There may be a way around that.
If you get your hands on an RF instead of an IR remote, it'll punch through your walls.
Or, quite impressively, I use my phone, which is connected to my WiFi network. I have control over iTunes on my Mac in the study - this is linked wirelessly to my HiFi in the lounge. Nifty. Although Airtunes drops from time to time which is rubbish, so this might be better.