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The Private Cinema Retreat; in 2025, Rapallo was engaged to help transform an exceptional garage conversion by discreetly integrating a cinematic experience within the space. The brief was clear, create a cinema space that remained visually concealed and fully aligned with the room’s refined aesthetic.

Our team specified a Sony VPL-XW5000 projector, installed on a custom lift within the entrance area so it remains completely hidden when not in use, appearing only when movie time begins. To preserve the clean architectural lines of the room, in-wall speakers were selected throughout the system.

As there was no physical space available for a dedicated centre speaker, we implemented a 4.1 configuration, carefully tuned to generate a convincing centre image from the left and right channels. This approach delivers clear dialogue and a cohesive soundstage while maintaining the minimalist design brief.

The system electronics, including the Denon amplifier and Apple TV movie source, were discreetly housed within the beautifully designed kitchen space. This keeps the technology completely out of sight, ensuring the room retains its elegant, uncluttered look when the cinema is not in use.

The original concept called for an on-wall screen positioned on the end wall. However, after final site considerations (and a mistake on our behalf) and the placement of curtains, the Indigo acoustic transparent screen was instead mounted to one of the architectural beams within the room, a solution that proved both practical and visually harmonious.

The result is a beautifully integrated entertainment space where technology disappears into the architecture, giving the client a private retreat to enjoy movies or live sport in complete comfort.

A true hidden cinema escape within a stunning garage conversion.

The Private Cinema Retreat project consisted of the following Rapallo AV Design & Build services:

For a similar Private Cinema Retreat project or if you have another project you’d like us to look at, then give Rapallo a call on 09 2744515 or via email [email protected]

The Multi-Use Movie Room – Over January 2025 the client liaised with Rapallo to spec a room that was for multiple uses. Some compromises were required, but we specified it well and it works…well.

Using a range of Focal on-wall, in-ceiling speakers it kept the room to the bare minimum with limited intrusion in the space. Integrating with that was a Sony 4K projector and an Indigo Tab-Tenson On-Wall Motorised Screen. Adding some of the important bass a subwoofer is positioned to front of the room. The room content is controlled by a Anthem AVR.

Rapallo carried out the installation for the client, and then due to the room being a compromise we spent a day doing time-alignment speaker calibration to get the most out of the placements. The sound was quite surprising, and as usual the image from the Sony was amazing.

The Multi-Use Movie Room project consisted of the following Rapallo AV Design & Build services:

The Multi-Use Movie Room project was managed by Tokorua Lambert. For a similar project or if you have another project you’d like us to look at, then give Tokorua a call on 09 2744515 or via email [email protected]

Rapallo were contacted by the property developer to fit our his library with a good media / movie room in this new build.

We went onsite at the pre-build phase and consulted on the locations of the speakers and provided a wiring plan and room setup. Post painting we then went onsite and fitted off the speakers, then when the owner moved in we setup the screen and AVR / Projector, the sources and calibrated the room. Sounds pretty simple.

Rapallo provided a suite of products for this project:

The project consisted of the following Rapallo AV Design & Build services:

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Rapallo were contacted by the client in late 2019 to build a small home theatre in a formal lounge space in a recently renovated room.

Initially it was spec’d to be a in-ceiling and in-celling projector lift, but once the roof spaces were removed and the area investigated the space wasn’t going to work. Working with the client we revised the spec and added a shelf mounted projector and a on-ceiling screen. The brief for the speakers where they have had to deliver great sound for movies and music, but they had to blend with the library style of the shelving / books. 

As the room was already constructed, we ran chase’s thru the walls to get cabling for the speakers / HDMI and power to the right places. We then repainted the walls and ceilings back to the original spec.

For sound we used the ELAC range, with bookshelf speakers for the from L+R channels, and a matching centre that was mounted above the fireplace. SVS ran the subwoofer and the projector was a white Epson 8400 to blend it with the room on the custom shelf we built to mount it. Running the room was then a Yamaha AVR with the BluRay player and Google ChromeCast.

The project was a challenge as it was interrupted by COVID lockdown No.1. So as it wasn’t finished we quickly DIY’d a system for the client for the lockdown duration, and it was then completed once we were back at level 2.

The project consisted of the following Rapallo AV Design & Build services: