iHolmes, created by Richard Holmes seeks to bring well designed tech into homes that not only looks great and works well but also increases the resale value of the home. Simply put, the goal of iHolmes is to add value, technology and distinction to urban dwellings. iHolmes works with brands like Onkyo, Denon, Sonos, and Boston Acoustics to install custom solutions for multi-room audio, automation, home theater, security and HD video. And yes, they do offer solutions that will work with your iPhone.

iHolmes serves the Greater NYC area, for more information, check out iHolmes Technologies.

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The Closer: 'Design Studies: A Reader' brings out the inside world of design

"The academic field has to look at things that matter in everyday life," says Clark, the dean of the School of Art and Design History and Theory. "As human beings, we're impacted by design almost every second of our lives."

According to the authors, we must examine how the world is designed around us. In fact, in an era when everything gets a logo and everyone a Facebook page, what we surround ourselves with is just as important as the clothes we wear.

"One of our intentions is to get people to focus on how brands are designed," says Brody. "This is part of a larger discussion that asks the question of how design can help us rethink and improve the world around us."

The book, from Berg Publishing, is available at Amazon.com for $31.16.

- Downtown Brooklyn's Oro Condominium has sold 37 units in the last three months, according to Edward Azria, manager of sales at Rose Associates. In one case, the building's multi-room entertainment system with iPod integration from iHolmes Technologies sealed the deal.

Bad Boy Entertainment promotions exec Dontay Thompson, who works with Diddy, just bought a unit at the condo. The audio can be controlled from every room and will soon be connected to a 5.1 channel theater that includes high-grade aluminum and carbon fiber speakers, meaning you won't know where the clear sound comes from.

The 303-unit building at 306 Gold St. has a lap pool, bilevel fitness center with a basketball court, a screening room and a lounge. One recent buyer who purchased a one-bedroom unit in the low $500,000s said the building has changed the way she lives. She uses the gym and pool every day and has never had so much convenience.

Studios start in the mid-$300,000s. FHA financing is available, allowing buyers to put down 5%. For more information, go to orocondos.com.

- Fillmore Real Estate CEO John Reinhardt makes the most of his free time and lately it has involved promoting his firm and industry through every form of new technology he can get his hands on. Not only does Reinhardt, a life-long New Yorker whose father founded the firm 44 years ago, keep active on Facebook, the newly elected president of the Brooklyn Board of Realtors has just launched his own blog.

The Reinhardt Blog (thereinhardtblog.com) will go behind the scenes to examine the day-in, day-out operation of Brooklyn's oldest, largest and proudest family-run real-estate agency.

Reinhardt, who also has a popular Twitter page, sets big goals. He wants to hit 500,000 visitors by the end of this year.

"The real-estate industry is in a transition phase right now," says Reinhardt. "We have to raise the bar and be more accountable and accessible to our consumers. Technology allows me to stay on the pulse of what's happening."

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