The brief

The clients had an existing home gym that was rarely used and wanted to transform it into a dedicated family cinema that they could enjoy with their children and grandchildren.

The brief was to create a comfortable, easy-to-use cinema room that felt warm and inviting rather than overly commercial, while delivering the picture, sound and acoustic performance expected from a properly designed home cinema.

The challenges

The original gym was unusually long and its proportions were not suitable for a balanced cinema room.

Rather than trying to force the cinema into the full space, we redesigned the layout and divided the room. This created a better-proportioned viewing area, a useful storage room and a dedicated space for the cinema equipment.

Controlling reflections and reverberation was another important part of the design. The room needed acoustic treatment, but the clients did not want visible acoustic panels to dominate the finished interior.

What we designed and installed

Room design

The original gym was divided to create a more intimate and correctly proportioned home cinema.

The newly created rear section provides practical storage and houses the central cinema equipment, keeping the main room clean and free from visible technology.

Bespoke joinery and acoustic treatment

Bespoke joinery panels were designed and installed around the room to give the cinema a consistent architectural finish.

Fabric-covered diffuser and acoustic sections were incorporated within the joinery to help control sound reflections and improve clarity throughout the room.

This allowed the acoustic treatment to form part of the interior rather than appearing as separate technical panels.

Projection

The cinema image is provided by an Epson projector, selected to deliver a large, bright and detailed picture suited to the dimensions of the finished room.

The projection system creates a genuine large-screen cinema experience while remaining discreet when the room is not in use.

Surround sound

Monitor Audio speakers are used throughout the cinema to provide an immersive and consistent surround-sound experience.

The system was designed so that every seat receives clear dialogue, controlled bass and convincing effects, whether the room is being used for films, television or family entertainment.

Equipment and control

The cinema equipment is housed within the dedicated area created behind the main room.

Centralising the equipment keeps the technology out of sight while providing suitable access for ventilation, maintenance and future upgrades.

The completed system is simple for the whole family to operate, without requiring separate controls or complicated start-up procedures.

The finished result

The unused gym has been transformed into a dedicated family home cinema that the clients can enjoy with their children and grandchildren.

By changing the proportions of the original room, concealing the equipment and integrating acoustic treatment within the bespoke joinery, the finished cinema feels considered, comfortable and completely different from the space it replaced.

It is now one of the most frequently used rooms in the house.

Technology summary

Related projects

Thorpe Arch, Wetherby: Home cinema demonstration room →

Biba House, York: Lutron lighting and Dolby Atmos cinema →

Cheshire gaming room: Bespoke gaming and entertainment space →

Planning a home cinema in Leeds?

We design and install bespoke home cinemas and media rooms throughout Leeds, Yorkshire, Cheshire and London.

From unused gyms and spare bedrooms to purpose-built cinema rooms, we manage the room design, acoustics, projection, sound, lighting and control as one complete system.

Get in touch with Inspire Audio Visual →