Not every home cinema lives in a dedicated room. Sometimes the brief is more nuanced: a family lounge that works as a bar, a gaming space, a music room, and a cinema — all at once, without compromising the existing design. This is exactly the challenge Zebra Home Cinema solved in this Bronze Grove project: a repeat client's entertainment lounge, engineered for every occasion.
The Brief: Multifunctional, Discreet, and Family-Friendly
This is the second installation Zebra Home Cinema has completed for this client — a testament to the relationship built during the first project. The brief for this space was specific:
- ▪Create a family entertainment lounge that functions as a bar, gaming room, cinema, and music space
- ▪Preserve the existing décor — the house had already been fully decorated, so disruption to walls, ceilings, or finishes had to be minimised
- ▪No visible, obstructive subwoofers or standalone speakers on the floor or in corners
- ▪Full cinema and gaming performance, hidden in plain sight
The result is a room where every piece of technology is either concealed, integrated, or designed to feel like part of the furniture — until the screen descends and the lights drop.
The AV Architecture: When the Front Wall Isn't an Option
One of the central engineering challenges of this installation was placement. The existing room layout meant that front-wall speaker installation was not viable. The solution was a ceiling-based speaker architecture — all front channels, surrounds, and subwoofers integrated into the ceiling structure.
Speaker System
| Channel | Type | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Left / Centre / Right | Directional in-ceiling speakers | Front ceiling, aimed at listening position |
| Surround Left/Right | In-ceiling | Either side of seating position |
| Rear Surround | In-ceiling pair | Behind seating |
| Subwoofers | In-ceiling (x2) | Front ceiling corners |
"We've got left, centre, and right channels but they're firing towards the listening position. We've also used a pair of in-ceiling subwoofers — with cinema and particularly gaming, it's really important to get good bass levels."
The directional in-ceiling speakers are a key detail. Standard in-ceiling speakers fire straight down, which creates an inconsistent stereo image. Directional models — used here for the LCR array — are angled to aim at the listening position, maintaining proper stereo imaging and dialogue intelligibility even without the speakers in the conventional front wall positions.
The dual in-ceiling subwoofers were chosen specifically because the family did not want any floor-level bass units disrupting the lounge aesthetic. Placed in the ceiling corners, they deliver the impact needed for gaming and film without any visible hardware.
The Projector: A Ceiling Lift Installation
Rather than a permanent visible projector mounted to the ceiling, Zebra used a projection lift — a motorised mechanism that retracts the projector into the ceiling void when not in use. The ceiling void depth was the limiting factor, so the projector sits partially — rather than fully — hidden. The clients were comfortable with this, and the partially revealed projector has become a feature in its own right.
"It's a bit of a talking feature when people walk in — like, 'what on earth is that?' — and we can let the mystery unfold."
Complementing the projector is a motorised ceiling screen that descends at the touch of a button. When not in use, the entire projection system disappears into the ceiling — the room is a lounge. When activated, it transforms into a cinema.
Control and Integration: Control 4 with Neo Remote
The room is automated via a Control 4 system, operated through the Neo remote — Control 4's premium handheld controller. A single button press:
- ▪Selects the desired input (TV, gaming, cinema)
- ▪Activates the projection lift
- ▪Lowers the motorised screen
- ▪Adjusts the lighting
The AV equipment — AV receiver and Blu-ray player — is concealed within a Click Furniture AV module, blending into the room's aesthetic. No rack, no visible cables, no equipment cluttering the lounge.
The Bar and Entertainment Space
The room is designed around two focal points: the bar area and the entertainment zone. The bar functions as a social centrepiece during everyday use, while the AV system supports everything from background music to full cinema mode when needed.
This dual-use design is increasingly common in high-end residential projects: clients want spaces that work for multiple occasions without requiring physical changes to the room. The Control 4 automation handles the transition seamlessly — from lounge to cinema in under 30 seconds.
Key Takeaways
- ▪This Bronze Grove entertainment lounge is a repeat client project — the second Zebra Home Cinema installation in this home
- ▪The brief: a multifunctional family lounge combining bar, gaming, music, and cinema without altering the existing décor
- ▪All speakers are in-ceiling — directional LCR array, in-ceiling surrounds, and dual in-ceiling subwoofers eliminate any visible floor or wall hardware
- ▪A motorised projection lift and motorised ceiling screen allow the cinema to appear and disappear at will
- ▪Control 4 with Neo remote automates the entire experience — a single button transforms the lounge into a cinema
- ▪AV equipment is concealed in a Click Furniture module for a clean, design-conscious finish
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have a home cinema in a family lounge without ruining the décor?
Yes — and this Bronze Grove project is a practical example. Using in-ceiling directional speakers, a motorised projection lift, and a motorised ceiling screen, Zebra Home Cinema delivered full cinema performance in a room that looks like a stylish family lounge when the system is off. The key is working with the existing space rather than against it, and selecting concealment-first hardware from the outset.
Are in-ceiling speakers good enough for a home cinema?
Modern directional in-ceiling speakers — particularly those angled toward the listening position for LCR channels — can deliver excellent stereo imaging and surround performance. For rooms where front-wall speaker placement is not possible (due to fireplaces, glazing, or existing décor), a ceiling-based architecture is the right solution. The addition of in-ceiling subwoofers rounds out the low-frequency performance needed for cinema and gaming.
What is a projector lift and why use one?
A projector lift (or projection lift) is a motorised mechanism that mounts the projector inside the ceiling void. When not in use, the projector retracts completely out of sight. When the cinema mode is activated, it descends to the correct projection height. This eliminates the visible ceiling-mount projector common in less refined installations and maintains the clean aesthetic of the room.
What is Control 4 and how does it work in a media room?
Control 4 is a professional home automation and AV control system used extensively in high-end residential installations. In this media room, it integrates the projector lift, motorised screen, AV receiver, and lighting into a single interface operated from the Neo remote. A single press of a button activates the full cinema experience — no separate remote controls for each device.
How do you hide AV equipment in a living room?
In this project, the AV receiver and Blu-ray player are concealed within a Click Furniture module — a custom-designed furniture piece that houses electronic equipment while maintaining the aesthetic of the room. Combined with in-ceiling speakers and a projection lift, every active component is out of sight when not in use.
