As unbelievable as it may seem to people who are addicted to constantly upgrading their home electronics and technology. For many people, it's been years since they bought a new TV or stereo, let alone a home theater setup with a big-screen TV and surround-sound speaker system. If domestic entertainment has taken a backseat to vacations, tuition, new cars, and home improvement projects, maybe it's time to start thinking about updating that antiquated stack of audio/video gear. Here are four upgrades that will put you back in the home theater and entertainment game. Keep reading below.
on Sunday, 27 October 2013.
We are very excited to announce that the Vice President of BRAVAS Atlanta, George Ide has been named the 2013 Registered Outreach Instructor (ROI) by the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA).
CEDIA is an international trade association of companies that specialize in
designing and installing electronic systems for the home. The association was founded in September 1989 and has more than 3,500 member companies worldwide. CEDIA Members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field.
During presentation of this prestigious award it was noted of George -
"This year’s Registered Outreach Instructor of the Year was chosen based on his activity level, his diligence in delivering education to industry partner professionals, and his commitment to educating his local trade partners.
By sharing ideas and knowledge with these trades, he has elevated CEDIA and its member base, and championed the necessity of using trained technology professionals."
George 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.
In order to maintain this CEDIA designation, ROIs such as George are required to follow strict guidelines that include timely submission of participant attendance for reporting to industry partner associations, meeting firm deadlines for registering upcoming classes, maintaining minimum evaluation ratings, conducting a minimum number of classes per calendar year, and/or participating in skills refresher courses which are offered face-to-face and online. The ROI program has been deemed one of CEDIA’s most valuable member benefits and continues to grow each year.
CEDIA continuing education is recognized by the following prestigious groups –
- American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC)
- American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)
- National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
- American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
- International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
- Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC)
- Interior Designers of Canada (IDC)
BRAVAS Atlanta is very proud to have a resource such as George available to our trade and industry partners to help spread professionalism within the
home electronic and automation industry in the Atlanta area and throughout the country.
on Sunday, 27 October 2013.
BRAVAS Atlanta is excited to announce The 5th Annual Housing Summit to take place on October 24 at 5 Seasons Brewing - at the Prado from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The evening will be a networking opportunity for Atlanta's top home builders, remodelers, architects, and interior designers to celebrate the strong recent growth of the Atlanta housing market.
The featured speaker will be Jake Lewendal of Anderrs Lewendal Construction and sustainable Building Solutions of Bozeman, Montana. Jake will be speaking about the groundbreaking, All-American Home Initiative. Inspired by a custom building project, he has proven that a home can be constructed using only Made-In-America products. He now is spreading his mission by motivating industry professionals and homeowners around the country to increase their support of American building manufacturing.
In addition, BRAVAS Atlanta will be conducting two Continuing Education classes. One on - Lighting Control, Motorized Blind & Shade Control, and the other Windows & Environmental Goals prior to the event at 3:00 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. See below for more information or use the "Contact Us" feature on our website. 
on Monday, 07 October 2013.
Today’s luxury home buyers prefer home technology over green features when prioritizing their choices in a new home according to new survey by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. The survey found that nearly 90% of home buyers would not even consider a home that isn't “Tech-friendly, and two-thirds say a “smart” home is more important to them than a “green” home. Homeowners have long coveted technology features, but the trend has spiked in the past few years as the technology has advanced to the point that more home buyers have become comfortable with technology and view it as a way to be more efficient, says Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. Chris also said that “They want custom experiences that they can create remotely on their iPad or iPhone”. In other words people want to personalize their home to fit their lifestyles. With these buyers items like security systems, and energy-efficient appliances are expected. But trendier features are moving up on the list of wants. In the survey, 55% of luxury home buyers consider a home theater as an essential, 50% want wireless speakers, and 40% feel that keyless entry is a required feature. Home buyers are not living in a vacuum when it comes to tradeoffs associated with obtaining these amenities. Approximately 94% of home buyers would sacrifice 1,000 square feet of living space for a home technology or lifestyle oriented amenity in their new home. While BRAVAS Atlanta of Atlanta has the ability to design and install all the latest home technology from security systems to lighting control, motorized shades and blinds. We are specialists in installing the most popular amenity sought, Home Theater, from concept to final furnishings. We are truly the one stop destination in Atlanta for homeowners seeking to add the luxury and convenience of home technology to their home. You can contact BRAVAS Atlanta for a consultation regarding your Home Technology needs at 770-844-5800 or use the “Contact” Feature on our website.
on Sunday, 22 September 2013.
