September, 2008

Wiring the cottage for light, sound and more

By EMMA LOVELL,
Cottage Home & Property Showcase

Years ago, a trip to the cottage in Muskoka meant a quiet escape from the fast-paced life of the city. Televisions and computers were left behind for campfires and board games. But for many, the days of the rustic retreat are long gone and the cottage is becoming a place to showcase easy living and the latest in home entertainment systems.

Entertaining Interiors is a company based out of Barrie that specializes in outfitting cottages and homes with complete entertainment systems. Brad Trew, the company’s president, says though many still consider the cottage a getaway, they can’t live without the convenience of home.

“When they get to the cottage, reality sets in and they realize they still want to be connected,” he says.
The solution is to install electronics in discreet and unobtrusive ways, often in walls and behind cabinetry. Some people even look to custom installations that allow screens to drop down from behind canoes on the ceiling or hide behind a painting or mirror. He says this helps people retain the Muskoka feel of their cottage without forfeiting their technology.
“With everything hidden away, they walk into their cottage and it still has that rustic feel, it still has that Muskoka look to it and they still feel as though they can relax there,” he says.

Trew recalls a project he started last summer near Port Carling. At this cottage he installed a complete audio/video system with a high definition television. He also installed several speakers in the ceiling of the home. All of the supporting equipment is grouped together in a electronics cabinet located in the office. Typically with these set ups, any CD players, IPods, DVD players or music servers (hard drives designed specifically for music storage) will be stored in a similar central location. Each source can then be controlled using LCD touchpads mounted in the walls throughout the home.

The homeowner is also able to control the system through an LCD  remote control which can be used to change the TV channel inside or adjust the volume from the outside patio. Trew also installed a simple lighting control system in the main living areas of the home.
Because the audio/visual equipment and lighting controls communicate through the keypads, Trew says this allows for an interesting feature.
“From his bedroom, at the end of the night, if he’s not sure he shut all the lights off, we give him an all-off switch. So he hits one button and that can take everything off throughout the cottage,” Trew says.

With any installation it is important to work with a professional to get exactly what you want out of your cottage’s entertainment system.
“You have to feel comfortable,” he says. “You’re putting your dream cottage in a bunch of other people’s hands and hoping at the end of the day when they’re finished that you can walk into it and it’ll be what you envisioned.”

For new builds, the process of outfitting a home with the latest in audio/visual equipment can begin as early as the groundbreaking stage. Dale Webb, co-owner of Avery Audio in Dorset, says it’s important to start thinking about wiring needs as early as possible.

“From a consumer’s point of view, they should really think hard about it as the plumbers and electricians are just starting. That gives them a couple of weeks to make decisions,” he says.
Webb makes initial contact with clients early to start walking through house plans and deciding where electronics will be placed in each room. With high definition television and intricate keypad systems, wiring needs are changing and Webb says it’s easiest and most cost efficient to do all the wiring before the walls are closed in. He says many people don’t think about electronics until the build is complete, which can be a costly mistake.

When wiring a new home, Webb also suggests homeowners think about wiring for the future.
“It’s important for the consumer to tell the professional what they might see down the road. Ask questions. What’s new coming? What’s the new trend? Put an extra wire in now because at least that leaves the door open for future changes,” he says.

At a Lake of Bays cottage Webb worked on last spring, wiring for the future was a major consideration. The homeowners discovered the importance of this step the hard way.
“One of the things that we learned with the very first installation that we did in the city was when you try to retrofit, it doesn’t work,” says the homeowner, who wishes to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns.

When they started thinking about their new cottage, the Markham-based couple spoke with Webb about what they were looking for then and how their needs might change in the future.
When Webb began, aesthetics were a major concern. In an effort to conceal the equipment, Webb installed speakers hidden in the ceiling throughout the home and painted them to match the light fixtures. Most of the­ equipment was hidden away in a cabinet in the basement and controlled by in-wall keypads throughout the home.

He also put a home theatre system in the basement. Due to space constraints posed by a stone fireplace, the view of the TV was compromised by the large mantle. As a solution, Webb mounted the TV on a swivelling arm inside the cabinetry that allowed the homeowner to pull the TV out from the wall and position it so it can be seen from any seat in the room.

When the TV isn’t in use it can be tucked back into the cabinets.
Webb also installed more than just what is visible. Inside the walls, wires lay waiting, in case the family’s needs ever change.
“It’s wired for what we need now as well as what the future plans are, so that just makes it very easy,” the homeowner says.

For instance, they are considering installing an extra TV on the upper floor to help elderly family members who may not want to go downstairs. Also, Internet access was spread throughout the home so that when the homeowners retire to the area and need a home office, they can still stay connected.

Unfortunately, Internet access was a major challenge with this project, which is a common problem throughout Muskoka.

“Access to Internet is definitely an issue. The problem that a lot of people have is that high-speed . . . is very localized to the villages and towns,” Webb says.
He adds that homeowners have several Internet options including wireless, if a tower is nearby, and satellite Internet. Another option that is gaining in popularity is accessing Internet through cellular towers. The final decision usually depends on cottage location and cost, Webb says.

With so many choices, it’s easy for a homeowner to get overwhelmed.
“The industry is becoming very specialized and it’s important to consult a professional to get an idea of what’s out there,” Webb says.

David Johann, owner of David’s Muskoka Audio Video in Bracebridge, says it’s important to choose a system that is right for the individual. He says customers are usually looking for equipment that is easy to use and reliable.

“We want to keep it really simple. That’s the key issue,” he says. “When you’re going out to look for home automation and electronics, it’s great only if you can work it. If you can’t work it, you just spent all this money for nothing.”

"Although simplicity is often the goal, Johann says systems are becoming more complex. Increasingly, people are turning to complete home automation systems that integrate multiple services in the home.

“You can really turn it up a notch with automated lighting, heating and air conditioning and surveillance cameras. These can all be displayed through keypads.”

Most people who are installing home automation systems are looking towards automated lighting, Johann says. These lighting systems include options like emergency settings that light up a pathway out of the house at the touch of a button. You can also turn the lights on and off remotely, often through the Internet or a cell phone. Some systems even sample how you use the lights in your home and can replicate that on a routine basis. Johann says many are wary of these systems, worried that they will be too difficult to operate.

“It just requires a little bit of planning right at the start,” he says. “The thing to urge is that we like to keep it simple. We sell to very intelligent people all the time, but they don’t maybe have time in their busy life to have to learn how to turn a light on."

If a reliable and easy-to-use system is installed and programmed correctly, they can make life significantly easier, he says.
With so much new technology on the market, Johann says the best idea is to consult a professional who can help you choose a system that’s tailored to what your individual needs are.

Although home automation systems are wired into new builds, there are options for homeowners with pre-existing homes and cottages as well.
“You might not do quite as much, but we can certainly do it,” Johann says. “It’s just more time involved and more costly.”

Common solutions include dropping wires through attics or ventilation ducts. There is also an array of wireless equipment for things like speakers, computers and televisions available. However, not everyone is ready to embrace wireless technology yet.

“With anything that’s wireless, I don’t care what it is, there are always little quirks and problems,” says Webb at Avery Audio. “Wires are always better than wireless.”
Webb adds that wireless technology is quickly evolving and perhaps in a few years, with new advancements, he will begin recommending wireless equipment to his clients.

No matter what equipment you choose, the best idea is to start planning early and consult a professional. Entertainment systems are often one of the last things homeowners think about, but something they will get the most enjoyment out of in the long run.