Exquisite Exquisite Environments Hip, Smart, and Stylish Environments 1
Dedicated to my parents Ross and Joan. Thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams and believing in me.
First published in the United States of America in 2010 by Electronics Design Group, Inc. 60 Ethel Rd W STE 5 Piscataway, NJ 08854 www.EDGonline.com Š 2010 Electronic Design Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without consent of the publishers.
Photography by Bill Psolka, Writing by Rebecca Day, Design by Mark Pruce and Matt Korostoff.
Introductions Forward by Julie Jacobson....................................................7 Introduction by Bob Gullo ..................................................9
Home ......................................................... 11
Business ..................................................... 97
Outdoors .................................................. 117
Recognition ............................................. 128 5
Forward Julie Jacobson
Editor/Co-founder, EH Publishing
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spent years trying to get Bob Gullo on the cover of CE Pro, the trade magazine for custom electronics firms like Electronic Design Group – although few in the country are anything like EDG.
Time and again, Bob thanked me for the attention but insisted, “We’re not ready. I want to wait until the business is just right.”
So one day in 2001, Bob calls and says he’s ready. He didn’t mean that his suit was neatly pressed, the floors in the office freshly cleaned and his desk buffed to a glossy finish. Nor did he mean that the big-screen TV in the conference room had been mounted and the numerous company awards dusted and displayed. What he meant is that EDG had honed its technical operations and business practices to the point that even a perfectionist like Bob would finally believe what his customers, his peers, the press, and the industry had been saying for years: that EDG is a model integration company.
“...a company-wide commitment to quality, efficiency and customer service.”
Many successful home systems integrators pride themselves on the glamorous projects they complete for their discriminating clients. At EDG, such jobs are simply the by-product of something deeper – a company-wide commitment to quality, efficiency and customer service. True, it’s a “culture” thing, but it is also engrained in the information systems that Bob began to create once EDG grew beyond a two-person shop. He leaves nothing to chance, even for the smallest jobs. “The process is all the same,” Bob told me nine years ago. EDG codifies everything from how its wiring diagrams are created and stored, to how it partners with cabinet makers and interior designers, to when it’s time to check in on clients. As a 16-year editor of Electronic House magazine for consumers and CE Pro for the trade, I’m not supposed to play favorites. But I’ve got a soft spot for Bob and the award-winning company that EDG has become. Congratulations on the successes embodied in this beautiful book.
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Introduction Bob Gullo
President & CEO, Electronics Design Group
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hat do the Internet, smart phones, laptops, GPS, TV remotes, and the microwave oven have in common? Technology. Whether you love technology, or simply accept the fact it’s a part of our daily lives and culture, this book bridges the gap between technology and aesthetics, showcasing beautiful estate homes, hip apartments and corporate boardrooms use of technology, woven into the environment, some so stealth the transformation itself is magic. The devices we use every day have changed. No longer is television programming confined to the living room today. For example, 52 percent of all Americans now watch video online, ranging from short amateur clips to television programming or movies. From You Tube®, to Netflix® or Hulu®, content is being delivered instantaneously and mobile devices continue to explode from smart phones to the latest web tablets which allows us to have our content when we want and where we want. The challenge to keep up is endless, getting devices to work with each other is daunting and finding a reputable Technology Consultant is just as hard. We have met the needs and challenges of our clients by listening carefully, and designing creative solutions that blend harmoniously into the environment. From disco ceilings that magically appear, or TV’s disguised as mirrors, or a media room with 18 video images. Together we’ll dream it, and engineer the solution to make it happen. Many of the projects you’ll see in this book, are among the more than 40 won national awards with which we have been honored for technical excellence, innovation, and business acumen. Our software solutions extend beyond the boundaries of your home or office, thanks to powerful mobile digital devices such as the iPhone® and iPad® and Andriod devices. While I’ve made a career in Technology and admire how useful and powerful it can be, I also understand that, if you’re like most consumers, you may easily get frustrated when you experience the dark side of technology. You press a button, and what you expect to happen doesn’t. Now what? Sound familiar? We have a Client Care Center just for that purpose, and often we solve these issues remotely, thanks to the Internet and software. EDG continues it’s quest to deliver innovative and creative solutions, built on the latest platforms and technologies that leverage cloud content, web browsers, and powerful mobile digital devices. After 23 years, our firm continues to be excited and energized by the possibilities of what we can create for you. To quote the great visionary CEO Steve Jobs, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Being innovative is in our DNA, it’s who we are, it’s what we’ve always done, we never follow, always lead.
