Very nice. Love the couch, paint, everything.
Enjoy

Gawjus, Ray!

What a great looking room. Congrats on finally finishing!

Thanks for the kind comments!

Mary, aside from having to step over Jack while he is taking his naps , the plan is to use the room as my retirement man-cave. With the fridge to hold my adult beverages, the microwave to make popcorn and an ample supply of DVDs, the only thing I'll need to do is surface once in awhile to play golf and get a fresh drool towel.

Rick - the paint is an interesting story. It is Benjamin Moore, but the color is a Martin Secours shade called "Palace Arms Red". The camera plays tricks, but it is a deep, elegant dark brick color. I had the trim mixed to match the leather sofa (perfect match!).

After (way too much) research, Benny Moore turned out to be the paint recommended heartily by folks that paint for a living. A tad more expensive, but it was terrific to work with.

In general, research told me that red is pretty much the most difficult color to work with. Fortunately, the guy at the paint store got me past the problems with the following advice:
1) He gave me a primer tinted dark gray and told me to put two coats on before I painted. Also - let it dry for a day before putting the paint on. Worked great and avoided one of the problems with red - 3-4-5 coats for full coverage.

2) Buy excellent rollers and when applying the paint, don't use the standard "w" pattern in a small area. Rather, roll the paint straight up & down, from top to bottom and overlap the last column of paint before it dries. Don't try to use too much paint all at once. I generally got 1 to 1 1/2 columns out of a roller load.

3) There is a heavy concentration of red oxides in the paint. His advice was to allow each coat to dry for 3 days before applying the second coat. This lets the paint breathe. He went on to explain that it also prevents large paint bubbles from forming under the previous coats.

Net result - only needed two coats of paint and there is not a roller mark to be seen. Very happy with the paint.

Ray, that is a very impressive "man cave." I think I'd like to retire there too. I'll bring my own beer.

Thanks Sean! Bring some soft food too - Jack has trouble chewing with only three teeth.

LOL!

I haven't worked my way there yet today, but I hope you've seen my post in the "what member # are you?" thread.

Really nice. Another room to be jealous off!!!! Guy

Beautiful Ray! Great work! I'll be sending you your complimentary Star Wars poster for your newly finished HT.

Looks FANTASTIC!!! I think that you are really going to enjoy it!!!

A most impressive room indeed Ray, I love it.

Congrats on the room Ray. It looks really fabulous. But it looks like your gonna have to upgrade the size of the fridge with all the squatters you going to have out there.
Enjoy!
oz

Congrats on finishing the project Ray, you have done a great job !!!

I may have to stop by for another visit next time I am in the area after seeing that Ray...nice work!

Luis - if you are trying to get rid of Star Wars poster - I'm your guy! I still have a few frames and lotsa wall space and that will be an easy Christmas pick for my wife/daughters.

Thanks for the coments. The Memorial Day weekend has been a nice combination of golf and basement theatering.

I am thrilled with the couch. I am 6'3" and this is the first couch we have had where I can lie down and not have my head & feet touch the arms. Matter of fact, after playing today, I came home and cut the grass. Then went inside and tested the couch. Excellent results!!! At least I think they were. Don't really know because I was - - -ASLEEP!

Tonight we will be watching "Munich".

Zarak - I would be happy to see you again. If you can swing by sometime, let me know in advance and I'll give you the new address. WE now live about 8 miles past where you visited last time.

Wow, congrats! I'm sure it was worth it.

Wow! Yes! Great job Ray!

I envy,

My Wife envies,

My kids would even envy if they knew better.

The couch is cool, but I'm short enough that I can stretch out on a loveseat.

Yeah!
Rich.

Awesome room, Ray! Now we just need your wife to snap some "action" pics for us.

And by action, I mean shots of you slumped over asleep on the couch surrounded by beer bottles and chip crumbs with the glow of the TV reflecting off your scalp.

Well - that should paint a pretty nice visual for everyone Pete!

Actually, yesterday was kind of neat. I played golf yesterday at 9 AM. The day got warmer, but I didn't appreciate how hot it was. Got up to 92 (a record here for the date) and by the time I was done, I was pretty much wasted, even though I drank lotsa fluids.

Got home and took a shower, then retired to the basement. I remember turning on the TV to watch "Band of Brothers" and laying down on the couch. My wife woke me up 2 1/2 hours later and I don't know how WWII ended on the TV.

The net of this is, the full day test went well and I have just described 4-5 days per week of my retirement scheme.

You got it. EPIII doublesided teaser work?

Dear Ray,

Our friends have already contributed all the accolades and jokes that came readily to mind. It is a lovely room, and one in which I'm sure I will be quite comfortable during my soon-to-be-initiated annual visit to Casa de Ray.

Great choices. Brilliant execution. Very inspiring project.

Bravo!

Thanks Tom!