Recently Filed in Home of the Year Awards 2006

One of the most difficult rooms to incorporate technology into is a master suite. Aesthetics usually rule in this room, which means TVs, speakers and other gear must remain as imperceptible as possible. And sometimes, as is the case with this project, getting the gear to blend in is nearly impossible. The owners of this master suite wanted to watch TV from bed, but didn’t want to disrupt the room design by adding a piece of furniture to hold the set. The best solution was… View this story
TV Mounts • Bathroom • Bedroom • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Some people head to the beach when they want to get away. Others crave the solitude of a long car ride in the country. But for the owners of this fantastic master suite, relaxation is just down the hallway of their 5,000-square-foot Grand Rapids, MI, home. After a tough day at work and a long commute, the executive couple can dim the lights, start some music and sink into their whirlpool tub for some well-deserved downtime. “The homeowners placed a huge emphasis on their master… View this story
Multiroom Audio • Multiroom Video • Bedroom • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Most of us would be happy with a backyard containing a pool, a patio, maybe a cabana and bar area, and a couple of speakers so we could listen to some tunes while we relaxed and entertained. Not the owners of this Southern California playground. Their backyard entertainment is so extensive, they need a golf cart path to link the 3.5 acres of fun. There’s the requisite patio and pool—and a spa, a stream, a putting green, a bandstand, a tennis court, a gazebo and… View this story
Outdoor Speakers • Touchpanels and Keypads • Exterior • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Home Theater • Audio • Home Control • Cool Homes • Slideshows

This family room in a house previously owned by comedienne Carol Burnett is much more than a comfy, sunny room with a nice home entertainment system. The room originally was designed to view a TV in an old-fashioned cabinet that the equipment rack currently occupies. The owner wanted a projection system and the screen to run parallel with the fireplace. To make the speakers unobtrusive, audio/video contractor Sound Decision came up with the idea of three housings containing the Phase Tech speakers. These speakers use… View this story
Video Screen • In-Wall Speakers • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Most days, the library in this traditional New England home functions as a comfortable spot to settle in with a good book. Filled with plush furniture, stately bookcases, sun-drenched windows and a magnificent fireplace, it’s a favorite room of the entire family. At 256 square feet, the space is roomy as well, making it a great place for the homeowners to entertain company or play games with their three children. The owners have two choices when it comes to entertaining in this area. They can… View this story
Library • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Gold Winner:A Cut AboveAll you really need to know about the owner of this entertainment pavilion is that after the $1.3 million construction, he was standing in the room while some jazz by Duke Ellington was playing, and he found himself tapping his feet and saying, “Ah, now that’s a cut above.” Silver Winner:Deep Rooted TheaterMaybe it was the Mission-style spindles on the backs of the chairs that caught our attention, or perhaps it was the alabaster-colored ceiling pendants that drew us in. Whatever it… View this story
Media Room • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Gold Winner:Magic ShellHome theater designers know a good space when they see one. It’s a room that’s rectangular shaped, has no windows and is large enough to fit in a huge screen. Unfortunately, those perfect rooms can be hard to find, especially when you’re working in a home that has already been built. Silver Winner:The Bass-MasterRarely do we get emotional about equipment lists. We realize that a home theater is far greater than the sum of its electronics parts. A theater’s true worth is measured… View this story
Media Room • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Gold Winner:Pump Up the VolumeA renovation of a New Jersey family’s 25-year-old-house inspired the homeowners to turn their dark and dreary basement into a state-of-the-art home theater. Like most basements, this one offered plenty of space to incorporate the standard big-screen display, a slew of speakers and comfortable seating, plus a pool table and a bar at the back. But this home theater space is far from common. Silver Winner:Contemporary RoadNo, it’s not your average home theater experience. And that’s just what the owners of… View this story
Media Room • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Gold Winner:Whole Lot of FunAs a custom home builder, Doug Cull knows the value of a house made for entertaining, so when he embarked on building this $2.4 million, 7,000-square-foot spec home outside of Cincinnati, he knew he had to offer some spiffy built-in home entertainment systems. That meant a whole-house audio system, a “pub room” complete with music and a plasma screen for entertaining friends, and, of course, a really nice home theater. Silver Winner:The Big BangNo one owns this award-winning theater yet, but… View this story
Media Room • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Gold Winner:The Power PartyImagine for a moment that you’re an ex-music-industry guy who’s now in the technology business. You regularly host parties at your house for your friends, including some from the music and technology scenes. There’s mingling, maybe some dancing. Sound like fun? Silver Winner:Hidden GrandeurMost days, the library in this traditional New England home functions as a comfortable spot to settle in with a good book. Filled with plush furniture, stately bookcases, sun-drenched windows and a magnificent fireplace, it’s a favorite room of… View this story
Family Room • Media Room • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Home Theater • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Imagine this for a winter vacation: You ski in Aspen all day, then return to your luxurious mountain house to rest your weary muscles. And you head right for the bedroom. Ahh, such a soft sanctuary. But you don’t sleep—at least not yet. You listen to some of your favorite music as you and your honey soak in the bath’s Jacuzzi tub. The tunes float over the water from four in-wall speakers tied to an AudioReQuest hard drive music server, or perhaps a favorite channel… View this story
Home Control • Digital Media Servers • Bedroom • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Cool Homes • Slideshows

Gold Winner:Home Suite BedroomImagine this for a winter vacation: You ski in Aspen all day, then return to your luxurious mountain house to rest your weary muscles. And you head right for the bedroom. Ahh, such a soft sanctuary. But you don’t sleep—at least not yet. Silver Winner:A Great GetawaySome people head to the beach when they want to get away. Others crave the solitude of a long car ride in the country. But for the owners of this fantastic master suite, relaxation is just… View this story
Bedroom • Home of the Year Awards 2006 • Cool Homes • Slideshows