While ocean views, an indoor pool, a grand piano, and a home theater are not unusual for many large homes that feature custom multiroom audio-video systems, this house, nestled into the North Beach area of Hampton, NH, has one unique feature—its size.

The remodeled cottage

Located just over 200 feet from the shoreline, “Summer Nest” was a 700-square-foot single story cottage built in 1938. The current owner bought the home in 1996 and spent some time enjoying the cottage’s quaint charm while formulating her plan for its future. Her goal was to enlarge the cottage and make it suitable for year-round living.

Because of local zoning laws and the close proximity to salt-water wetlands, the owner could only deviate from the original footprint slightly. But she could build upward, adding a second story to the house. With these constraints in mind, the owner set her own design criteria for accessibility, environmental responsibility, and physical and spiritual well-being.

Light and airy, the beach   house is a place to relax   with music

After researching building products and the construction process, the owner assembled a group of professionals who accepted her design constraints and began construction. The revised 2100-square-foot home includes a first floor with a garage, porch, entryway, eat-in kitchen, guest suite and pool for indoor swimming and therapeutic exercise. The second floor houses the master suite, along with a large, open, east-facing room lined with windows that she calls her “Inspiration Room.”

When it came to home entertainment, the owner knew she wanted multiroom audio. “Music is an essential part of my life,” she said. “I need to hear the music so I can feel it, but I wanted clean lines with no bulky or clumsy equipment. The salesperson I spoke with at the first store suggested I use multiple iPods, each with the same music, and docking bases with speakers. I’m not going to have one iPod in every room.”

The owner next met with a residential installer she met at a local home show. “He showed me a beautiful home that he had performed an installation in. I was very impressed with the components and installation, but when he went to use the remote he didn’t know how to operate the system. If he has problems running the system he installed, what should I expect?”

Unobtrusive UNO-S1 keypads control the multiroom system

After seeing the benefits of custom installed equipment, she contacted some local installers to view her project and offer solutions for her space. “In addition to multiroom audio throughout the house, I wanted a home theater to watch movies and enjoy the football season, but one that wouldn’t get in the way,” said the owner. “I threw the challenge to both installers and said that whoever had the best solution would get the contract.”

Acoustic Development Associates, Inc. of Manchester, NH, came back with the answer: a multiroom audio system, a projection screen and a projector, all of which are hidden from view. Without a basement and with storage space at a premium, the installer and homeowner settled on a freestanding armoire to house the A/V equipment in the second-floor Inspiration Room.

The multiroom audio system consists of a Russound CAM6.6 Controller Amplifier, a Russound SMS3 Smart Media Server, four Russound UNO-S1 keypads, and Russound SRC2 remote controls. Two zones are used for the kitchen and dining room and guest suite on the first floor, while an additional two zones serve the Inspiration Room and master suite on the second floor.

To turn the Inspiration Room into a home theater, a soffit for the projection screen was constructed above the east-facing windows and the room was prewired. After interior finishes were installed, the A/V equipment and room-darkening shades were installed. “The ADA crew worked with my carpenter,” said the homeowner. “With the screen up, I have a view that looks out at the ocean. Pull down the shades and push a button, and I have a home theater.”

With a drop-down screen, the Inspiration Room  converts into a home theater

The homeowner was so pleased with the construction experience and outcome that she was inspired to write a book about ecological and economical home design that takes into account lifestyle, spirituality, and growing older without sacrificing style. “When you talk with most people about home remodeling, you hear stories about problems, budgets, contractors, unexpected changes or delays. I didn’t encounter any of that,” the owner said. “I did my homework, hired good contractors, communicated my wishes, and everything went smoothly. It was on time and under budget. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”