Having a completely separate space in your home for parties and entertainment is surely a luxury! Large houses in the super prime category all come with indoor pools and media / cinema rooms as standard, then even a party room where you can kick your shoes off and dance till the wee hours or play pool must be the ultimate luxury.
So what would be included within the ultimate entertainment space? You would need a place to unwind with your mates and play some pool or watch sports on a really big TV! There would have to be a fully stocked bar with all the accoutrements to make cocktails. How about a lounge with banquette seating and a DJ booth with dance floor! And don’t forget the video games and pinball machine? How much space you have dictates what can be included and at René Dekker Design we are masters at designing the best ‘Entertainment’ spaces. We have a thorough understanding of how to plan and implement all the little luxuries and details to create your perfect bespoke surrounding.
Entertainment spaces require a slightly different thought process when designing to most other rooms, as for one they require more resilient finishes due to the nature of what goes on there.
Finishes. Entertainment space by their nature will need resilient finishes; after all, you’ll be hosting parties there right! The floor will bear the brunt of the wear and tear so make sure you choose a hardy product. This could be anything from ceramic tile to timber floor but remember that it should also feel cosy and inviting. A good quality timber floor, using a thick veneer of solid timber, smoked to ensure that the colour runs all the way through the wood is a great product. It’s warmer to the touch than tiles and has a ‘spring’ in the structure which is great for dancing. Stone tops are a great product but don’t like spillages like alcohol or lemon juice as they corrode the polish. There are fantastic new ‘cultured marble’ products on the market like Versital that are used in leisure projects like restaurants that are just as exciting but a lot more durable.
Lighting. Mood lighting is everything when it comes to entertainment and having several pre-programmed settings is very helpful. At the press of one button you can achieve ‘party’ mode as well as all on or all off. When the space is big, its crucial to be able to highlight the various areas so that the entire space is not all lit at the same level. While one set of people are playing pool and watching TV with brighter light, the banquette or seating area could be darker and more moody. Indirect lighting in joinery is very effective in creating mood and sets areas apart from others. Pendant lighting is great for anchoring a space and spots are good at creating pools of light. And don’t forget the all-important task of dimming.
Bar. A well-stocked bar is paramount when entertaining. Make sure you have not only a variety of wines and liquors but also bubbles and liqueurs, not forgetting the all-important mixers, salt and pepper and Worcestershire sauce for the Bloody Marys. Then you also need all the right glasses and accoutrements to serve. Large wine glasses for red and smaller for white, tot glasses for shots and tumblers and high balls for mixed drinks and of course no bar is complete without a cocktail shaker.
Seating. Depending on the space, the seating should be made up of larger communal sofas or banquettes as well as smaller conversation areas made up of easy to move chairs and stools. It should all be super-comfortable and upholstered, creating the perfect ambience. Swivel seating is a favourite at René Dekker Design as they feel authentic and can face multiple directions depending on the group size. Using leather and vinyl are very durable products for upholstery and resist staining and are easy to clean. It might be interesting to use these on the seat and arms and then a softer fabric like velvet on the back. Make sure there are lots of scatter cushions as these create not only a visually exciting scheme but help people of all sizes sit comfortably considering seat depth of some sofas.
Sound. Having a great AV system is probably the most important element for a good entertainment space. The option of playing the sport from the TV through the surround sound or just playing music to dance to will heighten the enjoyment by all who are there. Surround sound speakers will usually consist of rear and front ceiling speakers, a sound bar or central speaker as well as base speakers. While more expensive, opt for best quality speakers as they won’t sound tinny or distort when the base is low and download apps such as Spotify or Sonos to ensure you can stream your favourite playlists.
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