This is the start of the theater with my 2 new couches
This is with the riser and all the equipment installed, just need carpet for the riser, and the rope lights installed underneath.
Front of the Theater Room before everything is built, notice the screen frame to the left.
Front of the room with the screen installed. The side curtains are just temporary sheets until I get the curtain track and curtains to go 12' back from the front. Black velvet will be going on the ceiling for 6' out from the screen.
More of the Front
The entry way from the first floor
The basement is an "L" shape, this is the 12x12 area with the walkout and the computer.
I hung the green sheet to block the light from the doorway from directly hitting the screen, my new desk chair is half showing on the right.
Corner closeup of screen frame
I use wood to let the metal screws have something to "bite" into...should help keep the screws in place over time.
My dad always said, measure twice, cut once. Always make sure you square your frame by measuring both diagonals.
Braces with the "T" brackes attached
After building the frame, it the braces were flexing causing the frame to loose rigidity, I added these corner brackets which made a huge difference.
Thought I would try using heavy duty picture/mirror hangers to hang the frame from the ceiling. I should have put them at the top of the frame, being below causes the frame to tilt slightly.
The finished frame. 16:9 102" Diagonal (89"x50"), now all I need is the laminate.
The completed frame hanging from the ceiling, now I just need the laminate.
Ikea Kvartal curtain track for hanging the black velvet curtains behind the screen.
The Kvartal wall mounts hang the curtain out 5-6" from the wall, I didn't want it that far out so I just used some ACE corner braces to get the track closer to the wall.
Close up. Don't you love the quality patch jobs in apartments?
Added a washer to give it a "finished" look to hide the 5/8" hole i had to drill.
Curtains hung up, the gap is now closed that you see here, although it would have been behind the screen anyways.
Wilson Art Designer White Matte Finish laminate, cut to size and unrolled.
2" Velcro to attach to the frame.
I cut the 2" Velcro in half to make it 1" wide and double the amount that I had (15' became 30' of velcro, which was just enough for the frame). This worked out perfectly on the 1" square tubing.
this is the Laminate with the "rough" side of the velcro attached. I laid the frame down and used a pencil to mark the cross braces. to get the velcro to line up.
Laminate attached from the back.
laminate attached from the front.
The screen is hung!!!!! Now all i need is a projector! The nice thing about the toggle bolts, is if the screen isn't 100% level you can do small adjustments by loosening either eye bolt. This is a 102" screen...the TV you see there, its a 47" and is being taken to my sisters in mid August.
just another angle of the screen. that gap in the curtain has been fixed. =)
all my cut wood for the riser. Don't make my mistake and buy studs instead of non stud 2x4's...they precut the length so a 96" stud is really only 93". I don't know what I was thinking.
frame with the plywood attached. The gap is due to me being cheap and not wanting to pay for 2 sheets of plywood. The 2 riser frames are 48"x60" which left me with 16"x96" gap...waiting for some reminants.
picture from the backside. the 2x4's underneath the legs will eventually be cut into 8" legs to lift the riser frame off the ground. I was just testing height to make sure its what i wanted before i cut the legs from all that scrap 2x4
1 Section of the completed riser with the leg supports.
I used my spare 2x4's and cut them to 8" giving the riser about 8 3/4" with the plywood.
Bottom side of the riser 4' x 5'
Here is what they look like pushed together...need to find 1 strip of plywood.
My back row on the riser...needs carpet and the plywood filler.
DVD Shelf unpainted, Made from craft hardwood (5/8") found at Lowes. This shelf cost about $25 to make, including some tools I didn't have...raw material to build was about $12.
Painted it black with spraypaint Lacquer and hung it using 2 1" corner brackets and some wall anchors.
Side view, the frame is suppose to look like it floats off the wall.
It has a slight curve due to the weight of the DVD's but works great, looks like it just floats there off the wall.
Another angle of the floating frame.
same side shot as before, only with DVD's
2 Post Server Rack with 3 shelves, I will be ordering some more.
My AV rack pretty much all wired up, still have to route those final cables, but it will look nice and clean once completed.
Top to Bottom: Cable Box, Onkyo Receiver, Component cable switcher, Sony DVD Progressive scan, Wii & Harmony 880 remote, Belkin UPS/AVR
The mount I bought for the projector
Here it is attached to the ceiling.
the adjustable part that attaches to the projector.
Finally, I has arrived, and in one piece!!!
Fresh out of the box, this thing is a beast.
Had to switch out the long legs for the short legs on my mount
The projector mounted and working.
Screenshots...man i need a better DVD player...HD DVD anyone?
What is a series of screenshots without Star Wars
Need to get a real tripod, LOTR- lots of ambient light from a doorway with direct light on the screen.
More ambient light pictures
Love this movie!
Sitting at my computer, this is about 60 degrees off the screen
I hung up some temporary sheets to knock down the direct light...made a big difference.
Thats me in my classic pose! wanted to demonstrate how big a 102" screen actually is. Still some ambient light, can't wait till I get some photos in the dark with High Contrast Mode.
A little Wii Action
Ambient Light situation, this was a bad game to take screenshots of.
more ambient light with my hand for size reference.
The best part about this carpet for the riser...it was FREE!
Underside of the riser. I used tacks on the side of the riser to hold the carpet onto the frame.
Finished underside. My seams are not the greatest but I put them on sides that are directly viewable to keep my poor craftsmanship out of site.
Start of a corner.
this how i figured the best way to make the corners to make the seam as "seamless" as possible.
Finished product...the carpet is the same color, just the grain in which i vacuumed makes it look different.
Finished with the couch, ignore the curtain track in the couch.
the white ceilings were reflecting light and washing out dark scenes, I decided to line my ceiling with some velvet from about 6' from the screen.
I basically made 3 sections using 2 "T's" and 1/2" PVC, I used Elbows on the end. I took some plastic 1/2" pipe clamps and screwed them to the ceiling. I then took a short piece of PVC and fitted the whole frame into the clamps, friction holds it in place.
here is one elbow on the end...I had an issue with a screw stripping, so you can see all the scuff marks...and as I learned from my dad on any DIY project, each scuff mark indicates a cuss word.
The almost final product, i just tacked in the velvet near the screen...the white gaps you see have been eliminated in the final product. you can see on the ceiling where the flash illuminated the ceiling and how the new fabric absorbs the light.
The curtains were too thin and letting light from the sliding door in, so I bought some blackout cloth and I am getting ready to attach to the 3 curtains.
My very advanced technique of attaching the curtain rod glides to the curtains.
Blackout cloth cut and fitted for the curtain.
My overpriced measuring tool for setting the correct length of the curtains. (its a folded piece of paper)
Before the curtains, you can see the curtain rod above.
Just wanted a reference of the final product from an angle of I have shot many times. The loose hanging ceiling fabric on the side will be dealt with once the side curtains are installed.
Left side with the curtains, these don't have blackout cloth since they are along a wall. All gaps you see have been eliminated.
Had to move the curtain for the Uverse technician to install the coax cable. Final product with curtains on both sides.
right side curtains. The only light I get is at the very edge of the curtain to the right and at the very top...but its a very soft "glow" and isn't even noticeable during most shows/movies.
One more angle of the right side.
102“ of WoWage
