At BRAVAS Atlanta Atlanta we pride ourselves on providing the best service with the most cutting-edge technology available. We are here to build relationships with our clients while also being leaders among those in our industry.

We are pleased to announce that we have been named in the top 100 of the Nation's Top Integration Firms by CE Pro Magazine. CE Pro Magazine is a leading industry-related publication that covers information related to all things integration and automation. The publication also covers digital media, distributed audio and video, lighting control, home theater, security, and more. For a complete list of CE Pro's coverage, click here. The magazine is published 17 times a year, you can receive a free subscription to CE Pro Magazine here.

In addition to our amazing rank of 62 in the CE Pro Top 100, we are also pleased to announce that our own Vice President of BRAVAS Atlanta Atlanta, George Ide, was named the 2013 Certified Outreach Instructor of the Year from CEDIA.  

We are pleased to offer continued education for industry professionals. For more information about our  CEUs, click here. We strive to provide the best service as well as be industry leaders in the automation and integration industry.

For more information about CEUs for your company or how to get started on a project for your home, please contact us.

If you're a professional in any of the following organizations: AIA, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, NAHB, ASID, NARI, IIDA, IDCEC, you need to meet your requirements for continuing education from the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA).  At BRAVAS Atlanta we have plenty of opportunities to earn those credits with a renowned accredited instructor, George Ide, Vice President of BRAVAS Atlanta CEDIA Registered Outreach Instructor, CAPS. George Ide is also the winner of the 2013 COI of the Year from CEDIA. We can come to your office at the convenience of your company and staff to provide the information you need to stay accredited within your organization.

We have courses in the following subject areas:

• Planning for Residential Electronic Systems

• Home Integration for Convenience, Comfort,& Safety

• Control Systems Impact on Building Green

• Introduction to User Interfaces

• Lighting Control

• Hiding Technology

At BRAVAS Atlanta, we're excited to go into 2015 with exciting content to educate your professionals. To schedule a CEU for your company, contact us here.  

Technology is constantly evolving and becoming a more integral part of our everyday lives. People are constantly on the go, making plans over social networks, texting and confirming meetings with a simple click on a touchscreen. While these devices and platforms are streamlining most of the processes in our lives, it may be making it easier to forget about the less advanced but equally important processes (think about turning down your thermostat or setting your alarm). Most people manage their finances, personal online presence, even grocery shopping from their mobile device or smartphone. Why shouldn't you be able to maintain your home? Home automation may seem like a luxury, but what if it could show real results and save you money? It isn't just about luxury, it's about functionality. Having control over what's going in your home could save you money on your energy bill every month. When you're able to control these features remotely, you can ensure that everything is running efficiently. Including safety features in your home monitoring system could also eliminate the chance of a home invasion. You could have 24/7 visibility of what is going on in and around you home. These efforts could yield up to 20% savings on your homeowner's insurance too, not to mention the immeasurable peace of mind knowing your home is safe. Being able to monitor what's going on in your home in real time is less of a luxury and more of the standard to how we live in 2014.  It's human error to leave your thermostat set too low or high, or to forget to lock the door behind you, but if you could have the technology to help eliminate the margin of human error, why wouldn't you?    

These days we can manage literally anything from a mobile device, tablet, or with remote control. Setting a mood in your home has never been easier thanks to automation technology, shouldn't this functionality apply to your windows? Natural light is a sought feature in any home. The more big windows you have, the more open, lived in and valuable your space will be. However, what does that mean for the lovely Palladian window in your foyer? You can't exactly climb up there yourself to adjust your blinds or shades. While the benefits of natural light are countless, it could be doing more harm than good when it comes to your furniture, house plants, and the artwork you may have throughout your home.

With motorized shades and blinds, you can control how the time of day your interiors are exposed to natural light preventing any fading or damage to your decor. As a safety precaution, it's always good for your home to appear occupied, even when it's not. Timed shades and blinds are a great way to keep your home safe. It gets hot in Atlanta and even when it's not summertime your home can still get exceedingly warm if you have large windows throughout your house, keep your house cool all the time by timing your blinds and shades to be closed during peak daylight hours throughout the day.

Functionality and luxury are what we do, for more information on how to get started on installing motorized blinds and shades in your Atlanta home, contact us today.

At BRAVAS Atlanta Atlanta, we work with many exclusive residences around Atlanta. We have done a great deal of work with the condominiums at The Residences at St. Regis Atlanta and are excited to see one of the residences profiled by the Wall Street Journal. Space belongs to a European entrepreneur who owns a coveted piece of art by Francis Bacon. The piece is titled Triptych 1974-77. The large compositions are displayed in gold leaf frames with low voltage lighting and UV coatings to protect the art from any light damage. Interior designer, Richard Peace, wanted to showcase the art by, "having a neutral background but with pops of color". According to news sources, Tripytch 1974-77 was sold at auction by an anonymous collector for 46.1 million dollars. Many of the pieces featured in the home were designed by Peace's firm. The strong, wood credenza and console are on display with the work of other luxury designers such as the custom dining chairs by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and an end-table by Jonathan Adler, both of which have showrooms in Atlanta. In addition to many custom furniture pieces, space also features drapes made of Thai silk. Behind the silk, drapes are sheer curtains for added filtration of daylight. Decorative molding is used to conceal the track used for the motorized curtains. The home overlooks the Buckhead neighborhood.

For more information on how to add custom home automation to your home, please contact us here.  

