Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts

Friday, February 20, 2015

7 Steps to Turn Your Spare Room into a Home Theater

So you’ve got that spare bedroom or office no one ever seems to use. Why not put it to good use and make something your whole family will enjoy? Creating a home theater or media room is much easier than we think. While we all have a television in our living room is this really the best place to enjoy a great movie, watch HD television or listen to our favorite tunes? A traditional living room configuration is not the ideal set up for getting maximum enjoyment out of your home theater. So how do we create the perfect environment without breaking the bank?  



Prepare the space.
Remove all furniture, curtains, wall hangings, and decorations from the room. Even if you intend on using some of these items in your finished media room or home theater you want to start with a blank slate. Empty any closets which happen to be in the room as well and remove the closet door. Closets can be an ideal location to set up your equipment later on. If you plan on making this an option, a ceiling vent must be installed to pull heat from the equipment out of the space to prevent your things from overheating.  

Wiring.
Choose where you will place your screen. It should ideally be on the largest wall in the room and not directly across from a window. Run all the wires for your equipment. This is best done by going up through the ceiling above where your equipment will be set up which also makes the closet a great option as you will have to worry less about hiding wires later except those which come down to the screen. It is best to run all your HDMI wires through an HDMI switcher. This will mean you will only have one HDMI connecting to your screen. If you have older devices which do not have the HDMI connection conversion cables or attachments are available. Wire all of the connections into an HDMI switcher.

When you are setting up the wires, use wire ties to keep them nicely organized. This will prevent you from ever having to untangle the blasted things ever again. Run the HDMI wire through the ceiling if possible. If you live in an apartment or condo and this is not possible, lead the wires down the wall if possible with the exit point being behind the screen. Should this not be possible, run the wires along the base of the wall, they can be secured with electrical tape to keep them out of your way and prevent them from becoming damaged.  

Sound Panel.
Attach an acoustic sound panel to each wall if possible to help reduce the noise traveling to other rooms within the house or to your neighbors.  

Mount your TV.
Hang your television mounting bracket in the center of your chosen wall if you will be using a flat screen TV. This will save you floor space and prevent the room from appearing cluttered as well as providing a more theater-like set up.  

Wireless system.
If possible, choose a wireless surround sound system to prevent having to run countless wires all over the room. Mount the speakers as instructed in the system manual for best results.  

Curtains.
Use genuine theater style curtains for your windows and to block off the closet space where your equipment is being held. Lushes Curtains has the ideal curtains for your home theater or media room set up. These 100% cotton velvet curtains come in a wide variety of colors and lengths and are not only a great addition to your décor but also provide you with ideal conditions for your movie viewing. These curtains will block all light from the room and also provide sound reduction.

Use of this type of curtain means you will not disrupt the rest of the household or your neighbors which you are enjoying your home theater experience. They are easy to mount, made only of the finest materials, and are durable and long lasting. It is also advisable to hang one of these curtains across the closet door where you’ve stashed your theater equipment as it will provide a lovely decorative effect, protect your equipment, and block any lights which are displayed on their panels. You can find our 100% Cotton Velvet curtains (which work best for sound reduction) on the this link: https://www.lushescurtains.com/cotton-velvet-curtains 

Furniture.
Choose furnishings which suit the size and floor space of the room. It is better to have furniture which is a bit on the smaller side if you’ve chosen a small room so it does not become overwhelmed by larger pieces. This will provide you with maximum floor space as well. Don’t forget that alternative pieces such as bean bag chairs can be used in addition to more traditional furniture to allow more seating without compromising space.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Featured! (excoitment!!)

Today a gorgeous 2 page feature in the Canberra Times' "Relax" Magazine,
for the full article online, plus more pics, visit the CT website here: Lisa Barrett's Stylish Canberra Home. Here's a look at the gorgeous photos (taken a couple of weeks ago by Rohan Thomson - with thanks also to Leanne Duck for the article)...
A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.
A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

All above are parts of the dining and lounge rooms. Below is the master bedroom, then detail of my shoe display cabinet!
A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

Below, this is the sun room, which has only just become tidy/organised enough to be photo worthy! I picked up the "Barcelona" lounge frame for free via Gumtree, adding new foam and sub seat structure - and of course some fabulous bold upholstery! A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

A look inside the Cook home of designer, Lisa Barrett.

Above: The Tango & James display space and workshop, and below, the guest room.
How exciting!

Thursday, August 28, 2014

A while ago, I forgot to mention...

A while ago, I forgot to mention...

... A lovely feature in the City News magazine, based here in Canberra. Well, it was back in March, and life got so busy that I never did mention it here at all! Silly, as these are incredibly lovely shots of my home, by City News photographer Silas (yes, he's one of those people who only need one name!).
Lisa-9874Lisa-9891 
 Written by Kathryn Vukovljak...
MY husband has no interest in decorating – he doesn’t see what the big deal is,” says Lisa Barrett, stay-at-home-mum and the creative mind behind handmade “home and wardrobe” accessories label Tango & James.
“It’s okay though, because this way I get to do what I want; I get my own say all the time!”
Lisa’s creative craftiness is evident throughout her colourful, quirky home, especially in her home-made art, re-upholstered chairs and bold curtains in fabric she designed herself, and a hand-painted monochrome chevron rug.
“I don’t spend lots of money on my home, and if I can make something myself, I will,” she says. “I’ve always been creative. I get bored if I’m not making something.
read more
Lisa-9879

Lisa-9912 Lisa-9899Lisa Barrett… “I don’t spend lots of money on my home, and if I can make something myself, I will.” Photos by Silas
and there's little ole me in the playroom... poser!
Luckily, the whole article is online here, so have a read if you're keen!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Styling a camping shoot: Behind the scenes

Styling a camping shoot: Behind the scenes



On Saturday I had the fabulous opportunity to again work with photographer Amanda Thorson for a Joie magazine spread, this time we had a gorgeous time at Uriarra styling a camping scene with models Lauren and Hannah for the Fall issue...


We were grateful to have not stayed overnight, I do believe it got a little chilly, though we did take the time to toast some marshmallows over a fire. Nom nom.

Lovely! Stay tuned for the finished shots after the magazine goes live... I can't wait!

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Modern media Shelf



Modern media finds a modern home! This cool shelf is more like a work of art that holds your mini audio system and up to 63 CDs than a piece of furniture. The unique wave design is sure to add appeal to your home decor.



This 3-shelf unit adds storage and flexibility to store your CD collection.



Sleek and Stylish, the crisp lines of this media shelf create usable space in an artistic way. The silver and black colors create wonderful contrast on any color wall.



This is a modern media solution for your modern lifestyle. Delivering style and function together in one package this wall mount media shelf pleases even the toughest critic. The black laminate top is accented by the silver metal framing that supports the entire unit making this a real eye catcher in your office or home.