At Home, Work, and Play: Arkansas Professional Couple Keeps It All Running Smoothly With Their ELAN Control System

When you’re the founder and president of multiple successful companies – including one involved in industrial manufacturing – you understand the importance of control. That’s why, when it came time to outfit their 10,000 square foot main home, surrounding property, and 2,000 square foot pool house with an integrated whole-home AV and control system, this Jonesboro, Arkansas, couple turned to Ryan Heringer of Sound Concepts and the ELAN entertainment and control system.

However, what started as a standalone whole-home AV and control installation, quickly expanded to include their son’s house, their retail business, and eventually, their airplane hangar.  “We often see this with clients who own multiple properties,” said Heringer. “They experience the seamless whole-home control offered by ELAN in one property and decide to extend the system to every part of their lives. This installation is a classic example of the smart home trend.”

The couple’s first priority was the main home’s AV upgrade – clearly geared towards the entertainment enthusiast – which now includes six Samsung TVs ranging from 46” to 65”; 30 speakers and subwoofers embedded in the ceilings of every room in the house; a M700 Kaleidoscape Disc Vault that can store 48 terabytes of DVD and Blu-Ray videos on a central server; a top-of-the-line Quad Window HD Digital Video Processor that allows the couple to watch up to four programs on one screen on any TV in the house; and a downstairs media room outfitted with a JVC 3D projector, a 100” Dragonfly screen with a stylish black velvet frame, an Integra 9.2 Receiver, seven flush-mounted speakers, and one Sunfire subwoofer. 

“From the home office to an enclosed patio, breakfast room and art gallery, each room in this home is highly tailored to the design preferences of the couple– it’s no cookie-cutter McMansion,” said Heringer. “However, while the themed rooms make the home a design success, it’s the seamless integration of ELAN-controlled AV technology throughout every one of these themed rooms that makes the home a functional success. The his and her master bathrooms, closets, breakfast room, art gallery and sun room, to name a few, are all outfitted with in-ceiling speakers, while the laundry room and enclosed patio feature Samsung LED TVs and in-ceiling speakers.” 

To easily control it all, including the home’s HVAC, lighting, and security, the couple uses both the ELAN g! mobile device app and an arsenal of ELAN remotes and control panels, which includes thirteen HR2 handheld remotes, twelve wall-mounted ELAN touch panels and one tabletop touchscreen controller.

According to the homeowners, the idea that the pool house’s AV technology could be controlled by the same system as the main house was a substantial selling point for ELAN. “When Ryan explained that, with ELAN, the same app used to control our main home could also be used to control not just the outdoor lighting, pool settings, and speakers but also all technology within our pool house, we knew we found our control system,” the homeowner explained. “If I’m in my office late at night, and I see out the window that the pool house’s lights were left on, I can turn them off using my ELAN app; prior to going to bed, I scan my ELAN app to ensure all lights are off, the security system is engaged, the saltwater fish tank’s settings are stable, the garage doors are closed, and the thermostats are set at my desired temperatures. ELAN provides me with the control I need to ensure my home is in order both while I’m home and while on the road.”

The next step in this evolving ELAN installation was the son’s home. “After experiencing all that ELAN offers in our home, our son decided to install an ELAN system in his recently purchased home,” continued the homeowner. “The ease-of-installation, the complete control over his entertainment system, and its affordability, all made an ELAN installation an easy decision.”

Once the homeowner launched a downtown retail business, the decision to equip the space with an AV system controlled by ELAN was, once again, another easy decision. “While at the store, I’m able to control the lighting, audio, and televisions with my ELAN mobile app or wall-mounted control panel. While away from the store – at home, at my other businesses, or traveling – I’m able use the ELAN security platform to monitor the store.”

The last piece of the control puzzle is still being put into place — the installation of an ELAN system in the couple’s airplane hangar. When complete, the ELAN system will control the hangar’s four-camera security, DVR, and alarm system, its television, indoor and outdoor surround sound, garage doors, automated door locks, HVAC, and lighting. “By outfitting their hangar with an AV system controlled by ELAN, the couple now has both a secure location to store their planes and a place to host parties and events,” emphasized Heringer. “Whether it be their main house, pool house, son’s house, retail storefront, or airplane hangar, this Jonesboro couple appreciates all that’s offered by an ELAN-controlled smart home. And while my recommendation guided their initial decision to choose ELAN, its expansion to their other properties is a true testament to the performance of the ELAN system itself.”

