I call wall plates like these memorial plaques.  They are used to remember technologies of the past and are helpful in estimating the date of the most recent renovation  (RJ-11 phone jacks: pre-2005, S-video: 1990-1995, Composite HD: 2000-2007, Ethernet 1998-2008, etc).  For this reason, I’m trying to convince myself that I don’t need to plan anything at all.  How much longer will I need even a cable TV  connection with everything streaming over the Internet and WIFI these days?

Fortunately, we’re putting the TV right over an old and unused air duct to the basement.  I can run wires through this to the basement where I can set up a media server, DVD player, game console.  No need for wall plates at all plus it keeps any hidden on a shelf in the basement.

Its not that simple though.  I need sensors for our heated floors.  Since I’ve never done this (DIY thermostat or hydronic heat) before, I’ll only have a few days to figure out if they’ll work before I need to cover them up for good.  There are also other projects that might not be done for a while that will require wired sensors or power. One is the temperature controlled glass tile back-lighting in the shower. I’ll need to wire up my temperature sensor on the pipes before I cover them up or I lose my chance.  Central 12v power distribution for gadgets? Speaker wires?… Speakers themselves? (a smart house should have a voice.)  Microphones (a smart house needs to hear your commands.)  I’ll think this over long and hard before we put of the last of the drywall.

*There is one non-electrical thing I can think of needing still: a filtered water line to the bedroom.  This would be great for a glass of water while in bed, or even better, a bedside coffee maker.