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Homes
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It’s customary for New York area residents to flock to the Jersey shore on any given weekend. This family takes it to a new level. The stunning family compound in Locust, NJ, was built in the image of an elegant Italian villa, marrying East Coast sophistication with Mediterranean style. As with most luxury homes today, whole-house entertainment is an integral part of the amenities package. Threading the wires required for a whole-house electronics network requires careful planning throughout all stages of the construction process. Here, EDG worked closely with architect Robert Adler Associates and builder Navesink Estate Homes to ensure that all electronic subsystems--music, video, security, heating and cooling, lighting and security--were integrated seamlessly and invisibly into the design of the home.
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The sprawling shore home is an expression of the homeowner’s passions, including entertaining and deep-sea fishing. The main attraction is a 15,000-gallon Romanthemed saltwater aquarium—complete with columns—which showcases various species indigenous to the area. More than a few of the tank’s permanent residents are prized catches reeled in by the owner himself. Measuring 35 feet long by 7 1/2 feet tall, the tank’s curved fascia serves as one wall of a lower-level recreation area that’s part bar and part lounge, complete with its own soothing waterfall. The aquarium is safeguarded by sophisticated monitoring that ties into the whole-home Crestron automation system that manages all subsystems on the property. In the case of an aquarium emergency, a flashing alert is sent to all touch screens in the house. Any disruption to pump function or changes in water or salinity levels automatically trigger an alert that goes house-wide via the Crestron system. While the local talent swims circles around one side of the rec room, a 60-inch plasma TV, mounted on the wall inside a Roman arch near the bar area, entertains guests with football, baseball or maybe even a deep sea fishing show. It’s the perfect way
to pass a lazy weekend afternoon. With a tap of a button on a touchscreen remote control, the room sheds its tranquility blanket and kicks into high gear. A loud siren signals the start of Saturday night fever, and the aquatic themed ceiling mural gives way to a pulsing discotheque complete with commercial-grade rigging supporting an active array of gel spotlights, effects projectors, disco balls and pro speakers. The space in front of the fish tank becomes a dance floor and it’s party time. Music for the home is supplied by a Request audio server that can be accessed from
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all rooms wired for speakers and control panels. In the rec area, EDG also installed a special set of audio jacks for live entertainment. The owner can set up and plug in a portable DJ stand for the ultimate dance party. When it’s time for serious entertainment, the owners and special guests stroll through the French doors, past the tiled gallery and relax in the dedicated theater, a seven-seater with reclining chairs, personal cup holders and a jumbo 106-inch screen. Guests sit beneath a fiber optic starlight ceiling and wait for the show as the stars fade to dark. Seven hidden B&W in-wall speakers and two powerful 10-inch Triad in-wall subwoofers deliver a powerhouse surround-sound experience capable of extracting the most subtle nuances of a quiet drama to the gut-thumping explosions of a thriller. From sports to dance to theater, it’s just another day at the beach.
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Thanks to the super-thin and lightweight designs of flatscreen TVs, installers can devise creative solutions for hiding TVs where you wouldn’t think of putting one before.
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HD Living Magazine Winter 2009 “...There’s no greater testament to how satisfied a customer was than to hear from the customer himself. Thankfully, this customer was so enthused about the outcome of his project with EDG that he agreed to speak with HD Living. “My goal for the project was to not have a closed-in room,” the client recalls, “but to have a room [in which] you’d have all the benefits of a home theater, but [also] have the freedom and accessibility so that when you entertain, everybody can participate in [the space].”
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Lighting control is about more than dimming fixtures and setting scenes. Today’s advanced lighting control systems manage both artificial and natural light to help manage energy costs and offer aesthetic benefits. Electronic shades can be programmed to lower at a set time of day, gliding silently and in unison to create impressive effects. Energy-efficient LED lighting—available in a wide spectrum of hues—offers color ambiance options that can dramatically or subtly change the mood of a room.
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You want to see a TV when your favorite programs are on and then have it disappear when the TV goes dark. Motorized lifts lower a screen into a cabinet when not in use, allowing you to have a larger TV without having it take over a room. Touchscreen programming sets it all into motion with the push of a button.
