The Image That Changes Everything.
Custom Home Theater Design Across Seattle and the Eastside
VIP Smart Homes designs and installs luxury home theaters and private cinemas for residences across Seattle, Bellevue, Medina, Mercer Island, Clyde Hill, Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish. From dedicated DCI grade screening rooms with Sony native 4K laser projection and acoustically transparent Stewart Filmscreen surfaces, to media rooms with ultra short throw 4K laser projectors and invisible Stealth Acoustics audio, every theater is engineered to the room and the way the family actually watches.
No two theaters are alike. Every project starts with the room, the seating, the sight lines, and the way you live. The technology serves the experience, not the other way around.
Which Theater Is Right for You?
Every home is different, and so is every theater. Some clients want a fully dedicated cinema room: acoustically isolated, light controlled, and designed from the ground up for reference quality playback. Others want a media room that doubles as a living space, delivering exceptional picture and sound without the formality of a dedicated theater.
We design both. Whether it is a 7.4.4 Dolby Atmos cinema with an acoustically transparent Stewart screen and Sony native 4K SXRD laser projection, or a great room with a 98 inch Sony Bravia and invisible Stealth Acoustics speakers hidden behind the walls, the experience is built around how you actually watch, listen, and live.
Either way, one button does everything. Lights dim, shades drop, system powers up, the show begins.
Every Layer of the Cinema Experience
A great home theater is not just a big screen and some speakers. It is the careful integration of picture, sound, screen surface, acoustic treatment, seating, lighting, automation, and a dedicated equipment room, into a single, effortless experience.
Sony 4K Projection
Sony native 4K SXRD laser projectors from $17K through the $88K flagship VPL-GTZ380. Full Bravia Projector 8 and 9 lineup. Native 4K, not pixel shifting. Laser light source rated for 20,000 hours. Professionally calibrated to ISF and CalMAN standards.
Stewart & Dragonfly Screens
Stewart Filmscreen for the highest tier (Director's Choice masking, WallScreen Deluxe, StudioTek 130 G4 reference fabric). Dragonfly motorized, fixed, recessed, AcoustiWeave acoustically transparent, and Ultra Black ALR for media rooms with ambient light.
Ultra Short Throw 4K Laser
For media rooms and great rooms where ceiling projection isn't an option, ultra short throw 4K RGB triple laser projectors place an image up to 150 inches diagonally from just inches off the wall. AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro and Hisense L9Q lead the category.
Dolby Atmos Surround Sound
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive audio with Focal, Stealth Acoustics, and Episode speakers. From traditional cabinet speakers to fully invisible in wall systems. 5.1.2 entry level through 7.4.4 reference grade. Subwoofers you feel, not locate.
Acoustic Treatment
Sound behaves differently in every room. Absorption panels, bass traps, diffusion, and isolation, designed to control reflections and standing waves so the system sounds as good as it measures. Hidden behind acoustically transparent fabric or integrated into the architecture.
Projection Room & Mounts
A dedicated equipment room houses the rack, amplification, source gear, and projector when ceiling mounting isn't the right call. Professional ceiling mounts, projector shelves, lens shift alignment, and vented enclosures keep the gear quiet, cool, and out of sight.
Lighting & Environment
Lutron lighting scenes designed specifically for cinema. Bias lighting behind the screen reduces eye strain. Aisle lighting handles safety. A Movie scene dims everything to zero with one tap. Motorized shades block every trace of daylight.
Automation & Control
One button on a Control4 remote, keypad, or phone launches the entire theater. Projector on, screen down, receiver set to the right input, lights dimmed, shades closed. No remotes to juggle. No inputs to switch. Press play.
Press Play. We Handle the Rest.
One button dims the lights, drops the screen, powers the projector, and sets the room for cinema. Technology disappears. The movie begins.
Sony 4K Laser Projection, from $17K to $88K
Sony has dominated reference grade residential projection for two decades, and the current Bravia Projector lineup is the strongest it has ever been. Every model uses native 4K SXRD panels (not pixel shifting), a Z-Phosphor laser light source rated for 20,000 hours, and the XR Processor for Projector adapted from Sony's flagship Bravia televisions. All models integrate cleanly with Control4, Crestron, and Savant.
We sell, install, and calibrate the full Sony Bravia Projector lineup, from the Bravia Projector 8 through the flagship VPL-GTZ380 cinema projector. Selection is driven by room size, ambient light, throw distance, and the screen surface paired with it.
