Set high above the valley with uninterrupted views from an infinity-edge pool, the Mountain Top Valley Ranch Home stands as a rare example of truly invisible luxury automation, courtesy of California-based integrator, Audio Impact.
Rather than placing technology on display, this residence was designed around creating a wellness retreat where architecture, environment and human biology work in harmony.
At the core of the home’s automation ecosystem is a single, fully-custom app that unifies control of everything in the home, from lighting to TVs to fireplaces to even the front entryway. Interaction is intentionally minimal as a means to support relaxation.
Designing a Wellness Retreat vs. a Traditional ‘Smart Home’
Photos by Kyra Mitchell
Unlike many luxury residences that emphasize interfaces, touchscreens, and visible hardware, the Mountain Top Valley Ranch Home was conceived as a spa-style getaway.
It is frequently used as a weekend retreat where phones are put away and daily routines slow down.
Automation plays an invisible but essential role, relying on lighting, motorized shading and discreet motion sensing to shape the luxury experience without requiring constant user input.
The result is an environment that responds naturally to occupants and allows guests to remain present in the space instead of having to constantly manage it.
Circadian Lighting Tailored to a Specific Mountain Valley
Photos by Kyra Mitchell
Lighting was treated as a foundational wellness element throughout the project. A fully integrated circadian lighting system spans the entire home, down to the smallest under-cabinet LED tape light, ensuring that every light source contributes to the overall biological rhythm of the space.
What elevates the system beyond conventional circadian programming is a rooftop-mounted light sensor calibrated to the home’s exact mountain valley location.
Rather than relying on generic presets, the system measures real-time outdoor conditions and mirrors them indoors, supporting natural sleep cycles, comfort and overall wellbeing.
Invisible Technology Requires Uncommon Collaboration
Photos by Kyra Mitchell
Achieving a completely hidden technology aesthetic required extraordinary coordination across nearly every trade involved in construction.
Electricians worked closely with the integration team to ensure all lighting could be tied into the circadian system while bathroom contractors coordinated plumbing layouts so custom tub nozzles would not interfere with concealed Roman shades.
Pool contractors aligned underwater lighting and programming with the home’s relaxed wellness atmosphere, prioritizing calm and balance over dramatic visual effects.
Security was handled with equal care. Cameras were fully concealed to avoid any sense of being watched, while still providing comprehensive coverage.
For designers, architects and AV integrators alike, the project offers a compelling blueprint for the future of luxury residential design where automation is unseen but deeply felt.
Photos by Kyra Mitchell
Systems & Equipment
- Smart Home Control, Sensors, Lighting and AV Distribution
- Crestron
- Outdoor Lighting
- FX Luminaire
- Surveillance
- Luma
- Power Management
- Wattbox
- Shading
- Crestron w/ custom Hardman and Forbes Shades
- TVs
- Samsung The Frame and Terrace
- Speakers (Indoor and Outdoor)
- James Loudspeaker
- Sonance
- Origin Acoustic
- Networking
- Araknis
- Ruckus
This project is part of our coverage for the 2025 CE Pro Home of the Year Awards. Presented annually at CEDIA Expo, the Home of the Year Awards represent the best of the best smart home innovations within the CEDIA channel. If you have a project you would like to submit to the Home of the Year Awards, consider following CE Pro if you aren’t already for when we announce the next submission round.
Photos by Kyra Mitchell
Photos by Kyra Mitchell
Photos by Kyra Mitchell
