Recently, BRAVAS Atlanta has made plans to present a class called, “Designing to Disguise – The Art of Hiding Technology,” this October. We are very excited about this wonderful class and about being able to offer it as a CEU/LU Credit Class too!

What: CEU: Designing to Disguise – The Art of Hiding Technology (.1 credit) | ASID Georgia Chapter.

When: We are on the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) 2015 calendar for our event on October 21, 2015 from 11am-1pm (see flyer for more time details).

Where: This great class will be held at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) in Buckhead, Georgia.

ASID

ASID (the American Society of Interior Designers) is the oldest and largest professional organization for interior designers . Currently, The Georgia Chapter has 660 practitioner members, 225 Industry Partners, and 250 student members. BRAVAS Atlanta is very honored to be joined by ASID for our wonderful October event.

ADAC

Conveniently located in the gorgeous Buckhead area, ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center), was originally built over 50 years ago by renowned architect and developer John Portman. Over the years it has become the national and regional resource for interior designers, architects, specifiers, and builders. In addition, signature industry presentations, networking, celebrity and media events, educational programs - like our BRAVAS Atlanta Class- has made it a must-see design destination.

BRAVAS Atlanta

Our team at BRAVAS Atlanta hopes that you mark your calendars for October and plan on attending this wonderful event. We firmly believe that our clients should be able to have the latest home automation technology without interfering with a stunning design. We know this is possible because we have found ways to integrate this tech seamlessly into spaces, that still allows for the beauty of the design to rule the space.

For more information about this event, please see our flyer or contact us at BRAVAS Atlanta.

Many people claim to have a home theater room because they have a large television and some loud speakers, but this is not all there is to completing your home theater space. When these rooms are designed and installed by a professional company like BRAVAS Atlanta, a home theater is a total experience.

Home Theater Room Features

To get the ‘total experience’ from your home theater room, we have a few more suggestions other than a big screen and speakers:

Seating

While many may choose sofas and loveseats to fill their theater room space with seating, consider using proper theater room seating. We suggest using luxury loungers, such as those at BRAVAS Atlanta Decor, to give your body proper support for enjoying lengthy features. Theater seating also helps to keep your guest’s attention on the screen, keeping your theater experience going with less distractions and shifting around. Many of these theater seats have built in cup holders and lounging features for your convenience and viewing pleasure.

Lighting

Lighting is probably one of the more overlooked elements of home theater room design, because many simply turn the lights off when watching a film or TV. However, by integrating a lighting system, you can easily adjust lighting from a touch of your fingers! Plus, you can adjust the light according to the picture quality or perhaps where people may need to walk in and out. Wall lighting or ceiling lighting, along with colored lights, can add to your overall home theater experience.

Noise

Do you have a problem with noise in your current TV room? Projectors, receivers, Blu-ray players, HVAC system media servers, etc., can all make a lot of noise. That is why our Digital Interior professionals design your home theater so that noise-emitting products are in cabinets or in a separate room. Problem solved!

Acoustics

Sound. To many, the most defining feature of a home theater room aside from the TV or projection screen itself. However, no matter how good your speakers and amplifiers are, misdirection of the sound can deter you experience. Our professionals address all of the acoustic reflective, dispersive and absorptive properties of your room. This allows for your home theater room to give you the real theater experience (and not disturb others in other rooms of your home).

BRAVAS Atlanta Home Theater Rooms

Please contact us at BRAVAS Atlanta to further explore the possibilities of adding a high quality, properly designed home theater room to your home. Please give us a call at 770-844-5800 or contact us online. We look forward to giving you the home theater experience you have been dreaming of!

Summers in Atlanta as always hot and this year is no exception. The costs of utilities can easily sky rocket during the summer from using more air conditioning and even water. BRAVAS Atlanta has a solution to help cut your utility costs and keep your home cooled off this summer!

Shading Your Home from the Inside

[caption id="attachment_1442" align="alignright" width="300"] Lutron Shading Solution Source: Lutron Electronics Public Facebook Page www.facebook.com/Lutron[/caption]

At BRAVAS Atlanta we only suggest and offer the greatest home automation products to our customers. Lutron Electronics is one of these preferred brands, and may be the perfect solution to cutting energy costs and warm temperatures in your home this summer!

