Not everyone has the luxury of dedicated Home Theater for big-screen movie viewing. Everyone has a family room or general TV viewing area. That’s alright, your family room is already finished and furnished. Plus, it probably already has a good-size TV and maybe even a modest surround-sound system. If your family room is like most though, it may not look or feel much like a home theater. What it’s likely lacking is ambiance - something in the arrangement and design of the room that gives off a home theater vibe. You can go as simple or as complicated as you want to produce the home theater effect. Here are some ideas to consider.

Re-paint - Dark, rich colors like burgundy and navy blue scream home theater. Plus, because light doesn’t reflect off dark colors like it does off light colors, the video on your TV will look better.

Rearrange the Furniture - The screen in a dedicated home theater sits directly in front of the seats. Your TV should too, which may require a slight adjustment of your family room furniture. 

Add Architectural Details - Decorative moldings, pillars and other theater-inspired details are widely available at home improvement stores. 

Install Dimmers - Swap your existing light switches for dimmers. You’ll be able to fade out the lights before the movie starts and adjust the mood.

Hide the Components - Remove all the audio and video components from the room and place them somewhere else in the house, like a closet or utility room. Trade in your existing infrared remote control for a radio frequency-based remote. It’ll be able to transmit commands to the equipment through walls, floors and doors.

BRAVAS Atlanta can assist you in making any room a home theater environment. We are the leading design and installation company for home theater and home control features in the Atlanta area. Call us at 770-844-5800 or use the convenient “Contact” feature on our website.    

Want to enjoy greater convenience and save some energy to boot? Then you should look into a lighting control system.

A lighting control system can automatically dim your lights, enact preset “scenes” so only the fixtures you need come on, automatically turn on and off lights so you don’t have to run around the house to do so, and interact with other home systems such as motorized window shades, security systems, thermostats, and whole-house control and automation systems.

There are many types of systems available, in a variety of configurations and price points. You can have a fully wired system if you’re building a home or addition. If not, no worries, opt for a wireless system that transmits commands over radio frequency signals instead of wires. A combination of the two works for many homeowners.

Many lighting control systems today incorporate motion and occupancy sensors to turn on and off lights automatically. And some lighting systems are starting to work hand-in-hand with shading and thermostats. Lutron, for example, offers this seamless integration in its wired HomeWorks QS and wireless RadioRA 2 systems. If a sensor detects too much sunlight coming into a room, or if the temperature exceeds a certain point, the shades can automatically descend. Conversely, the shades can open to harvest daylight and warmth from the winter sun, while triggering lights to turn off.

Whole-house lighting control systems are available from companies including Lutron, as well as home control companies Crestron and Control4. BRAVAS Atlanta can use resources from one or all of these companies to create a custom solution to fit your needs, lifestyle, and budget. Call us at 770-844-5800 or use the convenient "Contact" feature on our website.  

One of the most important decisions that you need to make when planning your home theater is the seating. With all the decisions being made regarding screens, sound, layout, etc.. seating may look like a very simple and quick decision to make. In reality, however, there are many different items that need to be analyzed before deciding which seating arrangement is going to work for your home theater. When working with the professionals at BRAVAS Atlanta in Atlanta we will work with you to take into consideration the following items when making this decision. Keep reading below. 

There are two misconceptions about projection-based home theaters. The first is that they’re only suited to dark, dedicated rooms. The second is that all screens are essentially the same. These things are not true because screen manufacturers have developed a wide assortment of new materials and applications that make projection video systems viable for nearly every room and situation in the home. Projection screens, when installed correctly and matched with the right components, are superior to flat-panel TVs in almost every way. They’re generally bigger, can offer a better picture, are easier to conceal, take no wires (unless motorized), and can be cheaper per square inch, depending on the projector than good flat-panel TVs. They also provide a much greater emotional impact and immersion for the viewer. But what if you want to watch a video in a non-dark room? No problem, there is ambient light rejecting screens for that.

