Interiors

When Interiors Winter Park needed to change their computer system, Storch was called in to solve the problem of how to network the point-of-sale server which was to be installed in an out building with no network wiring.  Wireless was the obvious solution, except for the fact that the out building was constructed of corrugated steel.  We solved the problem using a combination of a super high power, Enterprise-class, wireless access point and creative installation of the remote computer's wireless transmitter.

Storch Selected for Home Automation Project

We are excited to announce that we have been chosen to install the electronics systems in the house shown above (rendering).  The scope of our service will include the design, installation and control of the entertainment systems, lighting, window shade control, security (burglar and fire), intercom, ethernet and wi-fi and closed circuit television.

Custom Painted Speaker Grilles

I can't count how often I see either white speaker grilles on painted walls or speaker grilles that have uneven paint or clogged holes.  Thanks to Triad, this is no longer a problem.

Triad now offers custom paint match services that allow us to match any speaker grille to the color of the wall. The best part is that they professionally spray multiple coats of paint on the grilles and then cure them at the factory!

The photos above show a package of a set of grilles we just received.  The project was a retrofit and the client did not have the original paint samples or any reference number (who keeps that?).  We simply sent a few sections of the wall that we cut out for the speakers into Triad's custom match department.

In addition to providing a perfect match to the wall color, Triad also includes a small bottle of the paint for touch up.

Villa Siena Continues

Our work at Villa Siena in Winter Park, see prior post for the original design, continues.  To date, we have completed the video projection and equipment rack in the media room as well as the system for the master suite.  The photos below illustrate our progress.

Current Grand Opening a Success

Current is now open!  The grand opening party, catered by Luma, featured a red carpet with a live interview area as well as a pair of Lamborghinis provided by Ulimate Motor Works.

Our contribution, and I quote the owner, was the "a$% kicking stereo system."  A great time was had by all.

CONCERT VIDEOS!!!

Why do modern bands insist on the "singer-songwriter" model?  Especially with so many great songs available for reinterpretation.  

I admit to loving cover songs, I must have a dozen versions of "Fly Me To The Moon."  Frank Sinatra, Ella Fittzerald, Diana Krall and Oscar Peterson (to name but a few) have all performed their version of this song.  Why don't more performers, specifically rock/pop artists, do this?

Performers I like performing songs of other artists I like is a particular thrill for me.  Tie this into a complete audio AND visual experience and I'm in heaven.  With this said, I feel compelled, spoiler ahead, to recommend three concert videos:

1.  David Gray LIve in Slow Motion (DVD only, no BluRay) performing the Cure's Friday I'm in Love

2.  John Mayer Where the Light Is performing Tom Petty's Freefalling (3 piece acoustic band)

3.  Foo Fighters Live at Wembley Stadium performing Led Zepplin's Rock and Roll and Ramble On

NOTE ON FOO FIGHTERS: Led Zep songs include guest appearances by John Paul Jones and Jimmie Page

Run, don't walk, to see this BluRay!

Current update

Our work is almost complete in Current.  As mentioned prior, Current is the new contemporary men's clothing store on Park Avenue.  Shown in the photos are our equipment rack featuring the Sonos music streaming player allowing access to any Internet-based music including last.fm, pandora, Sirius and Rhapsody.

In keeping with the trend of the store, employees will be able to browse the Internet for the most up-to-date music for instant playback.  The equipment includes only the best professional gear from JBL and Crown.

Family and Game Room Retrofits

Storch recently completed this retrofit in an RJV home located in Winter Park.  Our systems included entertainment areas in the family room and second floor game room.  The family room system routes music throughout the first floor and outdoor summer kitchen. 

Dual Display

Storch Entertainment Systems introduced the idea of the "dual display" system for this home theater in Winter Park and provided design assistance to the project.  We also provided the video projection monitor.

This type of installation is becoming more popular with many of our clients, especially those who do not have the space or lifestyle for a traditional home theater.  A dual display system provides the best of ALL worlds, namely:

For daily TV viewing, a standard flat panel TV is used (65 inch in this photo).

This allows the room lights to be at any level.

It is also better for news programs, sit coms, reality shows, etc.

For movies, concerts and sporting events, the electric video screen descends in front of the flat panel.

In this installation, the drapes close and the lights dim automatically. 

For space planning, this is a winner also as no additional room is required to enjoy the impact of a really large picture.

If you love movies (or concert videos), a large, video projected image is unbeatable for bringing the cinema experience home.  

