We’re passionate about kitchen and bath remodels, but we also love getting to work on other, more unique areas of the home. With every new kind of space comes the opportunity to implement new design elements and technologies. This basement-turned-contemporary home theatre, designed by Donna Kirsopp and Kenny Choikhit and completed by Shannon Washam and Jeff Penrose, won a Gold Star & All Star 2022 REMY award, and we wanted to share all the details that went into this project.
The Space Before
This client’s basement before was the perfect blank slate to transform into a unique space for this family to take a break from their busy lives and come together for a movie night or invite friends to a poker game. The existing polished concrete floor remained as it complimented the final design perfectly. A large partition wall also existed that served as the perfect backdrop for the huge screen.
The Design
The rest of this client’s home had a contemporary style throughout, and we wanted to continue that aesthetic into the basement. The kitchen upstairs provided a lot of inspiration and informed the choice of cabinetry and color palette of black and white with warm wood tones incorporated throughout.
The Floor Plan Before
The New Floor Plan
Getting the Theatre Just Right
We wanted to make the home theatre space as authentic as possible, which allowed for a lot of special features to be added. Our team built a platform for the second row of leather recliners and integrated LED lighting to illuminate the floor so grabbing additional snacks while watching a movie is easy. Carpet tiles were installed to make the space cozier and act as sound proofing. These clients worked with a local AV company to source the projector and sound system for the ultimate viewing experience. The ultimate sound system needs the ultimate sound proofing. We used several methods to guarantee the sound stayed out of the rest of the home. The ceiling is insulated with natural wool and the new carpet keeps sound from bouncing off the polished concrete floor. We also sourced several acoustic panels with a modern cutout pattern. One of these panels was installed on a track to act as a door to the bar area. Wood cladding that surrounds the screen was installed over more acoustic backing.
Wet Bar
For the other section of the basement, we turned an empty wall into a wet bar complete with a full-size fridge, dishwasher, sink, and open shelving with retrofitted puck lighting. The lower cabinets are finished in a black walnut veneer and topped with a Cambria countertop in Blackpool with a matte finish. Flanking the main sink area are floor-to-ceiling cabinets in a glossy white laminate that works with the polished concrete floor to reflect light. Hidden within these cabinets is a sump pump and a full-size fridge with a glass front for beverages to fuel game nights. The new backsplash is the center of this design with Dal Tile Bee Hive Positive 8” x 8” hexagon tiles in a three-dimensional cube pattern. The client’s existing tabletop can be removed and becomes a poker table!
This home theatre was the perfect transformation to a commonly underutilized area of the home. Our clients are thrilled to have this unique extension of their contemporary style. With the teamwork of Donna Kirsopp, Kenny Choikhit, Leslie Hatfield, Shannon Washam, and Jeff Penrose, along with our awesome clients, and a dose of patience, we were able to provide our clients with a much-needed space to retreat from their hectic lifestyles, and it came at the perfect time.
Have a similar home retreat in mind? Contact our design team to make it happen!