Insights & Innovations: The Integrated Home Blog

No one wants to give an average gift. You want your friend, partner, or family member to feel loved, appreciated and special. Consider how a luxury smart device installed in their Charlotte, NC home can enhance the person’s lifestyle. So what are these are the top tech gifts of the season? We cover them below! One of these home automation accessories is sure to be the perfect gift for that special someone.

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Get Ready for the Holidays

1. Sonos One with Amazon Alexa

Sonos has combined the proprietary voice-control technology of Amazon Alexa with their incredible Play:1 speaker to bring you the best of both worlds. You can browse thousands of song titles with your voice, manage your busy schedule, and enjoy all of the other benefits of Alexa. The Sonos One with Alexa can play Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM and so much more with a simple voice command.

2. Apple TV 4K: $179

This gift would be perfect for the movie-lover who wants to watch everything in 4K. It comes with a voice control feature, so you can browse for titles by simply saying the name of what you are looking for, and the home screen is ad-free. This device is also the only streaming box that supports Dolby Vision, which is a huge plus. The colors on the screen will pop, and the images will look crisper with this brand new 4K streaming device.

3. Amazon Echo 2^nd Generation: $99.99

The Echo still stands as one of the top gifts for the holiday season. Their 2^nd generation model has a number of new and exciting features, including unique colors and Dolby sound upgrade. You can choose from an oak or walnut finish, sleek silver, and soft fabrics in charcoal and heather grey or white sandstone. In addition to the music upgrade and colors, the new Echo can also hear you better since it has seven built-in microphones for voice recognition.

Video games are at the top of the list for many people during the holiday season. It doesn’t matter whether you are 10, 16 or 45, gaming is for everyone. A custom media room design is definitely for the ultimate gamer though; the die-hard fans will appreciate a room dedicated to playing their favorite systems. And we aren’t talking about just a plain home theater system; we can immerse you in all the fun with automation. Here are some ways we can tailor your video game room in Charlotte, NC with technology.

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Get Ready For the Holidays

1. Add Color to the Room

Smart lighting is a perfect way to make your gaming room bright, fun, and interesting. With Control4 lighting, you can press one button on a keypad and the room will change dramatically to a cozy lounge for playing video games. The lights will dim, but a few key areas will stay lit with bright blues, greens or any color you love.

Consider adding light behind the screens to add dimension to the room and accenting chairs or tables so you can see the drinks and food when you are snacking. We can even program the lights to flash when the delivery guy arrives at your front door. It will get your attention immediately when you’re in the middle of an intense game.

2. Battle Other Players in Multi-screen Views

Games like Mario Kart or Fallout 4 are perfect for multi-screen mode. We can incorporate a video wall into your media room design so that each player’s view is displayed on a different TV. Video walls can also display one image on all of the screens at once for those times you are playing by yourself. Multiple TV screens give you the ability to configure the views in different ways, whether you are alone or battling four people.

Can you control your lights with your phone? Does your house automatically turn off lights when no one is in the room? Our home lighting control systems help Charlotte families in two major ways: convenience and security. This comes in handy during the holidays as you cook big meals, host family and friends, and monitor the kids. Read on to learn more!

See Also: How a Control4 Lighting Installation Adds Color to Your Charlotte Home

Lighting Control is Convenient for Everyone

Imagine groups of family members coming up your driveway for Thanksgiving dinner. Instead of taking the time to turn all the outdoor lighting on, your smart home does it for you. As cars pull up to the house, sensors detect their presence and illuminate the driveway. Pathlights help your guests walk up to the front door and walk inside. You won’t even have to take your eyes off the turkey roasting in the oven.

Later, when it’s time to eat, dimmers help create a warm, welcoming environment by lowering lighting levels. Then when the football game starts, the lights become bright again so everyone can snack, talk, and have fun together.

If you feel anything is off at any moment, you can pull out your smartphone and make adjustments. As soon as everyone says goodbye, your house goes into a more relaxed mode to get everyone ready for bed. Lights begin to turn off but a few outdoor ones remain on along with the holiday displays. As soon as you are tucked in bed, you press one button on your phone and the house goes dark.

We have talked a lot about how to provide whole house audio for music lovers, but what about those who produce and write music? Musicians and music producers need top-of-the-line whole house audio products in their studios to create the very best sound. A private space dedicated to creating music needs more than a whole house music system; it also need special acoustic treatments and customized stations for the instruments.

This blog is specifically for professionals in the music business as well as the aspiring artists who need a good start. Whether you want to make music your career or just want a special place to have a jam session with friends, we can help!

SEE ALSO: Why a Whole House Audio System is Worth it

Plan Your Project

Is this space going to be used for practicing performances or recording? Your choice will have a direct impact on the design of your home music studio. The location of the space will also be a factor since the noise isolation requirements will differ. It’s crucial to pick a place that will not make unreasonable demands of the space, like choosing an empty room next to a nursery or your master bedroom where someone might be sleeping. Though improvements can be made, the further away from these types of areas your studio is the less you will have to alter it to cancel out noise.

Every year, it seems like the holidays arrive sooner than the year before! Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before you know it - are you ready for the busy season? Hosting parties, visiting family, and shopping for the holidays can be very stressful – especially if you add travel into the mix. Did you know that partnering with a local Charlotte, NC Control4 dealer can make your life easier this time of year? A smart home system will simplify your life, help manage schedules, and keep your property secure. Here are three main ways we can help out with home technology.

Check Your Security System

First of all, if you don’t have a security system, it’s important to have one—especially during the holidays. Did you know that robberies increase from Thanksgiving to New Year’s? You can have peace of mind by using a Control4 system to manage your security and surveillance.

Install cameras around your property and get alerts when a stranger approaches or enters your home. You can even keep tabs on which doors are locked or left open every day.

Have a pet? Monitor them while you are out shopping or away on vacation. Press one button called “Away” and the doors will lock, the security system will turn on and the whole house will go into energy-saving mode. Press “Welcome Home” and your smart home will wake up again and welcome you inside. Using automation is that simple.