Bravia Projector 8
from $17K2,700 lumen native 4K SXRD with motorized ACF lens, lens memory positions, HDMI 2.1 with 4K/120 gaming support. The entry point into Sony's professional installation tier.
Bravia Projector 9
from $32K3,400 lumen native 4K SXRD. Sony's premium home cinema projector, with refined HDR tone mapping, 95% DCI-P3, and the Advanced Crisp Focused motorized lens. The sweet spot for dedicated theaters.
Reference Flagship
~$88KSony's reference grade installation projector with the ARC-F lens. Built for DCI grade private cinemas, screening rooms, and clients who want the absolute pinnacle of projection performance.
Professional Calibration
IncludedEvery Sony projector we install is professionally calibrated to ISF and CalMAN standards, with the projector tuned to the specific screen surface and room. Out of the box accuracy is good. Calibrated accuracy is reference grade.
The Screen Is Half the Picture
A great projector is only as good as the surface it lands on. We specify two screen manufacturers depending on the tier of the project.
Stewart Filmscreen
Founded in 1947 in Southern California, family owned, and made in the USA, Stewart Filmscreen is the Hollywood reference. Two Academy Awards for Scientific and Technical Achievement, THX and ISF certified, and ISO 9001 production. Director's Choice, WallScreen Deluxe, and Luxus retractable, with StudioTek 130 G4, FireHawk G5, and Phantom HALR materials. The screen on the walls of post production suites and the most demanding residential cinemas in the world. Specified for DCI grade theaters and dedicated screening rooms.
Dragonfly Projection Screens
Strong performance at sensible pricing for media rooms and dedicated theaters where the budget is balanced across the whole system. Fixed and motorized screens in Matte White and High Contrast, recessed in ceiling motorized options for clean architecture, AcoustiWeave acoustically transparent fabric that lets speakers live behind the screen, and the Ultra Black ALR rollable with seven layer Black Lenticular Lens technology for rooms with ambient light. The Thinline series adds a 7mm felt covered thin bezel for design forward installations.
Acoustically transparent screens for true cinema. In dedicated theaters, the left, center, and right speakers belong directly behind the screen, exactly where the sound is supposed to come from. We specify acoustically transparent screen materials, Stewart MicroPerf X2 or Dragonfly AcoustiWeave, so the front stage delivers dialogue and effects from the image itself. The audience hears voices come from the actor's mouth, not from a speaker shelf below the picture.
A 150 inch Picture, Inches Off the Wall
Not every room is built for ceiling projection. For media rooms, great rooms, and family rooms where the ceiling is wrong, the throw distance is wrong, or the lighting cannot be fully controlled, an ultra short throw 4K laser projector is often the better answer. The unit sits on a low credenza inches from the wall and casts a screen up to 150 inches diagonally onto a paired ambient light rejecting surface.
We specify the AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro for the top of this category: 4K UHD resolution, 3,500 ANSI lumens, RGB triple laser light source with near full DCI-P3 coverage, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, and integration with Control4. It is the UST built for affluent buyers who want a finished media room experience without the construction overhead of a dedicated cinema. Hisense's L9Q is regarded as the current benchmark in the category and is an alternative we deploy when the project calls for it.
Pair with a Dragonfly Ultra Black ALR rollable screen and the picture holds up in rooms with significant ambient light, all day, every day.
Where the Hardware Lives
Reference grade theaters are not just about the gear you can see. They are about the gear you cannot.
Dedicated Projection Room
The cleanest theater designs include a dedicated projection room or equipment closet adjacent to the cinema. The projector sits on a vented shelf behind a small port window, with the AV rack, amplification, source gear, and network equipment hidden in the same conditioned space. The result is silent, cool, accessible for service, and out of the line of sight from any seat.
Professional Ceiling Mounts
When a dedicated projection room isn't possible, we use professional grade projector ceiling mounts with structural anchoring, fine micro adjustment for lens shift alignment, and a recessed back box where the architecture allows. Vented enclosures handle heat. Concealed cable raceways carry HDMI 2.1 fiber, control wire, and power up the wall without a visible run.
Vibration Isolation
Projectors with laser light engines and active cooling fans transmit vibration into ceiling joists and floors above the theater. We isolate mounts with dampening hardware so the picture stays stable and the room above stays quiet, even during long viewing sessions.
