A Converted Attic Becomes a Family-Friendly Entertainment Space

Theater Advice worked closely with this builder client to create a theater combining performance with design, incorporating colorful LEDs and voice control.

CE Pro Editors Updated: July 10th, 2023

Elements such as the brick housing for the chimney, instead of being a hinderance to the project, were instead leveraged as unique architectural elements by the team at Theater Advice.

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May 10, 2023

A Converted Attic Becomes a Family-Friendly Entertainment Space

When a home theater client happens to be a home builder, the stakes for a home theater’s design are typically higher. Technology needs to complement, if not take a backseat to the building materials, finishes, and architectural details. Still, a home theater is an amenity that resonates with many looking for an immersive, family-friendly entertainment space, and for this builder, that space was to be his home’s newly converted attic.

The objective for Theater Advice was to not only deliver an exceptional custom entertainment experience that meshed with the home design but to execute each phase of the project without stepping on the builder’s toes. They would need to build not just a theater that thrilled their client’s senses but also a solid working relationship that could lead to future endeavors.

Theater Advice had plenty of ideas, a great portfolio of products to pull from, and an experienced team to put all the pieces together. They could have presented their builder client with a well-defined plan for the converted attic, crossed their fingers, and hoped that he gave the green light.

Interior of family-friendly entertainment room in converted attic space. Home theater design by Theater Advice — Voice control provides a great way to add impressive technical capabilities to the space without the need for invasive electrical wiring.

Instead, Theater Advice discussed with him collaboratively to hatch a mutually agreed upon plan. No surprises, no confusion, and no disappointments.

“We worked with his design ideas and helped him where we could with the parts that stumped him, as a team,” according to Theater Advice CEO David Huse. The biggest challenge was sticking to the budget.

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Like most home theater projects, the range of options is certainly exciting to explore, making it easy to get carried away. Theater Advice needed to integrate enough “cool” equipment to give the newly converted attic a Wow factor but without detracting from the room design.

Color-changing LED lighting provided that good middle ground between tricked-out tech and eye-catching aesthetics. Theater Advice programmed the colored LEDs to both enhance certain design elements of the space and elevate the entertainment experience for the audience. A star ceiling enhances the effect.

Entrance into converted attic space with underlight steps. — A stylish underlit staircase flanked by twin movie cinema posters gives the converted attic space an even more authentic feel.

Voice control elevated the technical talents of the area further but with no impact on room design whatsoever. Commands are intercepted by a Control4 control system, which orchestrates the operation of an Epson 6050 projector, 130-inch Screen Innovations Slate projection screen, color-matched Triad speakers in the rear, ceiling and LCRs behind the acoustically transparent screen, JL Audio subwoofers and Marantz AV receiver.

The client cared more about the overall look of the room than its performance but didn’t want to skimp completely on the tech, according to Huse. By working together, they were able to provide a pleasing blend of high-tech and high-style, all while staying within budget.