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Wireless technology allows apartment owners to enjoy the benefits of lighting and shade control without having to install special wiring. 43
The main challenge of this room was its unconventional size, 11 feet wide, 17 feet long, and 7 feet high—much smaller than a traditional theater space. This turned both audio and video engineering into a surgically precise process. The end result is phonic perfection and simply unrivaled video performance.
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East wing, lighting diagram
“Our job is to blend the technology into the background and let the clients enjoy it.� Joe McNeill EDG Systems Consultant
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Energy management systems help save money on utility bills. By combining occupancy sensors with lighting and temperature control, installers can program subsystems to operate at comfortable levels in occupied mode and to cut back to moneysaving levels when no one is present. Timed events and “scenes� such as winter weekday or summer weekend can put lighting and climate control on convenient, automated, and energy-efficient schedules.
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Custom integration is all about balancing homeowners’ wishes and needs with the latest technology. In this project, the client’s passion for high-end audio required that Wilson Audio speakers for optimum performance along with a legacy cassette deck, high-end tuner and more contemporary gear as well. For easy access, electronics were flush-mounted in a custom-designed cabinet and framed by wood paneling to match the decor. EDG integrated the electronics with the home theater and a whole-house music system that delivers music to various zones in the four-level home. In the end, not only was the client able to hold on to his venerable gear, but it became much more accessible when matched with a Crestron multi-room audio system. 59
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Large windows can be friend or enemy to your utility bill. Electronically controlled shades open in winter to bring in warm sunlight. In summer, lowering shades reduces solar heat gain.
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Integration at Home 2007 “[The Client’s] requests were quite straightforward: ensure that the theater is simple and easy to use. When the project was finished, we had to do a thirty minute training session with the family and that was it. Needless to say, they were very happy about that.”
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“It’s what I call a day and night application. The video projector is used mostly in the evening for watching films and sporting events. The flat panel is for more of the everyday TV watching.” Bob Gullo President/CEO, EDG 81
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The clients’ main objective was to have the ability to control all lighting and shading in their home, but to also have clean walls that were free of dimmers and switches. With roughly 17,000 square feet of space in the entire home, this was a large task which ended with an exceptionally breathtaking result. The clients requested motorized shades on the architectural style windows in the great room, as well as UV protection for their many rare and antique wood furnishings and fabrics they collect. One of the challenges we faced was the size of the space. The living room is over 1,600 square feet of open floor plan, which posed a challenge when it came time to control all the shades with only a few options for keypad locations. There were limited options for control, so we created “user-friendly” intuitive shading “scenes” for all keypad locations. The shading scenes were also programmed to manipulate the shades that cover the doorways so that owners can conveniently access the outdoor areas. We also included an infrared remote to easily control all shades in this large space from the different floors and the high-traffic locations in the home, such as the kitchen, dining area and office. In addition to the home’s living room with its striking windows and spectacular view of the New York City skyline, the home is also fully equipped with audio/video equipment installed in various media rooms throughout the home and a multi-room audio system. The large living room creates an unusual footprint within the home; from this main room stem many other smaller rooms, including the home’s bedrooms,
office, and kitchen
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Business
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Like many upscale properties today, this condominium development along the Hudson offers all the comforts of home—and then some. High on the perk list is the amenity space, a duplex living room designed for socializing, entertainment and billiards. The showpiece attraction of the two-story space is the community theater, built in home-theater style. The goals in a community theater are similar to what clients look for in a home theater: impressive sound and picture quality at a reasonable price—along with bulletproof reliability. EDG selected the Digital Projection D-Vision projector for this installation for its picture quality and reliable dual-lamp design so that there’s always a backup lamp available when one loses its shine. “Make it simple to operate” is the top request EDG receives from customers. Here, residents press TV or DVD on a Crestron touchscreen remote control and the
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choreography of steps mimics that of a commercial theater but in a much cozier setting: the projector powers on; surround-sound processor, amplifiers and DVD player turn on and switch to the proper settings; and the lights dim to a level comfortable for viewing. The only manual labor required is to slip a DVD into the player. Concealing the electronics was essential to match the atmosphere of the luxury building so EDG installers tucked the stack of electronics into a closet off the rear of the room. The projector is stashed in an enclosure above the seats and speakers hide in the walls behind acoustically transparent material matched to the room decor. To accommodate the younger set--and a few not-so-young players--EDG added a video game jack to the equipment stack, enabling residents to plug in their player of choice and take the wireless controller to their seat. It doesn’t get much better than “Call of Duty” on the big screen with sound coming at you from all directions. Amenity may be one word for this high-end entertainment space. Residents here just call it home sweet home.