We're thrilled to announce that we will be having a "Live Experience Day" at our showroom in Alpharetta on Thursday, September 19th from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Attendees will have the chance to view and experience the best in home automation, including lighting control as well as motorized shade and blind systems. Learn how your home can be controlled from a centralized panel, remote controls, or even your iPad or iPhone in our Experience Center that has been designed to replicate all the major rooms of your home. The BRAVAS Atlanta team and manufacturer's representatives will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss the ease of installation, use, and features available to make your lifestyle simpler and more complete through home automation. You can also take this opportunity to experience the best in home theater in our home theater rooms which give you a real-life representation of the best features available for movie and viewing with a theater-like experience in your own home. In addition, we will be having a Happy Hour with food and beverages from 5:00 pm - 6-30 pm and you will have the opportunity to enter our drawing for entry-level lighting control and motorized shade system! For more information or to RSVP you can call 770-844-5800 or email info@diiatl.com
on Tuesday, 17 September 2013.
One of the great things about Home Automation is the ability to program your home to perform a series of events with the touch of a button.
Imagine living in a home where the following is possible. Keep reading below.
on Wednesday, 14 August 2013.
Are you unsure about taking the plunge into home automation for your home in Atlanta because you aren´t comfortable with what it entails or how complicated it may be to operate? The BRAVAS Atlanta Experience Center in Alpharetta is the place for you to immerse yourself in all the possibilities of Home Automation. Our Experience Center which is one of the largest in the southeast offers a full-scale, kitchen and living area where you can see the latest in fully integrated home electronics, lighting control, security, and custom home theaters. Most importantly, it gives potential customers the opportunity to see how easy it is to use control panels by manufacturers such as Control 4 and Crestron as well as iPad applications to control the functions of your home. We will give you the initial tour, but then comes the fun, when you take control. Lower the lights, raise the lights, feeling a little warm? The control to change these items is at your fingertips. Of course, there are also audio and video elements. Learn about Smart TV features that allow you to utilize WiFi to stream internet content such as television shows and movies direct to your TV. Looking for more drama? You want to step into the other room and experience the best in Home Theater. This is not a simulator, it is the real thing. The video is large, vivid, and dramatic. The audio surrounds and envelopes you. Now you realize that home theater can actually beat the experience of a commercial movie theater. In addition to the quality of the experience, there is a choice. Drama, action, comedy, or even concerts, what you watch is your choice and on your schedule. Consider our Experience Center your test drive into the world of Home Automation and Home Theater. Contact us at 770-844-5800 to schedule your appointment to come and see firsthand how we can integrate technology into your life and home.
on Sunday, 11 August 2013.
With more and more audio and video content available via the internet, the BRAVAS Atlanta team is having more clients in the Atlanta area want to integrate their large screen TV or Home Theater with the internet or to PC-stored content. This allows the users to have a virtually unlimited source of entertainment options at their disposal and not just watch purchased DVD content. There are several ways that this can be done.
on Saturday, 03 August 2013.
Planning a Home Theater requires more than practical issues such as space, construction, and equipment. There are the design elements that will make the space truly unique to your home and style as well as meeting the needed functionality. The BRAVAS Atlanta team is experienced in providing a turnkey Home Theater that is beautiful as well as functional. 
As part of our total build-out turnkey solutions, we offer acoustical treatments for soundproofing from other rooms as well as maximizing sound quality within the room. High-quality equipment racks for your components allows for a more professional looking installation and easier access for future service. Designing a lighting plan for both ambiance and specific tasks is also one of our specialties. After we plan your furniture layout, you can shop for specific furniture and accessories for your Home Theater right on our website, including popcorn machines! During the installation of a Home Theater, is the perfect time to upgrade other home technology features of your home. We can integrate your existing alarm system and view cameras from other parts of the home, into one simple to use control panel that also includes the home theater. Many people choose to have this home technology integration control is done through their iPad or iPhone, something which makes home automation control more familiar and easier for the new user. Perhaps it´s not just a Home Theater you are looking for, but a multipurpose room with areas for sports, gaming, karaoke, and entertaining. We can bring all those diverse interests together into one cohesive room. All of these elements can also be done on a retrofit to an existing home or be elements of an upgrade after taking advantage of one of our Home Technology Checkups available to all Atlanta Homeowners. Installing a new Home Theater or upgrading an existing one to the latest technology requires the assistance of professionals. Call BRAVAS Atlanta today to speak to us about what our services can bring to your Atlanta home. Image courtesy of Stewart Filmscreen
on Thursday, 25 July 2013.
When installing a Home Theater in the basement of your Atlanta home, there are several considerations that must be taken into account. The team at BRAVAS Atlanta are experts in this planning phase and will help guide you through the process. Some of the things that we will look at in order to maximize the investment that you are making in a home theater included.
on Thursday, 18 July 2013.
Home Theater Upgrades You Need to Make - NOW! 
