Are there really no pantries, closets, utility areas, above/ under cabinet spaces for the dimming?

No, not in these areas... there really aren't.  I wish there were!

there aint no way in hell an inspector will allow the switches behind a blank down low. no way!

I like the idea of putting the switches behind art work. What about built in cabinetry/book cases? Put them in the sides or back of the book cases and cover them with books and expensive trinkets.

Can you get to the exposed joists? Why not just run conduit in the top corners and paint to match the exposed wood?

Typical designer... having these low mounted multiple gang cover plates everywhere is more acceptable than seeing conduit in an exposed ceiling. Reminds me of the guy im dealing with who wants to get rid of the speaker grills and replace them with hvac grates.

This is ugly and "unacceptable".



But this is "gorgeous and to die for".

I vote behind artwork! i cant see the customer getting upset having to go look for artwork :) i would but most enjoy doing that kind of stuff.

Hey mac, JC if this ID is being such a PITA how come you guys didnt spec the Sonance SA-3's? Budget concern or fidelity? would make everyone happy and certainly make your life a bit easier :) thos HVAC grates are hideous.

You can order those vents in any size or design.

http://fancyvents.com/

Could the switches be positioned behind those vents?

Paul, if they (switches) will be down low and behind furniture, why do you care if they have regular switch plate vs. blank? They won't be seen anyway, right?

DUDE! Nice find man! that is awesome, going in the bookmarks. This would have been perfect for a job i did last year. searched and searched for something on this line and gave up and came up with something different.

Our motto here: keeping the poor (us) poor and the rich (our clients) rich.

We are Hood Robin: we steal from ourselves and give to the rich.

In this case with the blank cover, it's not really a switch.  I see it as more of a control device.  Electricians stick relays, contactors and things like fan controller units and transformers in junction boxes behind blank plates all the time.

This isn't my call... the electrician on the job is going to be responsible for sorting out if we can do it from a code/inspection stand-point.  If he gets the green light, I'll check with Lutron to see what they have to say.

This is a very contemporary home that is going to be sparsly furnished and doesn't have any built-ins in these areas.  Even the art wont lend itself very well to concealing switches... one wall is going to have a large granite slab which is considered "art" and I think there is some sculpture.


I'm not sure I understand.  Are you suggesting mounting the switches up high or just trying to conceal conduit up high to reroute wiring?  I'm certain that any type of surface mount conduit won't fly with the client or designer.


I've done a few of these jobs in the past with speakers behind cast air vents.  Just dropped off a Velodyne SC sub a few weeks ago so the contractors can recess it into a wall and cover with an air vent that matches the rest of the house.  I guess big cast iron grates do look better than a painted speaker grill to some people?  The cast iron grates are expensive too.  They're spending more than the cost of the sub on the grate...

I've got at least two spots where there won't be any furniture (open wall), so have to find a solution.  I'd still be worried about having a bank of open switches down low on the wall (what happens if furniture changes), but don't really have a problem covering them up with a blank if this is what the client/designer want and it meets code.

I meant... use conduit to move all the switches to the other side of the home to a utility closet somewhere. This way there is no box or bank of switches just conduit leaving the drywall to the ceiling joist.

It's been a really good niche for me to fill.  There's lots of wealth in this area and I have a few well established competitors that do good high-end work with Crestron and AMX.  Instead of trying to compete with them, I've been successful selling lower-end products and control solutions.

My target client is someone that can afford the best of everything, but for whatever reason they just don't care enough about the technology stuff to need the very best.

I've developed the reputation of doing top notch work for high end clients using more value priced products.  I think I'd be struggling if I was a Crestron dealer in this market competing for the $200k-$300k, but as it is I'm booked out into June.

There are small utility/mechanical rooms at each end of the house, but the problem area is in the center open part of the home.  With the construction of the home and the number of loads it would be very expensive to re-route all the switch legs back to these locations to hide and they're already jam packed with other equipment and don't really have room for the switches either.

I'm sure it's possible to rewire, but would probably cost $10-15K.  If the switches can be placed low on the wall and covered with a blank the client & designer are happy (and I'm ok with it too).

This is the same house I posted a few weeks ago asking about speaker placement in a large room.  Had Stealth Acoustic roughed in at the request of the wife & interior designer and then yankled them out when the husband wanted more volume.