Villa Siena

Shown is our latest system design.  The drawings show Villa Siena, the condominium on the corner of New England and Interlachen streets in Winter Park.  This unit features a media room as well as living room with bar and wine center.  The dual level balcony offers views of the chain of lakes.

Our design will include a turn-key media system including a ceiling mount video projector and integration with a game console for the kids to play Rock Band.  The drawing shows our plan for the front wall.  In addition to the media room, Storch Entertainment will install wall mounted plasma TVs and sound throughout.

Current Clothier

We are happy to announce that Storch Entertainment Systems has been chosen to supply the music system for Current. Located on Park Avenue and opening in late February, Current will offer only the best casual men's fashion.  

Storch was chosen to design and install a high performance, easy to use system that will not only provide great sound, but will be reliable 24/7/365.  We will provide photo updates as this project progresses.

A day at the Beach

Storch Entertainment Systems recently installed this installation at Ponce Inlet.  This is a great example of a very simple system that can easily be retrofit into any home (or condo in this case).  The owner did not want a lot of complication or unnecessary components and even opted out of a DVD player.  The HDTV cable box and Apple TV offer a tremendous amount of content and on-demand movies and TV shows.  Additionally, the Apple TV was synchronized with the owner's laptop and includes thousands of songs and family photos.

Pictured is a 50 inch 1080P plasma with custom height left and right speakers with a component rack below.  As we were interested in a minimum of (or no) disruption to the walls, we opted for sound quality over quantity.  Specifically, the system includes only two high quality speakers, with no surround sound.  In any given budget, why spend time and money installing 5 or 6 mediocre speakers that will only result in poor sound quality when two good (and well placed) speakers will deliver a far better musical (and television) experience?

Fish Fan(?)

As electronics systems technicians, we are often asked for unique solutions for doorbells, gate triggers, lighting control, etc.  On this project, we were asked to design and install our first fish fan.  The tank pictured is a salt water aquarium with artificial sun lights (that get the area hot!).

Normally, this is not a problem, but the design of the room required that a the cabinet be installed over the tank.  This of course, prevents any of the heat from the lamps from escaping and risks cooked fish!  All of our entertainment system designs include active thermal ventilation (fans), so the builder gave us a call and asked for a similar solution.

We wound up installing a remote-mount impeller-fan unit in the attic with a 4 inch intake located directly above the fish tank.  We routed the exhaust hose through the attic and through an interior attic wall to an area above a screened porch that had vent holes in the eaves.  We did not directly vent into the attic space as the house was engineered to require no airflow through the attic and our fish fan would have caused potential heat and humidity problems.

Evergreen

Our latest project, shown here, included the design and installation of the entertainment, low voltage and lighting systems for this green home located in Winter Park.  The home is currently in the process of obtaining FGBC certification with the hopes of achieving the Gold level of certification through the LEED for home pilot program.  This home will be featured in the Orlando Parade of Homes in 2009.

Game Room Update

Pictured is the Game Room Theater with the roll-down video screen in the "movie" position.

Game Room

This incredible game room features a classic stand up video game console, shuffle board, foosball, darts, and, of course, a large screen TV.  Completed in 2007 by Posada Custom Homes, Storch Entertainment designed and installed this unique system that features a small (61 inch) TV for casual viewing with an electric roll down screen (120 inch) for movies.

The velvet drapes, selected by Michael Duval at Michael Duval Interiors, automatically close when the "PROJECTOR" button is pushed on the handheld remote control.  This allows complete darkness even on a sunny day for optimum video performance.  In addition to the drapes, the room lighting is also controlled by the remote and will automatically dim all of the lights when in the projection mode.

As fun as movies are in this room, the kids use XBOX and Wii more than the other video sources.  Rock Band, bowling and Halo are just a few games that are simply awesome on this system.  Just imagine a big-as-life Master Chief on the video screen with 6 speakers, 2 subwoofers and 6000 watts of audio power to bring the music and sound effects to life.

The family room of the house, pictured at right, features a 70 inch HDTV.  Storch Entertainment coordinated with Millwork International to design the cabinet and hide the chassis of the TV.  After Storch installed the set, Millwork took all of the critical measurements and custom built a removable fascia that hides the plastic box surrounding the TV picture.

TV Frame

The photo above shows a 42 inch plasma TV with a custom picture frame. Storch Entertainment teamed with All About You Decorating in this bedroom remodel. After we mounted the TV to the wall, Ann and Angelo Cane from All About You designed and commissioned the custom picture frame.  In addition to the frame, Storch enabled the TV to show family photo slideshows as well as HD cable television and DVD.  

