Home Theater/Prop Room design advice - help me flesh it out

[wackychimp]

So I'm trying to flesh out what I have in my head for my home theater and I've put up a page that I can refer to. (I've been trolling Google Image Search to find inspiration.)

I need your help in defining the decor. I'd love to have it feel like the study of a mad scientist or eccentric world-traveler. Except with props and other memoribilia on the walls instead of the other kooky things pictured.

I feel like I need more reference material. Can you think of any movies or TV shows that had sets in them like this? I know I've seen stuff like this before but I can't really place it. I'd like to be able to go get screen grabs of the sets for ideas and more inspiration. Or if you or someone you know has a prop room like this, please share!

Anyway, here's my link. Check the "decor" section: Theater Ideas

EDIT: PHArchivist had a good suggestion. Here's my starting point:

Also, throw any thoughts or ideas out there, please. I'm really in the collecting & brainstorming phase here.

One example of the kind of "eccentric study" I'm going for (more on the link above):

 

[DARTH SABER]

Any particular era?

 

[DARTH SABER]

Never mind, I saw some of your examples int he link.

Have you checked out some of the concept art from Bioshock or set designs from City of Lost Children?

Both have a palette consisting of browns and greens/teal.


Bioshock has more of a 1930's-40's art deco vibe

City of Lost CHildren has more of a steampunk vibe.

Some teal and yellowish lighting lighting would set the mood.

 

[PHArchivist]

I'd go Enterprise D bridge.

 

[thegreatgalling]

^That my friend, has been a dream of mine for a decade.

 

[JonnyAmateur]

First thing that came to mind was the doctors secret study in Young Frankenstein...

 

[wackychimp]

I'd go Enterprise D bridge.

Yeah, as cool as that would be, I'm just not that in to Trek as much any more.

DarthSaber - Thanks! I'll have to look into BioShock. I do like the "Steam Punk vibe" but wouldn't want it to be all out Steam Punk.

JohnnyA- I'll have to look at Young Frankenstein again. Thanks!

Anybody else? Just throw it out there.

 

[allosaur176]

What about a room that looks like it should be in Hogwarts? You can have maps on the walls, potion bottles, and a mixture of props from various movies that could all fit in

 

[Pete SSS]

^ Exactly what I was thinking, here's Dumbledore's Office. I love this one.

 

[howlingwind13]

Wackychimp, I am in this situation right now. I am currently studding out the walls in the basement to make a home theater/bar...as a showcase for my props...gone over a million ideas for theming the bar.
My friend suggested a 1950's B-horror movie Lab themed bar, with those big ole knife switches operating the blenders and stuff:lol...
Might also do a haunted mansion theme.
I owned a haunted attraction so it's kinda my thing...but I do like that 1st pic you posted.

mike

 

[cheech9898]

if your looking at mad science labs. Might look for screenshots from The Adams family for Fester's lab or Grandpa Munster's lab from The Munsters. Been awhile since I've watched the original Universal monster movies but that might be something to check.... And wasn't there some good lab shots in Hugh Jackman's Van Helsing too?

 

[PHArchivist]

Might I suggest posting this image in your opening thread?

I know its in your link, but it may be easier for folks to have it straight out.

 

[wackychimp]

Having trouble deciding what to put on the walls. Brick? Interesting wood paneling? (not the 70's kind )

Also the floors. Want it to look authentic to a study or lab.

 

[DS Operative]

Are you intending to have a Flat Panel LCD or Plasma TV, or a projector?

I'm really into home theater and have seen some awesome designs on the web, I'll look them up and post some links.

Please keep this suggestion in mind though: "Less is More'

I've seen so many designs & prop rooms over done and crowded the walls with decorations, props, pictures, and such. It's so busy that it overwhelms you and detracts from the esthetics and ruins the experience for me. You've got a great room there with lots of potential.

 

[JonnyAmateur]

Just had a thought...The apartment/main house in The Omega Man! I took a quick look, but couldn't find any screen caps of it, but...you could do that sort of "urban decay" look...props and memorabilia spread around randomly like you've just scrounged them!
Might be neat to find/build an old film projector and retrofit it with a digital projector.
I don't know, I think that kind of goes back to your original idea of a study.

 

[TomSpinaDesigns]

I think for a proper old-timey lab or study, a wood plank floor will give you the right feel. Just the wood for a lab, add exotic throw rugs (or faux animal skin rugs) for an explorer's study look.

I can think of a few other potential inspiration points for your look:

Teddy Roosevelt's home on Long Island aka Sagamore Hill (found this link though no doubt there are plenty of other images out there: Tour » Sagamore Hill )


The (now closed!) Adventurer's Club in Disney World (a Google image search should turn up quite a few photos).


hope that's some help

best,
Tom

 

[wackychimp]

These are getting closer to what I'm looking for. THANKS!

Johnny Amateur: I love "urban decay" and want to bring that in here without making it look trashy (I realize you're not suggesting this). I think I'd like to get a nice study and then age it to make it look like it's been empty for years.

DS Op: I'd like to have a screen covering that window and a projector mounted in the middle. Thanks for any thoughts/links you can provide.


Tom: Thanks for the link (they even have my angled ceilings! Though I think I'll go for less animal heads ) As you can see I'm moving away from the "worn out spaceship" design we discussed several months back.

 

[JonnyAmateur]

Johnny Amateur: I love "urban decay" and want to bring that in here without making it look trashy (I realize you're not suggesting this). I think I'd like to get a nice study and then age it to make it look like it's been empty for years.

Yeah, I'm not sure urban decay is the right term...almost more of a living time capsule. Like a room that's been closed off for a long time. Slightly dated, fading, but still with a warmth...

:rolleyes don't think I'm really adding to much other than trying to help you describe what I think you have going on in your head :confused

 

[wackychimp]

:rolleyes don't think I'm really adding to much other than trying to help you describe what I think you have going on in your head :confused

That's exactly why I started this thread! I have several disparate thoughts that I'm trying to gel down into something that I can describe and work from.

This is why I'm looking for images/scenes from movies/drawings... everything!

 

[JonnyAmateur]

Not sure if this will help, but one of my favorite sites on "urban exploration" Opacity - Abandoned Photography and Urban Exploration