Welcome back, Dreamedia family! Today, we’re diving into a stunning Mountain Modern home in Vail Valley, Colorado, where we took an outdated home automation system and completely modernized it.

This project was all about revitalizing old tech, optimizing network performance, and seamlessly integrating state-of-the-art automation into an existing home.

🚀 If you’re dealing with old, clunky systems that don’t work, this is the transformation you need to see.

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🏡 The Challenge: Outdated Technology & Poor Network Infrastructure

This home had been through three separate tech renovations over the years, but unfortunately, each one had left cut wires, abandoned systems, and incomplete integrations.

💡 What We Found:
🔸 A failing control system – The existing URC complete control system barely functioned, with remotes unable to turn on TVs.
🔸 A fragmented network – There were three separate networks running (Comcast Business, Comcast Residential, and a legacy Ruckus system), causing device conflicts and Wi-Fi dead zones.
🔸 Abandoned wiring infrastructure – During previous remodels, critical wiring for audio/video had been cut, leaving certain areas disconnected.
🔸 A broken whole-home audio system – The distributed audio system was completely non-functional due to control issues.
🔸 A disconnected Lutron lighting system – The home had Lutron lighting, but without app access, the homeowner could only trigger lighting scenes from one button in the master bedroom.

With all of this outdated and disorganized tech, the homeowner couldn’t easily control anything.

Our job? Upgrade everything—while keeping what still worked and making it all seamless.

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🚀 The Dreamedia Smart Home Solution

To bring this luxury mountain home into 2024 standards, we needed a full system overhaul, but instead of ripping everything out, we designed a custom integration plan that kept the best elements of the existing system while introducing new, future-proofed tech.

Step 1: Power & Network Overhaul

⚡ Power Infrastructure Upgrades
🔹 Installed a WBox 2000 Series UPS for 4-8 hours of backup power during outages.
🔹 Deployed smart power strips that talk to the network, enabling self-healing automation (no need to reset manually after an outage).

🌐 Enterprise-Grade Network Upgrade
🔹 Eliminated three competing Wi-Fi networks and replaced them with a single, high-performance Arachis enterprise network.
🔹 Installed top-line routers, a managed switch, and 5 high-performance access points for seamless whole-home coverage.
🔹 Tripled Wi-Fi speeds and quadrupled wired speeds with the same ISP.
🔹 Optimized band steering to prevent devices from sticking to weak access points across the house.

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Step 2: Upgrading Home Automation with URC Total Control

💡 Why URC?
URC’s Total Control 2.0 system was the perfect fit because it allows modern IP-based control while supporting older AV components, making it the ideal solution for a home with mixed legacy and new technology.

🔹 Installed a URC MRX-12 as the primary processor, plus additional MRX-5 and MRX-4IR controllers in remote areas.
🔹 Brought every smart device—old and new—into a single control system.
🔹 Integrated localized control for each room while keeping whole-home control options available via the app and touchscreen panels.
🔹 Created scenes for lighting, music, and entertainment, which we’ll showcase in detail below.

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Step 3: Revitalizing Whole-Home Audio

🎵 Audio System Fix & Expansion
🔹 Replaced the outdated distributed audio system with a Sonos-powered multi-room audio setup.
🔹 Connected URC amplifiers to power hidden in-ceiling speakers throughout the home.
🔹 Created quick-access Sonos presets, eliminating the frustrating multi-app experience of the old system.

💡 Before: The homeowner had to open Spotify, then Sonos, then their home app just to play music.
💡 Now: They simply open the URC app, pick a preset, and the whole house fills with music instantly.

🔹 Designed zone-based audio control, so:
✅ Main Floor Mode – Plays music throughout the living room, kitchen, and master wing.
✅ Lower Zone Mode – Plays music for the game room, home theater, and outdoor patio.
✅ Party Mode – Activates every speaker in the home with one button.

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Step 4: Centralizing Smart Lighting & Shades

🔹 Integrated the existing Lutron lighting system into URC Total Control.
🔹 Replaced single-room button control with full-home access via app & touch panels.
🔹 Created custom lighting scenes, including:
✅ Movie Mode – Dims all lights to the perfect setting for a cozy movie night.
✅ Dinner Mode – Adjusts kitchen/dining lighting to warm ambient tones.
✅ Night Mode – Ensures low-lit hallways and bathrooms for late-night trips.

🔹 Discussing future expansion into motorized shades for sun protection & energy efficiency.

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Step 5: Modernizing the Entertainment Experience

📺 Home Theater & Living Room AV Upgrades
🔹 Installed URC-controlled AV receivers with Dolby Atmos surround sound.
🔹 Programmed Apple TVs, Fire Sticks, and cable boxes into the URC ecosystem for one-touch control.
🔹 Fine-tuned audio using Denon AVR room correction for optimal sound clarity.

💡 Before: TVs wouldn’t turn on, and sound systems weren’t functioning.
💡 Now: Every room is fully controllable with remotes, touch panels, or voice commands.

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🏡 Walking Through the Upgraded Smart Home

✅ Wall-mounted URC touch panels allow instant access to lighting, security, music, and entertainment in each room.
✅ Sonos whole-home audio seamlessly plays music across multiple zones.
✅ Every TV & media device is now fully controlled through one system—no more juggling remotes!
✅ The network is now bulletproof—Wi-Fi dead zones are gone, and every device stays connected.
✅ Self-healing automation ensures the home fixes itself when issues arise.

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🌎 Future Expansion & What’s Next?

This project is only Phase 1. Future plans include:
🔹 Replacing outdated TVs with 2024 OLED models.
🔹 Adding motorized Lutron shades for sun & heat control.
🔹 Expanding outdoor AV & entertainment zones.
🔹 Integrating a full off-grid battery backup solution.

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📍 Ready to Upgrade Your Smart Home?

At Dreamedia, we’re all about:
✔ Rescuing outdated systems & bringing them up to modern standards.
✔ Designing custom solutions that work with your existing infrastructure.
✔ Providing white-glove installation & ongoing support.

📍 Based in Colorado? We offer in-person consultations & full installations.
📍 Anywhere in the U.S.? We provide virtual design services & product recommendations.

Let’s make your smart home work the way it should. 🚀