Family Room Weaves Stunning A/V, Architecture
By Arlen Schweiger
This southern California space can be casual, modern and fun with a mix of beautiful woodwork and easy-to-operate audio and video.

Family rooms can sport many types of looks - formal, casual, fun, modern, or traditional. This southern California space tries on a bit of everything. It mainly serves as relaxation spot for both parents and kids to sit and watch TV. Dig deeper, though, and this family space is about more than flipping channels.

The 8-inch wireless Crestron touchpanel allows the family access to a dozen audio and video sources, plus command of house-wide systems such as lighting, HVAC, security and the pool and spa.



“They didn’t want to spend a ton of money - though there were certain [expensive] things that they really wanted, like Runco TVs and Kaleidescape - but they wanted a really good, high-value whole-house system with some nice perks,” says systems designer Patrick Martinez of Los Angeles-based DSI Entertainment Systems.

The family room was part of a major home renovation, and DSI worked closely on the project with the architect, designer and cabinetmaker. That collaboration took much of the hassle out of the installation and wiring, especially given the amount of mahogany woodwork the homeowners requested throughout the room.

That meant providing precise measurements for the cabinet cavity containing the 65-inch plasma TV and for the shelf space for the front-channel loudspeakers. The lack of traditional wall space meant bookshelf speakers were concealed behind cabinet doors finished with metal mesh to allow sound flow. A pair of in-ceiling speakers in the room’s fireplace area is used for background music listening.

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