Retrofit Over Fireplace

This house, designed by Mark Rash Interiors, originally had  an old style 27 inch tube TV installed in an armoire with freestanding speakers and electronics located within a set of bookshelves.  The system was in a sunroom attached to the living room pictured here.

Working in concert with Mark and the client, Storch Entertainment designed the system shown.  We installed a 58 inch high-definition plasma monitor over the fireplace with custom made Triad speakers mounted on the wall left and right of the TV with flush mount surround speakers in the rear of the room.

Instead of taking up valuable bookshelf space with the electronics, we mounted the components in a roll-out rack and installed in a hall closet nearby.  This was a win-win for everyone, the house was less cluttered with electronics, the interior designer did not have to find an attractive (and expensive) cabinet to hide the gear and Storch now has easy access to the rear wiring for service, upgrades, etc.

Photos by Umbris Photography.

Family Room Retrofit

"We have lived in and remodeled 16 houses in the course of our marriage, and this entertainment system is the best and easiest to use we've ever had,"  Mary Beth, Winter Park.  Wow, thanks!

For the project shown above, Storch Entertainment Systems was contacted to retrofit the equipment rack, speakers and plasma monitor with the existing cabinetry.  We had a few challenges including a cabinet that was only 17 inches deep:  We scoured equipment depths before finding high quality components that were no more than 15" deep and then custom cut the equipment rack to fit. We also had to provide airflow in the cabinet to remove the heat from the components:  We installed a ingress fan on the right side of the cabinet and drilled airflow holes through the upright pieces with an exhaust fan on the left side.

The main remote control operates the family room, but can also direct different music to the other rooms of the house and outside.  This is especially useful when adults want to enjoy the pool and lanai while the kids are inside watching TV.

Home Recording Studio

These photos show a recording studio we installed above a garage in this Winter Park home.  This was really a fun project for us.  More to follow...

Winter Park Home-the photos you didn't see

This home was recently featured in Winter Park Home magazine.  There were lots of great shots but none of the entertainment systems.  it was a great article and showed a lot of the fantastic detail work performed by many of the team at Phil Kean Designs.  Part of our contribution was the home theater shown above.

In the Vias

This home, located in the Winter Park Vias, features an interior designed by Rob Turner at CRT Studio.  Storch Entertainment installed systems in both the family and master bedrooms.

The family room photo shows a 46 inch 1080P LCD TV with custom made speakers that match the height and finish of the monitor.   The equipment and subwoofer are hidden in the custom built cabinet below the wall mounted TV.

In addition to HDTV cable service and DVD, we installed and networked an Apple TV unit that allows the owners to view their entire music AND photo collection on the family room TV.  Very fun (especially the photos)! 

Cocoa Beach Retreat

When Phil Kean Designs needed a system designed for this beach house remodel, Storch Entertainment Systems was called in to create a simple AV system that could be used not only by the owners but any guest they may lend the house to for a weekend retreat.

We created a reliable system with high quality components that are hidden in the bar cabinetry and operated from a simple hand held remote that operates on radio frequency, eliminating the need to aim or point the remote at an "eye" or "receiver."  One touch of the "MUSIC" button, turns on the system, sets the surround sound mode, turns on the plasma, and selects the Jazz station.  All with only a single touch.  

  

The 50 inch plasma monitor pictured "floats" in front of the sheer drapes and can be angled such that it can be viewed from the living room or dining area.  

   

This project won the October 2008 Merit Award from Remodeling Magazine.

Parade of Homes 2008 Award Winner

Congratulations to Jonathan McGrath Construction, winner of the Parade of Homes 2008 Grand Award, First Place Renovation with Addition and Award for Excellence.

Storch Entertainment was happy to be involved with this beautiful renovation.  We installed a 32 inch LCD TV centered above the wine refrigerator to bring entertainment into this new family space.

Karaoke Theater Gets an Update

This theater was originally designed about 16 years ago.  At the time it was state-of-the-art and featured a laser disc player (12 inch-remember those?) with a wired microphone for karoake. It also had a large CRT video projector hanging from the ceiling.

It fell into disuse by the owners because of multiple equipment failures and by the fact that the remote controls were as numerous as they were hard to use.

Storch Entertainment was called in to update the equipment and to provide an easy to use remote control.  We replaced the laser disc with a BluRay DVD player, changed the projector to a high resolution (1920x1080 - 2 million pixel) video projector, replaced the wired karaoke microphones with wireless units, and added inceiling rear surround speakers.

Lastly, we programmed a remote control to allow one-touch control of all of the electronics and the lighting (including the disco lights on rear of projector box).  The transformation took about 30 hours and made this room fun for the owners once again.