Smurfin's new lounge project

Smurfin · 16-07-2009, 11:42 PM

Hi all

Like many on the forums, I've read many threads on here and wished I was in a position to do a "proper" job and take on a decent project. There are so many reasons why I've not been able to do this previously, finances being an obvious one, but also having the right property. I've only owned one house before (stupidly I spent 12 of the last 15 years renting

), and even that one wasn't suitable as a project as I bought the house with a mate and it was always a temporary thing - a 2 year investment really which would change when "one of us got married". As a result, my setup was the usual room dominating affair, which I was pleased with at the time. The setup in question can be seen HERE ....that seems a very long time ago now, and almost all of the setup has changed since then (in fact I sold most of it on the forums a couple of months ago).

Fast forward a couple of years, and it ended up with me getting married

The wife and I were originally planning on saving for another year and waiting to see how the housing market went, but with the prospect of our first baby arriving in October (

) we got our skates on, bought a stupidly big project that of course we underestimated, and took possession of the new house 4 weeks ago.

Alot has happened in that time. The house itself is pretty big, it's detached and I'm lucky enough to have a spare downstairs room which can be used as a dedicated cinema room

Sadly, although the structure of the house is fine, there's lots that needs doing, with ceilings, lighting, flooring, bathrooms, kitchen all needing attention, as well as extensive decoration (oh and the garden is a mess). Ultimately this means that a. We can't even move in yet and b. the cinema room is a good 18 months away.

Everything has cost so much more than I was originally anticipating - such are houses! - so we're having to do things bit by bit, but what this does mean is that I need to focus on the living room setup as I can't go without my AV fix for 18 months!

The brief is to achieve the following:

Good sound quality
Discrete setup
All electronics hidden away
Child friendly
Distributed video throughout the house
Hard-wired network distributed throughout the house
Review of general lighting

Oh and lots of other wife satisfying house stuff

If anyone is interested I'll post some pics of the other rooms, but I'll mainly focus on the living room and family rooms as that's where all the good AV stuff is happening

The previous owners were kind enough to leave us a moving in card. The card sums it up really, but what I really wish is that they'd left some industrial strength cleaning solution as the moment we walked through the front door with the keys we were hit with the stench of years of stale smoke, the smell of dogs and parrots and God knows what else.......

Anyway, I had fun in the living room with a hammer.....

So...4 weeks in and how does it look? Proper pics coming over the weekend....

alz2605 · 17-07-2009, 9:15 AM

Congrats on the the new house, new wife, new expectant baby and the new to be dedicated set up

I'll be enjoying following your thread given how good your last set up looked and I for one would love to see the before and after of all the rooms in your house as no doubt AV and tech will sneak into most of them

All the best mate

Da_Rude_Baboon · 17-07-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alz2605

Congrats on the the new house, new wife, new expectant baby and the new to be dedicated set up

+1 to that.

I would be very interested to see the progress of the rest of your house as well as the AV centric rooms so please keep us updated. I'm also interested in your ideas on lighting as i've lived in houses with terrible lighting and its now one the things i really intend to get right on my upcoming project. I've bought quite a few lighting books trying to learn how to do it properly and i can highly recommend Residential Lighting: A Practical Guide. Its very informative with out getting overly complicated (its aimed at professional designers) and surprisingly entertaining in places.

Smurfin · 22-07-2009, 10:53 PM

Thanks chaps

In terms of lighting, I've not been able to do hardly anything really

The project is going to be done in stages, and some of the nice-to-haves just haven't worked out. I had some funky, LED wall lights for the stairs and landing which activate on a motion sensor, but time and money have run away with me. Ultimately, I've got a deadline to work to (i.e. baby), and it's looming fast. As a result, there's been a couple of errors which I can't afford to rectify.

Anyway, this is how it looked when the old owners lived there.

First up, you can't miss the hall when you open the front door, it's huge....

The room beyond the open door to the left is going to be the cinema room (the previous owners used it as a 5th bedroom, and it's got it's own ensuite - needless to say this is going to be ripped out

(albeit not for a good year at the rate we're going!)

