Home Theater & Lighting
Audio/Visual Systems & Home Theater
Advanced Home Environments, Inc.
404 Fifth Ave.
Pelham
(914) 738-8200
Skip trips to the megaplex by building your own home theater. First stop: Advanced Home Environments. After your visit to this home-electronics source, where you’ll find brands such as Crestron, Marantz, Meridian, Integra, Fujitsu, Vantage, and Definitive Technology, you can dim the lights from a single remote control and harmonize all of your electronics with an integrated communications system.
Audio Video Excellence
17 Gramercy Pl.
Thornwood
(914) 747-1411
www.audiovideoex.com
Think your bedroom would look more sophisticated without a mundane TV but can’t fall asleep without Stephen Colbert’s capricious quips? One Long Island couple got the answer to their dreams—and pre-dream entertainment—when Audio Video Excellence removed a portion of their floor, installed a lift, and mounted on it a 50-inch plasma that rises out of the wood with the press of a button. The company, now in its 20th year, received a 2007 Home of the Year award for Best Master Suite from Electronic House for this project. Audio Video Excellence recently moved from Pleasantville to Thornwood, but continues to specialize in custom audio and video installation and whole-house automation, often consolidating everything from music to security in a touch-panel control.
AV Design & Integration
150 Clearbrook Rd.
Elmsford
(914) 345-2977
We’ve all made one of those sentimental (often sappy) playlists for our many moods—a little Faith Hill for our “romance” list, a hitting-the-clubs montage for party nights. Wouldn’t ambient lighting set the stage? Popular right now (according to the seen-it-all guys at AV Design & Integration) is Lutron lighting. Instead of your current smorgasbord of light switches—“Is this the overhead light or the garbage disposal?”—they’ll install a single keypad with customized “scenes” for cooking, playing, dining, or catching up on your book-club read in the library. In addition to lighting, AV designs and integrates home-theater systems and is versed in home automation and computer networking, offering full service and repairs so you’re never left in the dark.
AVX Integrated Technologies
529 Central Park Ave., Suite 208
Scarsdale
(800) 261-8478
No one’s home, it’s late, and despite your Wisteria Lane-esque neighborhood, walking into a pitch-black house makes your heart skip a few beats. AVX can bring your blood pressure back to normal by letting you set the lights, turn up the heat, and access the security system as you pull in the driveway. With 11 years in the biz, AVX pros are authorities in networking, home automation, structured wiring, and alarm and telephone systems.
Beyond Sight & Sound, Ltd.
565 Taxter Rd., Suite 140
Elmsford
(914) 345-8346
Say goodbye to freeloading on friends or forking over hard-earned cash for a hotel room. At a time when teardowns are becoming the norm, the gang at Beyond Sight & Sound does 90 percent of its work on existing construction, so you can sleep soundly in your home as it transforms around you. In existence for 15 years, the company can automate your home and set you up with a home theater, a computer network, surveillance and security systems, and multi-room audio/video systems.
Digital Home Systems
408 Waverly Ave.
Mamaroneck
(914) 777-1900
www.d-h-s.com
From concept to completion, the highly trained staff of 12 at Digital Home Systems (formerly known as Digital Home Specialists) uses the latest technology to completely digitize your home, working with your architect to develop a pre-construction plan if needed. Among the celebrities on its client list is a rock-and-roll legend for whom they recently installed a Crestron audio system, giving him access to more than 5,000 CDs in 24 zones in his house.
Entertainment Technology, Inc.
551 North Bedford Rd.
Bedford Hills
(914) 242-8881
Sick of hearing your neighbor brag about his new Lexus or industrial-power grill? Let it slip that you’re getting a flight-simulation movie theater (aka the D-BOX Integrated Motion System) and suggest he stop by if he can’t get on Richard Branson’s next shuttle into space. D-BOX technology moves your seating in sync with the film so you not only see Legolas hit the troll, you feel the ground shake as it falls to the ground. Entertainment Technology, with more than 28 years of experience, is the only D-BOX Integrated Motion System dealer in Westchester.
