Wow, it was exciting to see it all start to come together in our home theater. Last night, Jeff and Nathan went over to inspect the progress, and returned home very excited about the home theater. This morning I stopped by to see why, and totally agree! It is going to look amazing!
We had a home theater in a previous home and are using as many of the components as possible: drapery, light fixtures, screen & speakers, and some other things I am probably forgetting at the moment. Very green!
The new part of this plan is that it is also an exercise room. We are planning on using exercise flooring material similar to what you see at the gym on the main floor in there. I found this great rubber flooring company online that will send you samples for free, then extras cost a bit for postage. It will look black but have tiny flecks of color like this:
We have a treadmill we want to include and a set of weights. The boys also will have a pull up bar installed in the ceiling somewhere. Last I heard, there were plans for 3 pull up bars – so they can all do pull ups at the same time!
Here are a few “before” pictures when it was still the original workshop space. This area is part of the addition that was built in 1981.
Now, in the framing phase:
You can see the elevated seating platform on the right. The two metal posts will be removed and the heating duct work will be re-routed.
Our plan is to leave the ceiling unfinished for now, but painted black as you see in many restaurants. We will be converting the space above this area into a master bedroom & bathroom suite and want to have easy access to the plumbing and electrical at that time. So, we don’t want to drywall and then have to remove it in a few years.
The screen will be on the left side of the picture where Jeff, my patient husband, is measuring.
Our hot water heater challenge has been resolved. Mike moved it closer to the stairs, and we can now contain it in its own room!
Just to the left of the hot water heater closet is the seating platform. We will have elevated seating and the first step is also the platform for a short bar area. Mike plans on putting some small low voltage lights on the steps. Won’t that be super? I applaud Mike’s angled step idea!!! It really takes this this space into a “high end” feeling.
Here is a view of the screen area. The screen is going to be recessed in the middle.
I think we’ll have a million light switches down here! You can see we are still using our post-it note method of switch placement. I have also started drawing on the walls! Top view and front view of the platform design! Someone asked me what our process is, and here is what we generally do:
- I draw what we want.
- Jeff helps figure out the measurements and we discuss the reality of it actually working and if the design/space will function and look the way we want.
- We give the drawing to Mike and he builds it. He does make suggestions (really good ones!) and we incorporate those too!
Check back to see the progress!
Renovation Projects 