Daniel J SaitLondon-based integrator, NV Integration (NVI) recently completed a stylish media room and multi-room audio installation, featuring Bowers & Wilkins premium loudspeakers from AWE across a spacious 13,000ft2 Notting Hill family home. Cleverly concealed tech solutions also blend with the contemporary design and flow of this extensively renovated property.
The Brief
The house was bought mid-renovation, and the new homeowner happily chose to keep working directly with NVI, who were on-site initially working for the developer. The new owner upgraded the scope of works and doubled the initial budget, meaning that NVI could introduce higher spec audio options for the house– which was a key factor in the selection of Bowers & Wilkins loudspeakers for the project from exclusive distributor, AWE Europe.
“We’ve been using Bowers & Wilkins speakers for years; they sound great and they’re straightforward to install,” says Pip Evans, Director. “It makes complete sense for such a high performance, well known, British brand to go into such a quintessentially London home.”
For NVI there were three key areas in this project. Firstly, multi-room audio was to be established throughout the house yet concealed to minimise any intrusion into the interior design. A multi-purpose, open-plan kitchen lounge designed for everyday family use and entertaining required an AV system that would fit the size, shape and surroundings of the space. The crème de la crème of this project was the need for an exceptional media room. The homeowner desired a versatile, atmospheric space intended for family and friends to while away the hours together watching TV and movies but also work as a video gaming and comfortable, entertainment space, when required.
A Versatile Entertainment Space
The resulting media room is a comfortable, multi-use haven. A gigantic U-shaped sofa in the centre of the room, pointed towards the TV, is reminiscent of an inviting conversation-pit, with a large alcove bar situated to the left and further barstool seating. This large space houses an impressive array of Bowers & Wilkins architectural speakers, which blend with the aesthetics of the room.
A Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 Centre Speaker sits in the cabinet joinery below the TV. Two Bowers & Wilkins CWM7.5 S2 in-wall speakers sit either side of the TV, veiled behind a stretched fabric. NVI advised the client to have multiple subwoofers due to the size of the room, so Bowers & Wilkins DB4S Subwoofers are concealed in the surrounding cabinetry, pointing outwards and accommodated via cut-out slots in the return ends of the joinery.
Focused within the heart of the room, though not diminishing the visual aesthetic of the space, is an immense LG G2 97in TV, also supplied by AWE. A Future Automation bracket with in-wall box, allows the TV to sit flush against the wall of stretched fabric that conceals the speakers. Neatly tucked away in a matching cabinet to the rest of the room is a Denon AVRX2800 7.2ch 8K AV Receiver, with HEOS built in. This AVR delivers a fully enveloping 3D audio experience across multi-room audio zones, and with HEOS the homeowner can stream audio to individual zones, or group zones together for a wider listening area, using the HEOS App.
Intelligent Solutions
A second multi-purpose room doubles as a kitchen and lounge and required a flexible solution to meet the requirements of this space.
The room features a floor to ceiling window along its length, flooding the area with natural light. As a result, NVI opted for an LG OLED55G36LA 55in 4K OLED TV from AWE. This choice of TV means bright, bold visuals, no matter the time of day or the brightness of the room, as the self-lit OLED technology allows for 100% colour accuracy, plus the Brightness Booster Max makes the G3 LG’s brightest ever OLED.
The TV has been intentionally positioned high above a mantelpiece and surrounded by bespoke cabinetry so no matter where you are in the room, the screen is easily viewable. Furthermore, the addition of a full motion TV mount means that if choosing to view solely from the lounge area, the screen can simply drop down to sofa-level height using the Crestron remote.
A 5.1 audio system, including a pair of Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 Compact Stand-mount Loudspeakers in the rear, creates an immersive surround sound experience – supported by a TV soundbar, with B&W ASW Series subwoofer to compliment the low frequencies. The space is now a multi-functional area for everyday family life and entertaining, showing that even outside of a dedicated media room environment, an excellent and immersive AV experience can be achieved.
Heard But Not Seen
Overhead, Bowers & Wilkins CCM663 in-ceiling speakers, with trim-less grilles, are concealed in 16 multi-audio zones throughout the house, in various sizes of either 6in or 8in depending on room side and ceiling height.
In the gym the Bowers & Wilkins CCM663 speakers have been installed in the ceiling with custom black grilles and a striking Japanese wood-slatted ceiling, adding a touch of elegance and luxury to the space, though not detracting from the premium sound quality. The master ensuite features Bowers & Wilkins marine speakers to deliver an immersive at-home spa experience, or for ballad belting in the shower.
The result
Pip says, “We’re really pleased with how well this project has turned out. From our initial brief to the evolution with a new homeowner – the technology specification has grown to meet the desires and needs of this family home. The technology looks really great, blending with the interior design scheme, as well as offering great clarity, impact and providing the all-important wow-factor experience.”
AWE Kit List
• Bowers & Wilkins In-Ceiling Speakers with trim-less grilles, mix of 6in and 8in.
• Bowers & Wilkins Marine Speakers
• LG G2 97in TV
• LG G3 55in TV
• Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 Centre Speaker
• Bowers & Wilkins CWM7.5 S2 x2 L&R Speakers
• Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 Surrounds
• Bowers & Wilkins DB4S Subwoofer
• Bowers & Wilkins ASW Subwoofer
• Denon AVR