The big double doors to the left of the front door house the VERY old consumer board (uh-oh, wiring woes here we come?) and also double as a cloakroom for coats, shoes and whatever junk needs to be hidden. The plan is use it for coats and shoes, the dyson and the mop n bucket

But you lot aren't interested in that, so I'll add that the entire house networking will be routed back to here, to a patch panel and the server, which all fits in very nicely

And from the very back of the hall:

There are two arches left and right of the upright at the bottom of the stairs. I don't particularly like it, but I've discovered that they're there for a structural reason. The stairs themselves are a bit of a hack job - the side rail doesn't run to the floor but to the bottom post, but although the floor is concrete, the post just sits on top. So cut down the post, remove the arches and I'll end up with one unstable set of stairs

Gutted really, but this one is a can of worms so we've decided to leave it as it is for now.

Shot of void under the stairs:

As the ensuite in the cinema room is going to be ripped out in time (and I wouldn't use it now anyway, it's disgusting!), we're going to put a cloakroom under here

The lounge is to the left of the hall:

The good wife and I had a big debate about this one. The fireplace is an original, working solid fuel fire, but it's huge. Typically our living rooms have had the plasma as the centre piece, but a 60" panel over that thing simply wouldn't work (heat, size and aesthetics all spring to mind

).

Having no fireplace is out of the equation too, as we've both always wanted a real fire, and to be honest a living room almost needs something else other than a bank of speakers and a big TV. But they have to go somewhere. Like this wall:

Smurfin · 22-07-2009, 11:22 PM

So there you have it, I couldn't wait to get in there on day one and rip out the carpets. Which is exactly what I did, along with the ensuite toilet, sink, shower tiles and every other grotty thing which was loose in the house

What a satisfying sight....

The pile of dirt is from the trench I had to dig for the new understairs cloakroom - why I dug the run for the soil pipe in the first week is beyond me. But smashing other things from the house with the mattock was fun anyway

Smurfin · 22-07-2009, 11:24 PM

More to come, but it's late and I'm knackered. I have to finish prepping all the upstairs floors for sanding tomorrow

Smurfin · 22-07-2009, 11:26 PM

Poo. Sorry folks, I've just realised I haven't resized all of the photos - oops. The grotty ensuite looks even grottier that size

(I'll resize them over the next couple of days if they're too big or the page is moving too chuggy for people).

Smurfin · 23-07-2009, 10:55 PM

Back to the living room. Finally the room is empty, the carpet has been ripped out (I needed a face mask for that job), and the blinds are down for the shutter people to measure (we're having plantation shutters pretty much throughout the house):

This is the wall where the AV magic is going to happen. We noticed there's no radiator in the room, just these two pipes sticking up which the sofa was hiding.

Not the most enthralling photo, but it was satisfying to get the first job on the list done - pipes gone!

Smurfin · 23-07-2009, 11:01 PM

You may think I'm jumping the gun here (considering at this point we had no power, no water, no carpets, and a whole lot of dust flying around the house), but there is a good reason for putting the plasma on the wall

We need to set this out properly, as alot revolves around this space, as my pencil marks show (or not

)

Smurfin · 23-07-2009, 11:08 PM

Sadly the plasma went back in the box, where it's still living and will be for at least another month

One thing you probably can't tell from the photos is that the living room ceiling is wallpapered, as well as the area above the picture rail. This is a problem as I plan on having recessed ceiling and wall-wash lights, because wherever you find wallpaper on a ceiling, you know it's there for a reason. I was right, as it turned out the ceiling is good old lathe and plaster, which means I need to get it overboarded to ensure a good clean finish. So in goes the claw hammer on the coving. I looked like a snowman after this exercise....

Smurfin · 23-07-2009, 11:19 PM

Ceiling almost boarded....bye bye wallpaper....forever

Walls chased to house left speaker. Door closed, goggles and face mask on (that was the electrician, not me

) - from outside the house it looked like a bomb had gone off inside, as dust was billowing out onto the street

The cut-out is seriously oversized, but it needs to be as a timber frame needs to be set inside (it seems the speakers were designed for stud walls only

)

Right speaker setting out marked on the wall. Shame the door can get in the way, but as the speakers are recessed it's not a problem, and the door will be shut when watching movies etc

Smurfin · 23-07-2009, 11:26 PM

More chasing, more dust, but now left and right speaker cavities chased, as are other cable runs:

Cables run and chases filled, spots are now fitted in the ceiling:

3 x Mark Grant HDMIs are routed to the plasma. I don't need 3 (except for their usefulness when it comes to ISF'ing the panel again). It's also nice finally having a power socket exactly where I need it

- one for the panel, one for the screen backlighting

namuk · 23-07-2009, 11:51 PM

Why you bothering with heavy duty Hdmi cables

.. just get cheap Christmas cracker ones i.e supplied £2 ones..

there all the same..

