Product Description

"Theo is obsessed with his work and embarked upon a quest for an elusive ideal theater that can exist only in dreams. Each time that he makes a dream theater into a reality, no matter how stunning the creation, it never quite fulfills the ideal in his mind-and off he goes again in the enthusiastic pursuit of impossible perfection."-Dean Koontz

In the 21st century, more and more people "go out" to the movies at home. This lifestyle change has led to the biggest innovation in residential design today: the home theater, be it a custom-installed system or an elaborate private screening room. At the high end, Theo Kalomirakis reigns supreme as the leading designer of private theaters in the home.

Kalomirakis tailors each of his designs to fit the needs of a specific client, using styles that range from ultra-traditional to cutting-edge. His theaters even have their own marquee names: The Moonlight, The First Run, The Miami Beach. Great Escapes showcases nine of these incredible spaces through superb color photographs and descriptions of the technology that make this revolution in entertainment and design possible. Although Kalomirakis's extravagant creations are for wealthy clients, they will also serve as inspiration for home owners who want to integrate cinema quality with home comfort on a more modest budget.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #668802 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 204 pages

About the Author
Steve Castle is a luxury market expert and the former editor of Robb Report, the world's preeminent voice in luxury living. Castle was also a newspaper editor, and still writes a popular Sunday newspaper column. He lives in Massachusetts. Dean Koontz is one of America's favorite novelists. Eleven of his books have reached number one on the New York Times paperback bestseller list, and 10 of his novels have become films. He lives in Southern California. Phillip Ennis is an architecture photographer whose work has appeared in most major design and architecture magazines. He also photographed Theo Kalomirakis' Private Theaters. He lives in Bedford, New York.

Customer Reviews

Great Escapes
Whether your interest is home theater, or movie palaces from the 1920's and 30's, Great Escapes is sensational!
Once I opened it, I couldn't put it down and trust me with 204 pages loaded with 140 color photos of breathtaking architectural eye candy, this book will demand your focus.
Kalomirakis brings the elegance of yesteryears movie palaces home with the help of writers Steve Castle, Dean Koontz and photographer Phillip Ennis.
You can truly see Kalomirakis' love for the big screen in the architectural details he adorns his private cinemas with. No details are spared in Kalomirakis' work from neon marquees and ticket booths welcoming visitors to his theaters to opulent lobbies adorned with domed mural ceilings and snack bars and timeless columns.
A few times while reading this book, I had to remind myself that the featured theaters I was viewing were in someone's personal residence.
I have to say my personal favorite theater in this book was created for author Dean Koontz called "The Moonlight." Koontz also has an introduction in the book.
Even though most of the theaters in this book take up more square footage than the average persons home. And even though theaters designed by Kalomirakis are beyond the financial means of most people, this book can serve as inspiration for those that want to bring home the silver screen on a lesser budget and do it in style.
Theo Kalomirakis' newest book Great Escapes definitely brings home the look of the movie palaces of yesterday.

A unique source of enduring ideas
Lavishly illustrated with one hundred gorgeous color photographs by Phillip Ennis, Great Escapes: New Designs For Home Theaters By Theo Kalomirakis by Steven Castle presents extravagant designs for "media rooms" in private homes. These are specialized entertainment oriented rooms set aside to take full advantage of surround sound, acoustics, and visual appeal to bring forth the same quality experience as visiting a theater. Great Escapes showcases the work of interior designer Theo Kalomirakis as it artfully presents his work in creating home theaters of celebrities such as Dean Koontz, Eddie Murphy, Roger Ebert, and others in this unique source of enduring ideas.

WOW
What an amazing book. I wish it had given further details into the builds but there are so many great ideas in here. What an imagination Theo has.