Challenge: How to have a swanky yet high-tech penthouse without any of the clutter that usually comes with having an entertainment system.

Solution: Hide all the components within the structure of the room, and use motors to reveal them only when you need them. This was the main goal of the homeowners when they hired Electronics Design Group (EDG), based in Piscataway, NJ, for the design and installation of a home theater. To create lifelike images, the room needed a big screen and a video projector, pieces that can be rather intrusive if not integrated carefully.

EDG delivered on its promise by placing the projector on a lift that rises into the ceiling and hiding a motorized screen inside a soffit over the fireplace mantle. The speakers were hidden as well: The front channels and two subwoofers went behind the panels of a custom-built cabinet, while the rear speakers were built into marble columns at the back of the room. A Crestron control system integrates everything and requires the homeowners to press just one button to lower the projector and screen, dim the lights and turn on all electronics equipment.

The Crestron AV2 control system was specially programmed by the homeowners' systems installation contractor to let them operate every component in the home theater.

The Sony VPH-D50HTU CRT video projector doesn't pop in until showtime.

Crestron's ST-1550C Color Wireless Touchscreen travels around the room as easily as the homeowners do.

The Sony TAE-9000 digital sound processor works with the TAN-9000ES five-channel amplifier to power a 5.1 digital audio setup.

Triad InWall Silver/6 horizontal speakers, Triad InWall Silver surrounds and a Triad InRoom Silver dual subwoofer fill the room with sound but are undetectable.

The Stewart Visionary VE092 H-MPerf motorized screen is 80 inches of pure enjoyment.

The ElectroKinetics lift that holds the projector was finished to minimize its appearance above the couch.

A Middle Atlantic AXS-S equipment rack allows a lot of equipment to be packed into a minimal amount of space.

Photography By William J. Psolka

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