Ultimate Room Additions Guide
Adding a Wine Room, Man Cave, Theatre Room or Weight Room to your Home or Cottage
Chapter 1: Planning to Build
Are you and your home ready for an addition?
Here’s what you need to know.
Ahh, home additions. Let us tell you: there’s nothing quite as fun as the addition process, and it’s an excellent way to add value, beauty and space to your home or cottage. We’re all about finding more ways to love our homes — and that’s where great additions come into play. But, while kitchen additions and bathroom renovations are important, the real excitement lies in the room additions like the weight rooms, wine cellars and man caves.
Are you in? Let’s go!
Starting a room addition can be a hefty process, but it’s worth it when it comes to everything from resale value to home satisfaction. When it comes to adding to your home, you’ll want to keep your neighbourhood and province’s regulations, rules,
and bylaws top of mind. The best way to do this? Work with a builder who knows what they’re talking about. If you’re a DIY’er, do some mega research and make sure you’re all caught up on any permits or permissions you need.
- First off: do you have enough room? Your wine cellar doesn’t need to be huge, but you’ll also want enough space to justify the cellar.
- Are you prepared for the financial investment? (A wine cellar usually needs an additional cooling system for max efficiency.)
- Do you have an optimal wine cellar space? You’ll want to look for an area close to an exterior wall and one that will stay dark.
- What type of wine cellar are you wanting? You can build one that’s super functional, or you can create a space more so meant to show off your collection.
- A cool area within your home (preferably hugging an exterior wall) for the cellar.
- A cooling system that brings your cellar to an optimal, consistent temperature and humidity between 10 and 18 degrees celsius.
- A sealed and insulated enclosure with enough space to store the desired amount of wine.
- Rot-resistant hardwoods and composite materials.
- Wine racking (that will resist vibrations).
- An airtight door to maintain humidity and temperature.
Pro Tip:
An airtight seal is key to a wine cellar that works like it should, so add in weather-stripping for a double-strong enclosure.
What’s the project timeline?
While adding in a wine cellar can make a massive difference in your home, it’ll also take a minimal time investment compared to many home additions. You’ll want to take your time, though; a rushed wine cellar won’t ever be as great as one built with more intention. Wine cellars with more extensive racking and construction will take more time to build, while a smaller, more showy wine cellar can easily be a weekend project. It depends: what are your aims, and how much time do you have? When adding on a more luxurious wine cellar, you’re looking at a project timeline of around a week with a professional build.
Adding in the extra little touches
While building a wine cellar is a little luxury in itself, you can also build in special additions into your wine cellar. Here are some Gilbert + Burke favourites:
- Customized wine racking: Choose shelving for your wine in your favourite material, whether it’s a mahogany finish or a backlit gallery.
- Wall detail: By adding crown moulding or a shiny trim, you can add a new level of depth to your wine cellar.
- Sommelier-level goodies: Integrate all sorts of vino accessories, such as decanters, wine vacuums and aerators.
- Unique storage options: If you feel like you want to add something special, consider rotating shelves, underground storage or stone finishes.
- Round it out: While the primary job of a wine cellar might be to store wine, you can take it up a notch by adding something like a table, a sink or a bar area for enjoying a glass of wine and a nice charcuterie board.
Chapter 2: Man Cave
A Guy’s Sanctuary: The Man Cave
Create an in-home getaway.
Your home is a sanctuary in itself, but sometimes even the best sanctuary needs a little extra. Adding in a man cave to your home is a great way to integrate some extra relaxation and rejuvenation into your home and, when done right, adding a man cave can bring taste, class and masculinity to your floor plan. If you’ve been feeling like your home could use a man cave, then let us tell you… it’s the right time.
So… is a man cave right for you?
- Do you feel like your home is missing a space purely for relaxation and leisure?
- Are you searching for a getaway within your own home?
- Is your home ready for a swanky and manly addition?
If you answered yes to the above questions, it looks like building a man cave should be next on your list.
What do you need to know about building a wine cellar?
Building a man cave isn’t just a luxury — the versatile space can also be great for your resale value later on. Just like with any addition, there are a few space-centric details you’ll want to keep in mind to have the most efficient, fun and smart man cave you can have. Here are some steps and keys to remember:
- First off: where do you want the space? Your man cave doesn’t need to be massive, but you’ll also want room for furniture, leisure and relaxation.
- What is the electricity situation? These days especially, you’ll want to make sure that the electrical wiring in your man cave makes sense for the space. Consider everything from a refrigerator outlet to an internet connection to a space to mount a television.
- What’s the vibe you’re looking for? When planning out your man cave space, think: is your goal a darker, billiards bar-type mood, or are you thinking more along the lines of collegiate, sporty and fun?
- Do you want the man cave to be stand-alone? Your man cave can intermingle with your home, or it can be an area of
Once you’ve decided on your goals, practical additions, and man cave design, you can
get going when it comes to the details of the man cave build.
Pro Tip:
Pinterest is the ultimate design inspiration for building the man cave of your wildest dreams.
