Can we make systems look and perform great in a modern setting?  You bet.  Here is an intown dwelling with a lot of style.

The living room has overhead speakers and a subwoofer in a discreet corner, disguised as a table.  The control is an affordable but effective keypad system.

The bedroom has a plasma TV on the low divider wall and the video sources are distributed from the central rack along with the music.  The Linn Katan speakers in white complement the room and provide great sound.  Another keypad with infrared function controls the system from the wall or the bed.

The equipment rack is in a nook in the kitchen.  It provides easy access and includes the local network devices.  Audio, video, and local network sources are all centralized here.