Snap One and its home automation and networking solution Control4 helped an integration firm tackle the high-end demands of owners of a Charlotte, N.C. home, allowing them to manage, monitor and automate every light, thermostat, AV component, camera and more as part of a complete Control4 Smart Home.
The client wanted a high level of performance from the systems installed in their newly built dream home, and they wanted those systems to go above and beyond anything they’ve ever used in their previous home, says Scott Newnam, CEO of Audio Advice, the integration firm hired for the job at the 14,000-square-foot home.
The project included a wide variety of technologies that were tied to an advanced control processor from Control4, which provided the homeowners the ability to control every piece of connected technology.
Bridging Control Gaps
Since the home was so large, the owners recognized that a centralized control system that not only manages DMF, LED linear lights and Lutron motorized shades, but also AV equipment, thermostats and a high-end security system.
“Most of the subsystems managed by the Control4 system are part of the Snap One family so they work seamlessly together,” says Newnam. This helped streamline the installation, and with the addition of an Araknis Wi-Fi network, assures the family the utmost reliability and performance of their home-tech investment.
The Control4 system in this project also included a Control4 smartphone app, remotes and wireless keypads that allows the use of a single command to instruct multiple devices. The system is intelligently automated, which helps the security system interact with the lights. For example, when the family leaves the home and arms the security system, anything left on is automatically turned off and the lights switch on and off to make the empty house look occupied.
Snap One’s OvrC monitoring system allows the family to manage the home remotely as it integrates with the home’s Control4 system.
Control of Entertainment Systems
The Control4 Smart Home system and its control features also control entertainment systems, such as music by the swimming pool, movies in the master bedroom, and in-ceiling speakers and Samsung TVs throughout the home.
However, the home also features a dedicated home theater, home gym and golf simulator that are all controlled by the Control4 platform.
“We designed these areas to rival the best in the world,” Newnam says.
The home theater is a 21-by-19-foot room and includes three rows of seating and high-end features, such as a 165-inch Stewart FIlmscreen paired with a 10,000-lumen Sony projector and JBL Synthesis sound system with Anthem processors, all synchronized to activate on command from a Control4 remote or touch panel. The lights in the theatre are also controlled by the system.
Next to the home theater is a Full Swing golf simulator that includes another high lumen projector, and next to that is a commercial-grade home gym featuring an 85-inch Samsung TV mounted flush with the mirrored walls and in-ceiling Bowers & Wilkins speakers.
Like the rest of the house, the Control4 system provides easy operation of all the technology.
“The home was designed during the COVID pandemic which inspired the family to include amenities that would make staying at home as comfortable and enjoyable as possible,” Newnam says. “We succeeded on every level with this amazing entertainment mecca.”
Control4 Smart Home Features Discreet Design
Despite the abundant technology, much of it goes undetected. Speakers disappear into the walls and ceilings, the master bedroom TV descends magically from the ceiling, and although visible, the Control4 wall keypads underscore the home’s minimalist design.
“When one keypad can do the job of several individual light switches, it drastically reduces wall clutter,” Newnam explains. “It turns what could have been a visual distraction into a beautiful process.”
The sleek, custom-engraved keypads contribute to the overall aesthetic, but Newnam acknowledges the master bedroom as the epitome of form and function coming together to create a one-of-a-kind smart home experience. Floor-to-ceiling windows across an entire wall add beauty to the space and called for a creative approach to the design and integration of technology. While aesthetically pleasing, the windows would require a significant amount of shading to darken the room for bedtime and movie watching.
The owners have a choice of sheers and blackout shades, each motorized to roll down individually from a hiding spot in the windows on command from a Control4 touch panel or keypad. The sheers let the owners enjoy the outdoor scenery while maintaining their privacy; the blackout shades completely block out the sunlight and automatically descend when the owners activate the 65-inch Samsung TV. Like the motorized cassettes that house the shades and the Bowers & Wilkins speakers, it too is tucked in the ceiling.
“The large expanse of glass limited wall space available to mount a TV, so we worked with the architect to create a cavity above the ceiling to place the TV there on a motorized lift that lowers it into the room,” adds Newnam.
