The Home Theater Issue of Residential Systems tends to be one of the more fun ones to put together because, when I get to talk to integrators about these systems, they tend to get very excited. It is easy to see why — each job represents a calling card for the integrator’s creativity, and the results are a pleasure to experience that often lead to additional projects.
For the two main home theater stories in this issue, there was an unexpected theme that was woven in between the feats of technical prowess. In both cases, the homes were the centerpiece to the clients’ lives, which I know is not unusual, but it can be lost in some of the cases where it is the client’s second or third home, where they spend a week or two each year.
In the case of the Maui home, I had the rare privilege to interview the homeowner in addition to the integrator. Usually, the clients are hidden from me, so I appreciated getting her insights on what she was looking to get out of the home, the process of working with her integrator, and how she was enjoying the results.
It was particularly poignant in that case because the property was near the Hawaii wildfires that took place in August 2023, just as construction on the home was about to begin. Although spared from the flames, the other buildings on the property became a refuge for family and friends who needed a place to stay after the devastation, some opting to remain there permanently. The new home is constantly shared with the community, which makes the homeowner extremely happy. And the home theater is the crown jewel for her, serving as a personal getaway for the family.
More From the Editor: For the Love of Movie Theaters
And while not as dramatic as the events surrounding the Maui home, the Tennessee home designed by Cobb Home Innovations also had a passionate owner. I didn’t get to speak to the client for this one, but the fact that this home was going to be a centerpiece for his family and also a place for his employees to gather for presentations showed the emphasis that was placed on the space.
This client also had some demands that you wouldn’t expect — like not wanting a rack room and not having speakers on the walls — that offered Cobb the chance to show its problem-solving skills.
But the action that really stood out to me was that, after the home theater room was set up and ready for presentations, the integrator, Hugh Cobb, went back to the client and told him that it looked good for business, but needed to pop more for it to be an effective home theater. The client agreed and, just about a month after setting it up, the Cobb team went back and re-did the design of the room — new walls, carpets, and so on — creating a staggering difference.
Sometimes passion runs both ways between an integrator and a client. And when it does, the results can be extraordinary for all involved.
