DEL.ICIO.USPRIVATE QUARTERS / A look at Atlanta's properties and personalities
Love of comic books, entertaining define Smyrna homeCouple makes full use of basement area
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/05/08
Tor Gundersen has a dark secret.
 Becky Stein / Special | ||
| Tor Gundersen shows off his comic book collecting room in the basement. | ||
 Becky Stein / Special | ||
| Dina and Tor Gundersen use this bar in the basement as a key entertainment element. | ||
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By day he's a regular working stiff, but in the evening he retreats to his hideout where he bags, sorts and catalogs more than 30,000 comic books.
His sidekick and wife, Dina Gundersen, graciously tolerates his collection and even helped build a special room in their basement to contain his hobby.
"I'm just happy it's all in one place" said his wife.
"It's just embarrassing to talk about. I'm very normal," Tor Gundersen asserts.
The Gundersens live in a five-bedroom, five-bath traditional home in the Oak Hills neighborhood of Smyrna. Dina Gundersen is marketing director for the neighborhood's builder, Monte Hewett Homes, and her husband is creative director for Northridge Interactive.
The tour of the home begins in the couple's basement media room. Tor Gundersen's surround-sound system has a 106-inch projection screen. The walls are painted a warm gray with dark gray trim — colors chosen for better viewing.
"We didn't want the walls to be reflective," Tor Gundersen explains.
Because the two often entertain, they wanted a media room that wasn't closed off from the bar area and other seating. The layout allows guests to sit in the comfy theater chairs and watch the TV, while others can mill around tables near the bar.
More than 60 people partied at the Gundersens for their Octoberfest party, and the setup worked perfectly.
The area has a bar kitchen with a beverage cooler and small refrigerator. The basement also includes a full bath and Dina Gundersen's sewing and art room. They installed a glass paneled door at the top of the stairs to make it more inviting.
Opposite the media area, Tor Gundersen's room glows pale yellow with orange-yellow accents. The island countertop is space-blue Corian with star flecks.
"I didn't want it to be dark and gloomy," said Tor Gundersen, who has collected comic books for 25 years. "It's like stepping on the surface of the sun."
Once the dark blue counter was installed "it sucked all the brightness out of the room."
Storage is another issue that had to be addressed. Each comic book storage box weighs about 25 pounds, so the shelves and island had to support that weight. Tor Gundersen buys about 100 books a month from a variety of sources.
"It's mostly for my enjoyment," he said, adding that he reads every comic book he buys. "I'm an artist. I've always liked comic books."
He keeps track of all the titles in a computer database.
"I've probably replaced half my brain with comic book general info," he said, laughing. His favorite is "Spiderman."
He also has about 125 superhero figures and vintage "Star Wars" toys.
In the main living areas, the Gundersens don't display any fear of color. A dark green dining room greets visitors.
"We like color. We're artsy-fartsy people," said Dina Gundersen, who also made most of the window treatments and duvet covers in the home.
HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS
• This is a five-bedroom, five- bath home with 4,400 square feet of space.
• Collection room for comic book and "Star Wars" collection room.
• Overlooks the Silver Comet Trail
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