CEDIA's Favorite Home Theaters
By Steve Crowe
The home theater finalists for CEDIA's Electronic Lifestyles Designer Awards.

The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) is holding its annual Electronic Lifestyles Designer Awards, which recognize excellence in the residential electronic systems industry.

The awards are broken into the following categories: Home Theater, Media Room, Integrated Home, Special Project, Hidden Installation, Show Room, and Special Project.

Each entry is reviewed and judged over a three-month period based on specific criteria put forth by two qualified panels judging on the technical aspect of the project and the design/aesthetics of the project. The technical panel is made up of five CEDIA residential electronic systems contractor members. The design panel is made up of members from the American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Interior Designers.



Voting is now Open
New for 2010, CEDIA has partnered with HGTVPro to give consumers and professionals an option to select their favorite project from each category. The CEDIA/HGTVPro.com Audience Choice Award voting ends Sept. 10, and the winners will be announced at CEDIA Expo 2010 on Sept. 25. Winners will be selected in the Large Home Theater, Integrated Home, and Media Room categories.

Finishing Touches
We had just completed a home automation system in the rest of the home when the client expressed an interest in finishing the basement. Their goals were simple. Create an area where the children could play and entertain friends while adding a private movie theater. We were to build a 7.1 theater with two rows of seating, lighting control, HVAC control, a projector, and a 110” screen with a strict budget.

Simple Elegance
The client was looking to convert an unused billiards room with a TV into a dedicated theater with seating. The client wanted to keep a simple look that continued with the design of the house since the theater was open to the basement. The client wanted a way to easily close the room off when in use but also keep it open when they entertained.

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