This master suite was part of a full home remodel and technology project in Austin, Texas. While the entire home features custom integrated technology alongside gorgeous interior design and architecture, the master suite is a project worth highlighting on its own. In fact, in 2020, the technology integration in this space won an award for “Best Master Suite” in the CEPro Home of the Year Awards! The crown jewel of this suite suited for a king: the 360-degree custom television and mirror. All around, this suite is built for comfort and convenience.

Read on to learn more about this project and view the full photo gallery here

A Complete Transformation

When the owner purchased this 10,000 square-foot mansion in 2017 , an ingenious team of designers, architects, builders, and engineers helped him to see the potential for his home. Since then, the home has undergone a complete, multi-million dollar renovation to make it the luxurious estate it is today. Crowell Builders and Britt Design Group completely transformed the structure and design to make this home nearly unrecognizable to its past. The team at Haas Home Technologies met with the client and the redesign team early in the remodeling process to plan out the intricate home technology design to go along with the new vision for the home.

Originally, the master bedroom was cramped between a pantry and an internal mezzanine level which had little use. Now, the master is a panoramic suite with cantilevered spaces that display architectural nuance and functional excellence. The entryway guides you into a seating area with built-in bookshelves, a plush sofa, and a multi-functional vanity. This part of the room is divided from the sleeping area by a free-standing decorative wall. On the opposite side is a cozy sleeping area with a custom walnut, brass, and suede headboard. The bedroom’s expansive windows lead out to a master patio with rocking chairs that overlook the property. When it’s time to rest, the room can be completely darkened by the touch of a button which turns off the lights and closes the quiet motorized shades. An en-suite bathroom welcomes you with a glowing onyx wall and massive steam shower, leading to a closet more accurately described as a dressing room. The suite’s second level is complete with an additional closet space and private massage room. This is the type of master suite you never really want to leave!

As the remodel team’s technology partner, Haas was responsible for maximizing the home’s existing wiring infrastructure while minimizing wall clutter and providing convenience to the client within a justified cost. This master suite is home to detailed lighting design, sophisticated audio and video distribution, and complex automation, all which blend intuitively into the home’s thoughtful design and function.

More photos of this project in the gallery here. Read about this project in the Wall Street Journal here.

A Mirror and TV that Switch Places

The biggest challenge in this master suite prompted incredible collaboration with trade partners and an exceptional learning opportunity for the Haas Design & Engineering Team. The client wanted the front area to be more than just a vanity: he saw space for a sitting room to read and watch TV. He also wanted the bedroom to have both a TV and mirror, which could have been overwhelming for the limited wall space. The master sitting/vanity room is separated from the bedroom by a gorgeous, free-standing wall wrapped in shagreen. This is the only wall in both rooms which functionally made sense to hang a TV or a mirror: but the client wanted both in each space. Presented with this challenge, Haas engineers saw an opportunity: the team was determined to design a custom TV and mirror combination that smoothly rotates 360 degrees to allow the Mirror and TV to switch places on the wall. This gives the client the rotating choice of either a 65’’ Sony Smart TV or a crystal clear 65’’ mirror in both rooms.

Designing this unit was an exciting project for then-System Designer (current Operations Director) of Haas Home Technologies, Hugo Zarate, who holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas San Antonio. The unit itself is quite large, and needs to spin smoothly and continuously within a wall at the tap of a single button . Hugo collaborated with a woodworking team to design a cabinet inside of the wall to balance the weight of the equipment for seamless rotation. He learned that in order to support the rotation, the space within the cabinet must be curved to accommodate the square edges of the mechanism. With careful planning and creativity, the unit is now mounted on a Future Automation motorized swivel unit and operates perfectly for the homeowner.

Haas Home Technologies Design & Engineering team draft plans and drawings for every single project, because great work starts with great planning.

Automated Luxury

Integrating residential technology systems at Haas Home Technologies begins with a discovery phase: listening to the client and trade partners to understand how technology solutions will intuitively fit into the home and best improve the client’s lifestyle. Especially in regards to a luxury estate, where every detail is carefully crafted, design thinking is key. Form and function come together when Haas collaborates with the designers, architects, and builders who share the highest standard of quality and precision.

This 360 Degree Master Suite is the epitome of luxury automation: technology that’s always within reach, but never in the way. A Savant automation platform provides effortless control of the suite’s lighting, climate, and ample audio/video system. Haas integrated Lutron Sivoia QS shading and Lutron Homeworks QS lighting for both natural and artificial lighting control. Origin Speakers throughout the space provide seamless sound whether watching a show in the sitting room or relaxing in the tub.

The system is accessible through physical remotes, minimalist keypads, and a mobile application.

CE Pro 2020 Home of the Year

CE Pro is the leading source of information in the custom integration industry. Each year, the organization puts together a panel of experts to award the best projects and products across a nation-wide industry of custom technology firms. The Best Master Suite award “recognizes the best designed and installed technologies utilized for comfort, convenience, privacy and entertainment in a master suite. The products and systems installed showcase the aesthetic features of the room and provide the ability for occupants to easily adapt the environment to meet their specific needs.

This 360 Degree Master Suite by Haas Home Technologies won Silver for Best Master Suite in the 2020 CE Pro Home of the Year Awards.