Houston Outdoor Lighting, Indoor Art Lights, Landscape Lighting Designs, Home Automation Blog

Monday, December 22, 2008

Houston Home Theaters & Media Rooms

What size house absolutely needs a home theater?
No home absolutely has to have a home theater, but most very large custom homes with 10,000 square feet or more need more than just a basic entertainment system. Acoustics are different in more spacious houses, and larger systems are necessary for sound and video to have maximum impact.

What components are found in home theater systems?
Most Houston home theater systems have separate video processors and audio processors that allow them to render both sound and image in high definition quality. Amplifiers and high end speakers are a must, because home theater sound normally separates sound effects, voice, and background sounds to mimic real world action. Smaller home theater automation systems may use a flat-screen plasma television for video, but home theaters use a projector and projection screen to create a fully cinematic experience.

Why can’t people just go to a home theater store and buy what they need?
Because stores only provide equipment; they install the equipment. They will often refer a customer to an electrical contractor for installation, but these contractors often run into difficulties themselves. Tuning a system’s acoustics is not as easy as one would think. Without a sound working knowledge of architecture, and without details on the particular room the home theater is installed in, it is difficult for even an expert electrician to get the sound just right.

How are Houston home theaters by ILD installed differently?
We carefully examine the entire home before we even begin to recommend home theater design equipment. A very large house will often have several rooms that could make a good home theater room. However, there is always that one that is the best room in the home for entertainment. Our job is to locate that room, and then get with the architect or interior designer who designed it and gather specifics about the acoustical qualities of the materials used to build the interior.

This will tell us a great deal about which speakers, amplifiers, and controls to use, and how best to synchronize specification-grade home theater and automation equipment (not sold in retail stores) to the exact harmonics and structure of the room itself.

One thing that is something of an absolute rule to us is that we will not install wall or ceiling-mounted speakers. These mountings may appear highly sophisticated, but they do not amplify nor reflect sound waves correctly in relation to the seating of the audience.

What Other components of Houston home theater does ILD frequently install?
We use a number of projectors and screens for premium high-definition video, including DVD Servers that can hold up to 500 DVD’s and CD Servers than can record 12,000 CD’s. We also install home theater seats that electronically recline, and we specializing in integrating home automation and lighting controls with home theater that can rival the best of Houston’s public entertainment venues.

What services other than home theaters does ILD offer?
Illuminations Lighting Design is a full service design build firm specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting, electrical service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters, emergency generators, surge protection systems, and phone systems.

How can I reach you to schedule an appointment?
Call us at 800-863-1184 today to talk about your next home theater project or lighting control system.

Labels: Houston Audio Video Specialists, Houston Home Theaters, Houston Media Rooms, Theater Media Rooms

Monday, December 08, 2008

Den Lighting Control Systems

Why is den lighting so important?
Den lighting design sets the mood and adds comfort and quality to all activities conducted there. Large, dark rooms appear less attractive, and even intimidating in some cases, to guests. How you plan good lighting in the den opens up the room to conversation and activities. It can also function as a part of more advanced home entertainment such as home theater.

What does den lighting control add to personal use of my den?
Den lighting control allows you to create the desired mood or necessary level of light that the occasion requires. Dens are multi-functional rooms, and adding lighting controls allows you to call up different lighting themes and make fine-tuned adjustments to separate elements of room lighting. You can raise or lower general lighting at will based on the nature of the gathering and the number of people in attendance. You can also adjust accent lights for home entertainment such as music or movie watching for designing lighting in high end homes.

Can den lighting be sequenced with other home features?
Yes, your whole house audio system would be an example as your lighting themes can mimic the rhythm of your musical selections. If you are watching movies, you do not want to do it in total darkness. You need some lighting to allow people to get up and move around if necessary. Den lighting controls can be automated to bring the general room lighting down and turn on accent lights in the room that function like the theater lights in cinema. The same controls can also be programmed to close window blinds and other items.

When are wall box dimmer switches advisable?
Wall box dimmers are either rotary or sliding switches that replace flip switches. Dimmer switches are advisable when more light is needed for overall comfort of a large group and less light for a smaller group to feel more intimate. A wide variety of decorative wall box dimmers is available to match the interior lighting themes of your den and to make it convenient to adjust the lighting instantly when you enter the room.

Doesn't getting up to adjust the wall box dimmer distract and disrupt the mood of the occasion especially if done several times?
Wall box dimmers are only one option in home lighting control. Wireless remotes can be connected to a lighting control or home automation network that allow you to control your den lighting just like you control your television and whole house audio.

Can I install the lighting control system in my den?
It’s not a good idea. The installation of automation and lighting control systems should be done by a licensed home automation contractor with experience in lighting control technology. It also helps to use a company like ILD that has knowledge of interior home design lighting and interior home architecture. This will ensure the system installed works safely and can systematically integrate as much of your home’s functionality as possible.

Illuminations Lighting Design is the only “One Stop” destination for lighting design, engineering, landscape lighting services and installation in the state of Texas, and remains unrivaled by any lighting firm in the United States for lighting that is art. As homes grow larger and needs become more complex, having a single resource provides home owners with peace of mind. This translates into a smoother process, reduced costs and a better product.

We are located in Houston Texas but provide lighting and house lighting plans in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.

Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Lutron Homeworks Lighting Controls, Residential Lighting Control Systems, Vantage lighting controls