Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

A basement area with zone audio. The zone audio system extends to the entire home, and is capable of tuning to a variety of sources, including AM and FM radio, satellite and internet radio, any video source (satellite, DVD/Blu-Ray, network attached storage/NAS media, device-streamed video, etc.), as well as audio discs, MP3 players, notebook computers, network-attached media players, and handheld devices (smartphones/tablets) via streaming services. The television pictured is connected to the home's hub of smart technology, and is capable of receiving satellite programming, streaming audio/video via tablets and smartphones throughout the home, DVD/Blu-Ray movies shared throughout the home, as well as media and content stored on the home's network via network attached storage (NAS). Sound is managed through the TV itself, or via the zone audio system, with local speakers located in the ceiling throughout the home, and pictured here. This home is controlled by a Control 4 home automation system, providing complete cinema, lighting, source, and audio control from tablets and smartphones throughout the home. Photo: DemNET Technologies

Pembrooke Fine Landscapes designed and built this luxury outdoor living room in East Hampton. A modern pavilion is the centerpiece with a full kitchen, fireplace and living area. The kitchen features several modern conveniences including a kegerator, a wine refrigerator, ice maker, dishwasher, a grill and more. The TVs are controlled by a fully integrated Lutron system allowing customized audio, video and streaming of programs. The tennis court is built to USTA standards. The gunite pool and spa is heated and a changing area outdoor shower and bathroom are all located within the outdoor space.

We designed, prewired, installed, and programmed this 5 story brown stone home in Back Bay for whole house audio, lighting control, media room, TV locations, surround sound, Savant home automation, outdoor audio, motorized shades, networking and more. We worked in collaboration with ARC Design builder on this project. This home was featured in the 2019 New England HOME Magazine.

We designed, prewired, installed, and programmed this 5 story brown stone home in Back Bay for whole house audio, lighting control, media room, TV locations, surround sound, Savant home automation, outdoor audio, motorized shades, networking and more. We worked in collaboration with ARC Design builder on this project. This home was featured in the 2019 New England HOME Magazine.

We designed, prewired, installed, and programmed this 5 story brown stone home in Back Bay for whole house audio, lighting control, media room, TV locations, surround sound, Savant home automation, outdoor audio, motorized shades, networking and more. We worked in collaboration with ARC Design builder on this project. This home was featured in the 2019 New England HOME Magazine.

This condo is located in Key Biscayne FL. It features an elegant eight link music distribution system, stereo in the Master room, Dolby pro and DTS 5.1 Surround sound in the Living room using a Bang & Olufsen BeoSystem 1 as main decoder and a full active loudspeakers system. V. Gonzalo Martinez

We designed, prewired, installed, and programmed this 5 story brown stone home in Back Bay for whole house audio, lighting control, media room, TV locations, surround sound, Savant home automation, outdoor audio, motorized shades, networking and more. We worked in collaboration with ARC Design builder on this project. This home was featured in the 2019 New England HOME Magazine.

This compact but spacious apartment is located in Capitol Hill, Washington DC. It features a comprehensive systems integration with two link music distribution system. Stereo in the Master bedroom, and Dolby Pro & DTS 5.1 Surround sound in the Living room, using a Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4 “1080p Broadcast grade Plasma display”, BeoSystem 1 as main decoder, BeoCenter 2 as an Audio & Video Source, BeoSound 5 Media Player as Audio & Pictures Source, Kaleidescape Media Player as Video & Audio Source, Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 4000, BeoLab 3, and BeoLab 2 Subwoofer, using Acoustic Lent Technology® through most loudspeakers for good sound image reproduction. AXIS Communications Network Video Cameras for Surveillance, and Ruckus Wireless for the best high performance Wi-Fi available to man kind. V. Gonzalo Martinez

This compact but spacious apartment is located in Capitol Hill, Washington DC. It features a comprehensive systems integration with two link music distribution system. Stereo in the Master bedroom, and Dolby Pro & DTS 5.1 Surround sound in the Living room, using a Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4 “1080p Broadcast grade Plasma display”, BeoSystem 1 as main decoder, BeoCenter 2 as an Audio & Video Source, BeoSound 5 Media Player as Audio & Pictures Source, Kaleidescape Media Player as Video & Audio Source, Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 4000, BeoLab 3, and BeoLab 2 Subwoofer, using Acoustic Lent Technology® through most loudspeakers for good sound image reproduction. AXIS Communications Network Video Cameras for Surveillance, and Ruckus Wireless for the best high performance Wi-Fi available to man kind. V. Gonzalo Martinez

This condo is located in Key Biscayne FL. It features an elegant eight link music distribution system, stereo in the Master room, Dolby pro and DTS 5.1 Surround sound in the Living room using a Bang & Olufsen BeoSystem 1 as main decoder and a full active loudspeakers system. V. Gonzalo Martinez

We designed, prewired, installed, and programmed this 5 story brown stone home in Back Bay for whole house audio, lighting control, media room, TV locations, surround sound, Savant home automation, outdoor audio, motorized shades, networking and more. We worked in collaboration with ARC Design builder on this project. This home was featured in the 2019 New England HOME Magazine.

