)

I think what I like about #4 is the pattern, not so much the color.  I'll try to find that pattern in a color that matched the room better without moving into a new color.

I need opinions on seating design!  It seems like I suddenly have a few big decisions I'm having to face.  I have laid out a few options with the size of the bar and the seating.  I hope you guys don't mind me asking you these questions!  Your input helps me a ton! 

My eyes are about 13.5 feet from the screen.  The clearance for walking between the column and the arm of the chair I CURRENTLY have is 16.5".  It's enough, but a little tight.  All of the diagrams below are 20" or more.  I know that 30" is ideal, but I don't feel like it's necessary when it's just the arm sticking out.  The seat backs are six inches in.

Option 1

This is the all couch option. I have a thing for centering on the screen when it's a tv, but it doesn't seem to be as much of a factor when the screen is huge.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you are completely inside the edges of the screen.  I like this option for cuddling, and it saves space.  I would buy the removable armrest for this config.

Option 2

A little less clearance on the right side, but still enough. I like the built in armrests.  I wouldn't feel as scrunched as in options 1 if we have four adults sitting here.

Option 3

With the curved three seats, i don't think I could place the seats off center, so I'm putting them in the middle.  That means I get clearance on both sides.  The bar would be smaller and I would have less seating, but the room would feel more open.

Option 4

This option gives me the maximum seating and the nice curved seating for folks on the outside.  The back left corner of the seats would be about 4" from the acoustical treatment.

These are the seats, by the way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidK442 

Option 4. Might be a little tighter getting to the back but not bad.
Having a slight angle on the outside seats, especially the one on the left, will just feel right.

So far, that is kind of my sentiment, too.  By the way, I love your theater build.  I spent a long time looking at how you the back of your room especially.  Nice job!

Quote:

Originally Posted by grubadub 

decisions decisions...... you're right about the couch option - saving space, better for "cuddling". i have a couch in my theatre and one thing i like about it is sometimes i just like to lie down on my side while watching a show. but you can't beat the look of theatre seats. those seats look awesome btw. good luck!

Thanks for the feedback!  I have a sectional now, and honestly, I don't lay across it too often, just askew, so I can sit in the middle and put my feet up on the chaise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedd 

Option 3 for me. Centered on the screen, off the walls with adequate aisle space, and maybe pushed forward slightly.

I changed the bar to fit another person, and moved it up a foot.  How's this?

For contrast, here's the four seats with a curved bar.  The bar, btw, is just over 7 feet wide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HopefulFred 

I like the new one - fits the surround channels better. What's the gap work out to between the bar and the AV cabinet?

It's 22" for the three seat config, about 28" on the four seats.  That's bar edge to wall, so you'd have to take away an inch or so for a tucked in chair.  Still, I think it's enough...

I currently have my seats further back, like in the first drawings, about a foot.  I really thought I'd notice the surrounds being forward, but they sounds awesome.  I think the back channels totally smooth that out.

What I can do is order the four seats, but configure it so I can remove one.

Honestly, I'm tempted just to center the 4 seats and just squeeze past the same 16" I squeeze past every day with my current sectional.

It just looks nice to have them centered.

By the way, I found a nice site for barstool and bar measurements.

http://www.barstoolstogo.com/page26/page26.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedd 

I like the three seats moved forward and I prefer two seats for the second row. I'd take the aisle space, and the cash savings, to
spend elsewhere to pursue performance. Most bar seating isn't all that comfortable anyways.

How's the headroom with the projector right above the seating?

I have 70" between the floor to the lowered projector.  When it's raised, it's about 78".

So, if the pj is down, you'd have to not hit it when getting up or sitting down.  (maybe I'll put a reflective tape on it or something?)

I think I should probably go with the Jive chairs instead.  They're a little thinner, and I can get what I want.  With these, I can get my loveseat middle section, and still have 22" on each side to walk through.  Also, the bar, with 2 seats, has plenty of space on each side.  I could even move the bar and seating back a little if I needed/wanted to.

The reason I hadn't chosen these seats at first was because they're 2" shorter on the backs.  I think that's something I can live with, and it makes visibility from the bar that much easier to handle: an issue in my room because my screen bottom is  relatively low to the ground.

The jive seats

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Horstkotte 

Oh just saw the most recent option, that looks good too - and as far as lower seat backs, that's actually better from a surround sound perspective to ensure that your ears aren't blocked from the path of rear surround (my seat backs are actually a little too high for my height - or maybe I'm too short - or maybe I can just pack on some more fat on my ass so I sit higher in the seats).

Oh, that's a good point about the surrounds being blocked.  I am a bit picky when it come to line of sight to the speakers. :)

I just picked up my doors, by the way.  I hope they like walnut, because I'm startin' up the stain machine!

Progress slowed a bit in the last week or so.  I was sick for 3-4 days last week, and I've been... ummm...  I dunno.  After the kids go to bed, it seems like the choice wheel has been landing on "Drinks and Watchin' Stuff in Level 4", and always spinning past "Work on Level 4".  What can I say?   I did get a little bit of work done.  I built the last black cloth frame put it up on the last column.  I also, got my doors delivered, and they're ready for staining.

In more exciting news, Bets and I finally agreed on the carpet!  We're going with a not-so-lush pattern carpet, and then we're going to have a really plush carpet or shag cut and seamed for the area in front of the seats.  You know, so the kids have a comfy place to sit.

Here's a picture of the sample in the room.  I really wanted to go with a square pattern to complement my angular room and coffered ceiling.

Here's a picture of the carpet in the manufacturer's "room".

EDIT:  I forgot to mention; that roll of fabric is the covering for my acoustical panels.  That's why I laid it down with the carpet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HopefulFred 


Do you have nay clear idea what extra is involved in this and what it will cost? I like the look, but I've never had a god chance to examine how it works.

This is what they told me.  I tell the dimension of the rug I want, they cut it, then add a seam to the outside.  They recommended a this rug pad under it.  I asked if I could do a custom shape, and he said I could.  I'll just bring in a cardboard cutout (in small scale) to them with the dimensions.  I just want the edge near the stage to match the curve of the stage.  The cost is the same as the carpeting, so you really come out ahead vs buying a rug.

I'm buying my carpet from Abby in White Bear Lake, and they do it this way; others companies probably differ.