New Wave AV turn a challenging loft into a cinema the client now lives in
This Installation of the Month goes to Peter Worthy and the team at New Wave AV. They took a long, awkward loft space and turned it into a cinema the client now uses every week with family and friends.
The brief started with a clear direction. The client wanted a space to relax, somewhere comfortable and inviting, not a typical dark cinema. They had already experienced the New Wave showroom and wanted that same balance of warmth and performance at home.
The room itself presented challenges from the outset. At around 9 metres long with a narrow footprint and angled ceilings at both ends, every design choice had to protect usable space while still delivering strong performance. The original budget of £50k quickly shifted to £75k once the client understood what was required to meet their expectations.
The system was built with a clear focus on the front row experience, while still maintaining consistency across the room. A full Dolby Atmos layout with four overhead channels replaced the initial two-channel plan, improving immersion and coverage. An additional rear subwoofer was introduced to manage low frequency balance across the length of the space, helping to keep performance consistent for more than one seat.
Artcoustic support played a key role throughout the project. Early design work, layout options, and technical guidance helped shape the system before installation began. This ensured the final result stayed aligned with both the performance goals and the aesthetic brief.
The finished room feels considered and easy to live with. Warm lighting, clean wall treatments, and integrated acoustic panels allow the space to sit comfortably within the home, while still delivering the scale and impact expected from a dedicated cinema.
“From start to finish, working with this team was an exceptional experience. They transformed a completely unsuitable room into an elegant, cozy, top-of-the-line home cinema that truly exceeded our expectations. The final outcome is not just a cinema room. It’s our favorite place to relax and enjoy time together.”
The room is now used regularly, whether for films, family time, or hosting friends. That level of use tends to be the clearest measure of success.
“This project worked because the client trusted the process. We worked through design, layout, and finishes together. The result is a space that feels right to use and performs exactly as it should.”
