This Orlando-area home installation is all about ease of use. After all, the last thing these homeowners wanted after their previous home was destroyed by water damage, was any headaches from their electronics and automation systems.

If there was any silver lining in that water damage, it was that it did give them an opportunity to rebuild. And that meant including such technological benefits to enhance their daily lives.

Local custom electronics pro MillenniumWaves wound up working with Sorenson Construction and Jim Ross of Ross Designs to invoke efficiency, function, fun and aesthetics into this whole-home install. And the blending of electronics and aesthetics did have to be strongly weighed—after all, the lady of the house works as an interior designer.

“The thing here in this home is what you don’t see,” says MillenniumWaves’ Kenneth White. “All aspects of this home were about ease of use and yet with very little impact to the design of the home. MillenniumWaves was given the task of ‘Keep it simple,’ ‘Keep it neat’ and ‘I want it to do this!’ “

MillenniumWaves began the project focusing on features such as security, structured wiring, wireless broadband access and more, and it quickly moved into a checklist of where the homeowners could also access a large music collection and all the video they could handle.

A Control4 control system and user interfaces make such access a breeze, with other goodies such as the RBH in-ceiling speakers throughout the house so favorite tunes can always accompany the homeowners and guests. The Control4 interface can be called up on the TV screens for easy navigation and command.

“This made life simple and easy and allows them to live in and control the house, and not let the house control them,” White says. “[The man of the house] has just retired from his job and now wants to enjoy his home, so we’ve just added a half-terabyte Hard Disk for his music collection, which will allow him to roam around the house and listen to his favorite music wherever he wishes.”

Great room:

Lanai:

Billiard room:

Master suite sitting area:

Arlen Schweiger - Editor of Electronic House Magazine

Arlen writes about home technology installations and product news and reviews for electronichouse.com and Electronic House magazine.