This condo is located in the heart of Down Town Dade Land FL. It features a simple but yet High Performing Surround Sound, with two link music distribution system, Stereo Audio Visual in the Master bedroom, Dolby pro and DTS 3.1 Surround Sound in the Living room, using Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4 “1080p Broadcast grade Plasma display”, a BeoSystem 3 as main decoder, BeoSound 9000 as an audio source, Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 7-2, BeoLab 8000 and BeoLab 11, this compact Home Theater System has a big sound reproduction and one of the most attractive video images. V. Gonzalo Martinez

Widescreen home cinema. SIM2 Digital projection with variable lens adjusting to widescreen movies and standard 4K format tv programming. Allows maximum use of viewable space to create and immersive experience for widescreen movie experience. ALR screen by Screen Innovations provides deep black levels. Install dwell fabric and sound absorption ,concealing high performance Triad speakers powered by Dolby Atoms processing and amplifier equipment. Control system by Control4 for simple one touch control of audio , video and lighting. Custom seating for open lounge experience.

This condo is located in the heart of Down Town Dade Land FL. It features a simple but yet High Performing Surround Sound, with two link music distribution system, Stereo Audio Visual in the Master bedroom, Dolby pro and DTS 3.1 Surround Sound in the Living room, using Bang & Olufsen BeoVision 4 “1080p Broadcast grade Plasma display”, a BeoSystem 3 as main decoder, BeoSound 9000 as an audio source, Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 7-2, BeoLab 8000 and BeoLab 11, this compact Home Theater System has a big sound reproduction and one of the most attractive video images. V. Gonzalo Martinez

This condo is located in Key Biscayne FL. It features an elegant eight link music distribution system, stereo in the Master room, Dolby pro and DTS 5.1 Surround sound in the Living room using a Bang & Olufsen BeoSystem 1 as main decoder and a full active loudspeakers system. V. Gonzalo Martinez

This condo is located in Key Biscayne FL. It features an elegant eight link music distribution system, stereo in the Master room, Dolby pro and DTS 5.1 Surround sound in the Living room using a Bang & Olufsen BeoSystem 1 as main decoder and a full active loudspeakers system. V. Gonzalo Martinez

The clients enjoy entertaining guests in their home. They enjoy sports events, but don't necessarily enjoy the hustle 'n bustle of going to the stadium, finding a place to park, and in the case of football, freezing to death. They much prefer sharing the ambiance of their comfortable home, offering snacks and drinks from the bar, and enjoying a round of pool during intermissions and halftime, or watching halftime shows on a state-of-the-art home theater. These clients were so committed to this enterprise, they dedicated their 3,000 sq’ basement, except those areas already used for utility, storage, and mechanical needs, the renovation.To make sure the clients' every wish was met, a complete entertainment area was designed and constructed with ease of movement, lighting, and safety in mind. The area would include a home theater with totally wireless controls, a pool room, and a social area replete with a commercial-grade wet bar. The home theater consists of a screen within a custom cabinet system that also houses the complete audio-visual equipment center. Speakers are nestled in custom benches with the sound cones discretely hidden behind fabric panels. The motor for the panel that hides the screen when not in use is behind a similar fabric panel.The furniture style cabinet has Shaker style doors with walnut peg inlays and leaded glass panels. There are multiple lighting "scenes" for ambiance; low-voltage lighting inside the crown molding, and recessed can lights are discretely placed so that they can provide an extra level of illumination when required.The pool room was walled with a custom wainscot paneling with clear cherry stiles and rails finished with a clear satin lacquer. The panels are of Madagascar ebony with a light satin stain and a clear lacquer finish. A custom cue rack was constructed from clear cherry and backed with the Madagascar ebony panel.Drink rails were custom fabricated from cherry and custom crown molding was fabricated to match the rest of the house. The space is lit with a combination of recessed lights and a series of hidden lights behind crown molding for dramatic effect. The bar area is topped with a custom crown detail to contain the lighting. The bar is constructed in the same manner and fashion as the theater and pool rooms with Shaker style cabinetry with square walnut peg in the door corners and decorative leaded glass door fronts with more than enough front and back bar space to serve and enjoy drinks and snacks. Entry behind the bar is through custom, bi-directional butler doors. A custom bottle display and storage area takes up the bottom half of the bar's back wall. And, for the sake of convenience, a full size automatic dishwasher is installed under the bar for cleaning glasses and stemware. The bar is also tricked out with an espresso machine, its own flat screen TV and AmX video controller. The bar is lit with puck lights in the upper cabinets that illuminate downward through glass shelves, and low-voltage lighting is used behind the bottle display. The bar itself is lit by a series of earthen tone pendant lights.All three areas complement each other and are in total harmony with the remainder of the house. Moldings were matched, carpeting styles were chosen to complement rather than compromise, and muted, natural colors and textures were chosen that complement the surroundings. There is a seamless transition between the newer areas of the home and those already in everyday use. The entire area is a nebula of electrons operating servos, quietly opening and closing hidden switches, mysteriously dimming and brightening lights, and not only creating an alluring atmosphere, but one that is programmable, available at the touch of a finger to a heat sensitive screen, for an individual, or a group. At a single touch the lights in the theater and bar areas dim as the theater screen lowers into viewing position. Not only does the AMX controller open and close shades and window treatments to facilitate better viewing, but on an entirely different level it controls the very access to the property. It opens and closes entryways, external doors and gates as well.None of this magic came easily. Electrical circuits were at a premium. Over heating plagued the AV rack, and pesky rays of light seemed to creep in where and when they were least welcome. An exhaust fan was installed in the AV cabinet to dissipate the heat. New electrical outlets were scheduled and placed while others were moved. The bar area received custom wire chases hidden within the cabinetry. Exterior roll-a-way shutters, all controlled from the AMX controller, were installed and programmed as the answer to those pesky light rays.

