Households Home Theater at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

According to statistics from the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association, about 28 percent of U.S. households home theater have home theater systems, which include everything from basic box kits for a few hundred dollars to more elaborate custom jobs costing upward of $250,000. But despite the growing legions of high-tech-hungry viewers, a dedicated home theater isn't practical for most people. So here are some tips from the experts on how to create a living space that integrates style and comfort along with your big-screen dreams.

Jaffke often advises clients to opt for an entertainment center that is also a piece of fine furniture. In one home, she chose a custom built-in that featured lighted shelving on both sides of the TV to display a glass and pottery collection. "A lot of people will go out and buy all the components for a home theater, then they get it all home and it overpowers the room. Furniture manufacturers have come a long way in designing furniture for TVs."

Traveler, What of the Night? In planning your Dublin evenings, forget all about nightclubs. They don't exist. But a greater teat is available, namely the Irish talent for good theater. The world-famous Abbey Theater players have their home here and are to be enjoyed in the winter season, performing plays by contemporary Irish dramatists.