Phase one of the Listening room renovation is now complete and finally a few bothersome issues are now denizens of the past. A room should reflect an individual’s personality, a Xanadu to be alone with your thoughts, or simply enjoy your favourite music genre. As this is my first major room renovation, it also provided me an excuse to purchase some really cool power tools.
Points under consideration were to incorporate a CD storage system for at least 1000 CDs, a bookshelf, a feeling of two distinct areas for listening to music and the other for writing. I also wanted to incorporate the Victorian era and add more antiques into my room.
The room was approximately 13’ X 14’ plus a walk-in closet. The walk-in closet was simply a waste of space and had the uncanny ability to quickly amass large quantities of clutter. This was the wall that separated the walk-in closet from the listening room. The walk-in closet’s main purpose was to store books and the overflow of CDs.
Not a bad method for storing CDs, but not aesthetically pleasing.
The wall opposite to the audio equipment was where my antique librarians desk was situated and one issue was that my listening position was a little too close to my equipment. By moving the desk from this area, a gain of a couple of more feet of separation was possible.
The audio gear was to remain on this side of the room, but the concrete blocks had to go. Another nice feature of the renovation was to provide a separate electrical circuit for the audio equipment.
Demolitions began and the walk-in closet disappeared almost immediately. The dreaded PT Cruiser proved its worth by hauling hundreds of kilograms of refuge to our local landfill site – one trip recorded a load of well over 300 kilograms!
A new stud wall was erected to redefine the listening room and storage room boundaries. I prefer to use 2X6 for all my framing whenever possible – more insulation and a stronger wall.
The CD and book shelves were then roughed in, I like to “box” my corners for strength and to reduce warping. The CD shelf was placed at the wall where you enter the room so you would not be greeted by a large expanse of CDs.
The CD shelf was constructed by stacking each tier; they were supported on the sides and backs and prevented each level from bowing in the center due to the weight of the CDs.
The ceiling was dropped and two 2X10 were laminated together – no nails in this framework, just construction screws. With a dropped ceiling and with built in shelves it provided the feeling that there was two distinct rooms. Another benefit was more insulation to reduce the noise level from other parts of the house.
Drywall goes up.
The original walls required a great deal of work and looking back, I should of replaced all of the drywall.
Walls are primed and back to touching up the drywall again – red paint, I was told, will easily show all your mistakes.
The storage room on the other side of the listening room was completed with a new walk-in closet to handle the CD overflow – a proper CD rack to store approximately 2000 CDs will be added at a later date.
Both shelves are now added.
Trim work and priming follow.
Three coats of Venetian red follow and the installation of the header for LED backlighting that will be installed at a future date.
Crown molding added a further elegance to the room.
The subfloor is then laid – money well spent for a basement renovation. Flooring made up for 30% of the expenditures for the room renovation.
“Anthracite” coloured carpet compliments the Venetian red walls and silk moon trim. An upgraded, heaver underpaid and 60 oz. carpet was also selected to aid in noise reduction and comfort. Baseboard completes the installation.
Audio gear and furniture are moved back into the room and phase one is now officially completed – the listening room can be enjoyed once more.
This project offered many hours of enjoyment and phase two for the listening room is now underway. What I did not like was working with a previously finished room. Phase two will involve locating early 1900s period lighting, granite pads for the JBLs and 28s, “hiding” the room window and finally, purchasing antique Victorian chairs and a side table.
It is truly great to have all of my cherished Gothic music at hand and organized. As the capacity of the CD shelf is approximately 1300 CDs, I have the option of breaking up the wall of CDs by using grim Reaper figurines to itemize some of my favourite Bands on the shelf – you are also not greeted by a wall of CDs when you enter the room. It is also very nice to have your favourite books with in reach.
The room is extremely comfortable and you immediately notice the effects of the noise reduction when you enter the room. The two-room feeling does work, as you are aware that you are crossing a definite, separating boundary when you move from one end to the other - the dropped ceiling and extended walls worked perfectly in this circumstance.
Finally a listening room that truly matches my personality – oh please be still, my gently beating heart.
Be well...