Harvey Home Entertainment
115 Main St., Mount Kisco
(914) 241-1230
and
(203) 622-0324
www.harveyonline.com
It seems like a simple bedroom? Look again. Like secret agent Maxwell Smart’s shoe, there’s more than meets the eye when Harvey Home Entertainment is involved. From flat-panel TVs hidden in furniture to walls that move or flip (never again choose between the big screen in the empty living room and the smaller tube by your warm bed), the New Jersey-based company is full of ideas. It was recently featured in the Robb Report Home Entertainment magazine for hooking up a 13,500-square-foot mansion in Sands Point, New York—the backyard of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby—with eight surround-sound theater systems and 32 audio zones, all controlled by an extensive Crestron system.
Innerspace Electronics, Inc.
74 Fox Island Rd.
Port Chester
(914) 937-9700
www.innerspaceelectronics.com
With projects in Aspen, Antigua, London, Palm Beach, Manhattan, and, yes, Scarsdale, it’s no wonder Innerspace was recognized with a CEDIA award for best integrated home in the last year. Husband-and-wife team Barry and Andrea Reiner thrive on making the customer happy, even after a project is complete, as illustrated by their five-star rating from the customer-review-based Franklin Report. To fully automate a home, their staff will provide motorized shade control, acoustical design, a multi-room music system, full remote lighting, a home theater—and, no doubt, whatever else you can dream up.
Lyric Hi-Fi
146 East Post Rd.
White Plains
(914) 949-7500
www.lyricusa.com
Like a fine wine, Lyric Hi-Fi has gotten better with age. Set up nearly 50 years ago by Michael Kay, a Greek immigrant with a passion for music and a knack for electronic engineering, it was Westchester Magazine’s 2005 Best of Westchester pick for top high-end audio store. Now owned by Daniel Mondoro and Len Bellezza, the 1,500-square-foot showroom is filled with the latest stereo-system brands such as Crestron, Fujitsu, Classé, Elan, Lexicon, Halcro, and McIntosh. Swing by to test out their latest toys, including super powerful Hansen speakers.
Magnolia Home Theater
Best Buy
299 Central Park Ave.
Hartsdale
(914) 993-6575
www.magnoliaav.com
We’re browsing Best Buy when we happen upon cushy couches and giant plasma screens playing Disney’s “Eight Below.” The crystal-clear picture and high-quality sound (and, yes, the plush seat) make us drool. A store within a megastore, Magnolia began as a Seattle stationers and camera shop in 1954. As times changed, it morphed into an audio specialty business, gaining a reputation for top products at fair prices. Acquired by Best Buy in 2000, Magnolia is now the most award-winning electronic retailer in the industry, a high-end spot that carries top-name flat-panel TVs, home-theater furniture and projection systems, high-resolution audio, and the best in High Definition.
The Media Room
720 North Bedford Rd.
Bedford Hills
(914) 244-3570
www.themediaroom.tv
Business has grown by 50 percent over the last year at the Media Room, which is dedicated to bringing the latest audio and video technologies to your door. Specializing in custom home theaters and audio and video systems, the company designs, installs, and stands behind its work, which ranges from acoustically engineered cabinetry to whole-house control systems. The Media Room carries many brand names, including Lutron, Cinema Tech, Escient, ELAN, Sonos, Sony, Yamaha, Integra, Denon, and Definitive Technology.
Osbee Industries, Inc.
99 Calvert Street, Suite 100
Harrison
(914) 777-6611
www.osbee.com
Got the sinking feeling you didn’t lock the front door, but don’t have time to hop a train to find out? With Osbee’s home automation and integration systems, all you need to fix the problem is a computer and an Internet connection. Osbee is a custom (not showroom-based) company that specializes in home theaters, whole-house audio and video systems, Crestron automation systems, phone systems, data networks, lighting systems, and motorized shading systems. Whether you need simple low-voltage wiring or a surround-sound system with a plasma display, Osbee can create a custom design concept that works. Ask about the demo smart house it opened last year.
Reference Cinema & Sound
69 South Moger Ave.
Mount Kisco
(914) 666-0550
www.referencecinema.com
Forget hunting for Easter eggs; the gang at Reference Cinema & Sound will have guests hunting for speakers, which were painstakingly designed to match the existing woodwork or blend in with your antique furniture. For travelers, they’ll create a CD-library hard drive that can be accessed from more than one house, leaving more room in your suitcase for those Jimmy Choos. These self-described perfectionists have completed projects in New York City, Connecticut, Westchester, and France. Want to check out their work (without hopping a flight to Orly)? The waiting area at Westchester BMW in White Plains keeps clients entertained with a Reference touch panel that lets them choose music or even browse the current line of vehicles.
