Home Theaters and Electronic Houses (Hardcover, Large print ed)

Pull up a seat for a colorful tour of sound-proofed, silver-screened retreats fit for movie stars, Starship commanders, and sultans. Take an ultra-privileged tour through some of today's finest high-tech homes, where room-by-room sensors and touch-pad controls put lighting, sound, temperature, and security at your command. Watch screens descend or ascend from unexpected hiding places, projectors appear, and windows disappear in James-Bond-like mechanical transitions. And enjoy flat-screen and plasma entertainments in the most unexpected places: shower stalls, pool rooms, home sports bars, and more. This is the only book that offers an inside look at the ultimate techie fantasies, culminating in today's hottest home trend -- more than 80 dedicated home theaters. Many of these fantasy rooms were drawn straight out of sci-fi, classic films, and even Westerns, embodying the fantasy of Hollywood. Others are to-die-for interiors created by designers in today's hottest styles. Visit basement hideaways that deliver the ultimate theater experience, while doubling as hurricane shelters. There are also bedrooms, playrooms, garages, and even attics that have been remodeled into state-of-the-art theaters and media rooms. Included are equipment lists for many of the projects, and discussions about the art of wiring, and advice on choosing a professional to help you transform your home. This is a lip-smacking look at a luxury that is becoming an increasingly popular domestic investment. Packed with dazzling, mind-blowing pictures of home theater systems and media/rec rooms, the book is sure to inspire and excite movie enthusiasts, architects, and designers looking for insight to the hi-tech world of electronic homes.