Fantasy Theater
Woodbridge, VA
Project
The couple engaged the services of an architect to design part of their lower level into a wine cellar, home theater, exercise room and concession area. I was brought in to do the interior design of the theater and the concession area and hallway.
Challenge
The challenge was the low ceiling that bounced around from 8 feet down to 7’ 9”. There was a support column in an awkward part outside of the dedicated theater. The clients didn’t know what they wanted as far as the look. The wine room was already being designed by an out-of-state wine cellar company.
Project
The couple engaged the services of an architect to design part of their lower level into a wine cellar, home theater, exercise room and concession area. I was brought in to do the interior design of the theater and the concession area and hallway.
Solution
I expanded on the wine room idea and designed the theater to look like a wine cellar in an old building. Grapevines were painted up the columns terminating into the decorative lighting. The inside of the theater door was painted with a temple on the hill. When you open the door you see the temple up close on the wall ahead.
I had murals painted on all the walls with the theme of an outdoor market in Tuscany in the concession area complete with an awning over the bar. The murals distracted the eye away from the ceiling issues.
The awkwardly placed support column became a sign post directing the guests to each area.
Results
The moment someone walks through the doors of this area they are transported to an outdoor market in Italy with the City of Florence in the background. Approaching a short hallway you are met with the clients’Norwich Terrier named Priss (as in Miss Priss) in tromp l’oeil as part of the fountain. Moving down the hall is a temple on a hill and straight ahead is the niche with a goddess holding an amphora sandblasted in glass and backlit. Left turn into the theater you have the theater seating, a stage, and are surrounded by a cellar. The lower level with its ceiling challenges has become a unique escape from the clients everyday life.
