Star Wars is… well, kind of a big deal. Considering the sprawling fanbase built around the first three films in the franchise — and the fact J.J. Abrams-helmed debut of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is less than eight months away — it’s not particularly surprising to learn about the sheer abundance of Star Wars paraphernalia lining brick-and-mortar and online stores alike. A mere cursory glance at the Web reveals everything from Tauntaun sleeping bags to lightsaber chopsticks, not to mention Lando Calrissian disguise kits and Jeffrey Brown’s oh-so-cute book, Darth Vader and Son. However, sometimes fan devotion extends beyond a mere T-shirt.
A proper home theater is one thing, but a Star-Wars-inspired theater built to replicate the interior deck of the moon-sized superlaser known as the Death Star? Well, that’s something completely else. Below are a few of our favorite Star-Wars-themed home theaters, whether you’re looking for a little inspiration for your own DIY project or merely want to gawk at what can be done with a little elbow grease (and a lot of cash).
Out of this World
It’s often easier to bring the galaxy to you than the other way around. San Diego-based Modern Home Systems helped construct this spaceage dwelling on a island far, far away — aka Hawaii — retrofitting the 10,000-square-foot estate in Honolulu with a contemporary design better suited for Disneyland than your average living room. The state-of-the-art home theater room houses a 107-inch Stewart Filmscreen display and six flat-panel LCDs, each of which you can access with a simple tap of the touch-capacitive remote. Moreover, the luxurious room features a three-dimensional fiber optic ceiling and full-sized, talking replicas of R2D2 and his frenzied companion, C3PO. A motorized pocket door grants easy access, too, while the dual equipment racks in the back swivel 180 degrees for hidden convenience when need be.
Reunion House Rental
Looking for a private getaway for you and 23 of your closet cohorts for a paltry $1,000 a night? Thankfully, this Florida estate offers a smattering of enticing amenities — one of which is a dedicated Star Wars home theater room designed to accompanying the Toy Story and Despicable Me-inspired rooms. The current All Star listing doesn’t offer any further details, but if the sole image the rental company provides is accurate, you can expect walls emblazoned with iconic images of Lea, R2D2, and a host of white stormtroopers charging up from the rear alongside the notorious Vader. The leather recliners and tiered seating are a nice touch as well, and to be frank, probably far more comfortable than the one lining any of Emperor Palpatine’s circular throne rooms.
Rise of the Jedi
Homeowner Steve Simon’s garage is a novelty. Although he intended to use the space as a means for showcasing his wealth of Star Wars memorabilia, he ultimately decided to model the room after Chancellor Palpatine’s sky-high office situated in the heart of the Galactic City in Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith. Simon worked alongside Miami-based DreamSpace Cinema Design Group International to complete the job, which required CDGi to re-create 3D renders of the sconce-steeped cityscape and print them on to acoustic fabric. Behind the faux windows lies absorptive and reflective panels, dependent on the location, while insulation bumpers and 6-inch, staggered-stud walls filled with fiberglass help prevent unwanted sound leakage. The home theater is even capped with a Marantz DLP 1080p projector and a 103-inch Vutec 16:9 display that only go to compliment the robust Anthem processing and a host of B&W speakers. The bright-red coloring is bold, sure, but so was the Empire.
Star Destroyer
Few Star Wars aficionados seem to model their home theaters after anything within the Rebel arsenal. Kim and Jim Howatt are the the perfect case in point, a married pair of computer programmers who remodeled their entertainment room in Libertyville, Ill., after a Galactic Empire star destroyer. With the help of Orren Pickell Designers & Builders, the pair embellished their 12-seat basement with spaceship-like detailing, from the slanted beams to the red-and-blue lights running along the sides of the wall. An array of hand-painted murals offer manufactured views of the surrounding abyss, too, showcasing an X-Wing, TIE fighter, and other iconic spaceships featured in the films. As you might expect, it also comes outfitted with a high-definition TV, surround sound system, and a VCR. After all, there’s only one way to watch the uncut version of the original trilogy — and it’s certainly not using the remastered Blu-ray collection.
The Death Star
The Death Star may be the most iconic image in all of Star Wars, if not the entire realm of science fiction. An anonymous devotee officially commissioned Doug Chiang, the lead designer of The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, to rethink his home theater as the deck of the Death Star before handing over the fabrication reigns to Washington-based Dillion Works and Definitive Audio. The end result is unlike anything else on our list, with angled beams, star-lit walls, and a lobby that features a raised floor and low ceiling designed to resemble the Death Star’s gangplanks. A life-sized replica of C3PO and Han Solo frozen in carbonite also rest in the corners of the theater, while a pair of automatic pocket doors grant the ambitious theater even more authenticity. Posters from the original trilogy even hang framed in the lobby, just in case you’re completely oblivious regarding the theme of the home theater.
