Recently Filed in Exterior

The cold front that’s plagued much of the Midwest this summer has finally let up. It’s actually inched over the 70-degree mark at night—perfect weather for the drive-in theater. Few drive-in theaters still exist, so you’d think that I’d jump at the chance to catch a flick alfresco when there’s a screen just 30 minutes away. By the time it gets dark, though, I’d just rather nosh on Mike and Ikes at home. Plus, I figure I can create a very similar experience right here… View this story
Deck and Patio • Exterior • Home Theater • Info and Answers

It looks like a temple from an Indiana Jones movie. Inside the man-made cave in Tom and Joleen Comstock’s back yard are Mayan artifacts, an altar and throne, a treasure chest that puffs out hot air, secret passageways and crystals embedded in the walls made of combination of Styrofoam, concrete rebar. But there’s more than meets the eye in this subterranean space. Hidden among the trinkets is an entire home theater system. Indiana Jones never gets his prize without battling a few obstacles first, so… View this story
Exterior • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Themed Theaters • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

This back yard has it all, whether you’re into athletics or A/V. A pool, a Jacuzzi, a putting green, and a sports court for basketball or other activities are included in the environment that California-based custom electronics pro Simply Sight and Sound integrated its audio/video angles. “The client asked for sound for the whole back yard area. So we installed multiple pairs of Destination Audio outdoor speakers in the planters around the pool and sports court, in the trellis above the Jacuzzi, in the corners… View this story
Multiroom Audio • Exterior • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Cool Homes

This 9,000-square-foot backyard boasts a custom swimming pool that spans one-third of the length of the yard, waterfalls, a walking bridge over the pool, an elevated hot tub with waterfalls, a putting green, basketball court, tether ball, and batting cage with pitching machine. From there you can make your way into the outdoor gazebo/kitchen, or sitting areas near the fire pit. And, oh by the way, there’s a ton of A/V back there, too. It’s all courtesy of the work by The Wiring Guy in… View this story
Deck and Patio • Exterior • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Cool Homes

Q. I have a poolhouse that has been previously equipped with ceiling speakers and outside speakers. We just bought a new TV for my father for his birthday to put in there and are looking to upgrade our sound equipment. The problem is, the wires for the speakers come out of the wall in a different location than the TV ( a pretty large distance). I would rather not run cables through the walls/ceilings but want to hook those speakers into an AM/FM/CD (maybe iPod… View this story
Speaker Systems • Wireless Speakers • Exterior • Ask a Pro • Info and Answers

My husband and I are losing friends fast. It’s not that we’re horrible people. It’s just that they can’t stand to listen to our music system anymore. Whenever we get together with our friends—and typically happens at our place—the tunes get turned on. We’ve got a great music collection, nobody complains about that, but the playback is horrible. During the summer, most get-togethers happen outside, so we’ve tried everything to make the music sound better. We invested in a pair of wireless speakers a few… View this story
Outdoor Speakers • Deck and Patio • Exterior • Audio • Info and Answers

The well-traveled owner of this outdoor oasis has visited a number of vacation resorts, and like most vacationers, he enjoys relaxing with music by the pool deck. It was an experience he wanted to replicate in his own backyard (in Connecticut and not the Caribbean, mind you), but with certain upgrades. “He wanted to have something extraordinary,” says Chris Ursin, president of Natural Audio in Tolland, Conn. “Not just your typical rock speakers arranged around the pool.” Per that request, Natural Audio set out to… View this story
Exterior • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Cool Homes • Slideshows

This homeowner’s dream was to color his home Las Vegas-style at night, but the initial plans didn’t work out so well. An electrician installed 18 different fixtures to illuminate the house and the five ponds, waterfalls and sculptures in the front—with 27 different timers that were soon out of sync. Even worse, the exterior lights used a total of 11 kilowatts of power. And the homeowner was blinded just by walking to his car. So custom electronics company ForTech Solutions, of Granada Hills, Calif., set… View this story
Lighting Control • Exterior • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Cool Homes • Slideshows

When it comes to outdoor spaces, “on the beach in Malibu” speaks for itself. This secondary residence of philanthropist Wallis Annenberg offers much more to enjoy than sunsets over the Pacific. Really, who wants to look at ocean views when there’s a 46-inch high-definition TV out on the deck? Who needs to walk in the sand when there are 10 speakers and an in-ground subwoofer pitching tunes on the patio? We kid because this outdoor space offers an envious mix of scenery and entertainment. Both… View this story
Exterior • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Cool Homes • Slideshows

By now it may be a little obvious that you should prewire your home with lots of low-voltage cabling before the Sheetrock goes up. In particular, experts recommend running Cat 5 (or better) cabling to each entertainment area in the house – and lots of it to A/V-intensive locales like the home’s media center. Beyond the usual, where else should you run wiring before it’s too late. Scott Fuelling of Memphis-based Phoenix Unequaled Home Entertainment recommends the following: We prewire for drapery control systems. Depending… View this story
Structured Wiring • Bedroom • Entryway • Exterior

Who let the dogs out? That’s one question you’ll never have to think about with Plexidor. The company’s new Plexidor Electronic doggie door is designed to let your animal come and go and he/she pleases, while keeping other critters (and burglars) outside where they belong. The unit operates the same as a garage door. However, instead of hitting a button, your dog has a “wearable pass code,” which is a waterproof RFID chip that you clip onto its collar. As the dog approaches the door,… View this story
Locks and Hardware • Exterior • Enhancements • Product News

Ahh, the great outdoors. Fresh air, starry skies, crickets chirping, and a pretty funny Dan Aykroyd/John Candy movie to boot. But no longer are summer nights reserved for ghost stories around a crackling fire. Today, the ghost stories come in the form of movies, and the amber glow of the fire is replaced by the cool blue of a projector shining Candyman’s image onto an outdoor screen. Backyard theaters are a hit this summer. The winners for Electronic House Home of the Year - Best… View this story
Video Projectors • Video Screen • Deck and Patio • Exterior • How To • Home Theater • Info and Answers • Slideshows • Research