1

ExquisiteEnvironments

Exquisite EnvironmentsHip, Smart, and Stylish

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 byElectronics Design Group, Inc.60 Ethel Rd W STE 5Piscataway, NJ 08854www.EDGonline.com© 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.

5

IntroductionsForward by Julie Jacobson....................................................7

Introduction by Bob Gullo ..................................................9

Home ......................................................... 11

Business ..................................................... 97

Outdoors .................................................. 117

Recognition ............................................. 128

ForwardJulie JacobsonEditor/Co-founder, EH Publishing

7

I 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 opera-tions and business practices to the point that even a perfec-tionist 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.

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 com-pany-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 cabi-net 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 sup-posed 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.

“...a company-wide commitment to quality, efficiency and

customer service.”

IntroductionBob GulloPresident & CEO, Electronics Design Group

9

What do the Internet, smart phones, laptops, GPS, TV remotes, and the mi-crowave 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 deliv-ered 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 solu-tions that blend harmoniously into the environment. From disco ceilings that magically appear, or TV’s dis-guised 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 tech-nology. 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.

11

Homes

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.

13

15

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 Roman-themed 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

17

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

19

21

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.

23

25

Thanks to the super-thin and lightweight designs of flat-screen TVs, installers can devise creative solutions for hiding TVs where you wouldn’t think of putting one before.

27

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].”

29

31

33

35

37

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.

39

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.

41

43

Wireless technology allows apartment owners to enjoy the benefits of lighting and shade control without having to install special wiring.

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.

45

East wing, lighting diagram

47

“Our job is to blend the technology into the background and let the clients enjoy it.”

Joe McNeillEDG Systems Consultant

49

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 money-saving 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.

51

53

55

57

59

Custom integration is all about balancing homeown-ers’ 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, electron-ics 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.

61

63

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.

65

67

69

71

73

75

77

79

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.”

81

“It’s what I call a day and night application. The video projec-tor is used mostly in the evening for watching films and sporting events. The flat panel is for more of the everyday TV watching.”

Bob GulloPresident/CEO, EDG

83

The clients’ main objective was to have the ability to control all light-ing 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 liv-ing 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,

85

office, and kitchen

87

89

91

93

95

97

Business

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 bil-liards. 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 bul-letproof 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

99

choreography of steps mimics that of a commercial theater but in a much cozier setting: the projector powers on; surround-sound pro-cessor, 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 atmo-sphere 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.

101

103

105

107

109

111Yankee Club Restaurant

113

115

117

Outdoors

With homeowners today taking great care to maintain beautiful grounds includ-ing 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 ele-ments 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 surround-ings. Go ahead, take the party outside. Outdoor living never looked or sounded as good.

119

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.

121

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.

123

125

127

Awards and Accolades CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards

Best Home Theater CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards

Best Media Room

CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles AwardsBest Integrated Home

2009

20102003

2008

2008

1997

2006

2006

2003

2008

20102001

2007

2007

1996

2005

2006

2002

2010

129

Electronic House Home of the Year Awards CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards

Best Hidden Installation

CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards

Best Dressed System

CEA Mark of Excellence Awards

CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards Best Special Project

2010 - Best Home Theater

2009- Best Fun Room

2008 - Grand Spaces

2006 - Best Media Room

2010 - Best Integrated Home

2009 - Best Kitchen

2007- Best Media Room

2006 - Best Home Theater

2006 2004

2003 2001

2008 2009

2007 - Luxury Home2010 - Innovation Award2010 - Ultimate Home

Associations

Dealer of the Year, 2005

Hall of Fame 2009

Dealer of the Year, 2004

Home Technology Specialists of America

American Society of Interior Designers, Industry Partner

American Institute of Architects, Industry Partner

American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Provider

National Systems Contractors Association

InfoComm International Member

CEPro Top 100

131

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

Editorial Recognition

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

133

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

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

135

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

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

137

Electronic Lifestyles

“Stunning Visuals”

Winter 2010

ProAV

“Classic Comforts”

July-August 2010

Electronic House

“29 Pro Tips for Outdoor

Electronics”

July 2010

Living In Magazine

“Paradise Found”

August 2010

HD Living

“The Good Life”

Summer 2010

HD Living

“Home Technology Guide”

Fall 2010

American Luxury Estates

“Villa Paradisio”

January 2010

Electronic House

“NYC High-Rise Eyes

18-Source Video Wall”

May 2010

Custom Retailer

“21 of CEDIA’s Finest Salute

Solidarity”

Summer 2010

Architecture byAllan Greenberg ArchitectsAndre KikoskiAndre TchelistchefEstudio Arg. Campo BaezaGordon Kahn and Associates Hiland Hall Turner ArchitectsJon LettererKSM DesignsLeonard MartelliMancini DuffyMendham Design Architects, LLCPaul Barlo and AssociatesPorraro AssociatesRobert Adler and Associates ArchitectsStern-Ring AssociatesWentworth GroupZale Contracting

Building ByAmerican Building CorporationCaruso Excavating Company, Inc.CenterplateConti Enterprises

CSR ConstructionDesign Laboratories, and Dessins, LLCEberle Builders Inc. Greg AltoJeff VanSchoickJohn Wright DesignsKimmel ConstructionMatzel and MumfordMDK ContractingMonmouth Custom Builders, and Martelli Sig-nature HomesPalomar Associates, Inc.Plaza ConstructionPolo Master BuildersSeneca BuildersSmith and Wells CharteredStructuretoneTAAS ConstructionXhema Custom Builders of Greenwich, LTD

Design ByChandani DesignCMS Innovative CsltDecor Installations

Credits

139

Distinct Design GroupE. Jeanne Costine Interior DesignGreat Room Inc. Haynes RobertsJoey HortonKaren Bowen InteriorsMontalbano Design GroupRobert So DesignsScott KeenTess Giuliani

Woodwork byArtisanCustom Molding and DesignF.L. Feldman AssociatesNJ HardwoodsSpringlake Kitchen and Bath LLC

Landscaping byCross River Design IncLand Concepts Inc.LanDesign, Inc.Twin Industries

Electrical Contracting byA&S ElectricBasking Ridge ElectricElectric DesignGerber and HarringtonJohn MillarLindstrom ElectricMonmouth ElectricalVerona Electric Inc

Additional Contracting byAggressive Mechanical Contractors Inc.Airflow SystemsComfort ConditioningHighland Heating and CoolingKerwinProtect AlarmsRosenberg Window TreatmentsTom RostronUltimate Security Systems

Contact EDG

Learn more online

60 Ethel Rd W STE 5Piscataway, NJ 08854EE@EDGonline.com732-650-9800

EDGonline.comEDGonlineblog.comfacebook.com/EDGonlineen.wikipedia.org/electronics_design_groupExquisiteEnvironments.net

141