Smurfin · 24-07-2009, 12:06 AM

Rear right and left speaker cables chased:

You'll notice that the spots are in the ceiling (all except wall-wash lights for some artwork), and this is where the first problem comes in. I based the lighting spec on the basis of my old house, but the old room was longer and narrower, and had a lower ceiling. As a result, with 6 x 50w downlights, it simply doesn't look bright enough

I love "light pools", but it's just too dull - it's mood lighting (which we both like), but sometimes we may want it brighter. The difficult thing to judge is how much effect the bare plaster ceiling and orange walls are having, I'm hoping it's significant because I couldn't justify the £400 to add more lights and change the setting out of the existing ones.

Basically, the lights are set out in two grids of three:

There are two more lights to go in, one on either side of the middle spots, but these are to highlight art more than anything else, and I don't think they'll add anything more than a bit of ambience. We'll see though, because it's too late to go back. White ceiling, jasmine white walls and maybe a floor standing lamp will do that trick

Smurfin · 24-07-2009, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by namuk

Why you bothering with heavy duty Hdmi cables

.. just get cheap Christmas cracker ones i.e supplied £2 ones..

there all the same..

I've never seen 6m Xmas crackers ones and I for one wouldn't risk a crappy £2 cable in the wall which is permanent. They weren't actually that expensive, especially if you ask nicely

- plus Mark tested each of them before he sent them to me. Expensive mistake if there's something wrong

PS - I don't subscribe to the whole £90 on a 1m HDMI cable thing either

namuk · 24-07-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurfin

I've never seen 6m Xmas crackers ones and I for one wouldn't risk a crappy £2 cable in the wall which is permanent. They weren't actually that expensive, especially if you ask nicely

- plus Mark tested each of them before he sent them to me. Expensive mistake if there's something wrong

PS - I don't subscribe to the whole £90 on a 1m HDMI cable thing either

I new i would get a response from that.

Smurfin · 24-07-2009, 12:23 AM

namuk · 24-07-2009, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurfin

Right Scart leads what are you using ..

Da_Rude_Baboon · 24-07-2009, 12:37 PM

Can you put any perimeter coving type lighting up or wall washers for ambient lighting? If not a couple of floor standing uplighters would you sort you out. Have you decided what your doing with the fireplace? Changing over the decorative tiles set into the insert can make a huge difference if they are not to your taste. If you take them out carefully and keep them intact they can be worth a few bob too.

Its a really nicely proportioned house, looks like it has plenty of room. Any chance of a shot of the outside?

I put my flat on the market on Monday and i'm getting excited at the thought of moving onto another project. With the amount of interest we have had it looks like we will be going to a closing date next Friday. (Scottish system)

Smurfin · 24-07-2009, 2:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da_Rude_Baboon

Can you put any perimeter coving type lighting up or wall washers for ambient lighting? If not a couple of floor standing uplighters would you sort you out. Have you decided what your doing with the fireplace? Changing over the decorative tiles set into the insert can make a huge difference if they are not to your taste. If you take them out carefully and keep them intact they can be worth a few bob too.

Its a really nicely proportioned house, looks like it has plenty of room. Any chance of a shot of the outside?

I put my flat on the market on Monday and i'm getting excited at the thought of moving onto another project. With the amount of interest we have had it looks like we will be going to a closing date next Friday. (Scottish system)

Funny you mention the fireplace, just been talking about it. I've sorted the lighting as the wall wash lights are in, and although out of the lighting grid I've had another spot centred between the grid over the bay window. I think it's going to be fine, especially with the Walls painted

Back to the fireplace, I think we're going for a wood burner now. Not exactly period but very cost, practical and the mantel completely cuts out the wall wash light currently. Plus it's cheaper, so long as I don't need to have the flue lined. Had the chimney swept a few weeks back so just need to check what he thinks. The only other debate was whether it's appropriate for a period house, bit sod it, we're the ones living there

Da_Rude_Baboon · 27-07-2009, 11:47 AM

Can you the fireplace elsewhere in the house as a non working decorative feature? I like woodburners, much more efficent and not draft when not in use. You can get some really nice fireplaces and woodburners that cross between traditional and contemporary, or just go for it with a modern one.

