Log Home Goes High Tech
By Steven Castle
Elan, URC and Just Add Power combine to provide robust video and control options in this natural, old-time design.

It appears straight out of Bonanza, or one of those old-time western shows: A big log-hewed ranch on a hill—a hark back to the past.

Looks can be deceiving, though, as this 18,000-square-foot log home in upstate New York’s Taconic Hills is anything but dated. It’s stuffed with all of today’s high-tech amenities: a home theater with 7.1-channel surround sound, a whole-house audio system streaming Pandora music to 12 listening zones and 92 speakers, eight HDTVs, five full surround-sound systems, lighting control and a whole-house control system from Elan with in-wall touchscreens conveniently located in the kitchen and near the master bedroom.



Each of the four people who live in this house wanted to be able to control and access his or her individual DVR from any of the eight video displays.

They also asked that custom electronics firm Amenitek of Pittsfield, Mass., set up a system that would allow them to roam their expansive digs with an iPad or cordless phone without service interruption.

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