The Socal To AZ Garage Build - Input Appreciated

One of my requirements was no posts to block the view. Took a ton of steel but I think we did good. My architect is just a damn genius.

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Was able to walk up to my office/lift for the first time with temp stairs:

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starting to meet with the AV guys. I want to keep the system in the house as simple as possible. Speakers run off a computer in the bar and patio area. Nothing integrated into a whole house system. AV guy is suggesting Sonos. Any feedback?

 

I want to hardwire speakers- that is the plan. I have no need for multiple zones of music. We arent big audiophiles but want some decent music when we have guests over in the strategic areas. I have no interest in Savant or Crestron or Control 4. None of that crap works long term. Previous homes we have had these systems and I had a tech over monthly basically troubleshooting all the time. I would rather have a separate system that controls my lights, a separate system for the security, a separate system for my tv, a separate system for music.

Can I just set up an iMac that is connected to speakers in the wall? there is a volume control on the wall to turn music up and down but I stream Spotify from the computer? will that work?

 

Whats the source to send the sound to the speakers? can it jsut be a computer? or do I need amps/receivers etc.

 

I just sent this to my AV guys:

"
Speakers:
We discussed Sonos but id like to propose a different solution. What if in the bar we put a 24inch iMac. Now we run speakers in the bar, patio and master patio. All those speakers are connected to the bar iMac. I simply run Spotify/Apple Music/ whatever off the iMac and I get sound in the party areas.
I can run a second computer/iPad in the master to control speakers in master bath/bedroom. A 3rd computers can be up in my loft area. This keeps me from being tied into Sonos and the computers are functional and usable."



would this work? my plan is to hardwire every speaker to a central switch that simply plugs into the computer. The iMac can do everything a Sonos can and so much more- why not just go this route?

 

I hear good things about savant but honestly I want something more modular. If there is a better lighting system in teh future Ill get it. control it on a separate app. If there is a better sound system or tv system or a security system, ill get it. but I want them separate. I see no advantage or reason to be tied into a single system for home. All it means is I have a folder on the phone with the individual apps instead of one savant (or control 4 or crestron or whatever app)

 

Not soon enough.

Currently scheduled for April.

Status is as follows:

• Framing to be completed next 2 weeks. Roof is going in now.
• Rough plumbing is complete
• HVAC on lower level and main level is complete. Upper level is pending
• Glass and windows have been ordered. Expected install is August
• Electrical starting next week.
• Cabinets finalized. waiting to place order- should be done in next two weeks
• Tile/flooring getting finalized next week

By end of august my hope is that all electrical, plumbing, HVAC, windows, is complete and they start to close up the house with insulation an drywall.

Then its a sprint to the finish.

 

I think framing should be wrapped up next week. View from my office to the eventual garage down below. You see where the golf sim will go in the second pic. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login


View from my office above to the great room/kitchen below- the staircase is temporary.


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No matter how many times you stare at the plans and not matter how many times you think what is drawn is perfect ends up being wrong when they actually lay down the wood. We decided to turn my garage into a pickle ball court case my wife loves to play. But after the upstairs loft went in, too much of the space below was covered by the roof. It looked fine on the plans but it was just too damn big. One other negative was my whole goal was to sit in my loft and have a nice view of the cars. No chance of that as you can see from the pics. Luckily there was a beam that was in the perfect spot and we basically removed all the platform beyond the beam. you can see in the rendering how much more space I have below and really my loft was just too damn big. this makes it absolutely perfect now. Perfect for pickle ball, perfect size for my office/loft, perfect for starting at the cars.

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I’ll admit I get out there every once in a while. Luckily it was a relatively simple fix. Minimal cost to adjust.

 

Its been a while but figured Id give an update. Lots of progress.

• Framing is complete
• Windows got delayed 2 weeks. Install is 2nd week of September. Should be done by end of September.
• Till windows get done- cant close up the walls but electrical is pretty much done. Couple more days. HVAC is done.
• Prewiring for alarm, speakers etc starting tomorrow. Done by end of week.
• All flooring finalized and ordered. We are doing the same 24x48 tile everywhere. and I mean everywhere! It was tough cause we wanted the floor to be the same inside and outside but outside we need a paver- so we had a tough time finding the right product but its done. Flooring is ordered.
• All bathroom tiles and fixtures are ordered. Just waiting on drywall to install. Drywall starts immediately after windows - they do insulation and drywall. scheduled to be complete end of October
• Cabinets are finalized and being built. Scheduled install is first week of November.
• Middle of November flooring starts. Expect all flooring and tile to be done by mid January.
• Appliances go in last and basically from January to end of April is all touch up work.

We got a bit delayed but hoping we can make up some time as soon as windows go in. Windows then drywall and basically its a sprint to the finish after that.

 

Now for the fun stuff. In my loft (which I have redesigned in my head a 1000 times) and the space where we shortened by about 8 feet to get it just right- there is going to be a golf simulator, my desk, a sitting area and a racing simulator.

Ive been researching racing sims for about 18 months now. There are a ton of options frankly. I didn't want to get something Mickey Mouse. Frankly you can build a great sim for a couple grand. This is going to be more than a sim for me- its a piece of furniture and art. I went with cool performance. The standard F1 sim is shown below.

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The problem is the red powder coat they use doesnt look that good. It looks really dull. Thats the standard color. Frankly if Im going to go to all this trouble, cant do standard color. Luckily for me, for a little bit more, they fully customize the color. Literally any color. Ive specced a bunch of cars and never had this much trouble trying to figure out what color to make the sim. Car you will likely sell in a few years. This damn thing is gonna sit in my office for 15 years.

After reviewing all the options- im debating between a black chrome frame with a tan leather seat. Or a BRG with a tan seat. Might also do black with a red seat. But most likely the first two options. Waiting on renderings from the company. Ive attached some pics of the layout of the loft and the potential color combos of the sim.



Here are some sample color configurations. Endless possibilities:

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Couple of color swatches:
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Here is potential layout. My desk and the lounge area will likely swap positions but ignore that. Sofa and two chairs next to sim are black. my desk is the wood color. The two chairs across from sofa not yet purchased but likely going with a brown/tan fabric. To me the only combos that make sense are the BRG frame with the cuoio seat or the black chrome frame with the cuoio seat.

All the other colors seem out out place.

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