What would you have and why?

[Leader]

So my partner and I have possibly lost our minds and bought and old chapel which, all being well, we'll start to convert in 2 or 3 months. I want it to be all singing and dancing in terms of lighting/audio/etc but I also want it to be unobtrusive. I don't have any experience working in high tech/posh gaffs so what works and what doesn't? Some of the ideas I have are:
1) PIR presence detectors in some areas e.g. Around the gallery and games room
2) push to break door switches on larder/dressing room
3) hidden speakers
4) a control unit to dim down lights, turn on floor leds, turn on projector and drop screen down (if feasible without costing an arm and a leg)

I'd love to hear what you'd have! And anything to steer clear of because they're a problem waiting to happen.

 

[Octopus]

Renovating old chapels is something I would avoid..... Lol

 

[kingeri]

There's one across from my house which a guy bought over 20 years ago, worked on it for a year and then gave up, it has been derelict ever since. Good luck with yours, though!

Edit: Mind you, he did try putting a swimming pool in the basement. I'd avoid that.

 

[Leader]

Lol plonker *runs off to cross out swimming pool in basement from the plans*

 

[kingeri]

Seriously though, sounds like you've got a blank canvass. Do you even know where to start? Is the building in reasonable condition? How's the roof?

 

[Leader]

We have an architect so we'll have a good idea where to start. The roof needs to be replaced as it's fibrous, a structural engineer will tell us if we need to replace trusses etc. We're starting with the expectation that we need to replace all of it so anything else is a bonus. We can get floor joists that allow pipe work and cables to be run anywhere without the need for notching or drilling and the walls will all have cavities behind a dry wall so running cables around *should* be fairly straightforward.

It was last used in 1995 so there is a slim possibility it'll fall down when the roof comes off but that's all part of the excitement.

 

[Leader]

We have the design plans already so I know where my 'cinema' is going

 

[Wilko]

Here's hoping for a warm dry summer !

 

[KennyKen]

Lutron lighting systems are Fantastic but very pricy.

 

[KennyKen]

Hidden speakers I've installed can be plastered over. The speaker has a special sub woofer to minimise the vibration but still retain bass levels which won't crack the plaster. These speakers can be well and truly hidden... I fitted these whilst working at Jason oranges house (take that) was working for company that done high end installs like crestron tablets that control anything you wanted. LED strips. Cold cathode dimmable lighting. Lutron etc etc to name a few

 

[Leader]

I've seen those hidden speakers and that's the kind of thing I was thinking of. Are they good? I'm conscious of being sold on the idea of something that's turns out to be not all its cracked up to be. I want to do it once and for all.

I'll have a look at those Crestron tablets, thanks!

 

[egg67]

Have a look at Loxone, have fitted a couple but it can get expensive when fitting motorised blinds/ curtains, heating controls, water harvesting, Multi room music and TVs, not as expensive as some of the others out there but still expensive

 

[Midwest]

Re your 'cinema room', this is a good web site (if you've not heard of it);

Home Cinema Building DIY - https://www.avforums.com/forums/home-cinema-building-diy.59/

Ignore some of the questionable diy electrics etc, but the knowledge about all things AV is top notch.

 

[Leader]

I thought about motorised blinds, I think they would be a good idea as the windows are very high and we'd have to go up onto the gallery to operate them. Heating controls would also be good. I don't even know what water harvesting is??

 

[Leader]

Wow that AV forum has a lot of info to get your head around! Should find some good advice there thanks.