Garage project with a twist help all please!!

[paul77]

Hi Guys here we go again for you all………A garage conversion! I am new to this so I have read soo many of these project diaries from the forum to try and help me but as my cinema room will have a little twist I will really need some help from you guys so please please post advice and I will keep you updated with photos etc.

Firstly a bit of background on the garage:

It is a double garage detached that is halved with the neighbours (divided by brickwall). The garage used to be set back form the house but it appears that both houses got the same extension to build the kitchen out and build a garage in front of that extension side. This has effectively taken over the old drive way and cut off the garage in question, also making the only access to my back garden through the house. It is a little complicated so I will add some more photos later.

Onto my plans and needs:

I want the room to be a sun room/cinema/bar lounge area (don’t want much do I) here are a few key things:

1) The detached side of the garage (see pick 1) will be 80% glazed with bifold opening doors.
2) I would like a small bar nearest end of the garage (end with door that will be bricked up)
3) I would like the screen at the far end and not sure whether to have projector or 50” screen
4) Seating not sure how to do this as it will have swivel to face garden (which is also getting done) or screen, not sure what will be best for this

That’s it for my wants please any comments appreciated, now for things that I need advice on:

1) All my AV is in front room I am think of user a splitter and a long HDMI+ IR lead for a cheap way but ideally am thinking of a HD Video zone 2 amp to replace my onkyo (is this feasible?)
2) Unless my wii, xbox, ps3 remotes will work through the walls (poss) I am going to have to have second power packs etc to just transfer consoles when in use (any better ideas?)
3) The key one is soundproofing it is only attached to there garage (which in turn they have attached to their house through a weird little extension at the bottom end I have included a photo of there garden so you can get an idea (see picture 7). Also with glass wall thing will soundproofing be an issue?


Finally any would be designers want to earn some spare cash as I would really like some plans to work to and who better than an AV orientated enthusiast who is not going to have my eyes out lol!

Also didn’t mention not very good at DIY but I am a tryer so hopefully it will get me there!

[paul77]

come on lads must be some enthusiasts out there who have done these in the past please help any advice will be greatly appreciated.

really also need to start thinknig bout my setup anyone had any experience of zone 2 hd video out??

[MarkP80]

Paul,

Couple of suggestions from me, hopefully to get things started!

In my opinion, I would suggest a screen and projector. You are likely to only be using this room for "special occasion" viewing, I would think. This is an ideal situation for such a setup. It will give a real "wow" when you are watching films, or gaming for that matter, much more than a plasma in my opinion. You could do a DIY fixed screen on the wall - painted, there's plenty of threads on that, so you are only looking at the projector costs, which I would expect will be less than a 50" plasma.

As for cabling from your existing av gear - this wouldn't be my method of choice. I'd be surprised if you can get a simple HDMI cable over that length, and would probably need one of the "repeater" systems. Not sure about IR either. I have a Keene IR repeater, which works well but is only guaranteed for relatively short cable distances, which would probably make it unsuitable for you.

If we break it down, you are buying new -
projector (or panel tv)
speakers
cable
so are only short an amp and cd player.
Bearing this in mind, I wouldn't go to the hassle of installing a repeater system from the house. Buy a cheap DVD player (it'll be good enough, IMHO, or if you have a fancy DVD, put that in the garage and have a cheap one with your old lounge tv) and consider either a budget amp, or better in my view, go for a second hand amp on the classifieds. You can pick up some great value stuff here. This will give you a much better setup I believe.

Cable up so you can just move your consoles when you need to.

Think about decent blinds on the windows to give good light control.

Hope that helps,
MarkP

[paul77]

Thats ideally what I wanted but my main problem is getting a HD picture to the amp for Sky hd (footy!). Now im toying with idea of changing my multiroom to HD multiroom and installing it in the garage, then getting a maigc eye installed in the bedroom where I currently have my multiroom. Only problem is the extra tenna a month subscription for a room that I am not always going to use hmmmm any other ideas???