Project case study · Hickory, NC

Custom Home Theater

Starting with an unfinished shell, HTS designed and installed every element of a dedicated cinema—translating the client’s inspiration into a room built from the ground up.

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At a glance

HTS took responsibility for the theater as a complete environment—from the first layout and infrastructure decisions through lighting, acoustics, projection, sound, seating, control, and final commissioning.

Ground-Up Theater Design

Every dimension, sightline, and system location was planned from the unfinished shell.

Projection & Video

A dedicated projection system and screen create a true cinematic focal point.

Immersive Audio

Precisely placed loudspeakers deliver enveloping sound throughout both seating rows.

Acoustic Treatment

Tailored wall panels shape the sound while giving the room its refined architectural rhythm.

Architectural Lighting

Linear details, warm sconces, and recessed fixtures create layered theater scenes.

Seating & Integrated Control

Tiered seating and intuitive control complete one coordinated viewing experience.

The vision

Capture the feeling of the inspiration—and make it entirely their own.

The client arrived with a clear reference: a dark, intimate cinema defined by illuminated architectural portals, tailored acoustic panels, warm sconces, and tiered seating. HTS translated those ideas to the Hickory home, designing the room around its dimensions, performance goals, and the way the family wanted to watch.

Warm glass sconce set into textured black wall finish

Tiered black leather theater seating surrounded by acoustic panels

Projection screen wall with concealed speakers and acoustic treatments

From inspiration to installation

A vision translated from the ground up.

The client’s reference established the atmosphere. HTS then designed the architecture, infrastructure, technology, and finish details required to recreate that experience in this home.

Client-provided inspiration image for the custom home theater — Client inspiration

Unfinished Hickory room before custom home theater construction — Original space

Completed Hickory custom home theater with tiered seating and architectural lighting — Completed theater

Projection system operating in the completed Hickory home theater

Our solution

One room. Every detail designed to work together.

Plan screen size, projector sightlines, risers, and seating from the unfinished shell

Engineer speaker locations and acoustic treatments as part of the room architecture

Layer recessed lighting, sconces, linear channels, and intuitive theater scenes

Install and commission projection, immersive audio, seating, and integrated control

The results

A true private cinema, created from an empty room.

The finished theater carries the warmth, rhythm, and intimacy of the client’s reference while delivering the performance of a room designed specifically for this home. Every visible detail and hidden system was coordinated by HTS.