Dragging an underused garage loft out of the dust and into the limelight, the clients of this unique integration opted for a secluded space for video games. However, rather than be a simple chair in front of a television type set-up, the team at Horner Networks was instructed to go all out on developing an enviable game room, requiring its own deluxe equipment rack.
The client themselves already had a strong gaming system, so no updates were needed there. All Horner had to do was leverage its technological expertise to help the physical environment meld with the virtual. But while many gaming rooms cater to the individual experience, this one was to entertain a group of people, whether they were gaming or not.
It’s this recontextualization of the gaming experience that netted this project Gold in the CE Pro Home of the Year awards.
Getting the Visuals to Match On-Screen Energy
Of course, the centerpiece of any gaming setup is the display, and Horner Networks knew this well, selecting the picturesque Frame TV from Samsung to fulfill the duties. The main display measures 55-inches diagonally, installed on a razor arm mount so it fits flush with the wall while two 43-inch Frames accompany it to facilitate head-to-head multi-user gaming.
The visuals are already stunning, but Horner Networks sought to take it one step further to allow the room to match the energy of the gameplay. The addition of colored LED linear lighting gives the client the ability to inject an extra bit of verve into the room, though it wasn’t without its own challenges. Given how close the displays sit to the wall, fitting LEDs behind them proved difficult at first, so Horner built custom ¾-inch plywood backers to lift the displays and free up some space.

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Per the request of the game room designer, Horner Networks also decked out the command center with Proluxe Canvas Light Sheets to the room’s colorful acrylic artwork. These accent lights, combined with square, trimless architectural downlights from DMF Lighting make it so the full atmosphere of the space can shift on demand. All it takes is a touch of a button from a Control4 Neeo remote or the in-wall touch screen.
For delivering the immersive audio experience to room occupants, a Triad 5.1 surround-sound system does the job without drawing attention away from what’s happening on screen. Horner Networks was able to tuck the speakers and subwoofers away into the wall, while the Triad OnWall Mini-LCR speakers were custom-painted to blend right into the room décor.
Honoring an Unsung Hero of Gaming: the Network
As anyone who has played videogames before, any level of online or cooperative play can’t take place without a strong supporting network nowadays. That goes doubly so if anyone wants to stream their gameplay, either in house or to the grand theater of the internet.
Horner Network installed and configured a managed gigabit switch from Araknis Networks to deliver a rock-solid Wi-Fi connection throughout the home. This way, should family or friends want to join in on the action outside of the main command center, the gaming video can be broadcast to other displays in the home via Binary 4k media over IP components.
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