Texas Integrator Adds Outside-the-Box Automation to Every Room of Award-Winning Smart Home – CEPro

The backyard area of the home includes an inground pool, an area to watch an outdoor TV, minigolf in the center, a full outdoor audio setup and more. (Photos by Cristian Gomez)

Afternearly a quarter-centuryin the business, Theater Advice has designed and integrated a vast array of technology solutions for residential projects of all sizes, styles, and scopes. From plans that entail massive distributed AV systems and dedicated theaters to elaborate shading and lighting systems; catering to clients who want everything hidden to those that want to admire their investments; providing the personalized system for families thatentertain frequently or not at all, Theater Advices portfolio is about as diverse andbroadas they come. But nothing prepared the team for this project. Unique features and applications of technology resonate throughout the 12,000-square-foot estate, requiring Theater Advice toapproach andimplementtechnology in a whole new way, as CEO David Huse explains.

There are a host of interesting ways to welcome guests to a home via technologybrightening the lights as they approach the front door, using the doorbell to activate music, programming a pathway of lights from the driveway to the entrance as a car enters the property, for example.

Equipment List:

Theater Advice raised the Welcome bar further by presenting to dinner party guests a beautifully scripted list ofcourseson the menu. The Menu is displayed ona 19-inchSuraTV flush-mounted to a wall in the foyer. The integrators also connected the display directly to a PC hiddenin a nearby closetso theowners can conveniently key inthebill of fare.

The dedicated theater is impressive in and of itself, fitted with a 170-screen from Screen Innovations,11-channel Dolby Atmosaudio comprising color-matchedTriadin-wall and in-ceiling speakers, Epson projector and three rows of seating.

But its whats hidden under the last row ofchairsthat sets this entertainment escape apart. As familymembersandtheir beloved petssettle into thegrand entertainment space,the last thing theywant to do is leave the room to let the dogs out. A hidden door built underneath the last row precludes the interruption. The dogs canexiton their owninto an air-conditioned, monitored kennel. From there, they are free to roam to a fenced outdoor dog run, Huse says. All the while, the owners can access the surveillance camerasand see the dogsvia theControl4 appon their smartphonesorthehome theaterscreen.

Also receiving a unique touch of technology is the master bathroom. Here, positioned over the urinal is a 19-inchSuraTV. Simply turning on the bathroom light signals the display to activate and tune to ESPN. The opposite happens when the light is turned off.

There isnt a place on the property where the family doesnt havehigh-res streamingmusic or video nearby; all told the project incorporated 22 audio zones and a dozen video zones.

Despite having to work arounda lot ofcement and retaining walls outside,Huse notes,Theater Advice was able to addOriginBollardspeakersto thelandscape by the lazy river and adjoiningswimming pool, sports court,andputting green.All of the common areas have a display, and even some of the closets, the patio, and two in the kids1,500-square-foot bunk house on the third floor, one of which dedicated to gaming.

The size and scope of this project demanded well-choreographed control system and Theater Advice truly delivered a home run of a final product, so much so that the install recently won a CE Pro Home of the Year Award for the best whole-house smart home over $150,000.

Some elements, like Screen Innovations motorized Nano shades, are automated to adjust per a pre-determined scheduled programmed into the Control4 platform. Other adjustments happen via voice command or a tap of a button of one of many Control4 touchscreens and handheld remotely located conveniently throughout the home.Its what makes this test-bed of innovative applications of technology feel like an integral part of a comfortable, well-managed home.

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Texas Integrator Adds Outside-the-Box Automation to Every Room of Award-Winning Smart Home - CEPro