As home automation specialists in Atlanta, we are definitely all for expanding the day-to-day processes in your home to the cloud based technology that is available today. As technology is changing, you may find yourself wondering if you would switch from more traditional tools to something more high-tech. Now that we can control our homes through cloud based security systems on our phones, adjust our thermostat and even open our blinds. What would you think about having the locks to your home being controlled by bluetooth technology? Several companies have the technology and are fine-tuning the products for the home automation market place. Some of the models even feature a camera to show you who is at your door and can tell you if someone is on the inside or outside of your door. Beyond the homeowner market place, Hilton has recently announced that they will be creating technology to have their hotel rooms opened by a code that will be sent to your smartphone. Completely eliminating the need to check in to your room. While key technology is still being fine-tuned it definitely leaves a lot for homeowners to think about. In a world where nearly everything can be conveniently accessed by our smartphones or mobile devices, it could potentially create a greater need for more automation.

Do you have more questions about home automation in Atlanta? Let our experts help you pick out the best technology for your home. You can contact us here.        

One extremely important part of being a teenager or a kid, in general, is socialization. Your kids are going to develop a group of friends with which they love to spend time together. Weekends and time after school they will find places in which they love to get together. As humans are creatures of routine, once they find their favorite places to be, they will continue to go back time and again. BRAVAS Atlanta of Atlanta wants to help you make your house the one that all the kids want to be at. So, how do you do this?

Home Theater

Installing a home theater into your house is a sure-fire way to attract the kids. By creating an environment that resembles a movie theater in regards to surround sound, comfort, and a big screen, you are providing an experience for these kids that they typically have to pay for. However, what makes your house a much better option than a movie theater is:

1. They don't have to be quiet while the movie is playing
2. Your house has a much better selection of food and drinks
3. They don't have to just watch movies, but can also watch television or play video games
4. They can recline, lie down and sit any way they want to be comfortable

Take an active step in being a part of your child's group of friends by having a house where everyone wants to be. Installing a home theater is a move in that direction, and we would be delighted to help you out. Contact us to get started.

If you are still on the fence about whether or not home automation is the right choice for your family, let us give you a few things to consider in how incorporating home automation into your house is beneficial for your kids.

Security

Above all, the added sense of security will give you peace of mind. We aren't just talking about a security system to keep out home invaders, which is important, but also the ability to keep an eye on your kids without actually being in the same room. We can set up video monitors throughout the house, so when you are in the office working, in your bedroom getting dressed, in the kitchen preparing a meal, or anywhere else, you can keep an eye on what your kids are doing and know they are safe. It also helps you know that they aren't doing anything they shouldn't be.

Education

By making your home fully automated, you are essentially turning the entire house into one big educational opportunity for your kids. Technology is a vital part of life these days, and it is incredibly important that your children know how to use a smartphone, tablet and computer. With home automation, they will use these tools to control everything in the house, from the lights to the television and more. They will be extremely comfortable with all things technology and have an advantage in school.

Convenience

Finally, home automation makes things more convenient for you as a parent. The television will automatically turn off when screen time is over. You can program soft lullaby music to automatically start playing at bedtime. In the Spring and Summer months when the sun is shining at bedtime, room darkening shades will automatically lower before bedtime so you don't have to hear "the sun is still out, it's not bedtime." Although rewarding, life as a parent is incredibly challenging, wouldn't it be nice if your house was programmed to help you out as well? If you are interested in home automation, don't hesitate to contact us for a consultation.

Living in metro Atlanta, our summers are not exactly mild. Many times, people think that unless you are by a swimming pool, it is too hot to be outside. While we do agree that having a swimming pool in your backyard is a must-have, we also want to point out that you can create outdoor living spaces that are comfortable even in 95-degree weather. The trick is having the right accessories, and knowing how to manipulate them. Keep reading below. 

If one of the ways you like to relax and unwind includes single malt whisky and cigars, then you'll want to join us for our next open house event. Not only will we be offering premium cigars, but we'll have Jack Smith, CSS, the President of the Metro Atlanta Scotch Club introducing you to some of the finest single malt whisky available. There is hardly a better way to get more information about home automation than by attending open house events like this one. We will be on hand to answer any questions that you may have as well offering tours of our showroom. Of course, there will also be cigars for you to enjoy and whisky to sample. You get to taste four different single malts:

• SULIVAN’S COVE Single Malt Whisky / ‘Double Cask' 200 Vintage (12-yr) / Cask # HH068, HH0178 & HH0412(Botle # 539 of 1232) / 40% ABV / NCF / OB: Tasmania Distilery / Owner: Bert Cason / Tasmania (Cambridge)
• MACALAN Single Malt / 194 Vintage (19-yr) / 43% ABV / IB: Gordon & MacPhail (Speymalt range) / Dist Owner: The Edrington Group Ltd / Speyside (Central)
• AMRUT Single Malt / 'Fusion' / NAS / 50% ABV / NCF / OB / Dist Owner: Amrut Distilery (N.R. Jagdale Group) / India (Bangalore)
• CONNEMARA Single Malt Whiskey / NAS / 40% ABV / OB: Coley Distilery / Dist Owner: Beam Suntory Inc. (Suntory Holdings Ltd.) / Republic of Ireland (Co. Louth)

If you like what you taste, which is almost a certainty, then you'll have the option to purchase a bottle. Of course, there is no pressure to purchase a bottle, but with whisky this good, it'll be hard to refrain. The Cigar &Whisky Open House will be on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at BRAVAS Atlanta, Inc. The event is open to all current clients as well as anyone interested in home automation. We ask that you please RSVP to (770) 844-5800 and let us know how many will be in your party. See you then!