Q. We don’t have a dedicated room for a home theater. Is there a right way to set up a family room to be almost as good? - Aimee, Ishpeming, MI

A.We don’t really do “media rooms” or “entertainment centers,” but when I do come across someone that says, “I don’t have a space for a projector and screen or a big plasma display,” that just makes me want to try harder. Think out of the box. A decent retractable drop down screen, with cable-tensioned tabs, can look almost as good as a fixed wall mounted screen. I do prefer the latter, but what if one doesn’t have an empty wall to spare?

I recently provided a friend with such a screen in his master bedroom. Concealed behind an existing beam, it drops down to divide the space into two different viewing areas, either from their king-size bed or from the sofa across the room. The special fabric displays the projected image on both sides of the screen surface. One push of a button on the projector’s remote control reverses the image depending on which side they are enjoying. This is quite a subtle design. When they aren’t watching, it’s not there. Fixed screens may also be hidden when not in use behind rigid sliding panels that may hold family pictures or artwork. The projectors keep getting brighter and smaller and easier to hide as well. As John Lennon said, “There are no problems, only solutions.” We never say never.

About the Author:
Donny Hackett - Home Theater Designer, Casa Cinema

Saying that Donny Hackett is creative might be an understatement. He’s designed home entertainment spaces that recall the domed ceiling in the luxury liner from Titanic, completed a theater with a Harley-Davidson theme and recently added a room with a revolving floor to his resume.