Wanting a new home theater doesn’t always mean leaving your old electronics behind. This homeowner wanted to add some spark to his existing viewing environment by upgrading to a two-piece projector-screen setup. He was plenty satisfied, though, with the Sony home theater in a box (HTIB) system he already owned. So when it came time to outfit his previously finished basement, the homeowner contacted Aurora, Ill.-based Epic Integrated A/V to expand that… View this story
Basement • Home Theater • Cool Homes

Director Spiro Razatos doesn’t make Steven Spielberg money, but he probably loves movies just as much. So when it came time to build his dream home theater, he couldn’t make it a big-budget production. Still, he had an epic vision. The stuntman-turned-stunt-coordinator and director has fond memories of sitting in vintage movie theaters with his dad. “Since I was a little kid I wanted to have a real theater where… View this story
Gaming Systems • Home Theater • Cool Homes

This homeowner is a big Macintosh fan, so when Apple’s iPhone launched in 2007, he was one of the first in line. Back then, his new home was under construction near St. Cloud, Minn., and awaiting the installation of a HomeLogic home control system. When Apple opened its app store to developers, “I was hoping HomeLogic would come out with something,” the homeowner recalls. Indeed, HomeLogic was one of the… View this story
Home Control Systems • Cool Homes

We are looking for some of the best do-it-yourself projects in the Electronic House universe! There are so many great projects out there. Now, we want to compile them into a book for all to admire. Submit your room to be a part of our special publication! Also, many projects will be featured on ElectronicHouse.com, where an additional 178,000 viewers will get the chance to drool over your handiwork. We… View this story
DIY Home Theaters • DIY Special • Cool Homes

Life can be peachy on a motor-yacht. But if you want to go to sea with all the comforts of audio/video and control systems, plan carefully. All systems on board need to be protected from salt air and moisture, prewired properly and not take up much space. The 85-foot La Belle Yvette makes waves not only with several LCD TVs, 11 zones of audio and five Xbox extenders, but with… View this story
Multiroom Audio • Home Control Systems • Cool Homes

Paul Snyder didn’t just create a home theater in his spare bedroom. He turned it into a production. This artist/DIYer wanted the goodies that come with having a theater room, but certainly didn’t sacrifice any of the details. “As a visual artist, I usually have a detailed vision in my mind before I dive into any project,” says Paul. “This one was no exception.” With that frame of mind, Paul… View this story
DIY Home Theaters • Themed Theaters • Home Theater • Cool Homes

We’ve seen homes secretly redecorated on programs like HGTV’s While You Were Out, but this was the first time we’ve run across a covert electronics overhaul. Ryan Herd, owner of 1 Sound Choice, Pompton Plains, N.J., came up with the grand scheme a few months ago. “We had all the equipment ready to go; we were just waiting for the right time to strike.” That time came when Herd’s parents… View this story
Multiroom Audio • Multiroom AV • Home Control • Cool Homes

The owners of this 22-by-18-foot theater had no intention of updating their 1970s-style basement rec room. They were going to leave it as is, and focus their remodeling efforts on main living areas of the house. Their remodeling plan would include adding a Control4 control system to automate the lights and thermostats, and spread music and video to speakers and TVs throughout the house. The contractors and interior designers hired… View this story
Rec/Play Room • Home Theater • Cool Homes

These Minnesota homeowners had a few criteria for their new family room, according to Shane Seira of Minneapolis custom electronics pro Sensory Experience Design (SED). “First, they wanted it to function as a living room first and as an audio/video room second,” says Seira. “One of them wanted a 53-inch TV, the other wanted great sound ... and neither wanted bulky equipment taking up space.” They owners decided early on… View this story
Living Room • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Cool Homes

This home theater certainly puts the custom in custom electronics. From the design details to the personalized programmed scenes, all of this homeowner’s requests were granted as one could only hope for in a home theater. “This dedicated theater is completely custom designed, and the owner loves it,” says Ryan Lipkovicius of Southern California-based Audio Impact, which did the installation. “The home is custom, the theater is custom and the… View this story
Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Cool Homes