Lutron automated shades and blinds offer a cooling solution like no other, and all at the touch of a button! With the “summer cool” setting, the Lutron system will lower shades your shades automatically and blocking solar heat gain, thereby reducing your cooling costs. These lovely shades are made from sustainable materials for extra environmental and energy savings. However, the best part is that everything is automatic. Your home can take care of itself in a sense, by knowing when to lower the shades on hot/sunny summer days!

Conserving Energy

Some other tips to help you save some energy costs this summer include:

• Setting your thermostat a little higher to 75-78 degrees can help you save during the summertime.

• Close the windows and blinds during the day, but open them up at night if your area has a respite from the heat at night (not always possible in the Southern U.S. due to high humidity).

• Wash your clothes in cold water.

• Take cool showers to beat the heat.

• Unplug any unnecessary electronics and do not leave computers, televisions or other machines that produce heat on for extended amounts of time, especially if you are not using them (switch that computer to sleep mode if you’re going out for a few hours).

BRAVAS Atlanta

We at BRAVAS Atlanta hope some of these tips help you to save some money this summer and keep your home a little more cool. If you would like to learn more about installing Lutron shades into your home or if you have a question about any of our other offerings, please contact us at BRAVAS Atlanta today. Have a great summer!

 

BRAVAS Atlanta loves sharing our latest and greatest projects with everyone, and this summer is no exception! Recently, BRAVAS Atlanta signed on to a huge project with the Seventh Midtown - a luxury 20-unit condo project with ground-floor retail at 867 Peachtree Rd. These stunning condominium units are priced around $700K and offer our home technology company a perfect opportunity to show how our design and products can take these units up a notch in luxury and efficiency!

DiiATL Specs

On the Seventh Midtown project, BRAVAS Atlanta will be providing the following:

• Control4 integration systems

• Audio control

• Video control

• Lighting control

• Motorized blinds and shades

• Cameras

• Security and more!

As with all of our home automation integrations, homeowners at the Seventh Midtown will be able to choose to have the ability to control their home system from their smartphones, as well from other devices.

The Seventh Midtown

If elegance, convenience and luxury sound like your ideal home perhaps the Seventh Midtown is for you. Floorplans range from two to three bedroom units, or your choice of one of two exquisite Penthouse options. Seventh Midtown homes feature modern designer finishes and features by top designers specifically selected for these exclusive residences. Some of the well-known brands selected include: Waterworks, Pedini, Silestone, Wolf and Sub-zero. At Seventh Midtown homeowners are sure to enjoy a very private, chic lifestyle in the middle of one of Atlanta’s most luxurious hotspots.

Interested in owning a little piece of Atlanta? Consider purchasing a luxurious condo at the Seventh Midtown before they sell out! For more information, visit seventhmidtown.com. ***BRAVAS Atlanta is currently working on the model home now. Stayed tuned for more information about this wonderful project!*** [caption id="attachment_1434" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Construction of Seventh Midtown Summer 2015[/caption]

Home automation is one of the newest trends in smart homes and home building today, and it‘s likely to stay. Even though it’s a relatively new concept, it is possible to control everything from entertainment to home security with the touch of a finger.  It's still important you feel confident your installation company has your wants, needs and best interest at heart. BRAVAS Atlanta strives to build relationships with clients from the beginning of a project to the very end. Consider how it would go if you wanted home theater technology—video, audio, lighting, etc.—installed in your home. BRAVAS Atlanta offers consulting and design services on the front end to ensure your home theater has everything you could want and more. From televisions to audio, to additional components like gaming systems, we take into account your lifestyle, your home, your personal preferences and many other elements to create the perfect system for you. Would you like your home entertainment theater to extend to the outdoors? We’ll find a way to make it happen. Installation is considered in the planning phase to guarantee the home technology system comes together as quickly and with as little disruption to you as possible. Once you are satisfied with the plan and everything is ready to move forward, the installation begins. We are there every step of the way to ensure your installation is completed to exact specifications and that each component works together in digital harmony. If needed, we offer comprehensive training to ensure easy control of your new smart home system. We are available for additional support after installation is complete, although our tried-and-tested planning certifies the installation will be right the first time. Let BRAVAS Atlanta handle your in home technology needs—such as security systems, entertainment systems and home lighting—with professionalism and expert service. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and be sure to visit our Facebook page for additional ideas and inspiration.  