The clients enjoy entertaining guests in their home. They enjoy sports events, but don't necessarily enjoy the hustle 'n bustle of going to the stadium, finding a place to park, and in the case of football, freezing to death. They much prefer sharing the ambiance of their comfortable home, offering snacks and drinks from the bar, and enjoying a round of pool during intermissions and halftime, or watching halftime shows on a state-of-the-art home theater. These clients were so committed to this enterprise, they dedicated their 3,000 sq’ basement, except those areas already used for utility, storage, and mechanical needs, the renovation.To make sure the clients' every wish was met, a complete entertainment area was designed and constructed with ease of movement, lighting, and safety in mind. The area would include a home theater with totally wireless controls, a pool room, and a social area replete with a commercial-grade wet bar. The home theater consists of a screen within a custom cabinet system that also houses the complete audio-visual equipment center. Speakers are nestled in custom benches with the sound cones discretely hidden behind fabric panels. The motor for the panel that hides the screen when not in use is behind a similar fabric panel.The furniture style cabinet has Shaker style doors with walnut peg inlays and leaded glass panels. There are multiple lighting "scenes" for ambiance; low-voltage lighting inside the crown molding, and recessed can lights are discretely placed so that they can provide an extra level of illumination when required.The pool room was walled with a custom wainscot paneling with clear cherry stiles and rails finished with a clear satin lacquer. The panels are of Madagascar ebony with a light satin stain and a clear lacquer finish. A custom cue rack was constructed from clear cherry and backed with the Madagascar ebony panel.Drink rails were custom fabricated from cherry and custom crown molding was fabricated to match the rest of the house. The space is lit with a combination of recessed lights and a series of hidden lights behind crown molding for dramatic effect. The bar area is topped with a custom crown detail to contain the lighting. The bar is constructed in the same manner and fashion as the theater and pool rooms with Shaker style cabinetry with square walnut peg in the door corners and decorative leaded glass door fronts with more than enough front and back bar space to serve and enjoy drinks and snacks. Entry behind the bar is through custom, bi-directional butler doors. A custom bottle display and storage area takes up the bottom half of the bar's back wall. And, for the sake of convenience, a full size automatic dishwasher is installed under the bar for cleaning glasses and stemware. The bar is also tricked out with an espresso machine, its own flat screen TV and AmX video controller. The bar is lit with puck lights in the upper cabinets that illuminate downward through glass shelves, and low-voltage lighting is used behind the bottle display. The bar itself is lit by a series of earthen tone pendant lights.All three areas complement each other and are in total harmony with the remainder of the house. Moldings were matched, carpeting styles were chosen to complement rather than compromise, and muted, natural colors and textures were chosen that complement the surroundings. There is a seamless transition between the newer areas of the home and those already in everyday use. The entire area is a nebula of electrons operating servos, quietly opening and closing hidden switches, mysteriously dimming and brightening lights, and not only creating an alluring atmosphere, but one that is programmable, available at the touch of a finger to a heat sensitive screen, for an individual, or a group. At a single touch the lights in the theater and bar areas dim as the theater screen lowers into viewing position. Not only does the AMX controller open and close shades and window treatments to facilitate better viewing, but on an entirely different level it controls the very access to the property. It opens and closes entryways, external doors and gates as well.None of this magic came easily. Electrical circuits were at a premium. Over heating plagued the AV rack, and pesky rays of light seemed to creep in where and when they were least welcome. An exhaust fan was installed in the AV cabinet to dissipate the heat. New electrical outlets were scheduled and placed while others were moved. The bar area received custom wire chases hidden within the cabinetry. Exterior roll-a-way shutters, all controlled from the AMX controller, were installed and programmed as the answer to those pesky light rays.