Design and installation teams worked together to deliver this CEDIA award wining home cinema
When Kelly-Herbert Interiors joined forces with cinema design, build and installation professionals, IndigoZest and Cinema Luxe on the Buzzards Road project in Hertfordshire, the collaboration impressed more than the client as it recently won the prestigious Best Home Cinema Level II and Technology Meets Design categories at the CEDIA Smart Home Awards EMEA 2025
From concept to completion, this home cinema exemplifies how teamwork between technology specialists and design visionaries can deliver an attractive, immersive entertainment space for the home
The initial brief for the newly constructed Wellness Suite extension at Buzzards Road called for a commercial-style LED wall, positioned directly opposite the home gym so the screen could be viewed by the client whilst exercising. The screen would sit partially recessed, with front-row seating in a lowered pit and the large-format display anchoring the space. Interior designer Sinead Kelly from Kelly-Herbert Interiors was tasked with assessing the plans and ensuring the cinema would be more than just an add-on to the gym
“The floor layout wasn’t doing any justice to the interior flow, the floor area available nor to the entertainment experience the client wanted to achieve,” she recalls. “This original orientation clearly compromised seating, acoustics, and overall usability.”
Instead, Sinead advocated for a dedicated home cinema space, segregated from the gym. Her experience working with CEDIA member IndigoZest on previous projects made them her go-to professional audio-visual partner and a showroom visit was arranged to demonstrate the possibilities of a purpose-built cinema. The experience proved transformative.
“When the client visited our cinema room, everything changed,” comments Paul Laventure from IndigoZest. “He realised that a dedicated cinema with proper acoustics and a native 4K projector would deliver a far superior experience than the big TV he originally planned. That moment was pivotal – it allowed us to transform the concept from a compromise into a truly world-class home cinema.”
IndigoZest and Cinema Luxe joined the project, bringing their expertise in technology and cinema interior design and installation. The three-way partnership was key: Kelly-Herbert Interiors led the design, Cinema Luxe managed the logistics, cinema room finishes and interior fit-out, while IndigoZest delivered the audio-visual vision
Designing for Performance and Aesthetics
The room was rotated 90o and the double doors to the gym were removed. In their place came a large acoustically transparent cinema screen, with full-sized speakers positioned behind it and a concealed projector installed in a purpose-built enclosure above the entrance to the room. The change in orientation allowed the team to implement a 9.4.4 Dolby Atmos, fully immersive sound system, complete with tailored acoustic treatments, diffusion and bass traps hidden behind a stretched-fabric wall system. Each component was modelled and calibrated for even coverage and pinpoint accuracy, regardless of where guests sat.
The team respected the lead designer’s vision, ensuring continuity with the wider property while overcoming significant technical challenges. The cinema was conceived as an extension of the home’s wellness philosophy, ensuring visual and experiential harmony with the adjoining suite. While the wellness area embraces light, airy tones and natural finishes to evoke calm and rejuvenation, the cinema introduces a contrasting yet complementary mood – dark, rich and cocoon-like for immersive viewing. Key design elements, such as bronze accents, bespoke joinery, and stone finishes, were carried through both spaces to maintain continuity. Even the pivot door connecting the gym and cinema was meticulously detailed, with Venetian plaster on one side and acoustic fabric on the other, creating a subtle transition between wellness and entertainment. This thoughtful approach ensures the cinema feels integrated within the home’s holistic design narrative rather than an isolated feature.
Every decision, from hidden architectural speakers within the walls and ceiling to the concealed projector, supports an aesthetic that is both immersive and understated yet demonstrates meticulous attention to detail. For example, the cinema seating was custom-made to accommodate the client’s and his wife’s preferences – firm support for his back and soft comfort for her – demonstrating the project’s truly bespoke nature.
Usability was paramount. A single Control4 platform governs everything – from watching a film to triggering a ‘football mode’ that broadcasts Newcastle United matches throughout the cinema and property. When someone rings the gate intercom, playback pauses automatically, ensuring nothing is missed. The AV team’s commitment to simplicity meant the technology enhanced, rather than complicated, the client’s experience.
“The simplest rooms that you walk into and feel, ‘Oh, this is Zen, uncomplicated and clutter-free’ are, very often, the hardest ones to achieve,” Sinead notes. The complex considerations on this project embraced multiple elements, from fire regulations to acoustic criteria and material transitions. The basement location meant all walls were tanked, prohibiting drilling and requiring advanced construction techniques with CNC-cut MDF elements provided self-supporting structures, avoiding interference with the waterproofing and underfloor heating pipework. Ultimate project success was only possible because of close collaboration between all members of each team.
“This was a textbook project with everyone working towards and sharing the same objective,” adds Darren Barker from Cinema Luxe. “You’ve got five or six teams of people with one common goal and no ego, and that makes a huge difference. Every project should work this way.”
A Statement in Refined Entertainment
Today, the Buzzards Road cinema is the most -used room in the house – a social space, a sanctuary, and a statement in refined entertainment. It stands as a model for collaborative success. Trusted experts, open communication, and a willingness to rethink the brief resulted in a space that exceeds expectations. The result is a cinema that is not only technically outstanding but also beautifully integrated into the fabric of the home
(photo credit Mark Hardy)
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