Take your man cave to the next level
While building a man cave is a little luxury in itself, there are also tons of special additions you can build on to your man cave addition. Here are some Gilbert + Burke favourites:
Wet Bar:
A wet bar can add some major value to your home since it has all the extra bells and whistles you need to run water AND set up a bar shop. A dry bar is great, too — but a wet bar just goes the extra mile.
Poker Table:
A simple addition that adds hours upon hours of fun, adding in a poker table to your man cave gives you a leg up when it comes to leisure, group parties and a game night vibe. If you’re feeling fancy, build a custom poker table or truly make it part of the cave by integrating it into the wall.
Golf Simulator:
It’ll never be too chilly to tee off when your man cave has a golf simulator, right? Give your golf swing some extra practice by making it an all-day option, and you’ll have the best man cave around.
Beer Taps:
You’ll never want to leave the man cave, but especially when you add in beer tap capability. Keep your favourite brews on tap all year round, whether you want to integrate them into your wet bar or create a fun, special corner.
Game Consoles:
No man cave is complete without video games, so keep it interesting with all of your favourite consoles and screens. Whether you’re a single-player or game tournament kind of guy, embrace your inner gamer.
What’s the project timeline?
To be honest, a man cave addition can take anywhere from a weekend to a few months to complete. As with most additions, it’s all about what you’re looking for. You may be looking to renovate an existing room, but you might be thinking more along the lines of building an all new addition. Other considerations to make are adding in plumbing, more electrical wiring or additional walls and doors. The more cosmetic changes are a little quicker than that, so it’s all geared towards you and your man cave specifications.
Either way, you can do it — and we’re here to help.
The Bones
- Take measurements of space
- Mark spots that need a plug or internet connection
- Contact plumber, whether for bathroom addition or wet bar functionality
- Sketch the space’s floor plan
- Decide on lighting needs (Can your panel handle more? How much will need to be moved?)
- Decide on appliance usage and identifying utilities needed (plumbing, electrical, heating/air conditioning)
- Refrigerator
- Wine fridge
- Televisions
- Game consoles
- Repairing or adding new walls
The Fun Stuff
- Painting walls
- Add in desired shelving
- Build extra additions (such as a wet bar) Add trim and baseboards
The Additions
- Choose furniture
- Couches
- Additional seating (like a recliner!)
- Eating space (1-2 tables)
The details
- Decor
- Curtains
- Art
Chapter 4: Theatre Room
Now Playing: The Theatre Room
The ultimate spot for every film buff.
If there’s anything this last year has taught us, it’s that making our home extra special is 100% worth it. One of the best ways to do it? Adding a theatre room where you and your family can have movie nights, reality TV marathons and long days curled up in front of
a great show. If you’re willing to put in the space, time and investment, building a home theatre is a great way to add a splash of luxury, some resale value and a fun space in your home. Here’s what you need to know.
So… is a theatre room right for you?
- Are you a movie buff or a TV fanatic?
- Do you have dedicated space to spare?
- Are you ready to make an investment in your leisure time?
If you answered yes to the above questions, it looks like building a theatre room is the ultimate next step for your home.
What do you need to know about building a theatre room?
Building a theatre room is, quite honestly, the most fun, luxurious, special addition you can make to your home. From curling up for movie nights to viewing the latest films on the big screen, there’s just something extra special about being able to watch your faves from the comfort of your very own house. However, the best theatre rooms spare no detail when it comes to curating
the optimal viewing experience. Are you ready? Here’s what you need to know:
- First off: do you have the right space (or are you willing to build it)? Think about it: you want your theatre room to be just that… a theatre room. The right space will give you isolation from the rest of your home, it’ll need to be the correct size for optimal viewing, and you’ll need sound capability without a ton of home disruption.
- Are you ready for the nitty-gritty? There are many important details when it comes to adding on a theatre room, like soundproofing the walls. Installing the right lighting and putting in a great surround sound system will require electrical planning.
- You’ll want to design the room with intention. The right theatre room has great sound, but also great viewing. The best theatre rooms usually have dark walls, an excellent screen and comfy seats (or loungers)!
- What type of theatre room are you wanting? You can build one that’s super cinemaic, or you can create a more relaxed vibe geared towards lounging around while you watch.
Once you’ve decided on your space, goals and theatre room design, you can get going on the details of your theatre room build.
Here’s your theatre room checklist:
- A dedicated space within your home, away from sound and
(preferably) window-free. - Seating, whether you’re looking for a movie theatre, cinema-style seats or lounger bean bags and couches.
- Remember to place the seating far back from the screen to ensure the best viewing, and keep in mind that theatre-style seats will require risers to ensure that everyone can see.
- A screen or projector that gives you a crisp, clear picture, as
well as an immersive surround sound system that offers you
the theatre experience you’re looking for. You’ll want to bring
in an A/V specialist will need to be brought in for this step.
- A soundproofed room that keeps external sound out and internal sound in, whether you choose a location like the basement or adding additional soundproofing with sound installation behind the drywall.
- A lighting system to give your theatre room depth and luxury, as well as a more cinematic feel. You can consider everything from
recessed lighting to dimmers to up your experience with a bigger theatrical vibe. - An A/V component rack that keeps all of your theatre gear
in one proper, well-ventilated spot with custom cabinetry to
hide it.