Rack Design
Every theater rack is built with proper ventilation, surge protection, and remote monitoring via WattBox. Source gear, processors, amplifiers, and matrix switching all live in one location, accessible from anywhere through the control system. Cable management is treated as a design element, not an afterthought.
For the Top of the Top, We Bring in the World's Best
For DCI grade private cinemas at the very top of the market, the build extends well beyond AV integration. Architecture, acoustic engineering, interior design, and sight line geometry all need to be designed in concert from day one. For projects at this tier, we collaborate with the residential theater designers whose work has defined the category, including the consortium around Theo Kalomirakis (known throughout the industry as "The Father of Home Theater," with 10 CEDIA awards for Best Home Theater Design and a CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award), the acoustic engineering firm SH Acoustics, and interior design specialists who work exclusively in private cinema spaces.
The result is a turn key luxury private cinema designed to a level that rivals (or exceeds) the commercial screening rooms in Hollywood. Sony VPL-GTZ380 reference projection with Stewart Director's Choice masking, Focal Grande Utopia EM Evo or theater grade installation speakers, full DCI color science, custom acoustic treatment built into the architecture, tiered seating, marquee entrance design, and total automation. These projects are limited in number each year by design and start with a long, deliberate consultation about the cinema you actually want to live with.
Hardware We Stand Behind
We select from the most trusted names in professional cinema and residential AV, products we have tested across hundreds of installations and trust to perform for years.
Sony Projection
Native 4K SXRD laser projection across the full Bravia Projector lineup, from the $17K Bravia Projector 8 through the $88K reference flagship VPL-GTZ380. The most installed projection brand in luxury residential cinema.
Christie Cinema
Commercial grade laser projection for screening rooms, estates, and clients who want the absolute pinnacle of projection performance. True DCI color science, brightness, and reliability built for commercial cinema applications.
Stewart Filmscreen
The Hollywood reference. Family owned, made in the USA since 1947, with two Academy Awards. Director's Choice, WallScreen Deluxe, and Luxus motorized with StudioTek 130 G4, FireHawk G5, and Phantom HALR materials.
Dragonfly Screens
Strong performance at sensible pricing. Fixed, motorized, recessed motorized, AcoustiWeave acoustically transparent, and Ultra Black ALR rollable for ambient light rooms. Thinline series for design forward installations.
Focal Hi-Fi Audio
French engineered reference speakers for critical listening and home theater. In wall architectural models for invisible installations. The speaker brand for clients who care deeply about sound quality. Explore Focal →
Stealth Invisible
The world's only truly invisible speakers. Full range audio from behind drywall, tile, or stone with zero visual footprint. Perfect for theaters where aesthetics are non-negotiable. Explore Stealth →
Episode Audio
The 900 Series Home Theater line, with NCS Kevlar reinforced woofers and 4.65 inch Kapton ribbon tweeters, delivers dialogue intelligibility and dynamic range purpose built for serious cinema rooms. Explore Episode →
AWOL Vision UST
The LTV-3500 Pro 4K RGB triple laser ultra short throw projector for media rooms and great rooms where ceiling projection isn't an option. Up to 150 inch image from inches off the wall, with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support.
Control4 Automation
The control platform that ties the entire theater together. Movie scene, Sports scene, Pause scene, and Goodnight scene programmed to a single button press. Explore Control4 →
How a Private Cinema Comes Together
We evaluate the space, dimensions, construction, ambient light, HVAC noise, and sight lines, then design a system matched to the room's acoustics, your viewing preferences, and the tier you want to land at.
We select every component, projector or display, screen surface, speakers, amplification, acoustic treatment, seating, and control, based on the room's requirements and the budget. No generic packages.
Clean rack builds, concealed wiring, projector and screen alignment, speaker mounting, acoustic panel installation, and professional calibration of both video (ISF and CalMAN) and audio (room correction, level matching, delay alignment).
We program every scene (Movie, Sports, Music, Pause, Goodnight) so the entire room responds to a single button. Then we walk you through everything until using the theater feels effortless.
Not just theaters. We also install Sony Bravia displays in every room of your home with 4K video distribution, professional mounting, and concealed cabling. Any source, any screen, from anywhere, managed through your Control4 or Lutron system.
Common Questions About Home Theaters
How much does a home theater cost?
It depends on the scope. A high quality media room with an 85 inch Sony Bravia, 5.1.2 Atmos audio, and automation starts at a very different point than a dedicated cinema with a Sony VPL-XW8100ES laser projector, Stewart Filmscreen, 7.4.4 Atmos audio, acoustic treatment, and tiered seating. At the top tier, DCI grade private cinemas with Sony GTZ380 projection and dedicated theater designer collaboration can reach well into six figures. We provide detailed, itemized proposals after a consultation.
