In University Hills, one of southeast Denver's most established enclaves, the tree-lined streets are quietly trading their mid-century ranches for a new generation of custom homes. This is one of them, a design-to-build collaboration with Devex Properties, architecture by Nexus Architecture, and interiors by Pruett & Co. The best design-first homes share a secret: the technology is everywhere, and you cannot see any of it. QAV came in as the technology partner with one rule above all others. Nothing could look like technology.
A Television Wrapped in Wood
The proof sits above the living room fireplace. There, a television is wrapped in wood and finished in a black grain that lets it read as a framed panel rather than a screen. Just below it, the soundbar disappears entirely, concealed behind a handcrafted, bespoke wood-slat grille built to match the room. Sound pours through the woodwork. The eye sees only craft.
Crestron, Quietly in Command
Running behind all of it is Crestron, the system that ties the entire home together. Audio, climate, shades, lighting, and security all answer to one elegant interface, so the home feels less like a collection of gadgets and more like a single, intuitive instrument. One touch, and the room is ready.
Audio Everywhere, Indoors and Out
Music moves with you. QAV designed audio everywhere, room to room and out onto the patios, where a series of covered outdoor living spaces with fireplaces was built for the kind of entertaining that Colorado evenings invite. The sound follows the gathering outside and never misses a beat.
Motorized Shades, Throughout
Light and privacy are just as effortless. Motorized window treatments run throughout the home, gliding open to the view or closing for the evening on a schedule or a single tap.
The Details That Define It
A design-first home earns its name in the details. The wine cellar is lit to present the collection like the centerpiece it is. Climate is managed quietly and precisely, room by room. Access control, security, and surveillance protect the home around the clock, present when needed and invisible the rest of the time.
This is what a design-first smart home looks like when it is done right. The technology is not on display. The craftsmanship is. Every system was tailored to the room it serves, the way a fine suit is tailored to the person who wears it.
You will never see the work. You will only feel the home.
