When interior designer Maria Deschamps of Maria Deschamps Design was first engaged on a private home theater project, the space presented immediate challenges. The room was small, a nearly square 20-by-20-foot space, and included a structural column that could not be removed. Every surface condition was different, and each design decision carried acoustical implications.
From the beginning, the client made one priority clear: sound quality would lead the project.
Deschamps recommended several trusted integrators, and the client ultimately selected Quebec-based AVA Systèmes. As system discussions progressed, AVA Systèmes proposed working with Grimani Systems, a recommendation Deschamps immediately supported.
“I had met Anthony Grimani years ago and always wanted to work with him,” she says. “His understanding of acoustics is well known.”
Unlike many projects where manufacturers remain in the background, Grimani Systems served as an active technical partner. In addition to supplying loudspeakers, the team provided comprehensive engineering documentation, including speaker layouts, acoustical treatment specifications, and seating placement, as well as detailed 3D CAD drawings. As a result, acoustic performance requirements were seamlessly integrated with the architectural vision.
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The clarity of Grimani Systems’ drawings allowed Deschamps to quickly verify proportions, sightlines, and finishes while ensuring acoustical elements integrated seamlessly into the design. Adjustments were made thoughtfully, not reactively.
“For me, it’s never just about how the room looks,” Deschamps says. “The final result has to support the sound.”
Concealed acoustical panels, diffusers, and Grimani Systems speakers were selected and positioned to optimize performance while maintaining the room’s visual balance and scale.
Installation
For AVA Systèmes, the project aligned closely with its engineering-first approach to audiovisual integration, home automation, and smart living technologies. Rather than adapting a conventional residential theater package to fit the space, AVA Systèmes approached the project as a ground-up design, evaluating the room’s physical constraints alongside the client’s performance goals.
The project began with a complete rebuild of the room. The existing walls and ceiling were removed, sound isolation was added, and the space was reconstructed from the ground up.
While the rebuild allowed AVA Systèmes to address noise control and infrastructure under the guidance of Grimani Systems’ room engineering, the fundamental geometry of the room remained unchanged. Its nearly square layout posed inherent challenges for low-frequency behavior. Plus, the structural column and beam further limited layout options.
“The biggest challenge was working within a space that had clear physical limits,” says Patrice Bouchard, owner of AVA Systèmes. “We could rebuild the room, but we could not change its proportions or eliminate the column.”
AVA Systèmes used a Grimani Systems-based engineering and speaker solution that differed from the conventional residential theater designs commonly offered in the local market, which typically rely on consumer audiovisual receivers and passive loudspeakers. Instead, the system architecture centered on active loudspeakers with an AES67 Audio-over-IP network and digital signal processing.
Following the proposal, the client conducted independent research, reviewing technical material and online content related to Grimani Systems and the calibration process. According to Bouchard, that research helped reinforce confidence in the approach. “Most integrators proposed similar systems with familiar brands,” he says. “We presented a solution that addressed the room in a different way, and the client understood why.”
Grimani Systems provided detailed system engineering documentation, including loudspeaker placement, signal routing, and amplification requirements. This was AVA Systemes’ first installation using Grimani Systems, and the plans made the process very straightforward and error-free.
During commissioning, Anthony Grimani performed manual calibration on site, focusing on manually aligning loudspeaker timing, phase, and frequency response to compensate for the room’s acoustical thumbprint. The system was then tuned as a reference-grade dedicated cinema environment.
“The system already sounded extremely good before calibration,” Bouchard says. “However, after the measurements and adjustments were completed, the improvement was immediately clear.”
Results
Following completion, the client expressed a high level of satisfaction with the theater’s performance. For AVA Systèmes, the project stands out as a benchmark installation. “This is the best home theater realization I’ve completed,” Bouchard says. “The room layout, the system design, and the calibration all worked together.”
From the designer’s perspective, the project highlights the value of early collaboration and manufacturer-led system engineering in complex residential environments. “If we hadn’t all been on the same page, it wouldn’t have worked,” says Deschamps. “Because of the constraints, collaboration wasn’t optional.”
While not every homeowner requires this level of technical involvement, Bouchard notes that, for clients who understand and value performance, it can be decisive. “For the right customer, this approach makes a measurable difference,” he says.
The completed theater demonstrates what’s possible when interior design, integration, and acoustical engineering are aligned from the start. Despite strict spatial limitations, the room delivers cinema-level performance without sacrificing aesthetics or proportion.
For more information, visit www.mariadeschamps.com, avasystemes.com, and grimanisystems.com.
