GBMidge7's home theater thread.

[GBMidge7]

So yesterday I posted a thread about my new HT lighting project, but realized I am going to be updating my entire theater, and at the suggestion of multiple other threads, have decided to dedicate an entire thread to the update. Hopefully this is cool with you guys! Don't worry, I will include TONS of pictures, as I am trying to chronicle the entire process for my own enjoyment, and to share with you all.

I moved into a new house about 6 months ago and have had my setup for about 5 months, but I couldn't really decide what exactly I wanted to do... until now. I will include pictures of the setup as it was when I arrived, what I did with it the last few months, and how I am changing it into my owner personal space. I just started the HT update yesterday, and plan on having it complete within just 1-2 weeks... I hope you guys enjoy, and I look forward to your comments! I am currently at work but will post the first pics of the previoous setup and my new lighting project when I get home tonight...

Couple questions until then... 1) Any way to delete the previous thread since I am essentially including that information into this thread? It is titles "My Sunday home theater lighting project". And 2) Mods, any way to delete/clear my previous 2 HT galleries and ratings so that when I upload my new gallery it will have it's own, fresh ratings? Thanks a lot, will post later tonight!

[GBMidge7]

This is the room as it was before I bought the house. Set up nicely but not a home theater to me; ). BIG bonus was that the walls were already wired for surrounds.


Front viewing and sound stage. I mounted the tv and ran the wires through the wall shortly after I moved in... it was my first project, haha!


This is my initial setup. No couch when I first moved in, and some basic decorations.


The back wall with my Polk bookshelf speakers for the rear surrounds. I was lucky since the previous owner had the wall already wired.


This was the first major edition... Zero clearance recliner as the main seating. Very comfortable.


Long view of the room just to give some perspective.


The front viewing and sound stage. Originally I had a Samsung Touch of Color plasma that in this picture has been upgraded to the newest PN51D8000 model smart tv plasma.




Close up of the units that I decided to add a lighting feature to. The plan was to use the MasterChief and Killzone special edition helmets and light them with LEDs I bought on Amazon.


Just another view of the unit to be modified.


The same unit as seen with the lights down in the room.


The LED lights to be used in the lighting feature. These are PHP International, found on Amazon. The lights are on a thin strip about 1/8th inch thick, 3/8 inch wide, and flexible so they can be put on irregular surfaces. There is also an adhesive backing for attachment.


With the lights turned on.


This will be the backing to the for the units to be lit. Since they were open in the back they were letting out way too much light.


Small piece of 90 degree trim I bought at Menard's. Cut to the width of the end table unit. The lights will be attached to one flat surface on the inner aspect of this piece and are not visible from normal seating areas.


I drilled holes into the sides of the units to feed the wiring for the lights.


Feeding the wires through the newly drilled holes.


I attached the 90 degree trim pieces to the lower shelf with screws, then used the self-adhesive backing to attach the lights to the trim.


View of the end table unit with the trim attached. In this picture the lights are actually attached, but are completely hidden from view.


The lighting feature turned on. Nice, subtle lighting.


The lighting feature with the Killzone special edition helmet inside. This is the left unit.


The lighting feature with the Master Chief helmet inside. This is the right unit.


Completed lighting feature with he lights down in the room.


Completed feature again.


This is a picture of my states to be used in the next lighting feature to be done... they will be displayed on the mantle with artwork behind as a background. You'll have to wait to see that, as I will be working on it soon!


My Master Chief piece by Kotobukiya... awesome.


The statues on the mantle... lighting and artwork to come.


View of the room with the statues in their general place.


Same thing.


A hint of the lighting feature to come... not yet complete, and no artwork up yet. Looking forward to showing you guys more as I complete it!

[darkpoet25]

Wow love what you've done with it. I really like how the helmets look with the LED's as well as the figures.

[roar]

This thread was much more complete... I love it! I totally didnt notice that you had put a backing on the stands, I saw the painted backing but didn't put two-and-two together... a really stellar job here, I think I'm going to try and source that lighting add some to my theatre too.

[GBMidge7]

Thanks for the kind words, guys... I am excited about the updates I am doing and those to come.

If you look closely in the last few photos you can see some color samples on the fireplace and taped to the corner of the wall... those are my proposed room colors. Some darker shades of a greenish/gray, earth tone color. I would love to go full home theater black, but since the room is being used as a second living room as well I just don't think I can go that far... definitely going to go darker than the current color, though!

Anyone have any suggestions on celing color? Unfortunately since it is used as a second living room in my house, and I am not super keen on painting the ceiling black. In all honesty I was planning on keeping it white. In the pictures you can see that a large air vent duct runs the length of the room over the front viewing and sound stage. This vent was drywalled and plastered when the house was remodeled before I bought it, and as you can see in the pics it was painted the same color as the long walls. Since I plan on also painting this vent the darker shade I will be using for the room, I figured this would take care of any immdiate light reflection off the ceiling, and so I could leave the remaining ceiling white. Seem reasonable?

And man, I thought I'd have a few more visitors to the thread... have I done something wrong??

[roar]

Originally Posted by GBMidge7

Thanks for the kind words, guys... I am excited about the updates I am doing and those to come.

If you look closely in the last few photos you can see some color samples on the fireplace and taped to the corner of the wall... those are my proposed room colors. Some darker shades of a greenish/gray, earth tone color. I would love to go full home theater black, but since the room is being used as a second living room as well I just don't think I can go that far... definitely going to go darker than the current color, though!

Anyone have any suggestions on celing color? Unfortunately since it is used as a second living room in my house, and I am not super keen on painting the ceiling black. In all honesty I was planning on keeping it white. In the pictures you can see that a large air vent duct runs the length of the room over the front viewing and sound stage. This vent was drywalled and plastered when the house was remodeled before I bought it, and as you can see in the pics it was painted the same color as the long walls. Since I plan on also painting this vent the darker shade I will be using for the room, I figured this would take care of any immdiate light reflection off the ceiling, and so I could leave the remaining ceiling white. Seem reasonable?

And man, I thought I'd have a few more visitors to the thread... have I done something wrong??

I wouldn't worry about the lack of traffic... buttom line is this sub-forum isn't terribly busy, but if you keep posting pictures people will come

As far as ceiling colour... I think you are more than fine with white, there is a great enough distance between your ceiling and your screen where I don't think you would benifit greatly by a dark ceiling, especially considering you are going to paint the bulk head the same colour as the walls, I think that will be plenty of coverage for you.

I wasn't able to find the vendor of your LED strips on amazon.com when I searched for PHP International, would you happent to have a link?

[TP83]

Great HT Gb. I love the statues.

[GBMidge7]

Originally Posted by roar

I wasn't able to find the vendor of your LED strips on amazon.com when I searched for PHP International, would you happent to have a link?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CQ87MI

That should do it for you... I misquoted as PHP when it should have been PPA... Apologies! That is a link to the main light kit only... There are multiple accessories and additional pieces that can be bought to fit your exact needs.

[GBMidge7]

Pictures of my newest statue acquisitions... Busts of Batman in his Batman Begins suit, and the Joker, as seen in The Dark Knight. The busts are from DC Direct, and I personally think they're AWESOME. Last 2 pics show the statues in their likely new home... probably won't be lighting these in any way, though I think they could look awesome if I could figure out a way to do it without it being distracting.