We present an integrated system that uses speech as a natural input modality to provide user-friendly access to information and entertainment devices installed in a real home environment. The system is based on a combination of beamforming techniques and speech recognition. The general problem addressed in this work is that of hands-free speech recognition in a reverberant room where users walk while engaged in conversation in the presence of different types of house-specific noisy conditions (e.g. TV/radio broadcast, interfering speakers, ventilator/air-condition noise, etc.). The paper focuses on implementation details and practical considerations concerning the integration of diverse technologies into a working system.