Sometimes it's what you don't see

Pictured is a 50 inch HDTV plasma mounted on a wall across from the master bed. A fairly standard installation. What you don't see (intentionally) is...

... is the cable box, DVD player or media player that provide a full gamut of entertainment options in this bedroom. These

components are located across the house in an equipment rack that is located inside a custom cabinet in the kitchen.

Orlando Lakefront

Storch recently began this lakefront project with Mark Rash Interiors and Robert Bryan Construction. This is an extensive remodel and addition and will feature a family room home theater with music throughout the entertaining spaces. We will also install music across the expansive lanai overlooking Lake Silver.

Deland project theater almost complete

Pictured is the theater for the Deland project, shown prior at the rough construction stage. This theater features a 90 inch wide acoustically transparent video screen with the left, center and right speakers behind the screen. This is the optimum location for the speakers as they are: 1. positioned at ear level and; 2. allow the sound to match perfectly the onscreen picture and action.

A roll out equipment rack is hidden in the closet left of the screen with the components controlled via a radio frequency remote control. The vent above the door hides a thermostatically controlled fan that draws heat away from the electronics.

The last step will be to install custom fabric wrapped acoustic panels on the walls to absorb the side wall reflections.

In addition to the theater, Storch installed speakers throughout the house, outside and at the boat dock.

The Barefoot Contessa's Advice

In her cookbook "Family Style" Ina Garten includes a full page titled "Turn Up The Volume." This caught my eye and explains what we try to accomplish with every installation. Put simply, we believe that music enriches and improves life, especially at a party. She writes:

"We've all had the experience. We're invited to dinner at a friend's house. We ring the doorbell and the host (maybe a little distraught) opens the door to a VERY quiet house. Oops! Are we the first to arrive, or - worse - is it the wrong day? Either way, we feel a bit ill at ease and the evening's off to a bad start.

Replay the opening scene with this difference: the host opens the door and you hear Roy Orbison belting out "Pretty Woman" or the Beach Boys rocking to "Good Vibrations." Not only do you know you've come to a party, but you feel good immediately. No matter what kind of day you've had, your spirits soar. And that's a great start for a fabulous evening."

Chepenik Financial

When Chepenik Financial needed a new flat screen in their conference room, they contacted Storch Entertainment. We've installed entertainment systems for two generations of Chepeniks, so we were happy to help. In addition to the conference room, we retrofitted flat panel televisions in a few of the offices for access to MSNBC, Bloomberg, etc.

Lastly, we installed an iPod-based background music system that plays in the common areas and entry room. This sets a good mood for visitors and allows for uninterrupted music playback. It was also an inexpensive solution as we used an iPod that was no longer in use and an amplifier that had been in storage.

Cabinet Ventilation

One of the more important issues we have dealt with in the past few years is proper ventilation of entertainment systems. Heat is the enemy of all electronics and today's equipment is hotter than ever. Hard drives, high speed digital processors and the miniaturization of electronics has increased the heat output of almost every component in a system.

Part of our design and installation process is to engineer solutions to bring cool room air into a cabinet and to exhaust the hot air away from the equipment. A few examples follow:

Example of a heat egress vent (round vent) placed outside of the house for a large system:

Example of a heat egress vent (hidden under plate) designed to remove heat from the cabinet below in a small system:

Example of same concept to vent heat out of a dedicated equipment closet (rectangular vent above door):

Marketing Makeover

In today's tough economy, marketing has become more important than ever. To assist with that effort, Storch Entertainment Systems recently installed a few unique solutions for Jonathan McGrath Construction, including:

1. A multimedia presentation system in the conference room (pictured)

This allows Jack to present his portfolio to clients as either a simple slide show or PowerPoint presentation

Internet access with a wireless keyboard and mouse provide direct access to the web or other files

2. A phone system with digital voice mail to ensure no lost calls

3. An information on hold system that can easily be updated to provide current information to any caller

Typical digital on-hold systems can be expensive and complicated

We designed the system to use an iPod as the playback device using free Podcasting software

4. A building-wide music system to enhance the feel of the office

Music can be a key element in setting the atmosphere and mood

Deland project nears completion

Storch Entertainment recently complete the "trim" phase of this home theater. Pictured are three front speakers and a pair of inwall subwoofers.

When complete, the ceiling will twinkle with fiber optic lighting and an acoustically transparent screen will be installed in front of the left, center and right speakers. An equipment rack will be installed in the closet with shades on the windows to control the light.

Neat Wiring

Neat wiring is a very important part of our work. Not only does it make long term servicing easy, it shows the kind of detail and care we put into all of our systems. These photos highlight our commitment to labeling all of the wires and connectors in a system as well as our dedication to taking the time to create custom length cables (connecting the network switch to the labeled patchbay).

Mid Century Modern

Our work in this mid-century modern home will be completed soon.  We will update as the project progresses.

Evergreen update

Pictured is the centerpiece of the living/family room at Evergreen.  A 58 inch HDTV with a custom width speaker bar (mounted directly below the set) take center stage to provide music and entertainment in the open floor plan of this green home. 

Evergreen is included in the Parade of Homes and is located on Palm Avenue in Winter Park and is available to tour until May 17th.

Performance Theater

This intimate theater, built on the second floor of a Winter Park home, features a seven foot wide screen with full digital surround sound and discreet, inwall and inceiling speakers.  Because of space limitations and the minimalist interior design, the subwoofers, typically hidden in cabinets or behind furniture, were installed flush in the ceiling.

Now Voyager

Storch Entertainment Systems recently finished work in this Winter Park residence.  The family room features a 50 inch plasma TV with custom height speakers mounted directly left and right of the panel.  In addition to this room, we installed music throughout the house and pool area.

Maitland Lakefront

Rough-in work has begun on this classically styled lakefront home in Maitland.  Designed and constructed by Bill Felkel and featuring interior design by Mark Rash with interior detail from Daedalus Design, Storch Entertainment is responsible for the built-in music, video, alarm and network systems.

Orlando Parade of Homes 2009

Work is in full swing at Phil Kean Designs Parade of Homes 2009.  This beautiful home, located in Winter Park on Cherokee Lane, will be open for public viewing May 3rd through May 17th.

We will post more photos as the project progresses.

Retrofit project in Winter Park

Congratulations to Blue Star Real Estate in selling this Winter Park home.  And thank you for referring us to design and install the en

tertainment and network electronics!  Built in 2008 by IBK Homes, this home was wired only for basic cable TV and background music.

Storch was recommended to design a high performance media system in the family room with equally good quality sound throughout the house.  We were also tasked with creating with a reliable computer network that would provide back up storage, battery power UPS and a single wireless access point for the 3 story residence.  

Storch coordinated the design of the media cabinet with Cabinetry Creations of Orlando.  Phil Kean Designs is responsible for the design and contracting of the remodel which includes new cabinetry, new doors, interior finishes, etc.

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.