Steve and Ellen Curtis are classic neoclassicists. Their shared passion for that particular design genre is evidenced the minute you arrive at their 10,000-square-foot waterfront home in South Florida—from the entryway’s stone fountain to the columns flanking the towering mahogany doors. Neoclassicism also dominates their private screening room—a black and gold jewel of a space they compare to a miniature grand opera house.

“Not only is it a beautiful space, but the sound is crisp and clear,” says Steve Curtis, who owns an Italian kitchen-cabinetry import business. Steve researched the audio-visual equipment for two years before taking the plunge into the Land of Home Theaters. “I just love [my theater]. When a bomb drops [in a movie], it sounds like it’s crashing right next to you. It’s a thrilling experience.”

A South Florida home theater is designed with compromise in mind: great gear for him and sophisticated decor for her.  (Click image to enlarge)

Audiophile Steve handled all things electronic, while his wife, Ellen, oversaw the interior design. Her touch is omnipresent, from the walnut flooring to the plush Cine-Lounger seating and ivory-colored columns.

“She’s very design knowledgeable and knew exactly how she wanted things,” says Jeffrey W. Smith, president and CEO of First Impressions Theme Theatres, the Miami company that designed the home theater.

While interpreting the homeowners’ vision is half the battle for theater designers, the Curtis theater still had its challenges. Smith had to disguise four existing windows, and incorporate the existing wood flooring into the design, as well as design intricate wall treatments for the space (he created three different patterns for Ellen). Moreover, he had to adhere to a strict budget and complete the job in a few months.

First, Smith insulated the space acoustically. To conceal and isolate the sidewall windows, he installed touch-controlled hinges for ease of opening, and covered them with matching acoustic panels. The custom rug reveals a hint of the walnut flooring.

To further enhance the tiered ceiling, Smith added walnut and ebony-colored trim. The chandelier doesn’t infringe upon the sight line of the Marantz VP-12S2 high-definition projector, which is housed in a custom projector box. Centered within the proscenium is a 100-inch diagonal Vutec SilverStar screen framed with wide, black-velvet masking and motorized gold draperies of French velvet and English black-braided fringe. A “C” is emblazoned atop the proscenium, which is flanked by ornately carved wood moldings and neoclassical columns. A three-sided column doubles as DVD storage on the right.
 

“We experts don’t always have all the answers. Sometimes the client can fill in the missing criteria to create an award-winning project.” —Jeffrey W. Smith, theater designer  (Click image to enlarge)

Below the proscenium, the carpeted steps conceal two James Loudspeaker EMB-1000 subwoofers. “It’s important to create impact so it doesn’t seem like you’re watching a giant TV,” Smith says. Nine speakers from Eggleston Works, James Loudspeaker and B&W are tucked behind the elaborate, acoustically paneled walls. A generous sprinkling of low-voltage high-hat halogen lighting adds drama. 

Jim Pearson of Creative Media Designs integrated the family’s existing audiovisual equipment with new equipment, and incorporated their lighting preferences. Steve’s priority was creating a mind-blowing electronics system, while Ellen maintained that the equipment had to be put out of sight.

The amazing audiovisual gear aside, a huge part of the theater’s success are the chairs built by Smith’s company—hardwood-framed, Belgian-velvet CineLoungers with gold-striped cushions and custom neck roll pillows.  “I lie down [in one] and want to fall asleep,” Steve says. “It’s like transcendental meditation. Why should I go to a movie theater when I can stay here and watch a movie in my bathrobe?

“The biggest challenge I face in my theater is staying awake,” he continues. “The chairs are that comfortable.”