If there were ever a time we needed our home networking to work better, it would be now. If you were to do a quick google search on “best router,” you probably wonder where to start when you get 124 million results. The issue isn’t the answer (like 42), but are we asking the right questions? In this blog, I want to try and ask the right questions and give homeowners a place to look for the correct answers.

When humans first populated the earth, the largest influence on their lives was the sun. It determined when they woke and when the slept, when they hunted and when they hid. Even after the discovery of fire, the physical toll of maintaining an open flame limited its functionality as a light source. Even tallow candles, popular in the 14th century, were so expensive that only the most affluent members of society could enjoy more than a few minutes of light per day.

Up to the 19th century it was still prohibitively expensive for the majority of people. In 1816 Baltimore became the first city in America to light its streets with gas distributed through a system of pipelines. This technology proved so beneficial that it was found in almost every city by 1850. And just like that, we owned the night.

This is part one of a three-part series covering how we can control light to improve our lives. In the first part we will cover lighting design, and how it impacts our ability to enjoy and use our space.

This shouldn’t be news to anyone, but your average home contains more “smart” devices than ever before. Nest thermostats may have brought the trend to the mainstream, but Alexa, HomeKit, Sonos, and others have taken that momentum and run with it. You might think that adding a few of these devices would take you to the pinnacle of the “Smart Home,” but is there anything that is missing from these consumer or DIY devices that is available in the professional systems like Control4, ELAN and Savant? Let’s take a look.

Who ever said bigger isn’t better has never walked the TV area at CES, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Reporters and news programs can give a misleading view of what CES has to offer, as they tend to focus on the ‘concept cars’ rather than the ‘production cars’ of technology. Last year, the stories about LG’s rollup TV and this year’s Samsung's swing-into-portrait-mode Sero TV fell into that bucket. Yet underneath all the hype, we find some real changes coming to TVs, and many of them are available today.

I often wonder “Why do we welcome technology more in our cars than in our homes?” After all, let’s go back to the last time you approached your car:  You probably pressed the button on a remote that unlocked the door and disarmed the alarm.  As you pull back on the door in your car, the light conveniently comes on for you inside and the seat moves back.  When you sit down, and either put your key in or press start, the seat moves forward as the steering wheel moves down and towards you.   As you take a drive down the road, your favorite music is just a single button press away on the six presets.  Why doesn’t your house do all this? 

In our homes, thousands of products are available to give you the same experience as in your car; people just don’t know about them.  For example, there are ways to install a remote on your keychain that unlocks your door and disarms the alarm.  It’s also rather easy to install a simple keypad beside your entry door.  These six buttons act as “presets” for you and your home.   Much like the 6 buttons on your car stereo, press the #1 or “Welcome” button, and your house takes on the setting that you prefer, like having the lights illuminate the path to your bedroom closet, your thermostat change to “comfort mode,” and your favorite music to start playing throughout the house. 

Does calling for help on your smart home problems give you Technical Support Derangement Syndrome?  It’s frustrating for anyone, especially when dealing with a luxury custom integration company, that all you hear is:

• “I’m sorry. The person you need to speak with isn’t in the office at the moment. Can I have him give you a call back?”
• “Let me make a few calls and get back to you as soon as I can.”

Or the dreaded “Hold please,” only to be left hanging for an inordinate amount of time.

If you’re an architect working in the custom homes field, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that more and more of your clients are asking for home theaters. To best accommodate your clients’ wishes, you want to design a home theater that’s stylish, functional and comfortable.

Unfortunately, you have hundreds of other things to worry about when you’re designing a home, making it difficult to devote your full attention to any specific elements. That’s where we come in; by hiring a home theater design expert like BRAVAS Dallas, we can handle that aspect of the project while you devote your energy to other concerns. Today we’d like to show you the value of working with us on your project in the Fort Worth area of Texas.

Winter has finally arrived in the Keller, TX, area. While we’re not subject to many sub-zero days or relentless ice storms, we’re also experiencing dark days inside. Cabin fever will likely creep in sometime between now and the beginning of spring, so you might as well keep yourself entertained. We think a custom home theater is the perfect way to forget the gloom outside and enjoy the hibernation you deserve.

As our name might suggest, we at BRAVAS Dallas have installed and customized many impressive theaters. Though each of them featured decor and custom programming that suited the individual homeowner, we’ve noticed three non-negotiable elements in each. Curious? Read on to see what they are.

The pace of progress in the world of home audio/video systems never slows, and 2020 will be no exception. From an entirely new class of displays to refinements in projector technology, these systems are ever-evolving, which can make it hard to keep up. Have no fear, though: Here’s our guide to three major technology trends to consider if you’re thinking of upgrading your Dallas, TX home’s audio/video installation this year.

When you close your eyes and think “smart home,” images of 8K TVs, elaborate lighting control, surround sound and outdoor theaters might spring to mind. When integrators like us at BRAVAS Dallas conjure up Colleyville-area smart homes, our first word association is a little less glamorous, simply because we know what’s behind every successful installation – a network.

You know your home wireless network is essential, but that might not occur to you until something goes wrong. Maybe you’re watching a movie and it lags during your favorite part. Or you keep getting cut off during a Skype call because someone else is streaming shows right outside your home office.

It’s almost 2020, and we think that a network should nimbly manage all that modern life throws at you. That’s why we can’t wait to show you what’s just around the corner for your Texas residence. Keep reading to learn about Wi-Fi 6 and see if it’s right for you.