Rich, Heather, and their four kids have been living for the last 15 years in a big house in Texas. Over time, and as the children grew into teenagers, the members of the family started to go their separate ways and the beloved common area where they used to spend time together became a bonus room where all could enjoy some alone time.
As a result, the old common area became cluttered with a mishmash of objects and devices, catering to the various activities of each family member. Rich installed a medium-sized television and a snack table to quietly watch sports. Benjamin, the youngest son, connected the TV to his Xbox to play video games, which unfortunately couldn't accommodate multiplayer sessions due to the small screen size. Hudson, the eldest son, set up a desk where he could practice playing the guitar on the family's iPad.
Rich and Heather decided they wanted to reimagine their bonus room and bring it back to being the beloved common area where everyone would gather and spend quality time.
THE CHALLENGE
The family desires to bring back the common space that can fit everyone together and still accommodate individual members’ needs without being too cluttered.
The current audiovisual devices, such as the TV and iPad, are unable to facilitate shared experiences due to their limited screen size. Gaming and watching TV is limited to just one person.
Simply replacing the TV with a larger model won't address the problem. The fixed screen will occupy space and create clutter when not in use, limiting the room's versatility.
THE SOLUTION
The first step in transforming the unorganized bonus room back into a cozy family area was to rearrange the layout and make the most of the available space. This enabled all family members to comfortably gather, share their hobbies and participate in their favorite activities.
The second step was to replace the TV with a ViewSonic X1-4K projector. The larger screen size of up to 150 inches welcomed everyone with immersive visuals and stunning colors. Unlike with the TV, the projector's use of reflective light also helped reduce eyestrain, protecting everyone's eye health while enjoying viewing time together.
The combination of the projector’s 4K UHD resolution and theater-level audio from Harman Kardon added to the evolving experience of the room. The projector was mounted to the ceiling without taking up any floor space. When not in use, the blank wall enlarged the space and matched the elegant interior design.
THE RESULT
The ViewSonic X1-4K projector quickly became the centerpiece of family activities, allowing all members to feel included when watching shows, sports, or playing video games. The once cluttered bonus room got transformed into a modern and versatile space that can be converted into a home cinema, a gamer's den, or even a live band studio with just a click.
Rich and Heather can strengthen the family bond and understand their growing kids better, thanks to a shared space that welcomes both individuality and collectivity. The mom and daughters can enjoy a cozy girls’ night with their favorite shows, while the boys engage in hours-long battles. On weekends, the family can even play as one big band with the projected concert-like atmosphere.
The screenless images are directly projected onto the wall, and the projector is mounted on the ceiling, providing more flexibility to play musical instruments or dance in the room.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