What about outside? Again, no problem—weather-proof and wind-proof screens are available. What if you don’t want your speakers to stand out in the room? Easy, get an acoustically transparent screen and put the speakers behind it. What if you want to hide your screen? There are retractable screens at a wide variety of price options. In the old days, you either went with a matte white screen or a gray screen. White screens were for dark caves and gray screens helped boost contrast on weaker projectors and helped a little with ambient light. However today, fixed screens that look more like flat-panel TVs are the current rage. The industry leader in this is Screen Innovations' Black Diamond Zero Edge. This product works in all types of light and can be hung on the wall like a flat-panel TV. All of this means that picking a screen for your home theater or media room (or bedroom, backyard, library, …) is a lot more complicated than it used to be years ago. That is why it is so important to use a professional home theater installation company such as BRAVAS Atlanta in Atlanta. We can help you select and then install the RIGHT screen for your needs.

For solutions to your Home Theater needs in the Atlanta area call BRAVAS Atlanta at 770-844-5800 or use the convenient “Contact Us” feature on our website.   Featured Image courtesy of Screen Innovations      

Just because you have a big-screen TV doesn’t mean you have a home theater.  While BRAVAS Atlanta of Atlanta is known for some of our rather impressive and extravagant home theater installations we work with people every day to help them set up the basics that will allow them to enjoy the elements that contribute to the home theater experience. 

The core of a basic home theater or media room consists of three major elements-

Large Screen Display –

More and more, the receiver aspect of a television is divorced from the display aspect, in the form of set-top boxes, external TV tuners, computers, and other source devices. Appropriately, the display is being optimized for its main purpose — displaying a wide range of video output from a home theater system. These displays can be huge — some are greater than 120 inches diagonally, which is 10 feet for those of you who aren't good at math.

Digital Video Source –

At a minimum, this means a DVD player; and for most folks, it will also mean a Tv source (such as digital cable or a digital satellite TV service). DVD is a bottom-line must-have when you’re building a home theater because that’s the way most of you access the movies you want to watch.

Surround Sound Capability –

You need to have surround sound to take full advantage of all the audio power stored in your DVD content. With surround sound, you truly start mimicking the theater experience.

Without the display and surround sound, you lose the effect of the visual and audio experience, and without a digital video source, you just have a loud and big TV system. You really need all three in order to move into the realm of home theater experience. If you are ready to make the move to watching TV and movies in a home theater environment, contact BRAVAS Atlanta where we work with homeowners throughout the Atlanta area to overcome their fears of technology and put them on the path to enjoying their home entertainment in the best way possible. You can call BRAVAS Atlanta at 770-844-5800 or use the “Contact” feature on our website.

Even though home automation is emerging as the next must-have technology for homeowners, the term itself isn't the only term used to identify it. You may hear it referred to as home monitoring, home control, smart home, or connected home. Home automation can be used in a single room, or throughout your entire home, including outdoors. Today, there are very few limitations as to what can be controlled or monitored using this technology. Some of the most popular examples of home control include:

• Devices that control lights, shades, thermostats, audio, video (one or more TV’s, a dedicated home theater, etc.), pools/hot tubs, security systems, and more.
• Smartphone or tablet-based apps that let you turn your lights off and on, control temperature or monitor the security of your home remotely.
• Complete whole-home integration that unifies nearly every electronic subsystem in your home all controlled by dedicated touch panels in the walls and offering remote monitoring and control from smartphone and tablet devices.

What’s great about home automation is that you can start integration for one reason and then expand your system to automate other electronic systems as you realize the benefits that the right control technology can offer you.  The key is to understand your options upfront and plan accordingly. That is where the professionals at BRAVAS Atlanta in Atlanta come in.  We specialize in planning, design, and installation of one system or multiple systems in a home all seamlessly integrated for ease of use and enjoyment.

Whether you are interested in lighting control, zoned audio systems, accessing your streaming video services or DVR recording from any television in your home, or motorized window treatments we are a full-service home automation company, not a seller of electronic components. You can contact BRAVAS Atlanta by phone at 770-844-5800 or use the convenient “Contact” feature on our website.

As one of the leading full-service design and installation companies of Home Automation and Technology in the Atlanta area, the team at BRAVAS Atlanta is always trying on top of what is trending with homeowners as well as what is up and coming.