Smurfin · 27-07-2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da_Rude_Baboon

Can you the fireplace elsewhere in the house as a non working decorative feature? I like woodburners, much more efficent and not draft when not in use. You can get some really nice fireplaces and woodburners that cross between traditional and contemporary, or just go for it with a modern one.

The fireplace is too big for elsewhere, and I have 5 other fireplaces and one Aga

Going to flog it on ebay

Progress has been slow (and naturally not just focused on the living room), but here's a couple of update pics.

With the living room fireplace out (that took some hammering with the SDS drill

), it's made the room look much bigger and the stove is going to look fantastic

The photo below shows the area with the wall wash light, and now with no mantel blocking out the light half way down the wall I can't wait to see what it looks like finished....

As I mentioned previously, we're not really doing anything funky now, but I have tried to add some highlight lighting in certain areas. Not a good photo, but you can see what I mean from the Aga:

In other areas, the downstairs cloakroom partitioning is coming together, which is just as well as the plasterer comes on Wednesday to do both inside and out:

The electrical/networking works are pretty much done too, this is the family room where all the kit will be sitting:

Really annoyed with myself that I didn't run the standard twin co-ax and twin cat6 to each room, just done various network points and single runs of co-ax

- this is what happens when you have so many things to think about. Oh well....

Beginning to prep the floorboards for sanding in the upstairs bedrooms. This is my big job for this week - I have 4 bedrooms to do and apparently this can be a nightmare. The belt sander itself weighs about 80kg

Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have the plasma wall up, the speaker boxes fitted into the recesses and it will all be plastered.......

Da_Rude_Baboon · 28-07-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurfin

The fireplace is too big for elsewhere, and I have 5 other fireplaces and one Aga

Going to flog it on ebay

Thats a lot of fireplaces! You should get a tidy sum for it on flea bay.

Smurfin · 28-07-2009, 11:11 PM

Hope so, as this project is costing a fortune!

Not good news tonight, discovered a floor joist runs directly across the front of the fireplace opening, and it's completely charred...amazing the house didn't burn down over the years

Anyway, it looks like I've got to have the concrete hearth out completely, and do something about the joist. I have no idea about how hearths (and under them) are dealt with, particularly with regards to damp proofing. The floor in my living room is a floating floor....

Anyone got any ideas?

Smurfin · 29-07-2009, 9:58 PM

Why do I feel like I'm talking to an audience of one

Anyway, few update pics, and a couple of nightmares to boot....

Frames in for the speakers

However, there's no frame for the TV, because of yet more problems with the plasma bracket. I bought it from M-Form as it seemed the only option for my Kuro plasma which offered pull-out functionality. Unfortunately, the bracket isn't designed for a 60" pioneer, and whilst it fits it doesn't fit well. I've had to use extension plates to make it fit the back of the panel, but it doesn't feel too robust and worse, the top bar of the cantilever bracket wobbles and bizarrely it bends

I couldn't believe it, but both of these contribute to the problem of the plasma not being completely level, and today we gave up. Because of the wall that's going to be built around the plasma it's got to be 100% level, otherwise it will be glaringly obvious

Anyway, that's not knocking M-Form, they've been helpful and Graham suggested I try something else, but it's ended up costing me half a day's labour on the job as it was wasted

Got a premiermounts bracket arriving tomorrow morning so hopefully that should be problem sorted and the living room can really progress.

Hmmm, but on that note, the other hiccup was a nasty gremlin I found in the fireplace:

The was a small hole in the concrete hearth under the firebrick, and my worst fears were confirmed when I drilled the hearth out to find one of the main floor joists running right across the face of the chimney breast - completely burnt in the middle and it's amazing the house hadn't burnt down in the past.

Unfortunately it's one more delay in getting the house habitable - tomorrow I have to finish breaking it up and digging out the rubble

Then I need to build up some bricks either side of the chimney to support the joist, and chop the centre out. Lay a DPM, pour in the rubble and concrete on top back to the original level. Be interesting to see how I get on as I've never done this before...

Spent most today re-laying floorboards upstairs and nailing them down. And then spent a looong time with a nail punch trying to get anything and everything shiny (or rusty) bedded deep into the floorboards ready for sanding. Tomorrow is the chimney, the plasma bracket and (finally) the wall....