Robert Allen Multimedia
21 Cross St.
New Canaan, Connecticut
(203) 856-0058
www.ramultimedia.com
Robert Allen Multimedia owner Robert Ainley is so sure he can dazzle with cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment that he set up a showhouse (in conjunction with Crestron, the leading manufacturer of high-end control and automation solutions) on 13 acres in Mount Kisco to prove it. Ainley began his love affair with sound and performance as a tot (his songwriter father and singer mother were early influences), acquiring an appreciation for the total experience, not just pictures, tone, and decibels. Today, Ainley’s company designs, sells, installs, and services custom home theaters, including audio/video distribution, smart-house technology, automation, lighting, plasma TVs, and high-definition systems.
RSI Integrated Systems
145 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Mount Vernon
(914) 665-1505
www.rsiinc.us
Imagine dimming the lights, setting the alarm, lowering the heat, activating the surveillance cameras, and turning up your favorite tunes from the comfort of your easy chair. RSI, which carries Fujitsu, Bose, D-Link, AMX, Lutron, On-Q/Legrand, and other major brands, can make that happen with a single universal remote or Internet connection. How about checking in on the house while killing time in the office? With a focus on smart-home cabling and touch-screen automation, RSI provides peace of mind while making it nearly impossible to get bored.
The Sound Concept
760 North Bedford Rd.
Bedford Hills
(914) 244-0900
www.soundconceptav.com
Ten years in Mount Kisco and 25 in Bedford Hills have given the team at Sound Concept more than ample time and experience to expertly design and install audio and video systems for both homes and vehicles. As part of its dramatic showroom upgrade, the company recently added two sound rooms with a multi-room set-up, projection screens, and plasma TVs to show off what they can do. Brands carried include Marantz, B&K, Escient, Vidikron, Sharp Aquos, and JVC.
Sound Ideas, Inc.
28 Kaysal Ct.
Armonk
(914) 273-2510
www.stereoguys.com
Before you dive for cover at a posh cocktail party, make sure that the falling ceiling tile isn’t part of a clever home-entertainment set-up. Without infringing on your personal style, the guys at Sound Ideas specialize in custom theater design, multi-room audio and video, and structured cabling systems with products from major manufacturers such as Crestron, Fujitsu, Lexicon, Mitsubishi, Sharp, Sonance, Digital Projection, Stewart Filmscreen, B&W, Rotel, Integra, among others.
Value Electronics
108 Garth Rd.
Scarsdale
(914) 723-3344
www.valueelectronics.com
Stocking all leading brands, Value Electronics proves that good things come in small packages. The shop is chock full of the latest DVD players, audio players, accessories, and TVs—including Pioneer Elite plasmas, which owner Robert Zohn pronounces the “hottest” item out there today. After helping design your home-automation system or home theater, certified and insured technicians take over, installing everything with an ease that startles technophobes and technophiles alike.
Video Installations Plus, Inc.
45 East Hartsdale Ave., Suite 4E
Hartsdale
(914) 328-1771
www.avtelecom.com
Featured on the HGTV show, “Better Your Home,” Video Installations Plus will work with you, your architect, your interior designer, and—yes, really!—your budget to turn your vision into reality. Holding top billing from the Franklin Report, the company specializes in home integration, Crestron control systems, motorized window treatments, and soundproofing. The high-end firm sells, designs, and installs all of its equipment, including products from Crestron, PSB Speakers, Acoustiblok,
Kaleidescape, Sharp, Pioneer, Triad Speakers, and Integra.
Westchester Audio Video Design
500 Mamaroneck Ave.
Harrison
(914) 921-0099
www.westchesterav.com
Want to hear the thunder of Jimi Hendrix’s vocal chords like you did at Woodstock? Feel the battle of Helm’s Deep during Lord of the Rings as if you were fighting beside the Orcs? Westchester Audio Video Design specializes in transforming dank, unfinished basements into red-carpet-ready home theaters with customized solutions for in-house entertainment systems and smart home integration. With more than 35 years of experience, owner Bob Krasne offers a free in-home consultation for local residents.
