Settling into a cushy stadium chair, popcorn in hand, the lights dim and the giant screen comes alive with today’s latest movie stars. While this sounds like an evening at the local movie theater, this event is actually playing out in media rooms in homes across the country.

As media electronics become more sophisticated, high-end homeowners are becoming increasingly interested in creating rooms to house all of their new gadgets – rooms where comfort and function and just plain fun take center stage. For kitchen and bath designers, these rooms are a natural extension of what they currently design, and can be a tremendous source of additional jobs and income.

Cabinet Customization is Key

When making the transition to media rooms, the item that kitchen and bath designers are probably most familiar with is cabinetry. Understanding the different styles of cabinetry, the various wood species available and the intricacies of customization serves designers well in this room, as built-in cabinets are often the focus of the entertainment space. They are also among the most profitable pieces.

“Built-in cabinets separate the higher-end rooms from the mid-range spaces, which usually feature quality stand-alone pieces,” explains Dana Ayler, owner, Cabinets Etc., of Tahoe in Incline Village, NV.

“Cabinetry is a one of my favorite elements to incorporate into virtually any space,” stresses Jill Betts, IDSA, owner, Accent On Homes in Windsor, CT. “Not only does it give a room a completely customized look, but it provides additional storage,” which is essential to a well-planned media room, she states.

“Today’s media rooms need lots of custom storage for equipment, games and DVDs and CDs,” adds Debbie Nassetta, CKD, CBD of Roomscapes in Laguna Niguel, CA.

“And, all of that custom storage increases the bottom line – not only for the design professional, but for the homeowner as well,” Betts continues.

“We did an upstairs media room for a repeat client that featured a large-screen television surrounded by cabinetry that included equipment storage and speakers. A tall pull-out column holds CDs and DVDs,” remarks Nassetta.

Making Connections

Many kitchen and bath designers are reluctant to expand into the design of media rooms because they are intimidated by the electronics involved, and their lack of expertise in designing around them. Those who have designed these rooms insist that all it takes is a little education, and teaming up with the right experts. The results can be unexpectedly lucrative.

“When I design a media room, I work all of the geometry out with a sound expert,” reports Ayler. “That way I know it is done correctly.”

One of the things that the sound expert does is design things at ear level, for optimum performance. “Then, I work with that and design the visuals at eye level,” Ayler continues.

“Speakers are usually built right into the surroundings, and speaker cloth can be purchased in numerous colors to help them blend into their surroundings,” adds Sarah Michalowski, CKD, designer, Sawhill Custom Kitchens & Design in Minneapolis, MN. “These days, people are not displaying their equipment, but rather trying to conceal it.”

Nassetta concurs: “Speakers should not be visible, but need to give the client their required level of sound.”

Proper design with regard to the electronics also means paying close attention to the placement of equipment and the necessary ventilation.

The changes in the shapes and sizes of televisions have meant a shift in the design of entertainment centers and the rooms around them, notes Michalowski. “Televisions are now hung like artwork on the wall, and most clients want all of the peripherals and cords hidden away. The challenge is accommodating for the heat that the peripherals give off, and the air flow they require,” she states.

“In today’s media rooms, it is essential that equipment storage is kept out of site and well ventilated, yet easy to access when needed,” remarks Nassetta.

“We design these rooms in such a way that we don’t put hot equipment by the equipment that has to stay cool,” explains Ayler. He adds that proper ventilation within the cabinets housing the equipment is key. “We look at each situation and figure out a way to create ventilation – often by putting in a little fan to thermostatically keep all of this expensive equipment from going into meltdown.”

Ayler incorporates custom-designed turntables into his media centers that house all of the cords and electronic peripherals.

“You simple pull this out lightly, rotate it, and work on what you need to,” he explains. “When you’re done, you can turn it around and push it back into place.”

Technology Gets Smart

Being “fully wired” is also a major request for today’s clients requesting media centers. That means that the high-tech electronics featured in the media rooms are easily controlled with the touch of a few buttons, and often emanate into the rest of the home.

“There is new equipment out there that ties all of the electronics together at a master control,” reports Ayler. “All you have to do is hit one button and it turns on all of the appropriate products, no matter how stray they are.”

High-tech clientele often request that their entertainment centers are wired into their built-in speakers in all areas of their home, according to Michalowski. “Some like to play their music through the television satellite system. That way, they can have the same music playing throughout the house while entertaining.