MULTI-USE MEDIA ROOMS
Screen spaces that score
While the right team doesn’t always win, the space for watching the game certainly can.
The Stanley Cup playoffs are in full swing, and for many homebuyers, having the right room for watching every goal, bodycheck and save is something worth cheering for.
“It needs to be a nice, open and inviting space with plenty of seating opportunities,” says Eelco Kleinleugenmors, architectural planning and development for Calbridge Homes. A strong candidate is the rec area in the home’s developed basement.
“Everyone has to sit somewhere, so space for an over-sized sectional,” he adds. “If you have a little bar off to the side, maybe there are some tables, some stools, a bar table behind the sectional for people to just enjoy the connectivity, ambience, and emotion of the playoffs.”
While Kleinleugenmors says there’s “still demand” for a dedicated media space or home theatre, when it comes to current trends, versatility takes the lead.
“If you have a media area that’s truly set up for movie watching or sports events, that tends to be the only thing you can do in that space,” Kleinleugenmors says. “But people’s lives are changing, we’re busy and want to make sure the home provides opportunities that, longterm, adjust to lifestyle and family changes. That’s why I think people are more geared toward something that will accommodate a lot of functionalities, events and people.”
Crystal Chu, quadrant sales manager for Trico Homes, says more people turn to the basement rec area — and even the second floor bonus room, as the space for their sports retreat.
“It’s about making it more multipurpose,” she adds.
The ability to create a darker space to avoid glare from the sun interfering with views of an overtime-winner, and proximity to a wet bar, are things to think about, she says.
“You don’t want to have to keep running up and down the stairs to get a drink,” says Chu, of the wet bar.
“Especially when people are buying a move-up home, they’re thinking about lifestyle,” Chu says. “They’re not just thinking, ‘I’m only going to be here for a little bit of time.’ They want to invest more into their house.”
For people who see the second floor bonus room as the better fit, Chu says roughing in the electrical wiring for the TV and other technology helps create a “cleaner” space.
When the area designed specifically for the sports, movie, or Academy Awards-watching experience is a must-have, there are some things to keep in mind.
“Depending on the size of TV or screen that the customer is after, we want to take that into consideration and provide proper dimensions for the room, so you’re not too close, you’re not too far,” says Kleinleugenmors. “When we do home theatres like that we want to make sure we communicate the essence, feel and emotion of the home theatre. So it comes down to right colours, selections, the mood we’re trying to establish in that room.
“And if we have space to get a little popcorn bar in there, so you can quickly grab a snack, grab a drink, that’s key.”
The ability to close the media room off from the rest of the floor makes sense, as well.
“We want to put doors on it, because typically if you have a nice big screen with a good sound system, you want to make sure you can enjoy it to the max,” Kleinleugenmors says. “And doors to enjoy that privacy is critical.”
Andrew Goetz, area sales manager for Broadview Homes in the Langdon community of Boulder Creek Estates, says he’s seen interest in the dedicated media room. However, he too, says multi-purpose spaces such as the bonus room, for many people, is still the way to go.
On the media room, Goetz says, “Ceiling details are becoming more popular,” singling out the tray design as an example.
“We’re seeing a lot of wall sconce lighting, raised seating is becoming more and more common and in-wall or in-ceiling speakers, if they are looking for a bit more of that clean look,” he adds.
The raised seating concept is a functional approach for making sure every guest has eyes on the action.
“It allows you to have multiple couches facing the same direction,” Goetz says. “Ideally, media rooms are designed to be more rectangle as opposed to a big square. So to have a big screen in front and seating for three or four guests on each level is ideal. It’s nice to be just above that person in front of you, so you can see the TV without having to shift your head left and right.”