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Yankee Club Restaurant
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Outdoors 117
With homeowners today taking great care to maintain beautiful grounds including lush landscaping, gardens, patios and more, luxury outdoor living has reached new heights. It’s no wonder that more and more people want to extend the outdoor season well into the fall and even winter months. Outdoor fireplaces and heaters help set a comfortable climate for year-round al fresco living. Televisions and whole-house music systems add to the fun. Thanks to marine-grade stainless-steel cabinets, weatherproofed screens and clever installation options, custom integrators can design outdoor audio/video systems that withstand elements including heat, humidity, rain, and dust. Add clever installation tricks—hiding flat TVs inside motorized lifts or protective housings or disguising speakers inside rock-shaped enclosures in the landscaping—and you can safely enjoy your favorite music and sports outdoors while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of your surroundings. Go ahead, take the party outside. Outdoor living never looked or sounded as good.
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Without walls to reinforce sound, outdoor spaces require more loudspeakers for adequate coverage. You can disguise those speakers in various ways—as part of landscaping equipment, inside rock-shaped cabinets or hidden under leaves. Here, a deck speaker is concealed inside a dual-purpose teak planter.
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Outdoor TVs are built tough to withstand the elements, but to protect them further installers can mount them on motorized lifts that store the TV in a protected housing when not in use. Mounting a TV over a fireplace enables you to maintain one general focal point in the space.
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Awards and Accolades CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards Best Home Theater
CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards Best Media Room
2003
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2010
2010
1997
1996
2009
2008
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2007
2006
2006
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2002
CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards Best Integrated Home
2010
2007
2005
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2006
CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards Best Hidden Installation
2006
Electronic House Home of the Year Awards
2004 2010 - Best Home Theater
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CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards Best Dressed System
2010 - Best Integrated Home
2001
CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards Best Special Project
2008
2009- Best Fun Room
2009 - Best Kitchen
2008 - Grand Spaces
2007- Best Media Room
2009
CEA Mark of Excellence Awards 2006 - Best Media Room
2010 - Innovation Award 2010 - Ultimate Home
2006 - Best Home Theater
2007 - Luxury Home
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Associations Hall of Fame 2009 American Society of Interior Designers, Industry Partner Dealer of the Year, 2005
American Institute of Architects, Industry Partner Dealer of the Year, 2004
American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Provider
CEPro Top 100
Home Technology Specialists of America
National Systems Contractors Association
InfoComm International Member
Editorial Recognition Audio-Video interiors “Home Theater Aficionado” December 1996
CEPro “No Show!” December 2001
Electronic House “Electronic Lifestyles Awards” February 1998
Living the Electronic Life “Lake View Sanctuary” Winter 2002
Audio-Video Interiors “Castle on the Hudson” March 1998
Electronic House “Ultimate Multi-Tasker” January 2003
Home Theater “The Electronic Butler” October 2001
Electronic House “Dreams to Reality” April 2003
Residential Systems “Hidden Assets” November 2001
Electronic House “Everything Under the Sun” July 2003
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Custom Home “Vintage Charm” August 2003
Electronic House “Very Hot!” March 2004
The Robb Report Collection “On the Market” September 2003
Robb Report “Accidental Opulence” March 2004
Residential Systems “Behind the Scenes Talent” November 2003
Custom Retailer “Most Vital Influencers” April 2004
Home Entertainment & Design “Into the Woods” October 2003
Home Cinema “An American Dream” June 2004
Living the Electronic Life “Saturday Night Fever” Winter 2004
Connected “Do the NFL Right” September 2004
