Home Technology in Century-Old Houses

Everything else depends on it. Plaster and brick are hostile to wireless signal, and a single consumer router will not cover a two-story pre-war house with any consistency. Plan hardwired access points, a proper switch, and structured cabling to the rooms that matter.

In-ceiling and in-wall speakers can be integrated cleanly when planned at framing. Where walls cannot be opened, high-quality surface solutions and careful placement still beat a compromise install. Media rooms benefit enormously from treating the room acoustically rather than simply buying larger equipment.

Lighting control transforms how a historic interior reads at night — layered, dimmed, and scene-based rather than a switch per room. Motorized shades require pockets or headers designed in advance. Camera and access systems need power and data runs planned alongside everything else.

The recurring lesson: low-voltage decisions are inexpensive at framing and expensive at finish. Bring the technology integrator into the project during design, alongside the builder and the designer.