The top trends we are seeing right now are motorized blinds and streaming audio. One of the biggest trends we are seeing from luxury homeowners who want some high-tech assistance in their homes is certainly motorized blinds. This is due to the increased interest expressed for bigger windows and better views oversized windows, floor-to-ceiling windows, and panoramic views. All of these increased windows and larger windows benefit from the ability to have all kinds of shades raise and lower at the press of a button on your touch panel or tap of an icon on your iPad. Because while wide-open views are appealing, at certain times those views do need concealing to create privacy during various parts of the day or evening or and to shade harsh sunlight during key parts of the day.

With all the choices available today in motorized blinds some people find the blinds and their functions as exciting as the view. Streaming audio is about choice and selection. Whether you go the hard-wired or wireless route, there’s never been an easier time to get music routed throughout your home.  Many people choose to have this done both indoors and outdoors. There’s never been an easier way to access a seemingly infinite amount of albums and songs thanks to streaming music services.

Popular areas for streaming audio availability include outdoor living areas such as covered patios, outdoor kitchens, and pool areas. Inside the home, main living areas are of course popular but where we see more and more requests is the master bath. It seems that homeowners want to soak in luxury or shower with their favorite playlists emanating from in-ceiling speakers.

To learn more about what the home technology professionals at BRAVAS Atlanta can do to enhance your lifestyle with home automation or technology call us at 770-844-5800 or use the convenient “Contact” feature on our website.  

Many people when thinking about home theater tend to worry about the big picture and sound. A home theater is more than a room and more than a collection of electronics all tethered together. When done right by a professional company like BRAVAS Atlanta in Atlanta, a home theater is a total experience. To get to that total experience, you need to pay attention to all the details. The truth is that few rooms are perfect for a home theater before the gear arrives and there are many features that go into making that room a great home theater. Keep reading below.

Builders and Architects recently gathered at AVI Marvin Windows showroom in Buckhead to learn the latest in Home Automation trends in the Atlanta market. This presentation was led by George Ide, Vice President of BRAVAS Atlanta who was named the 2013 Registered Outreach Instructor by CEDIA, an international trade organization comprised of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home.

The group, the largest to ever attend a continuing education function at the AVI Marvin Windows showroom in Atlanta, gathered to hear George’s continuing education approved presentation on automated lighting control as well as the latest developments and trends in motorized blinds and shades.  These topics are very timely for those involved in the new home construction industry as recent surveys including one from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate show that luxury home buyers are now expecting home technology and home automation in their new homes.

AVI Marvin Windows was the perfect sponsor for this event as the BRAVAS Atlanta team has partnered with them in the past for industry functions such as the 5^th Annual Atlanta Housing Summit held earlier this year, for which they were the signature sponsor. In addition, both BRAVAS Atlanta and AVI Marvin Windows are committed to bringing quality products to their customers in both the new construction and remodeling markets that they serve and bringing awareness to our customers of emerging trends within our respective industries.

George Ide, instructor for this event has been involved in the home technology industry since 1992, and he brings over 20 years of experience in computers, telephones, and software development to BRAVAS Atlanta.

In addition to being an ROI for CEDIA, he is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Techhome division of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and has been an invited speaker at many industry trade shows and events. He has presented at the Consumer Electronics Show, Southern Builder Show, the Atlanta Home Show and the American Association of Housing Educators conference has been a guest lecturer at the University of Georgia and holds the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation from NAHB.

If you or your organization would like to learn more about home automation, technology, or home theater and its emerging trends, contact our office to have George speak on one of his many continuing education topics for the industry.  You can contact our Business Development Manager, Chuck Schlick at 706-974-2197 or click (at) diiatl.com to set up a presentation or lunch and learn at your office.  

BRAVAS Atlanta is pleased to announce that we have been named a Sonos Gold Dealer. This is recognition by Sonos of the professionalism and quality of our home technology installations. The Gold Dealer recognition helps cement BRAVAS Atlanta as one of the top home technology companies in the Atlanta area.

What is Sonos?

Sonos is a system of HiFi wireless speakers and audio components. It unites your digital music collection in one app that you control from any device. Play what you want in every room over a dedicated wireless network. To learn more about Sonos and their in-home audio systems check out this video.

For more information on BRAVAS Atlanta and how our affiliation with Sonos can benefit you contact us at 770-844-5800 or use the convenient “Contact” feature on our website.