The rules were simple for this living room entertainment system in a mountain home in Asheville, N.C. "We don't want to see the electronics and we need to keep it below $8,000," the homeowners said. That was music to the ears of installers at Harmony Interiors of Asheville. "We're often most proud of the solutions we devise for customers with modest budgets," says Scott Varn, vice president of marketing at Harmony Interiors.

Hiding the InFocus high-definition LCD projector in a soffit near the ceiling was a no-brainer, but Harmony took it to the next level by matching the wood of the soffit to the chestnut bookshelves in the center of the room. Disguising the center-channel speaker was the challenge. The Harmony designers found the solution in an antique box on the bookshelf. They slipped the Bose ADAPTiQ speaker in and sneaked wires through the back. When it's time for a movie, the couple pops open the box.

The 80-inch Draper screen rolls down when needed, and its manual operation fits the earthy style of the room. So how did the owners like their concealed entertainment system? "We knew we had fulfilled the mission when we completed the job and they asked us when we could start," Varn says.

NOTES

• The Bose BUILT-INvisible Acoustimass bass module was designed to wedge inconspicuously between floor joists. Only an air vent reveals its location.

• Bose's BUILT-INvisible speakers can be mounted flush in the wall or on the wall to meet various requirements.

• Bose designed its AV18 Media Center to be controlled via radio frequency (RF) so users can operate equipment that's hidden behind cabinet doors.

• The 7.5-pound InFocus ScreenPlay 5000 LCD projector hides inside a custom-built soffit.

• Draper's 80-inch Silhouette Series M projection screen rolls up into the soffit above the bookcase when not in use. "Why spend another $800 for a motor?" Harmony's Scott Varn asks. "They didn't need more."

-- Rebecca Day

Systems and room design Harmony Interiors Asheville, N.C. http://www.harmonyinteriors.com

Photos: Scott Arthur

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