Home Cinema Room.. Starting here!

[ColinB_NI]

Hello folks,

I have been following a lot of your (past and present) progress on this forum with regard to DIY home builds... have got a lot of ideas from you all (thank you). So with ideas taken from here together with general plans of my own I would like to make a start on showing my progress 'as it happens'...
Can't promise I will make quick progress as a lot of this depends on the old 'spondullicks' (cash!) and spare time (lack of lazyness!!) But it will be my personal record of progress over time... and maybe a little help to others in future too.

Let me start by (hopefully) posting a pic or two of the room I intend to convert...

The first pic is of the wall I intend to use for the screen/main av components etc... the second is a view out of a (rather large) front window... this may cause problems with regard to light control etc... more on this at a later point. The one good factor here is that living in the countryside.. night-time really is DAARK LOL!

Room size is 16ft by 15ft 6" and 8ft 5" High

Last pic is a 'Google Sketchup' of one idea for the screen wall... believe it or not it is drawn 'to scale' with the wall width and height etc so is pretty much how the thing would look. (for those of you not aware of it,Google Sketchup is a totally free 3D drawing program and is soooo easy to get to grips with for anyone into any type of DIY) The white rectangle in the middle is the screen which will be electric and will come down in front of the window on this wall when in use... during daytime and/or when not in use the screen will be retracted and the window (which will be fitted with a blackout blind) can be used as normal.
Note, this is one idea only.. have a few others I am working on!

[ANGUZ]

Lovely view you got out of that window mate

[Franco50]

Originally Posted by ANGUZ

Lovely view you got out of that window mate

Ditto. I'd be tempted to forget about the cinema project and just gaze out the window all the time.

[ColinB_NI]

Originally Posted by Franco50

Ditto. I'd be tempted to forget about the cinema project and just gaze out the window all the time.

LOL... must admit it's a view and a half and it changes with the seasons. Im from the city myself and moved out here 4 years ago... I don't think I will ever get used to it!

Anyway thanks for the comments guys!!

Hope to post a few pics later of the start of work on this room.

[SibTiger33]

dude!

dont cover that view - its fantastic

what area of the country do u live in?

[groove]

wow at that view.....

thats 'proper HD '

[ColinB_NI]

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

dude!

what area of the country do u live in?

I live in Northern Ireland (the song 40 shades of green springs to mind) LOL

Posting a Sketchup pic of the screen housing... will look familiar to those that have done it this way. Even includes real sizes for the wood lengths (just love that drawing aid!!)

[SibTiger33]

Originally Posted by ColinB_NI

I live in Northern Ireland (the song 40 shades of green springs to mind) LOL

Posting a Sketchup pic of the screen housing... will look familiar to those that have done it this way. Even includes real sizes for the wood lengths (just love that drawing aid!!)

what are u using to make the sketchups?

[ColinB_NI]

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

what are u using to make the sketchups?

I'm using 'Google Sketchup'... a free drawing progam. Do a search on Google for it.

Maybe that's not what your asking... if so can you clarify??

[SibTiger33]

Originally Posted by ColinB_NI

I'm using 'Google Sketchup'... a free drawing progam. Do a search on Google for it.

Maybe that's not what your asking... if so can you clarify??

yes thats what i was asking :-)


thanks alot


good luck with the cinema ...

(p.s im in belfast on Wednesday - can u recommend any places to go)

[ColinB_NI]

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

yes thats what i was asking :-)


thanks alot


good luck with the cinema ...

(p.s im in belfast on Wednesday - can u recommend any places to go)

If you've never been before... take a city tour on one of those open topped buses (if it don't rain) if you like a drink.. try 'The Crown Bar' on the so called 'Golden Mile' or any pub for that matter. If you enjoy young and lively company try the 'Bot' (Botanic Inn)... and try the Guinness... it's sooo much better here in Ireland!

TBH I don't go into the city much nowdays... I enjoy the simple country pubs and a quiet pint or 3 but each to his/her own!

Enjoy your visit!

[ColinB_NI]

Ok so a couple of pics to show work done so far. Basic frame for screen housing now up but not secure as yet. Lots more drilling into joists in ceiling to do and more crossmembers to be added for extra strength, but at least the general shape is forming.

I still have not really made up my mind on the look I am after for the room. I would like on one hand a very clean tidy and contemporary look, but on the other I also like the idea of shelving which will house/show my DVD collection and an old fashioned 'red velvet curtain' type room which would take me back in time to 'sitting in the back row.. of the movies on a Saturday night etc etc...'

Lucky my wife is behind this project to a certain degree... as long as I do not try to paint the walls black or make it look like the bridge of the starship enterprise!!

[ColinB_NI]

An update on things..

Progress slow on HC room but getting a bit done at a time... a few more pics on this as well as some of my kit so far. I have now bought a projector (Optoma HD70 c/w free 92" screen) so I have a bigger incentive to get moving on the room!

a few pics of screen enclosure progress...

[ColinB_NI]

And now a few of some of my kit, starting with speakers...

[ColinB_NI]

.... The 'free' Panoview Screen that came with the HD70. Note I have hung this below the screen housing at this time.. not in it! (intend to buy a better and possibly bigger electric screen) I must admit though this screen is very good for what it is and will do very well for the time being...