Eye Candy Abounds in Dramatic Theater
By Arlen Schweiger
Drapery flowing throughout this theater room embellishes its dramatic flair.

The long, heavy drapes that adorn this home theater entrance are just a preview. Step inside and the visual drama really unfolds. It’s not uncommon to see curtains cover a projection screen before the movie starts, but in Mike and Dawn Moats’ room, the curtains flow freely on every wall and even the ceiling.

The design was the brainchild of the homebuilder, Mike Ratzlaff of Cornerstone Homes in Fresno, Calif. Ratzlaff collaborated with custom electronics pro Hi-Tech Home on the planning while the house was under construction.



Ratzlaff had included a dedicated theater space in the home’s blueprints - one of the big attractions for the Moatses. He also coordinated with the electronics installers on house-wide systems for audio distribution, multiple flat-panel TV setups, and surveillance and security - all commanded by Control4 automation system.

“Matt does some interior design as well, and he tinkers with home theater,” says Hi-Tech Home’s Jay Cobb. “The rest of the house has a lot of dark woodwork, but in here they liked the light woodwork better, and the drapes were a good contrast.”

From a performance standpoint, Cobb and Ratzlaff appreciated the sonic value of the draperies. The absorptive material nicely balances the reflective woodwork to smooth out the 7.2 channels of surround sound. The drapes also enhance the room’s symmetry. The room isn’t an entire departure from the rest of the home, as the hefty entry doors and dungeon-like sconces carry over the dark woodwork and iron used throughout.

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