[Deane Johnson]

A high-end home builder I know is installing a front projection theater in his show home. There's a front stage about 18" out in front of the screen wall with pillars on each side and a curved top (or arch) running between the pillars. There will be curtains in front of the screen, but behind the stage wall, stacking behind the pillars.


He has asked me if I know of any source for curvable ornate trim he could use above the stage to trim out the lower edge of the arch. I assume it's something that might get painted gold leaf or similiar. I thought someone here might have run accross such a thing. Ornate trim is plentiful, curvable becomes a challenge. It's not a severe curve.


Hope this is clear.


Deane

 

[Brucer]

Deane-


A few of the 'Door & Trim' supply houses in this area carry flexible moldings such as crown mold etc. It is made of a resin material with a wood grain embossed pattern. I would look under 'Architechural Supply' in the yellow pages for your area. Also I believe the 'Outwater Plastics' carry's some, although it doesn't show up on their web site. (Their catalog is much larger than what the show on the web site).

www.outwater.com


Regards, Bruce


PS. Wow- just did a 'google' search and only got about 8,000 hits on 'flexible mouldings'

 

[Deane Johnson]

You'd think I would have sense enough to try Google myself wouldn't you.


One of the problems I see with most of the flexible trims is that they aren't intended to flex the flat way as you would need to follow a vertical curve.


I have suggested to the builder that he get the outwater.com catalog. It looks pretty good.


Deane

 

[Dennis Erskine]

Yes. Outwater is what I would have suggested as well.

 

[Brucer]

Sorry - didn't mean to insult you, Deane.


The polyurethane type crown mould that I have seen(& actually handled) will flex within certain radius diameter limitations, the way you are describing. But it would require a wall and ceiling to fasten too, and/or a wedge shape backer.


I hope I am understanding the application correctly. Is the arch in the vertical direction, or the horizontal (ie. like mirroring a curved stage)?


Bruce

 

[Deane Johnson]

Quote:

Sorry - didn't mean to insult you, Deane.

Believe me, I didn't take it as an insult. I always kick myself when I overlook the obvious, but I laugh about it.
Quote:

Is the arch in the vertical direction

Yes, a gentle arch between pillars to frame the screen area, about 18" in front of the screen. The stage floor is straight across, not curved. Presently, construction is at the point of having the arch built and sheetrock in place. Now, the builder wants to add a piece of ornate trim on the arch, following the arch curvature. The problem I see is in bending the trim the thick direction.


Our involvement is primarily in manufacturing the screen curtains and remote control motorized rod and installing the motorized blackout shades. Since I'm deeply into HT, the builder has been asking me a lot of questions on how to approach certain things, often times well outside my area of knowledge.


What's really interesting is that he figured out the way to distinguish himself from other builders is to offer home designs with dedicated home theaters already built in.


The show home will have not only the dedicated home theater with built in stadium seating (actually sunk below the grade level of the house), but will be complete with front projection (model to be determined), an 8' Grayhawk screen, Atlantic Technology speakers, remote control curtains and shades, scene lighting, etc. Outside the theater is a cafe/snack bar area. Equipment racks face the hallway outside the theater with walk behind access. Makes me envious, but it's been fun to help with it.


Deane

 

[Brucer]

Deane-


I just looked in my "Architechural Products by Outwater" catalog and I count about 63 profiles that are available in flexible mouldings. The catalog lists a table of min. radius for 'Inside', 'Outside' and 'Arch' curves. About 1/2 of the profiles are N/A to 'Arch' curves but the other 1/2 range from 2-1/2 foot radius minimum to 10 foot radius minimum curves. These are all part of their 'Orac Decor Collection'. Not cheap, but a wide variety of embossed decorative designs, including carved acanthus leaves to point & dart, etc. They also carry the straight (non-flexible) matching mouldings.


There's bound to be something there to suit your fancy ($price not withstanding).


Good luck,


Bruce

 

[Deane Johnson]

Thanks for your help Bruce. This stuff sounds pretty good. Luckily, price is not an issue in this case.


Deane

 

[RossVTaylor]

Outwater's an incredible store! They've got a molding division, a lighting division, a wrought iron division, and more. All kinds of stuff, and they happen to have their Western regional warehouse (with a showroom) here in Phoenix. They're a great source for those suspended cable lights (the ones that hang off two cables) and for molded niches (Grecian looking display niches) or anything else odd.

 

[Tim Wilkins]

Here is another trim supply company: www.decoratorssupply.com I've seen many of their plaster trim pieces used in high end theaters.

 

[Swampfox]

The builders in this area seem to all go with custom millwork for trimming arches.


SM

 

[wdcoy]

Deane,


Can you post pictures of this room after it's completion? This room sounds great.


Don

 

[Deane Johnson]

Sure will Don. It's probably not going to be completed until fall.


Deane

 

[suffolk112000]

Here is another site that will hopefully help in you're quest for ornate theater trim.
www.fypon.com

I am in the process of planning my home theater with a 1920's - 1930's architectural design and I plan to use a few of the products from Fypon and outwater.

Craig