Nothing gets the adrenaline pumping like a night on the town in The Big Apple. Dramatic deep purple skies. Soaring skyscrapers. The spectacular, twinkling Brooklyn Bridge.

Homeowner Robert Coulombe, a professional bridge builder for 18 years, has always been smitten by the Brooklyn Bridge—so much that he made the 1883 engineering marvel the focal point of his new home theater. 

When an Ontario cardiologist and his wife decided to build a space in the basement for family movie nights, they envisioned a basic media room—something simple that would mix seamlessly with the rest of the 2,500-square-foot entertainment floor. What they ended up with is a bit more elaborate: a glamorous home theater with design touches that reflect their native country of India.

Steve and Ellen Curtis are classic neoclassicists. Their shared passion for that particular design genre is evidenced the minute you arrive at their 10,000-square-foot waterfront home in South Florida—from the entryway’s stone fountain to the columns flanking the towering mahogany doors. Neoclassicism also dominates their private screening room—a black and gold jewel of a space they compare to a miniature grand opera house.

More often than not, appearances can be misleading. Such is the case of this Massachusetts home theater, which, at first blush, is utterly simplistic in design. But look beyond the space’s bold contemporary aesthetics and comfy ambiance and you’ll discover layers of intense planning and careful execution that make this space a complex work of art.

Art aficionado and patron Homeira Goldstein’s contemporary California home, perched atop the highest hilltop in a tony Los Angeles beach neighborhood, is more than a residence—it’s an Art Deco–inspired museum. Indeed, from the moment pen hit paper to sketch the home’s architectural plans in 1988, Goldstein, who was born into Iranian royalty, knew she wanted more than just a routine home: She wanted a sophisticated, livable, open-air gallery space where her family could enjoy and exhibit its extensive art collection, and host her many arts-related fund-raisers.

Today, the outside world may seem a little less friendly than it did in the days of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Norman Rockwell. As a result, more and more people are hibernating and being couch potatoes—a behavior that has become acceptable, even welcome. In fact, holing up within the confines of your luxurious home, or opting to entertain in instead of going out, is hotter than ever. So it follows that many homeowners are on the lookout for clever ways to feather their nests.

When internationally renowned architect and interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud was approached by her longtime client Tom Hicks, owner of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, to design his new skybox at the American Airlines Arena, he communicated in generalities. He wanted, of course, a space that looked different from any other skybox in the arena, but the space had to be conducive for entertaining family, friends and high-level executives.

Driving by the classic brick home of top-selling Ontario realtors Sean and Jackie Mecca, one would never guess that an ultra-cool entertainment zone awaits inside—replete with a glitzy movie theater (think Star Trek meets Rome) enveloped by a maple dance floor, a full-service bar and a cozy family room area anchored by a fireplace.

“Everyone loves coming to our house,” says Jackie, who shares the two-story Burlington home with husband Sean and their two young children. “My neighbors are like, ‘Hey, I got a new video—want to watch it at your place?’”