Lighting
Arrow Lamp & Lighting
2091 Boston Post Rd.
Larchmont
(914) 834-1992
under your rose
Named after the delicate faux porcelain roses entwined in its scrolls and crowns, The Rose by Schonbeck was designed with antique-style crystals to evoke the romance of the past. Shown here in a Midsummer’s Night Dream palette and an heirloom gold finish, The Rose comes in 32 varieties of crystal color palettes and vintage finishes. Available at Arrow Lamp & Lighting in Larchmont, Bedford Lighting & Home In Bedford Hills and Hi-Light Decorating in Yonkers. four-light fixture, $545
Before tossing out the tarnished Tiffany lamp your mother-in-law insisted you have, let Arrow Lamp & Lighting try to bring back its shine. Owner Craig Barre has been in the business for more than 30 years, having apprenticed at some of the oldest factories in Italy and Spain. With six distinctive finishes and parts imported from Europe, Arrow designers also make their own chandeliers and wall sconces, as well as custom lampshades. They restore old lamps and chandeliers (not such an easy skill to find these days) and carry select name brands such as Schonbek and Waterford.
Bedford Lighting & Home
748 North Bedford Rd.
Bedford Hills
(914) 666-0680
www.bedfordlightingandhome.com
From a single chandelier to a 265-room Victorian castle in upstate New York to the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NewYork, the folks at Bedford Lighting & Home pride themselves on their one-on-one customer service and design skill. In addition to repairing lamps and chandeliers, the company carries Schonbek crystal, Quoizel, Tiffany lighting, Casablanca fans, mirrors, and accent furniture.
Hi-Light Decorating
2455 Central Park Ave.
Yonkers
(914) 779-6628
www.hilight.com
This 7,500-square-foot lighting showroom, given a nod for its lighting fixtures from Westchester Magazine in its 2006 Best of Westchester issue, sells everything from ceiling fans and chandeliers to track and recessed lighting from major manufacturers including Schonbek, Quoizel, Kichler, Murray Feiss, Tech Lighting and Fine Art. Check out Hi-Light Decorating’s work at the Bilotta Kitchen showrooms or while grabbing a bite at Rory Dolans in Yonkers or Sam’s of Gedney Way in White Plains. Steal some design inspiration, and then head to Hi-Light, where you can expect to pay 20 to 50 percent less than manufacturers’ list price on high-end lighting fashion.
Lights On Design
1960 Central Park Ave., Yonkers
(914) 961-0588
and
388 Tarrytown Rd., White Plains
(914) 397-0588
A 24-karat gold crystal chandelier on sale for $1,099? How about a gorgeous 24-karat design for $999—and with a lifetime guarantee? These are among the bright ideas at Lights On Design, which has illuminated the Main Street Lofts in
Max Goldman, Inc.
589 North Ave.
New Rochelle
(914) 632-0144
Same name, same store…with a little bit more. Max Goldman, a showroom and warehouse offering myriad light fixtures, wiring, and accessories, and run by the same family for three generations, was acquired earlier this year by U.S. Electrical Services, which was then acquired by Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED). The selection may have changed, but you still get the same personalized service and attention you would expect from a mom-and-pop business.
Patdo Light Studio
25 South Regent St.
Port Chester
(914) 937-6707
www.patdolight.com
First outlined on a coffee-stained napkin 35 years ago (hey, look how well that worked out for J.K. Rowling), Patdo is one of the premier sources for high-end lighting and light-design consulting in Westchester and Fairfield counties. With its unique moniker, Patdo (a combination of a first and a last name) boasts some pretty exceptional credits, including the Bathhouse Spa at the Hotel at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas; Dooney & Bourke in Manhattan’s Trump Tower; the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut; and countless residences, from one-room additions to 50,000-square-foot estates. Co-owner Gary Novasel, who teaches landscape lighting design at The New York Botanical Garden, charges $200 per hour for designing lighting plans; his partner, Mari-Lou Nania, experienced in choosing designs and plotting locations, charges $150 per hour.
Victoria Light & Design
83 Purchase St.
Rye
(914) 921-0550
www.victorialightanddesign.com
If it’s just not worth it unless it is a one-of-a-kind piece, Tori Holland is just the person to see. From hanging chandeliers crafted from birdcages to lamps created from antique wine boxes, she’s fulfilled many a pipe dream in the last few few years. Got something sentimental you don’t want to throw out? Talk to Tori about a custom design. (Word is she’s even created a fixture from a mannequin.) Most custom lamps take less than a week. The company also crafts custom lampshades, using your fabrics or hers (we’re especially partial to the hand-loom linen). If custom is not your style, never fear; the store also boasts a large selection of lamps and lampshades to choose from.
Vitolite Electric Sales Co., Inc.
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