A YouTube star calls on a fellow YouTuber and smart home integrator to create a top-class family home and entertainment space.
Ashville Inc. is a London-based Control4 partner with a side hustle. As a wrap-around construction company, overseeing the overall build of luxury properties as well as smart home integration, Ashville’s owner and director, Daniel Louisy, is also a prolific YouTuber. So, when the company was approached by long-term client and fellow YouTuber, Yianni Charalambous, founder of Yiannimize the ‘supercar customisers’ vehicle-wrapping company and YouTube channel, with nearly two million followers, the foundations were laid for a smart home project that would have a big impact, featuring a seamlessly integrated system built on the Control4 platform.
Revving up for renovation
Charalambous contracted Ashville to carry out the construction of his new, top-quality family home: a large modern house complete with an immersive cinema room.
“I explained to Yianni that if you want the best of the best, then you’re going to want home automation,” says Louisy. “It’s the only way to achieve the Batman lifestyle he was looking for. We discussed all the possibilities from security to parental controls, then mapped everything out in a simple format and explained the installation process. Being a new home, we could incorporate the Control4 platform into the build, hiding cables and providing loads of opportunity for customisation. Once Yianni understood the possibilities, he was very much on board to invest in the perfect tech solution for his lifestyle.”
On track for a super smart home
The entire property benefits from an end-to-end Control4 solution, integrating underfloor heating, lighting, curtains, blinds, TVs and audio. The Control4 system is complemented by a dedicated Araknis network, with Binary high-speed HDMI cabling, both premium quality brands hardwired into the fabric of the home.
In the middle of the house is a purpose-built rack room featuring a custom rack solution by Strong. Enclosed in the Strong racks, there is a 24-source Audio Matrix Switch, 4K UHD 6x6 AV Matrix Switch with downmixing, 8 Zone/16 Channel Power Amplifier, all Control4, as well as an Araknis networking router and switch.
The cinema room, Charalambous’s pride and joy, is the entertainment heart of the home. In his brief, Charalambous specified that he wanted to be able to push one button to make the magic happen. Now, he can automatically dim the lights, lower the blinds, set the volume level and drop down the projector ready for the movie with one touch of his Control4 app, even before he’s arrived home.
The Control4 solution also includes a ‘mockupancy’ pre-set for added security. The system learns how the house operates over a two-week period and replicates this when the owner is away, turning on lights in the evening for example, giving the illusion that the house is occupied.
“What I really love about Control4 is the ease and convenience,” adds Charalambous. “If I hear the TV on downstairs, I can turn it off without getting out of bed. When we go on holiday, I can select the simulated occupancy feature for peace of mind.”
Va va voom audio
Louisy specified a comprehensive network of Episode and Triad loudspeakers and subs to deliver high quality audio to almost every room in the house.
In-Ceiling Dual Voice Coil Speakers are fitted through much of the house, providing a wide dispersion of high-performance sound, wherever they’re located. In the media room, Triad Bronze architectural in-ceiling and in-wall speakers, along with Triad Bronze subs, produce an immersive, high-resolution surround sound experience for realistic audio during every thrilling movie scene.
Design-led control
Attention was given to the fixtures and fittings of the Control4 keypads to ensure everything was in keeping with the modern, clean-interior design scheme. Control4 offers a variety of colours and finishes, so clients can choose their preferred faceplates and buttons for each space. Charalambous opted for a matte stainless-steel finish for the faceplate, with custom-engraved midnight-black buttons.
There are four touchscreens throughout the home, programmed with pre-sets for convenience. The touchscreen also acts as an external and internal intercom system, a useful feature for communicating with Charalambous’s two teenage boys. He can also control ‘screen time’ in each boy’s bedroom, ensuring that the TV is off at a certain time and lights are dimmed ready for bedtime.
Let it all out
Charalambous wanted the outside space to be just as impressive as the interior. The first touchpoint is the front gate, which is fully automated as part of the Control4 solution. Robust Binary cables run from the house, underground to the gates, connecting them to the main Control4 Matrix with no lag or reduction of power, despite the distance. This provides a grand entrance to this high-tech house.
The garden boasts a Triad Garden Array system, comprising ten GA4 satellite speakers and one GA10 Subwoofer. The speakers are positioned above ground in flower beds and borders for a blanket of sound throughout the garden, while the sub is buried beneath the ground, for unseen yet powerful bass.
That’s a wrap!
Inspired by how Control4 overcame Charalambous’s initial concerns, Ashville Entertainment produced an excellent YouTube video clearly explaining the installation process, the benefits of Control4 and how it can elevate a home. To date the video has had almost 200k views!
But the project doesn’t stop there. Louisy and the team at Ashville can remotely monitor and manage the Control4 solution via OvrC, available free and embedded within the Control4 operating system, providing an additional level of service. Ashville can see the system, troubleshoot and action software updates remotely, without having to visit the site, so minimising disruption to the client.
Tech Spec
Araknis Networks 210 Series Websmart Gigabit Switch with Partial PoE+ - 24 + 2 Rear Ports
Araknis Networks 310 Series Dual-WAN Gigabit VPN Router
Araknis Networks 310 Series L2 Managed Gigabit Switch – 24 + 2 Rear Ports
Araknis Networks 810 Series Indoor Wireless Access Points
Binary B6 Certified Premium High Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet
Control4 48V Bus Power Supply
Control4 4K Ultra HD HDBaseT Receivers (Class A)
Control4 4K Ultra HD 6x6 AV Matrix Switch with Audio Downmixing
Control4 5-Slot Panel
Control4 8-Channel 0-10V Simmer
Control4 BUS Ethernet Gateway V2
Control4 Colour Kits, Square Device Keypad Buttons
Control4 DIN-Rail 8-Channel Adaptive Phase Dimmers
Control4 DIN-Rail 8-Channel Relays V2
Control4 DS2 Door Station Flush Mount with Keypad
Control4 EA-5 Hub & Controller V2
Control4 In-Wall Touch Screen Metal Back Boxes
Control4 Square Single Faceplates
Control4 Square Wired Configurable Keypads V2
Control4 T4 In-Wall 10 Touchscreens
Episode 70V/8-ohm IP-Enabled Amplifier, 500W x 2 Channels
Epson Projector
Neeo Remotes
Signature 5 Series 8” In-Ceiling Dual Voice Coil Speakers
Strong 2U Fixed Rack Shelf
Strong 4U Fixed Rack Shelf
Strong 2U Lockable Rack Drawer
Strong Carbon Series Fixed Mounts for TVs 40”-80”
Strong Carbon Series Fixed Mounts for TVs 49”-90”
Strong Custom Series 24” Depth 37U Floorstanding Rack
Strong Custom Series 24” Depth 37U Rack Side Panels
Strong VersaBox Pro Recessed Flat Panel Solution
Triad 4-Zone/8-Channel Power Amplifier
Triad 8-Zone/16-Channel Power Amplifier
Triad 24-Source 24-Zone Audio Matrix Switch
Triad Garden Array Satellite Speakers
Triad Garden Array Underground System (No Amplifier)
Triad In-Ceiling Bronze/8 Sat Speakers (Left Side Mounting)
Triad In-Ceiling Bronze/8 Sat Speakers (Right Side Mounting)
Triad In-Wall Bronze/4 LCR Speakers
Triad In-Wall Bronze/4 SlimSubs with RackAmp 700 DSP
Triad In-Wall Bronze/4 Surround (Standard Bipole) Speakers