Having been in the audiovisual industry in Orange County for more than 35 years, we’ve seen our share of trends come and go when it comes to home theaters and home automation.
When we began working with Orange County homeowners in the 1980s and 1990s, it was all about having the latest technology on full display. We installed a lot of large-screen televisions and visible speaker systems that would become the focus of the home’s main living area.
Today, we’re noticing the trends shifting. Homeowners still want the large televisions and powerful speakers for entertaining or for their personal enjoyment, but they prefer to have them not so out in the open. They are either installing them in a dedicated home theater in their Orange County homes, or they want them installed in ways that are more subtle in their living areas, so the audio/video technology is not the main focus of the room’s design.
We recently ran across this article on the Electronic House website that talks about this very thing. It shows how some homeowners have embraced this trend and have chosen to cleverly hide or minimize the focus on their televisions when they are not in use. Televisions can be placed behind artwork or panels that slide to the side when it’s time to view your favorite show, sporting event, or movie. In a more elaborate setup, the article also features a television that slides out from behind the home’s stone chimney! For those homeowners who don’t want to completely hide their television, but still want to make it less of a focal point in the room, there are suggestions in the article as well.
When it comes to smart home automation, Orange County homeowners are also choosing to hide or minimize the control technology, rather than have it on full display. Strategically placed in-wall touch panels give homeowners all of the convenience and control that comes with smart home technology, without being an obvious addition to the home’s décor. Other homeowners choose to forego in-wall touch panels altogether, and instead opt to control their home’s systems with their smartphones or tablets.
What it all comes down to: Orange County homeowners want the luxury lifestyle and convenience that smart home and audiovisual technology can give them, but they don’t necessarily want it out in the open and obvious for all to see.
If you have considered home automation or home theater installation in your Orange County home, let us help you come up with a design that fits both the lifestyle you want and the look you want. We’ve been designing custom home theaters and home automation systems for many years in Orange County and would love the opportunity to work with you as well! Contact us today to get the process started!
