Designing a high-end, high-performance home theater is challenging enough in a traditional ol’ house. But how about in a historic ol’ house?

That’s what the teams at New York-based AV Design & Integration and Acoustic Smart dealt with when planning for this 100-plus-year-old home that’s protected by the historic preservation society.

“Everything we incorporated had to match the original style and grandeur of the home,” says AV Design & Integration’s Michael DeMello.

Using hand drawings and 3-D renderings, AV Design and Acoustic Smart put the plans together for everything including sight lines, seating, color texture, audio visual components, carpet, finishes and performance expectations, says DeMello.

The performance wound up matching the grandeur of the home—with superior images from a Runco RS- 1100 Ultra projector with CineWide with autoscope and 120-inch 2.35:1 Stewart Filmscreen Electrimask screen; 7.2-channel surround sound from Triad speakers and powered by Denon; and high-def movies from Sony Blu-ray and Vudu on-demand service. An RTI T4 touchscreen remote keeps everything operating smoothly and easy to work with.

The installers even found a surprise when construction began on the room—a hidden room. It’s located in the rear of the theater, and its doorway (see photos below) looks like the rest of the room’s paneling. Now it serves as a nifty stone-laden wine room.

“Having begun with nothing more than an empty room and a blank piece of paper, the homeowners now find themselves immersed in the most beautiful room in the house,” says DeMello. “The perfect escape from everyday stress.”

About the Author:
Arlen Schweiger - Managing editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen contributes product news items to electronichouse.com along with his role on the print publication. Got a tip? Send it along!