Project · Living room, kitchen and equipment rack

From open studs to one-touch music.

We got into this living room while the walls were still open. Speakers, TV wiring and controls were all placed before the drywall went up, then we built a lighted equipment rack in a kitchen closet to run it all.

Before and after

New drywall on a living room wall with openings cut for two in-wall speakers, a center speaker, the TV box and outlets

Before

Rough-in, with every opening planned.

Finished wall with a wall-mounted TV between two flush in-wall speakers, a center speaker below and a subwoofer beside the console

After

The same wall, finished and playing.

What we did

Planned at the studs, so nothing shows.

The cleanest installs are decided before the drywall. Every speaker, box and wire on this wall went exactly where we drew it.

  • Speakers built into the wall. Left and right in-wall speakers flank the TV, with a center speaker below it and a subwoofer tucked beside the console.
  • A TV with no cords showing. Power and video run inside the wall to the TV location, so the TV mounts flat and clean.
  • One rack for the whole house. Control4, Triad amplifiers, a receiver and even a turntable live in one rack in a kitchen closet.
  • Keypads that say what they do. Engraved buttons for the kitchen and dining lights, plus one-touch Spotify and Pandora.
The rack

Out of sight, easy to reach.

With the door closed, the rack is a dark panel beside the kitchen cabinets. Open it and the gear is lit, organized and easy to service, so a checkup takes minutes instead of an afternoon behind the TV.

Black equipment rack with a mesh door in a closet beside white kitchen cabinets

Door closed

Open equipment rack edge-lit in blue, with Control4 gear, Triad amplifiers, a turntable and a receiver

Door open

Control4 keypad with lit, engraved buttons for Kitchen, Dining, Spotify and Pandora
Everyday use

Music without finding your phone.

Spotify and Pandora each have their own button by the kitchen. Anyone in the house can start music, change the lights or turn it all off with one press, and the buttons are labeled so guests never have to ask.

Planning a remodel or a new build?

The best time to call us is before the drywall. We'll plan the wiring with your builder so every room is ready.

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