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Media-Enhanced Home

The present meets the future with the technological innovations in this home

By Mark Jarasek, Senior Editor, Electronic Media
January 1, 2009
Professional Builder

Sidebars:
Media-Enhanced Home Products

Certainly it sports the smart design and attractive details that you might expect, but it's what's inside the Media-Enhanced Home that provides the focal point for the theme of this 2009 Show Village home. Although the products in this home intensify its attractiveness, the spotlight is on the Media-Enhanced Home's technology, which enriches the day-to-day living experience.

Notable features include remote control units that centralize functions for regulating HVAC, security and lighting throughout the home. Entertainment systems allow homeowners to access music and movies from any room.

Here's an overview of the futuristic products that comprise the Media-Enhanced Home:

• The Wayne-Dalton Home Control Z-Wave unit, which gives homeowners the ability to set lighting; regulate heating and cooling settings; control security systems; and open and close electronic window shades with the touch of a button — even from remote locations.

• The new Schlage Link locks that allow homeowners to remotely monitor entry to their homes via any Web-enabled mobile phone or computer. Using secure wireless technology, Schlage Link sends a text or e-mail when someone enters a home. It also gives homeowners the ability to remotely lock and unlock their doors.

• Sony's HomeShare multi-room entertainment and intercom solution that can deliver high-definition video to any room. It also allows homeowners to access their iPod playlist from any room, too. The system ntegrates intercom communication throughout the home and can be linked to any camera monitor, which may be set up outside or inside.

You'll also want to see the Media-Enhanced Home's exterior products, as well as a host of interior products — some that can even be found behind the walls.

See the inner workings

Show Village theme homes are designed with cutaways and reveals so that builders can see certain products at work in their environment, including insulation from BaySystems North America and Honeywell; structural insulated sheathing from Dow Building Solutions; and roof underlayment from Owens Corning.

Explore the exterior

The Media-Enhanced Home's exterior will feature stone veneer from Owens Corning Cultured Stone; siding and windows from Deceuninck North America; and doors by Therma-Tru. Both interior and exterior paint will be provided by Behr, and Maze Nails holds things together with its versatile line of construction nails. Latitudes will feature composite decking, with deck railing by Deck Images.

Investigate the interior

Don't miss the products featured in the kitchen and bathroom. In the Media-Enhanced Home's kitchen, GE will display its latest line of refrigerator and range appliances, and LG Solid Source presents countertops. Bathrooms will have faucets and toilets from Danze and bathtubs from Lasco Bathware. Tile and stone finishes will be provided by Interceramic.

A fully functioning elevator from ThyssenKrupp Access will travel between the first and second floors of the home. Rinnai will feature its award-winning, continuous-flow tankless water heater on display, as well as its gas fireplaces.