Electronic House “Dream On” October 2004
Overtime Magazine “Picture This” Winter 2005
Residential Systems “EDGing Out the Competition” November 2004
Electronic House “Wall-Thru-Wall Dreams” April 2005
Electronic House “All-Purpose Pleasures” November 2004
Intelligent Homes “The Smart Home, Take One” Annual 2006
Home Entertainment “Rustic Grandeur” Nov-Dec 2004
Integration at Home “Innovative Design” November 2006
CEPro “People Person” September 2005
Residential Systems “The Winding Road” May 2006
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Electronic House “Pump Up the Volume” May 2006
Integration at Home “Home Sweet Home Theater” November 2007
CEPro Retailing “Show Time” September 2006
Intelligent Homes “Noble Moderne” Annual 2007
New Jersey Life “Hollywood at Home” October 2006
Electronic House “Cozy Confidential” May 2007
Electronic House “Interior Motives” November 2006
Sound & Video Contractor “Designer Home Theater” August 2007
Robb Report “Sophisticated Synchronicity” December 2006
Electronic House “Entertainment with Purpose” August 2007
Electronic House “Electronics Set the Mark” August 2007
HD Living “Family Matters” Winter 2008
HD Living “At Home with Design” Fall 2007
HD Living “A Team Effort” Spring 2008
Electronic House “Motorized Sun Block” October 2007
Home Entertainment “Masculine to the Max” September 2008
Design NJ “The Smart House” Oct-Nov 2007
HD Living “Award-Winning Integration” Fall 2008
Electronic Lifestyles “CEDIA Award Winners” Winter 2008
HD Living “Award-Winning Dreams” Winter 2009
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CEPro “CEPro Top 100” May 2009
HD Living “Award-Winning Dreams” Fall 2009
HD Living “Condo Merger Control” Spring 2009
Intelligent Homes “Noble Moderne” Annual 2007
Electronic House “Reeling in Fish and Fun” May-Jun 2009
Prestige “Back to the Future” Fall 2009
Electronic House “Willing to Compromise” Jul-Aug 2009
HD Living “Service on Steroids” Winter 2009
Electronic House Ultimate Planning Guide “Everyone’s Invited” Annual 2009
Electronic House “Parting Shots” Jan-Feb 2010
Electronic Lifestyles “Stunning Visuals” Winter 2010
Living In Magazine “Paradise Found” August 2010
American Luxury Estates “Villa Paradisio” January 2010
HD Living “The Good Life” Summer 2010
Electronic House “NYC High-Rise Eyes 18-Source Video Wall” May 2010
Custom Retailer “21 of CEDIA’s Finest Salute Solidarity” Summer 2010
ProAV “Classic Comforts” July-August 2010
HD Living “Home Technology Guide” Fall 2010
Electronic House “29 Pro Tips for Outdoor Electronics” July 2010
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Credits Architecture by Allan Greenberg Architects Andre Kikoski Andre Tchelistchef Estudio Arg. Campo Baeza Gordon Kahn and Associates Hiland Hall Turner Architects Jon Letterer KSM Designs Leonard Martelli Mancini Duffy Mendham Design Architects, LLC Paul Barlo and Associates Porraro Associates Robert Adler and Associates Architects Stern-Ring Associates Wentworth Group Zale Contracting Building By American Building Corporation Caruso Excavating Company, Inc. Centerplate Conti Enterprises
CSR Construction Design Laboratories, and Dessins, LLC Eberle Builders Inc. Greg Alto Jeff VanSchoick John Wright Designs Kimmel Construction Matzel and Mumford MDK Contracting Monmouth Custom Builders, and Martelli Signature Homes Palomar Associates, Inc. Plaza Construction Polo Master Builders Seneca Builders Smith and Wells Chartered Structuretone TAAS Construction Xhema Custom Builders of Greenwich, LTD Design By Chandani Design CMS Innovative Cslt Decor Installations
Distinct Design Group E. Jeanne Costine Interior Design Great Room Inc. Haynes Roberts Joey Horton Karen Bowen Interiors Montalbano Design Group Robert So Designs Scott Keen Tess Giuliani Woodwork by Artisan Custom Molding and Design F.L. Feldman Associates NJ Hardwoods Springlake Kitchen and Bath LLC Landscaping by Cross River Design Inc Land Concepts Inc. LanDesign, Inc. Twin Industries
Electrical Contracting by A&S Electric Basking Ridge Electric Electric Design Gerber and Harrington John Millar Lindstrom Electric Monmouth Electrical Verona Electric Inc Additional Contracting by Aggressive Mechanical Contractors Inc. Airflow Systems Comfort Conditioning Highland Heating and Cooling Kerwin Protect Alarms Rosenberg Window Treatments Tom Rostron Ultimate Security Systems
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Contact EDG 60 Ethel Rd W STE 5 Piscataway, NJ 08854 EE@EDGonline.com 732-650-9800
Learn more online EDGonline.com EDGonlineblog.com facebook.com/EDGonline en.wikipedia.org/electronics_design_group ExquisiteEnvironments.net
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