Thursday, June 11th is BRAVAS Atlanta’ fabulous BBQ-N-BREWS event! This event will take place in the lovely Buckhead area from 3:30pm-7:00pm at 3150 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, Ga. RSVP soon if you are interested in attending our great event!

Earn CEUs at this Event

BRAVAS Atlanta is planning on teaching a course called, “Proper Planning for Residential Electronic Systems,” at 5:30 pm for those wishing to earn CEU's at our event. However, other CEU courses are planned for 3:30pm and 4:30pm as well. If this sounds like something you are interested in, please RSVP to BBQBREWCEU@yahoo.com.

Event Partners

BRAVAS Atlanta is happy to be partnering with AVI Marvin Windows and Genesis Elevator Company for this great event. Our BBQ-N-BREWS event is being held at AVI Marvin Windows’ location in Buckhead. We look forward to hosting this event with both of these excellent companies.

More Information

• We plan to hold this event rain or shine.

• Free Valet parking will be provided.

• We will have various raffle items to give away.

• CEU classes will be held at 3:30pm, 4:30pm and 5:30pm

BRAVAS Atlanta is based in Alpharetta, Georgia and designs and installs home automation technology systems into homes, luxury condos and apartments, and in commercial spaces. Our expertise lies in making the most of your home automation by providing integrated systems where audio/video, lighting, HVAC, security, and other systems can work together. BRAVAS Atlanta offers custom home theater design and installations, lighting control, climate control, security systems and surveillance cameras. We also offer custom experiences that our clients love! Questions or concerns? Please contact us today at BRAVAS Atlanta and we will be happy to assist you. We look forward to speaking with you and hope to see you at our wonderful BBQ-N-BREWS event!

Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, BRAVAS Atlanta provides integrated packages of home technology and creates custom experiences for home automation purposes. This technology can be used for entertainment, convenience, security, comfort and communications. Our systems are designed specifically to enhance your lifestyle, while making you comfortable with technology.

Recently, BRAVAS Atlanta had the pleasure of being a preferred booth vendor at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2015 Convention held this year in Atlanta. Before the show, we partnered up with the team at TRUFIG®, and we are so pleased to have made such a great connection!

What is TRUFIG?

TRUFIG was founded in 2008 by entrepreneurs Geoff Spencer and Scott Struthers. The two innovators were previously founders of Dana Innovations, the parent company of Sonance® and iPort®. After 25 years of creating firsts, like the first high-fidelity in-wall speaker systems and the world’s first integrated in-wall iPod® docking station, the pair created another incredible innovation of flush-mounting solutions. Thus TRUFIG was born, allowing aesthetic-conscious designers, architects and property owners, to have perfection in the smallest of details.

[caption id="attachment_1414" align="aligncenter" width="554"] Photo via TRUFIG public Facebook Page at: www.facebook.com/TRUFIG[/caption]

Types of TRUFIG Installations

Some of the stunning TRUFIG installations have consisted of (but are not limited to):

• Solid Surface Installation

• Tile Installation

• Plaster Installation

• Fabric and Wallpaper Installation

• Glass and Mirror Installation

• Corner Bead Installation

• Baseboard Installation

FAMILY OF PRODUCTS

The family of products that TRUFIG works with are:

• Switches

• Power Outlets

• Data Jacks

• Keypads

• Touch Panels

• HVAC Grille

• HVAC Diffuser

• Speakers

TRUFIG can create gorgeous flush-mounted solutions in drywall, wood and even stone. Our BRAVAS Atlanta team has seen these solutions first hand and we know our customers will be interested in becoming TRUFIG customers too! This is an excellent option for customers who enjoy home automation solutions, but are also interested in the aesthetics of their space. For more information about BRAVAS Atlanta, please give us a call at 770-844-5800; to reach TRUFIG, visit them online at www.trufig.com. Also, please Like us on Facebook to stay in touch with BRAVAS Atlanta!

I. Love. Speakers…almost as much as music.  Because of speakers, I get to hear Johnny Cash in his prime, even though he has long since past. When it comes to quality, there are serious differences between various speakers.  For this reason and more, I set out to solve the question of who makes the best in-wall speaker.

