After the Storm
The outdoor entertainment system in this Florida home was so well executed that even the wrath of Ian couldn’t faze it
by Lisa Montgomery
November 29, 2022
Coastal living comes with many perks. The wrath of Mother Nature isn’t one of them. This spacious, elegantly appointed outdoor entertainment space, however, managed to withstand a recent beating from Hurricane Ian, thanks to a well-designed, expertly-executed seaside installation of durable AV equipment by Wicked Smart Homes of Sarasota, Florida.
Is endowing the outdoors with sensitive AV equipment risky? Certainly. But it’s a practice Wicked Smart Homes does on the regular for its base of waterfront clients. “For boating families like the owners of this property who spend the majority of their time outside, having an open-air living space like this is a premium amenity that provides a seamless transition from the boat to the house,” says company president Mark Bolduc.
Although an entertainment system like this is a fairly standard feature for outdoor areas in Sarasota, this residence takes it to a whole new level. A trio of waterproof, weather-resistant Seura displays graces the area. The homeowners didn’t skimp on size in their choices. An 85-incher hangs in the lanai (shown below), a 65-inch unit occupies another recreational area, and friends and family can even catch of glimpse of a 75-inch display as they float in the grotto.
What’s playing? Anything their hearts desire. From movies to sporting events, YouTube videos to footage captured by Visualint surveillance cameras peppering the property, a huge library of high-def content is at their fingertips. Family members see and select from a custom menu via a Savant home-control app on their mobile devices, direct the video to any or all displays, and control the volume just as they would if they were using the home theater inside their house.
Securely mounted to exterior structures and engineered to weather the elements, the displays don’t let windy, wet days hamper their performance. “Of course, hurricanes are an entirely different matter. As part of our exclusive Hurricane Service, we temporarily remove TVs and other gear from the premises,” Bolduc says.
This goes for the speakers as well, and this outdoor living space is filled to the gills with sublime audio. Music chosen via the Savant app streams to visually discreet speakers occupying six independent listening zones for full, even coverage throughout the property. These same speakers deliver audio for the displays, which is “a much better approach than relying on each display’s built-in speakers to do the job. They would definitely struggle to be heard in an active, open-air environment like this,” Bolduc explains.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter
to stay up to date on Cineluxe
Despite the widespread audio, the speakers go virtually unnoticed, with Sonance Visual Performance Extreme speakers flush-mounted into ceilings and Coastal Source speakers tucked within the landscape. Bolduc took great care to nail down the placement of each speaker before artificial turf was laid. “Unlike sod, once turf is down, it’s impossible to trench into it to make adjustments,” he says.
Another important factor to the speaker installation was structural durability. Although the Coastal Source speakers are engineered to withstand harsh weather conditions, Wicked Smart Homes went a step further by mounting each speaker to a concrete form. “The speakers are structurally sound and going nowhere, but for extra assurance, we made them detachable for temporary removal during our prep for hurricanes like Ian,” Bolduc continues.
Now that the storm has passed and the AV is back in action, al fresco entertainment brings this luxurious backyard to life. No matter where the party happens, there’s a beautiful display and invisible speakers to keep friends and family entertained for hours.
With more than 20 years under her belt covering all things electronic for the home, Lisa Montgomery has developed a knack for knowing what types of products and systems make sense for homeowners looking to update their abodes. When she’s not exploring innovative ways to introduce technology into homes, Lisa breaks away from the electronics world on a bike, kayak, or a towel on the beach.
© 2023 Cineluxe LLC