To download additional photography, click here. All photography is courtesy of Jennifer Barakat.

University of Arkansas Alumnus Creates the Ultimate Weekend Party Pad Controlled by ELAN

For a serious college sports fan, owning a 12th floor penthouse overlooking your alma mater is a dream come true. One University of Arkansas alumnus who regularly hosts university and team staff for parties has taken this idea even further by creating a Razorbacks-themed party pad where everything from the colored LED lights and window shades to the video wall and multi-room audio can be controlled right from his iPhone with the ELAN control system.

Looking around this penthouse, which used to be two separate condos, it’s clear that just about everything is custom designed. Walking through it can leave you in awe at the hallway’s tongue-and-groove hickory ceiling with backlit red glass sections, the glass floor that looks down into the wine cellar, the master suite with an open bathing area, the bathroom with chandelier lights, and of course the five-TV video wall in the living room. Add all of that to the home’s fully automated colored LED lighting, window shades, thermostats, audio in every room, and even a connected electronic door lock, and it really does seem like a home from the future.

According to Chad Moore of DeBoards, the Arkansas electronics installation company responsible for this home’s incredible systems, the future is now. “The owner of this penthouse had a grand vision, to be able to host parties in a space like no other without thinking about the logistics or fretting over how everything works. With our creative designs and the ELAN system we were able to give him everything he wanted, including a home completely free of wall switches. There is not a single light switch on the wall because all the lights including the many, many colored LED lights are controlled through the ELAN system.” 

The color red permeates through the home, paying homage to the Razorbacks and creating a distinct mood that’s perfect for parties and game day celebrations. There are LED strip lights almost anywhere they could be hidden, including under the stairs, behind decorative support beams and above and below cabinets. They can be set to any color through the ELAN g! system, allowing the owner to pump up the red for games or subdue the room in blue for a relaxing night.

“Guests at this home would be hard pressed to say they’ve seen anything else like it,” Moore added. “There’s a glass floor that looks down into the large climate-controlled wine cellar in the lower level and a wall of Razorbacks footballs autographed by the guests of each party the owner throws. There are LED lights in the ceiling, the floor and even the walls! It’s a great feeling as an integrator when the client is excited about creating a cool space and has ideas they want to flesh out.”

To add to the ambience, Moore was asked to make sure that every electronics component is hidden. There are no wires, no visible speakers and no cable boxes. All speakers and even subwoofers are in the ceiling and almost completely hidden from view, while the receivers, amplifiers and everything else are located in two equipment racks far from the living areas and completely out of sight. Using IR relays and IP communication, the ELAN g! system makes sure that every part of the house works smoothly and easily.

With 10 audio zones, four climate zones, an outdoor audio system on the balconies, and a DirecTV box for every TV, the possibilities are endless. While the owner loves using his iPhone and iPad to control the system, DeBoards also installed an ELAN touch panel in the great room (where the video wall is located) and by the front door for reliable always-on functionality. This is perfect for when the owner leaves his phone in another room and wants to close the blinds or turn on the lights. 

In addition to the ELAN equipment, this project uses Sony and Sharp TVs, Lutron lighting, Aprilaire thermostats, Integra receivers and amplifiers and Luxul wireless solutions to ensure every spot in the residence has full WiFi and connectivity to the g! system.

To download additional hi-res photos, click here.

High-End Housing Community Creates Ultimate Living Experience With Upscale Amenities Powered by ELAN

Luxury housing communities throughout the nation are making a concerted effort to up their amenity game, and in Little Rock, Arkansas, the goal is no different. Professional management company Richardson Properties crafted the ultra-lux Pointe Brodie Creek housing complex on 40-acres, and connected more than 25 services through one ELAN Entertainment and Control System. 

