HT in basement... go big and have columns in way, or stay small?

[Valkyr47]

the way my basement is constructed makes it hard to figure out how to build a dedicated HT room. If i wanted to stay REALLY small i could fit it into the space of approx. 11'x15'

That seems REALLY small though and not enough for wanting to seat 4-6 people comfortably

Or i could go larger on that side of the basement and get the usable area up to 15'x20' which seems like enough, but then i have these 2 load bearing posts coming down right in the middle.

here's a few pics to give you an idea:

1 - this is of the wall that would be completed along the stairs. Right now there is a 3' opening on both left and right at bottom of stairs, but i would finish this wall to the exterior basement wall which would give me the 11' for possibly the screen?


2 - this is the load bearing wall with colums, i would simply box columns inside the interior wall, and the length of this wall would be 15'8"


3 - this is simply the continuation of the 15'8" wall, where it would meet foundation wall


this would allow for a nice clean rectangle room of 11'x15, no obstructions, but it would obviously be very small. If you think this could work, what size screen would be best for that 11' wall, and what kind of seating choices do i have?

ok so heres option 2, in this case, that same wall that would have been only 11' will now be built all the way to the exterior foundation wall on the north side of the house, reaching a total of just over 24'


now heres that same image showing that wall, plus i would box in the columns to cover them, and possibly use the opportunity to place some small wall sconces on them for lighting


these two columns are the ones that would be in the middle of the room:


then the new wall for the projector screen would be on the exterior foundation wall on the south side of house which is the one roughly 15'8" long, so then i could presumably put the seating directly under the load bearing wall that i would box in the columns? if i put the seating there, possibly a large seat or two small ones in between each of the 3 spaces between the columns? as long as they are not BEHIND the columns (when looking at screen, the view wouldnt be obstructed so it would be ok you think?


i know these drawings are horrible but just for an idea of what im looking to do i threw them together in paint

once i choose a layout im planning on designing the plans on 3d using Trimble SketchUp

Any and all recommendations, advice, tips, etc are welcome!
thanks!

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by Valkyr47

Any and all recommendations, advice, tips, etc are welcome!
thanks!

Can you draw an over head view of the layout?

Bill

[Valkyr47]

Originally Posted by MrFattBill

Can you draw an over head view of the layout?

Bill

ok sure. let me throw the dimensions into sketchup and do an overhead view, ill post it tonight!

thanks

[My_Two_Cents]

Quite a collection of strollers you've got there!

I'm with Bill. An overhead plan layout of the area would help. I'm thinking you don't want poles in the way of your seating area, but it may work depending on how far back from the screen wall they would be.

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by My_Two_Cents

Quite a collection of strollers you've got there!

I'm with Bill. An overhead plan layout of the area would help. I'm thinking you don't want poles in the way of your seating area, but it may work depending on how far back from the screen wall they would be.

Or how many strippers you know

EDIT: Damn you and your name change. I was like "I wonder if this guy is gonna appreciate the joke" then I saw your location and realized who it was.

Bill

[Valkyr47]

Originally Posted by MrFattBill

Or how many strippers you know

EDIT: Damn you and your name change. I was like "I wonder if this guy is gonna appreciate the joke" then I saw your location and realized who it was.

Bill

lol

no strippers here... look at all those strollers!

ok so heres a quick floorplan of proposal #1, the larger area with the two poles in the middle


the projector screen i would want to put on the left wall, i put in all the dimensions between walls and to show gaps between poles. One thing is that this is the rough dimensions not taking into account the loss of space when put in finished walls, i will lose like 8-10 inches total for studs+drywall correct?

the area in the upper right is my boxed in room for utility access, entry door into theater room will go in right hand corner of wall at bottom of view

ok and heres proposal #2, not wanting the poles in the way, much smaller area, but nice clean room shape


Door in upper right, projector screen maybe in 11' wall on bottom of image?

thanks!

[Valkyr47]

oops a dimension got cut off the top of screen

its 11'4" from the proposed projector wall, to the poles i would box in

thanks

[djkest]

That's actually not a bad way to go, 11' x 15' is not too bad at all. Consider most couches are about 7-8' wide. You could even do a small riser for the 2nd row.

Another thing you could do to make the room feel bigger is by doing a "pop out" or closet between the columns. This would cut into the area you marked as "unused space". The advantage to this situation is that 3 walls and the floor are solid concrete. You could also put the door in the middle of that wall instead of the front, which might be better.

You could fit a 120" screen on that wall, but depending on what speakers you have, that may not leave much room for speakers on either side of the screen.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by MrFattBill

Or how many strippers you know

EDIT: Damn you and your name change. I was like "I wonder if this guy is gonna appreciate the joke" then I saw your location and realized who it was.

Bill

Or perhaps the OP lives in Parma and will always have to deal with Poles in his HT. (those from NE Ohio will understand)

Originally Posted by Valkyr47

lol

Door in upper right, projector screen maybe in 11' wall on bottom of image?

thanks!

That's how I would do it. You've got plenty of room for a descent-sized theater with the screen on the 11' wall.

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by My_Two_Cents

Or perhaps the OP lives in Parma and will always have to deal with Poles in his HT. (those from NE Ohio will understand)

Now THAT is hillarious

Bill

[Valkyr47]

Originally Posted by djkest

That's actually not a bad way to go, 11' x 15' is not too bad at all. Consider most couches are about 7-8' wide. You could even do a small riser for the 2nd row.

Another thing you could do to make the room feel bigger is by doing a "pop out" or closet between the columns. This would cut into the area you marked as "unused space". The advantage to this situation is that 3 walls and the floor are solid concrete. You could also put the door in the middle of that wall instead of the front, which might be better.

You could fit a 120" screen on that wall, but depending on what speakers you have, that may not leave much room for speakers on either side of the screen.

you think i could fit two rows for seating? that would be awesome

maybe if i put the door in the bottom right corner of room, opening out towards unused space so i can maximize theater room. Then first row right in the middle right on the floor, and make a riser behind it with the second row seating right against the back wall?

ill redraw the plans showing you what i mean

[roar]

I'd consider talking to an engineer and see if those poles could be moved somehow, baring that I'd go the 11x15 route. I wouldn't want the poles exposed in the other configuration.

I'm about 11x14, a little smaller than you. Personally I think two rows is a little tight but how often are you going to have 6 people in your theatre? Perhaps with all those strollers that is a dumb question

I've got two girls and my wife and only 3 seats. Right now the girls are small enough to snuggle with us or fit two in one seat, we also have an oversized beanbag lounge (plenty big enough to hold an adult) and when friends visit I usually land there. I'd say 95% of our viewing over the 5 years we've had the theatre has been with just my wife and I.

[sonic_debauchery]

Perhaps encasing them as a solid wall is the best way to go. Certainly a less costly way.

[djkest]

If you scale it down a little, something like a 100" screen I see no reason why you couldn't have 2 rows of seating. The first row will be a little close and the 2nd row would be just about against the back wall. But it would be possible. I still think a "pop out" would be awesome, you could even think about putting the door in the middle of the side wall and have it back a couple feet to make the room feel just a little bit bigger. Or use it for an AV closet, blu-ray storage, whatever. Might help to break up the dimensions a little for sonic purposes as well.