Next up, we finalized plans (in early August) for finishing the basement. We were going to leave it just a game room, but then decided we'd much rather do a massive home theater. For one thing, we love to watch tv and movies and so this was really the perfect solution to make this "room" get used all the time. Second, adding a giant sectional and adding a computer area makes it more of a "family room", which we definitely wanted. Third, it will really come in handy for family gatherings/holidays. In mid-August we purchased the lumber and building materials necessary for finishing the walls. We studded out all the walls and covered them in the same paneling that we used a few years ago. We decided not to drywall for two reasons: this is cheaper and much easier to install, and we like the richness and warmth it gives the basement. We're not huge fans of all types of paneling, but this stuff is so light and it just makes the rooms so cozy. That was definitely the vibe we were going for. Plus, no sanding and no painting! And if it ever gets wet it's much easier to remove and replace. And did I mention no sanding and painting? :)
The sump pump was in the main "family room" area, so we built a closet to conceal it. The closet has a bi-fold door and it's own light, plus plenty of room to store the ladder and space for Jas to get in there if he needs to work on plumbing, etc.
After finishing the walls we began acquiring the audio/video components and the seating. We also worked on plans for the computer area, which was to be added to the back of the main family room/home theater room. We decided on an eight foot desk (plenty of room to spread everything out!) to fit the section next to the sump pump closet. Jas was going to build me a custom computer desk (I'd already sketched it out and we'd discussed materials) when we decided to use an 8 ft. countertop instead. For less than $40, we found one at Menard's with a granite-look that I really liked and fit well with the space. Plus, when you set a drink down on it you don't have to worry about water spots! And it was so cheap!
The next order of business was to hang the suspended ceiling. Nothing complicated, really, but it is tedious and very time-consuming. We spent a week of evenings hanging the perimeter and the grid, and then a weekend putting in the tiles and adding new lights. This was where we lucked out with an amazing deal: we bought eight recessed can lights with cfl bulbs for less than $5 apiece at Lowe's! They were running a special, so we were worried that maybe that would mean the lights wouldn't be as good. But as soon as we got them all up and the old lights removed, we were sold. They give off the perfect amount of light, but yet they don't light the ceiling as much (they keep the focus on the walls and floor). They're very unobtrusive and they wash everything in this wonderful glow. Plus, they use hardly any electricity. Win win!
We knew early on that our main expense (other than the audio/video equipment) was going to be the seating. After toying with the idea of creating custom seating, we came across a beautiful (and humongous) microfiber sectional with a chaise at Slumberland. For $598! It was a special limited-time run, so we wasted no time in getting up there and checking it out. It fit all our requirements: amazingly comfortable, the perfect color, seating for a bunch of people, and a chaise. (I was adamant about the chaise, because I like to sit with my feet stretched out in front of me when I watch tv.) Plus, who could argue with that amazing price? Similar sectionals we'd looked at were at least three times that price. So we bought it.
The good deals continued on both the surround sound speakers and receiver. Best Buy ran the Yamaha receiver we wanted at a steal compared to what we'd seen online, and Jas found Klipsch surround sound speakers and a sub for a song on Woot. Jas knows the home theater equipment from his time at Stereo One, so I let him make the call on what we wanted to get. Because we plan to use this setup not just for regular television every night, but also to watch movies, we knew we wanted a top-notch receiver and speaker system. This was not a place to skimp just to save a few bucks. And you can't go wrong with Yamaha or Klipsch. They're both high-end. As luck would have it, though, we spent less than $500 for an amazing receiver and speakers and all the necessary wiring. As soon as he hooked them up and we tested everything out, it was as if the musicians were actually IN our basement. The audio quality is phenomenal!
Our original plan was simply to buy a bigger television, but then we decided to up our game. We could spend a few thousand on a 70+" flat-panel, or we could buy an HD projector and a really big screen. We opted for the latter, and settled on a 106" screen and an HD Epson theater projector. The screen is so massive, and as soon as we hung it up we were speechless. This makes all other tvs look so tiny! We wanted a high-end projector that displays excellent contrast (our Samsung tv upstairs has really spoiled us with excellent picture quality, so we knew we wanted something fantastic) and a sharp, clear, high definition picture. The Epson we bought was by far the most expensive part of this whole basement overhaul, but it was well worth it. Tons of good reviews, and the picture quality is amazing! I don't know if we'll ever get used to the screen size, but it's fabulous. Plus, we hooked up the xbox downstairs as well, so Forza 4 can be played on a movie screen. Awesome!
All in all, we love our new family room. This was definitely the best use for the space, and with the game room stuff moved to the old classroom, we have the best of both worlds. Plus, having such a big finished space is going to come in very handy at holidays and parties. (Update: we hosted both sides here for Christmas and the family room was perfect!) We use this space every day, because we watch all our television shows and movies down here. The Wii stayed upstairs (for now, anyway), but the xbox is down here. In addition, we built a large counter against the south wall at the bottom of the stairs for the kids to play Legos on, build with blocks, etc. There is an enormous amount of storage underneath the counter, plus bookshelves to hold all the Lego sets. The kids love having a space to spread their stuff out and create!
Jas built us a custom coffee table and end table for the space, and we found a small entertainment center at Target in a dark espresso finish that was perfect for containing all the a/v equipment. I printed up some of our favorite movie quotes in Photoshop and had them printed at Shutterfly, then added them to 11x17 canvases for the walls. My mom got us a "Theatre Room" sign for Christmas, which finishes everything off nicely.