Do I need a dedicated room for a theater?
No. Many of our best theater installations are in multi purpose rooms: great rooms, basements, and media rooms that serve double duty. We design the audio, lighting, screen surface, and control to deliver a true cinema experience even in open concept spaces. For dedicated rooms, we go all the way to DCI grade with isolated walls, proper acoustic treatment, tiered seating, and a separate projection equipment room.
Projector or TV?
For dedicated dark rooms, a Sony native 4K SXRD laser projector with an acoustically transparent Stewart or Dragonfly screen delivers the largest, most immersive image possible. For rooms with ambient light or multi purpose use, a Sony Bravia Mini LED (up to 98 inches) or an AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro ultra short throw projector paired with an Ultra Black ALR screen provides stunning picture quality in any lighting condition. Many homes have both.
What's the difference between Stewart Filmscreen and Dragonfly screens?
Stewart Filmscreen is the Hollywood reference, family owned and made in the USA since 1947, with two Academy Awards for Scientific and Technical Achievement. We specify Stewart (Director's Choice, WallScreen Deluxe, Luxus, StudioTek 130 G4 fabric) for DCI grade private cinemas and any project where the screen is the system. Dragonfly is our value tier specialty brand, delivering strong performance at sensible pricing for media rooms and theaters where the budget is balanced across the whole system.
What is an ultra short throw projector?
An ultra short throw (UST) 4K laser projector sits inches from the wall on a low credenza or shelf and casts a screen up to 150 inches diagonally back onto the wall behind it. They use RGB triple laser light sources for rich color and high brightness, support HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, and are ideal for media rooms and great rooms where ceiling projection isn't an option or where ambient light is a factor. We specify the AWOL Vision LTV-3500 Pro at the top of the category and Hisense's L9Q as a strong alternative.
What's a DCI grade home theater?
DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) is the technical specification governing commercial cinemas. A DCI grade private theater meets or exceeds those standards: reference projection (typically a Sony GTZ380), reference screen (Stewart Director's Choice), tuned acoustics, and dedicated equipment infrastructure. For projects at this tier, we collaborate with the residential theater designers whose work has defined private cinema, including the consortium around Theo Kalomirakis, "The Father of Home Theater."
Where does the projector live?
Two approaches. In dedicated theaters we typically build a small projection room or equipment closet adjacent to the cinema, with the projector on a vented shelf behind a port window in the back wall. The rack, source gear, amplification, and network equipment all live in the same conditioned space, silent and out of sight. When a projection room isn't possible we use professional ceiling mounts with vibration isolation, vented enclosures, and concealed cable raceways for HDMI 2.1 fiber and power.
Can speakers really be invisible?
Yes. Stealth Acoustics invisible speakers mount behind drywall, tile, or stone, delivering full range audio from a surface you genuinely cannot distinguish from the surrounding wall. We install them regularly for clients who want exceptional sound with zero visual impact. For projects where any visible speaker is a non starter, this is the answer.
What is Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is an immersive audio format that adds height channels to traditional surround sound. Instead of sound coming only from around you, it also comes from above, creating a three dimensional soundfield. We design Atmos systems from 5.1.2 (entry level) to 7.4.4 (reference grade) depending on the room and goals. DTS:X is also supported.
Can the theater integrate with my whole smart home?
Absolutely. Your theater integrates with Control4, Lutron HomeWorks lighting, and motorized shades. A single Movie scene can dim every light, close every shade, power up the system, and set the input. When the movie ends, a Goodnight scene reverses everything and arms the alarm.
Do you handle acoustic treatment?
Yes. Acoustic treatment is essential for any serious theater. We design and install absorption panels, bass traps, and diffusion elements, hidden behind acoustically transparent fabric or integrated into the room's architecture. The goal is a room that sounds as good as it looks.
Can you install a theater in an existing home?
Yes. Many of our projects are retrofits. We assess the existing space, design around structural constraints, and install everything without major construction when possible. Basements, bonus rooms, and garages are common conversion candidates across Seattle, Bellevue, and the Eastside.
Bring Hollywood Home
Schedule a complimentary consultation. We will assess your space, discuss your vision, and design a private cinema experience built around the way you watch.
Schedule Your Free Consultation