The owners of this great room in Grand Rapids, MI, are like a lot of Jason Jespersen’s clients at Premier Audio: They want cutting-edge amenities, including lighting control, whole-house music and surround sound wherever they can get it, but they don’t want the electronics to dominate the room.

The family has a serious home theater downstairs, where they gather for new-release DVDs and Wolverine football games, but they still wanted a big-screen experience in the great room off the kitchen. The 60-inch Sony rear-projection TV provides large images for viewers on the wraparound couch, and it’s big enough to deliver the Today show to the breakfast table. By positioning the cabinet adjacent to the corner fireplace, the family can view both the TV and the fireplace from several locations in the room.

Jespersen hid the electronics, including an HDTV cable box, Harman Kardon receiver, Pioneer DVD player and Panamax surge protector behind the right lower door of the custom-made wall unit. The RBH left, center and right speakers above the TV were tailored to operate in a built-in cabinet rather than as stand-alone units. The 10-inch subwoofer is stuffed into the lower left cabinet, where Jespersen lined the interior with dampening material to prevent vibrations. Then he ported the sub out the side of the cabinet so that even with all doors closed, bass pumps freely into the room.

Systems and Room Design
Premier Audio, Muskegon, MI
www.premieraudioandimages.com