For this experiment, I started by building a speaker box.  It had 6 chambers for 6 different speakers.  One side was made of drywall to emulate a home.  Then, I picked 6 popular in-wall speaker brands and got their $299 model sent to me.   The final roundup was Klipsch, Monitor Audio, Definitive Technologies, TDG, Niles, and Episode.  

The home automation technology BRAVAS Atlanta provides to our clients is often thought of as a luxury lifestyle upgrade, which it is in many ways; however, there is also a very important role our technology plays in home security.

 

Package Bandits

It is not unusual for news stations all around the country to show stories about thieves taking UPS or FedEx packages directly from people’s front doors all throughout the year (not only in the holiday shipping craze that is December). This has even been known to happen in gated communities, where one would assume it would be less likely to occur.

If possible, try to prevent these ‘package bandits’ from taking your deliveries by taking away their opportunity. Have your delivery service hold the package at a store until you can pick it up or give special delivery instructions, such as placing the box in the backyard or in another less visible area near your home. Another prevention method is to have a friend or neighbor keep watch, then go get and hold the package until you come home. Sometimes having your delivery shipped to your job (the place most of us live) may also help!

Automated Helpers

The security system and surveillance cameras BRAVAS Atlanta installs will detect an intrusion, sound the alarm if there is smoke or fire and help you see what is going on around your home. Our security cameras offer an added dimension to your security system. For maximum convenience, all of these cameras can be seen on any TV in your home. Simply tune into the channel assigned to the camera and there it is; you can even see the video feed on your PC (great if you're at work or out of town).

You may be wondering how cameras will help if a perpetrator already has their hands on your package. Depending on your home automation system, you may be able to set off an alarm from your smartphone causing the theft to leave the package and run. However, this will probably not deter a dedicated theft; but you'll have video proof that your package was stolen to share with the police, and be able to prove that it was taken to the company you ordered from. Your cameras may even help the police find and convict the theft!

BRAVAS Atlanta of Alpharetta, Ga.

This is merely a taste of what our security systems and surveillance cameras are capable of. Please ask about the ‘Bump in the Night’ custom experience we offer when you contact us to schedule an appointment. Also, feel free to schedule a time to see our lovely showroom as well!

BRAVAS Atlanta of Alpharetta is often confronted with questions about the home automation technology we install, which is typical of any new home installation. However, many of the questions we get from potential clients seem to stem from industry myths, so we thought we’d break some of these open for your benefit!

Common Myths

Home Automation Technology can ONLY be installed into new homes.

False- Having a new or old home makes little difference with the compatibility of our home automation solutions. BRAVAS Atlanta can come up with a design for ANY home! Older homes may have a little more to ‘work around’ due to existing wiring and walls already in place; but it does not mean that you cannot have a partial or complete home automation system installed.

Home Automation Technology is too Complicated and Difficult to use.

False- Home automation is actually very easy to use and our experts at BRAVAS Atlanta spend extra time making sure our clients understand how to use it. Most people now have and use smartphones daily; if you can use a smartphone, you can use our tech! Believe it or not, many of our preferred technology brands (like Control4) are actually made for those who may consider themselves to be ‘technically challenged.’

A large, fully integrated home automation system must have one strong Wi-Fi point.

False- If you own a large home or estate, having a single Wi-Fi point (regardless of reach/strength) is unreasonable. While most of our home automation solutions work using Wi-Fi (some can use Ethernet), one solution for a large home is to simply have multiple Wi-Fi points throughout the house.

Home Automation Technology can be RELIABLE and is the FUTURE.

True- When you use a proven company, like BRAVAS Atlanta, you will have the experts on your side to make sure your tech is reliable. Our experts are always there for you when your tech needs to be upgraded, as technology is ever changing. Did you know that we have home solutions for security, audio, video, HVAC, lighting and more?! Home automation really is the future, and luckily for you, you’re already taking the first steps to learn more about it!

BRAVAS Atlanta - YOUR Atlanta Home Automation & Installation Specialist

We certainly hope we have squashed some of the typical home automation myths for you at this point. However, should you have other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information! It is always best to be informed when deciding what you want to upgrade in your home, and we would be happy to help you understand how BRAVAS Atlanta can not only upgrade your home with technology, but upgrade your lifestyle!