These homeowners have catapulted a 50-year-old ranch-style home into the 21st century with modern, minimalist design, with the help of custom electronics pro London Audio. Blonde woods, glistening stone, premium leathers and polished chrome replaced the Cold-war design elements during this complete home makeover. And the basement bonus room has taken on new life as a dedicated screening room. “This young and stylish couple had little interest in an Art… View this story
Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Home Theater • Audio • Cool Homes

Randy Murray thinks of his theater as a “modest” effort. While that may be true when compared to the lifestyles of the rich and famous, we prefer Randy’s cozy, complete theater experience. When we say “complete,” it’s because Randy’s entire basement level is dedicated to making the perfect movie night. Walk into this basement, and you’ll be treated to a pre-show experience—as well as a complimentary box of Junior Mints.… View this story
DIY Home Theaters • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Not everyone likes to see their audio and video equipment blinking and buzzing away in the corner. Nor do some people admire speakers set out on the floor. The owners of this renovated basement wanted absolutely nothing but the screen to be seen in their theater, posing an interesting challenge to the home theater designers at Media Rooms Inc. in West Chester, Penn. “One wall was the foundation with very… View this story
Basement • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

A great theater at a low cost? The result of this nifty project had one designer estimating that it cost $40,000, when the reality was under $15K, according to custom electronics pro Surreal Systems. The room was designed for use for the family including two young children, to enjoy movies and sporting events. Along with keeping costs down, “we had to compete with the homeowners’ desire to have a lot… View this story
Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Home Theater • Cool Homes

When the Lowes step into their theater, sometimes they don’t even bother to turn on a movie. There’s just too much other eye candy to savor besides the 125-inch screen. Designed in an Art Deco style, the 330-square-foot space is embellished from top to bottom like a 1930s movie palace. Remarkably, nothing was ordered from a catalog, came from a store, or was pulled out of a box. Each piece,… View this story
Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Basements are a prime spot for home theaters. They’re away from the rest of house so you can decorate them as you like and crank the audio without bothering anyone. They’re also a blank canvas, giving you and your contractor the liberty to build them out however you want. On the flip side, there’s always a possibility that the room could flood, and with few (if any) windows or doorways,… View this story
Basement • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Home Theater • Cool Homes

This homeowner wanted an authentic looking theater with lots of ornate woodwork and a “real theater feel” for watching sporting events and movies in style. Custom electronics professional Home Systems teamed up with builder Elie Contracting and planned a room that offered isolation from the rest of the home and also had perimeter walls with dimensions that were satisfactory for the theater layout. Other advantages were cement foundation walls and… View this story
Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Home Theater • Cool Homes

How will a video projector and a 100-inch screen fit into my family room? Is there a way to incorporate a suite of seven speakers into a space without interfering with my artwork? What colors will look best in the basement when I decided to put in a home theater? Custom electronics professionals are asked these questions daily by homeowners interested in outfitting their abodes with technology. Many people, no… View this story
Home Theater • Product News • Research

This theater room is pretty fly — for a Best Buy guy. Sure, we all have our gripes about past retail experiences. However, Jeff Jergerian is the type of guy we’d want to run into when seeking out electronics. He knows his stuff, and isn’t afraid to test some of that knowledge. About five years ago, he took his work experience to task, and turned out a killer basement theater.… View this story
DIY Home Theaters • Home Theater • Cool Homes

In “Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith,” Chancellor Palpatine invites Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker into his impressive office overlooking the capital Galactic City (aka Imperial City). It’s a pivotal moment in the film and the saga, for it is there that Palpatine invites the young Jedi to be his personal representative, setting in motion an inevitable clash. Nothing in the saga will ever the same. Home theater owner Steve… View this story
Movies and Music • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows