Aunt Phoebe's Saltbox
A three-hundred-year-old Hamptons home with zero room for mistakes.
This project shows how we brought modern audio, video, and Wi-Fi into a historic 1700s property without disturbing a single original structure. A full smart home experience, built with patience, precision, and respect for the home’s history.
1700s Historical Home
This historic Hamptons residence dates back to the 1700s and carries one of the richest traditional legacies in the area. Known locally as “Aunt Phoebe’s Saltbox,” the home originally belonged to John and Phoebe Huntting in the 19th century before being relocated in 1926 under the guidance of architect Joseph Greenleaf Thorp.
The property has undergone careful expansions over the years, using matched and historically appropriate materials to preserve its integrity. Spanning roughly 4,000 square feet on a gently sloped 1.8-acre parcel, it includes four bedrooms, three and a half baths, and additional structures such as a detached garage and potting shed.
Only a small handful of Timber Frame Historic homes remain in East Hampton, and this property is one of them. These homes represent some of the most complete examples of early building methods on Long Island, making this residence not only rare, but architecturally significant.
Integrations
Modern technology in a 1700s home only works when every decision respects the original structure and the design vision. Every wire, speaker, and component was planned with one rule in mind, preserve the historic character while delivering a fully modern experience.
Below is a breakdown of each system we installed and how we approached it.
High-end, Custom TV Installations
TVs in an 18th-century home have to blend in, not take over. For this project, we installed Samsung Frame TVs in key rooms so the screens could function as artwork when not in use. Each Frame TV was paired with custom framing chosen by the homeowner and designer to match the historic interiors. The goal was for every TV to feel like it belonged in the home, not like modern tech forced into an old space.
The designer also wanted the audio around the TVs to be completely unobtrusive. Because we could not open the walls for in-wall speakers, and traditional sound bars looked too modern for the space, we built custom speaker solutions that matched the aesthetic of each room. These speakers were crafted to blend with the home’s color palette and wood finishes, giving the television areas a clean, period-appropriate look without sacrificing sound quality.
All wiring was routed through existing cavities and structural paths, keeping the original framing untouched. The result is a TV experience that looks intentional, functions perfectly, and respects the home’s historic character.
Whole Home Audio Design
Creating a whole home audio system in a 1700s historic property means every room becomes its own puzzle. Nothing about this house was standard, so we had to hand pick solutions for each space based on structure, acoustics, and the designer’s vision.
Most of the home received invisible speakers, which allowed us to provide full audio coverage without interrupting the traditional interiors. These speakers disappear completely once finished, giving each room clean sound without visible equipment.
Some areas of the house had original beams spaced too tightly for invisible speaker installation. Since we could not alter or widen the framing, we presented custom options that would blend seamlessly with the space. In a few rooms, we installed speaker fixtures that match the lighting, giving the audio a disguised, architectural look that fits the home’s age and style.
Every speaker choice was intentional. Each room was evaluated on what it could structurally support, what the homeowner needed, and how the designer wanted the space to feel. The end result is a full audio system that sounds rich and even, while staying completely in line with the historic character of the home.
Wi-Fi Networking Integration - Indoor & Outdoor
Historic homes are notoriously difficult when it comes to modern networking. Thick walls, irregular layouts, and no modern framing make Wi-Fi a challenge. We designed a network tailored to the house’s layout, using discreet access point locations that keep everything hidden while delivering strong coverage both indoors and outdoors.
All wiring was routed in a way that avoided altering original surfaces. The final result is a stable, fast network across the home and outdoor areas, giving the homeowner reliable internet without compromising the house’s integrity.
Outdoor Landscape Audio
The property includes a large outdoor space, and the homeowner wanted the same level of audio quality outside as indoors. We installed high-end landscape audio system by K-ARRAY, using speaker placements that covered the whole area, and that were kept mostly hidden.
Every outdoor speaker location was chosen to respect the landscaping and to avoid disrupting the historic feel of the grounds. The result is even coverage across the yard, a clean aesthetic, and outdoor audio that feels part of the property rather than added onto it.
Smart Home Solutions with Control4
The homeowner wanted a simple way to control the entire system without introducing technology that would visually clash with the historic design. We programmed the home with Control4, giving them an easy interface for audio, video, networking, and outdoor features.
Every keypad, remote, and touchpoint was chosen to complement the home’s interiors. The system feels modern but not out of place, giving the homeowner the convenience of one unified control experience without distracting from the home’s style.
Outdoor Lighting Design
Lighting a historic property is its own kind of craft. The goal is to highlight the architecture and landscape without breaking the home’s character or overwhelming the natural beauty of the grounds. For this project, we designed a full outdoor lighting system that complements both the historic structure and the mature landscaping around it.
We placed FX Luminaire fixtures throughout the property to create gentle, natural illumination instead of harsh spotlighting. Each light was positioned to bring out the shape and texture of the trees, stonework, and pathways, making the property feel warm and inviting at night while still subtle enough to respect the historic setting.
The lighting around the pool and patio areas was planned in collaboration with the designer. Every fixture was installed discreetly, hidden within plantings or structural features, so nothing disrupted the historic landscape design.
The end result is a property that feels alive at night, with balanced, layered lighting that guides you through the grounds and highlights the natural beauty of the home without drawing attention to the fixtures themselves.
Centralized AV Rack
All systems come together in a custom-built AV rack, the heart of the home’s technology. The rack was designed to keep everything organized, serviceable, and hidden away from the living spaces.
We built the rack with clean wiring, proper cooling, smart power management, and labeled components for future maintenance. This keeps the technology centralized and prevents equipment from cluttering the historic rooms. Everything is routed cleanly to this one location, keeping the home tidy and preserving its architectural authenticity.
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