The stack, in order
Build it in this sequence or pay to redo it.
- Structured wiring and network
- Hardwired backbone, properly located access points, and a rack with real cooling. Wireless coverage in a masonry house is an engineering problem, not a router purchase.
- Lighting control
- Keypads instead of banks of switches, scenes tuned per room, and fixtures selected so the hardware disappears into historic millwork.
- Audio
- Distributed audio with architectural speakers, plus a properly treated room where music actually matters.
- Shading
- Motorized shades and drapery tracks integrated into window casings, protecting fabrics and art from southern light.
- Security and cameras
- Discreet placement, local recording, and integration with lighting and access.
- Climate and monitoring
- Zoning for a house never designed for ducts, plus leak and freeze sensors — genuinely important in an old house.
Coordinate it during construction
Every one of these systems is dramatically cheaper and less invasive when the walls are open. The most common regret in Eastover renovations is finishing plaster before deciding where the technology goes.
Bring the integrator into design meetings alongside the architect, builder, and interior designer — not after drywall.