The Design Perspective

I still remember the first time I watched the scary sci-fi movie “Alien”. My aunt wanted to take me to a movie and Alien was the only matinee showing. Being a teenager at the time it was thrilling to get to see an “R”-rated movie but what I remember most was the theater design.

We went to a brand new theater that had Stadium Seating. This configuration allows everyone to have an unobstructed view of the screen. You would need someone with hair like Marge Simpson to even come close to blocking your view.  

We sat a little behind the middle which put the center of the screen dead center in front of us. Instead of looking up at the screen we were looking into the screen. With no heads blocking our view or even near our field of view, it was very easy to forget you were watching a movie and we were completely absorbed in the film.

It was terrifying…and exciting!

It remains one of my favorite movie experiences and ranks up there with The Bad New Bears (first make-out in a theater), Star Wars (the only movie I watched in a theater 7 times), and Schindler’s List (it took me three days to get over that movie).

Having your own home theater creates the opportunity for a complete escape. Kim Long, our office manager, came up with the slogan “Escape to the comfort of your own home”–an accurate description of the feeling you experience. With sound treatments, lighting controls, comfortable seats, immersive surround sound, and incredible picture quality, you can close the doors, dim the lights, and let the story unfold all around you.

Watching sporting events is also enhanced by stadium seating. The first picture on our own home theater was a high-definition Colts game. My wife walked in, uttered “oh my”, and ended up watching the entire game. She wasn’t a football fan before that day.

Having Stadium Seating further creates that “stadium feel” of looking down onto the playing field but without the need to bring your own seat cushion. Just think Luxury Skybox Seats and you get the picture.

If you’re designing and building a new home, consider creating a tall section of the basement. A 12 to 16-ft tall ceiling is ideal for two to three rows, and remember, the room should be deeper to accommodate the built-in ottoman available on most theater seating. If you have standard height ceilings, fear not–we can still create a great theater environment within most spaces.

DistinctAV provides seating options that fit within every budget, and custom seating for that perfect look and feel. Traditional seating can easily be integrated into a stadium configuration. Call any of our designers for advice and design ideas. We have in-house CAD designers that can quickly model your room allowing you to see what the finished product will look like before any construction begins.

Howzeedooit?My design team at DistinctAV publishes this monthly newsletter that is full of ideas that enhance your home and office.  If you’re remodelling, building, or just interested in the practical application of home electronics and controls, subcribe to the Design perspective.