Nestled among the serene outdoors, The Pointe Brodie Creek offers the best of luxury living in Little Rock. “We traveled to several Class-A multifamily communities in Texas to get ideas for this luxury property,” Steve Tracy, Vice President of Real Estate at Richardson Properties explained. “The goal was to craft a community with amazing amenities that weren’t available at other properties in the area.” The community boasts an array of services and facilities including a 78-seat theater, virtual fitness room, poker lounge and climate controlled wine lockers, 24/7 Precor fitness center, late night concierge, Las Vegas-style pool, and much more. 

After developing the overall design, Richardson Properties sought expert advice from Jonesboro-based design and integration firm, Sound Concepts. “In terms of square-footage, this is one of the largest jobs we’ve completed to date,” Sound Concepts Owner Ryan Heringer stated. “We showed Keith Richardson and Steve Tracy a variety of automation systems in our showroom, and they ultimately selected ELAN for the job.” 

According to Tracy, the main factor in choosing the ELAN system was its usability. “We needed a system that was user-friendly and easy to operate, and the ELAN system has definitely exceeded our expectations.”

The Pointe Brodie Creek has become its own community within Little Rock. Residence can enjoy Thirsty Thursdays, Wine Club meetings, and other special events in the main Club House weekly. However, with most amenities available to residents until 10PM, Richardson Properties needed a way close down the facilities after hours. “Most of the systems are on a schedule,” Tracy explained. “Our irrigation system, pool pumps, music, TVs, fountains, and fireplaces are all scheduled to turn on and off at certain hours with ELAN.”

With more than 500 multi-family units situated around the Club House, residents can enjoy a variety of amenities right outside of their door. Among them is a fully loaded 78-seat movie theater situated on the entire third floor of the main building. Built with state-of-the-art acoustics, the room comes equipped with a Draper 16:9 screen, Epson projector recessed in the back wall, and an ELAN System Controller to keep everything running smoothly. What’s more, the theater is completely operated by the ELAN g! App from an iPad built into the wall.

Throughout the rest of the Club House, The Point Brodie Creek residence are entertained by more than 10 Samsung 3D Smart LED TVs ranging from 46” to 55”. An 80” SHARP 3D Smart LED TV is also available in the communal Conference Room, which is utilized by not only residence but Little Rock-based organizations as well.

For audio, an ELAN S1616A Mulit-Room Audio Controller is used to operate more than 30 zones throughout the facility. The three-story building can receive audio inputs from up to 16 sources, creating full-bodied sound through 78 in-ceiling speakers. The MRA system allows The Pointe Brodie Creek’s Community Manager, Shelley Ellis, to create the perfect atmosphere in each room, so residence using the Library won’t be subjected to the same music as those attending “Thirsty Thursday” down the hall. Furthermore, custom Lutron LED Lighting systems were installed throughout the Club House, making the ambiance of each room unique to its purpose. Through the ELAN g! App, Ellis can not only turn the lights on and off, but also change the colors of the lights to set the exact mood desired for a sports game or other special event.

“The ELAN system is basically a time saving device,” Ellis explained. “Running around the property to turn everything on and off manually would take hours. With ELAN, I am able to operate and monitor everything straight from my phone which makes my job a lot easier.” 

The A/V doesn’t stop with the Club House. “We installed just as much audio and video equipment outside than we did inside,” Heringer added. “The green space is filled with speakers and 40 Wirepath™ surveillance cameras to keep residence not only entertained, but also make them feel safe.”

Twenty landscape speakers line the entire outdoor area, so residence can enjoy music at the Pet Park, Playground, Volleyball Court, Putting Green, Garden, or while barbecuing with friends by the Las Vegas-style pool. Surrounding the pool, residence can receive a resort-like experience with cabanas, fire pits, and an additional 30 outdoor speakers hidden in the greenery. Residence can also be entertained from every angle in the lush pool house. The inside bar boasts a Samsung 80” Smart 3D LED TV, while the outside bar comes equipped with a 55” 3D LED TV and the patio hosts a 65” Smart LED TV. Best of all, the entire outdoor A/V system is connected to an ELAN HC4 systems manager, allowing The Pointe Brodie Creek’s operations team to keep everything running smoothly without second thought.

“We recently broke ground on a similar facility right across the street,” Tracy concluded. “We’re working through the details now, but with the success of The Pointe Brodie Creek, we know it will be another fully automated community.” 

To download additional hi-res images, click here. All photography is courtesy of Jennifer Barakat.