Pro Tip:
Wall-to-wall carpet might not (usually) be our recommendation, but it’s great for theatre rooms. The carpet can help absorb light AND sound for a more immersive home viewing setup.
What’s the project timeline?
Adding in a theatre room to your home is something you’ll want to take some extra time since attention to detail makes a big difference. Your project timeline will differ depending on a few things: are you renovating an existing room or basement or
building one on to your home? Do you need to add risers? Each little detail adds time to the project calendar, but each little detail is worth it.
Adding in the extra little touches
- A drop-down screen: Instead of putting in a massive still screen, consider a drop-down screen that can bring variability and dimension to your home theatre.
- A concession area: From a popcorn machine to a wet bar, make your theatre room a culinary masterpiece for long movie viewings with extra buttery popcorn.
- Mixed seating: Integrate a mix of seating by including traditional theatre seats and loungers for an all-vibe home theatre.
- A theatre entrance: If you feel like you want to add something special, give the door and entrance to your theatre room some cinematic style with a sign or some lights.
Chapter 5: Weight Room
Keeping it Strong: The Weight Room
Bring new meaning to “home gym.”
Your home is a sanctuary in itself, but sometimes even the best sanctuary needs a little extra. Adding in a weight room to your home is a great way to integrate some extra relaxation and rejuvenation into your home and, when done right, adding a weight room can bring taste, class and masculinity to your floor plan. If you’ve been feeling like your home could use a weight room, then let us tell you… it’s the right time.
So… is a weight room right for you?
- Is fitness an important piece of your life?
- Do you wish you had a dedicated home space for exercise and weights?
- Does your home have room for a fitness-only space?
If you answered yes to the above questions, it looks like building a weight room would be perfect for you.
What do you need to know about building a weight room?
Adding a weight room into your home can be a great lifestyle addition AND wonderful for your resale value later on. The best thing about building a weight room is that it’s completely customizable to your needs and wants, from the equipment to the feel.
What do you need to know about building a weight room?
Adding a weight room into your home can be a great lifestyle addition AND wonderful for your resale value later on. The best thing about building a weight room is that it’s completely customizable to your needs and wants, from the equipment to the feel.
Here’s what you need to know:
- First off: where do you want the room itself? Your weight room doesn’t need to be a huge space, but you’ll want a dedicated area for fitness and leisure to make it count.
- What electricity is available? When planning out your weight room, consider the electricity and outlet needs of everything from exercise machines and televisions to water.
- What type of flooring and siding do you want? You’ll want to think about adding mirrors or gym flooring to your weight room since those will often be things that need to be built in first.
- How do you want the weight room lighting? Your weight room lighting matters since it’s a personal preference. Do you like bright lighting? Natural lighting? Dimmable lighting?
- What type of temperature control do you have? You’ll want to have a cooler space for sweat sessions.
Once you’ve decided on your space, siding and flooring and weight room design, you can get going when it comes to the details of the weight room addition itself.
Pro Tip:
Create weight room quadrants for the ultimate use of your space, dividing the floor into four major sections, such as cardio, weights, cool-down and functional training.
Take your weight room to the next level
While building a practical weight room is the priority, there are also special additions you can mingle in to take your weight room to the next weight class. Here are some Gilbert + Burke favourites:
- High-tech equipment: These days, there are tons of high-tech additions you can add to your home workout game. From a Peloton to a Tonal to a Mirror, consider jazzing up your equipment.
- Television: Whether you like to watch the game from your treadmill or you enjoy streaming on-demand workouts, a high-def television is a must in your ultimate weight room.
- Water station: While you can fill up your water bottle in the kitchen, adding a water station to your weight room makes it that much more special. Whether you choose to add in a sink or a filtered water station, give yourself the option.
- Sauna: Saunas are great for recovery and relaxation, making them the ultimate go-to choice for a fancy weight room. Whether you like infrared saunas or wet saunas, consider incorporating a dedicated sauna into the shower and
bathroom facility.
What’s the project timeline?
To be honest, a weight room addition can take anywhere from a long weekend to several weeks to complete. As with most additions, it’s all about what you’re aiming for with your weight room. You may be looking to turn around an existing room, but you may be wanting to build on to your home. Other considerations to make if you need to add in sauna capabilities, additional electrical wiring
or mirrored walls.
Either way, you can do it — and it’ll be so, so worth it.
The Space
- Take measurements
- Mark spots that need a plug or internet connection
- Choose your equipment and sketch the space’s floor plan with the equipment dimensions
- Decide on lighting needs (bright vs. dimmable)
- Decide on appliance usage and utilities required
- Electrical equipment
- Water station
- Refrigerator
- Blender
- Sound system
The Equipment
- Add in desired shelving and weight space
- Barbells and weights
- Cardio equipment
- Racks
- Weight benches
- Dumbbells
- Medicine balls, etc.
The Additions
- A dedicated warm-up area with yoga mats
- Cool-down area
- The details
- Wall decor
- First aid kit
- CPR/AED machine
- Add in mirrored (or not) walls
- Rubber flooring
