Home Theater Lighting creates an ambient environment that motivates friends and family to come to a private residence for a superior movie-going experience. Home theater lighting and automation, when done correctly, not only equals the quality of public cinema, but in many respects exceeds it. Home theater lighting accommodates direct control of lighting intensity so the host can dim the room to levels optimal for movie viewing. Sufficient task and accent lighting must remain on to some degree, however, so guests can move freely in and out the room without hazard or inconvenience. This skillful blend of light and darkness takes an expert home automation team like the one that makes Illuminations Lighting and Design a leader in home theater equipment and customization.

First and foremost to any home theater lighting job is direct remote control over the lighting levels and multiple lighting themes we program into a home automation lighting system. We link an AMX hand-held remote to both the audiovisual equipment and the lighting control system superstructure. When the host hits play, a pre-programmed timer begins to dim the lights as the movie credits begin to roll. This emulates the dimmable lights of theater that focus attention on the screen and set the mood for an altered state of reality. At the same time, it offers personal control and customization that public cinemas do not provide. Based on the size of the room, the type of projector used, and the overall layout of furniture and decorations, home theater lighting specialists pre-program multiple themes into the home theater system that allow the host to not only choose the amount of time it takes to dim the lights, but also offers a variety of individual light levels and effects that compliment the genre and theme of the specific movie the guests have come to enjoy.

Home theater lighting depends on layers of specific types of illumination in order to out compete the major cinemas. Colored lighting triggers emotion on an unconscious level and can transform the white light of normal illumination into a mood-altering compliment to the nature and theme of the film. This is a very subtle effect that guests seldom consciously notice but unconsciously respond to with a desire to "come back again next week." Dimmable lights generate optimal, low lighting for home theaters that focuses attention away from an obscured environment directly onto the projections screen—just as the lights in a cinema do. ILD dimmable lighting offers more versatility, however, than public cinema lighting because home automation systems contain a memory feature that allows us to pre-program any number of lighting levels and themes, each with its own preset timing control. We can then link this to indirect lighting sources that use very low levels of light reflected from key points in the room to create an aura of specific colors and luminosity that compliments both the room and the feature film. With thousands of lamps, luminaries, and fixtures for specialty lighting from which we can choose, we can automate and control necessary illumination with an aesthetic flare that enhances the decorative and special effects that make home theater lighting a prime motivation to stay indoors over the weekend. The home theater lighting system will also keep specific task lights powered on at low levels so guests can leave the room if necessary. We overlay these lighting effects in such a way as to create a sense of total darkness when in reality there is always enough light where it needs to be to accommodate safe movement and special effects.

Every home theater lighting design must also be customized to the personality and lifestyle of the client and properly illuminate the physical floor plan and interior architecture of the audio/visual room itself. In order to guarantee that we can truly deliver a custom solution to every client who comes to us, we have spent many years building relationships with the world's leading manufacturers of home automation controls, task lighting, accent lighting, and decorative lighting equipment. With access to specialties like ceiling lights and wall mounted lights for indirect lighting, we can create an aesthetic that goes beyond the public domain. Call us today at 713-863-1133 to host the next grand opening at your home and amaze your guests with an experience never to be forgotten!

The latest hype in High Definition world seems to be about the new 1080p HDTV's. Lets a step back and see what 1080i and 1080p really means. On the surface there is no difference. They are identical in their resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The difference comes under the hood, even though they both display the same resolution, 1080i refreshes screen in an interlaced manner, odd horizontal lines first and then even horizontal lines. This is all done at the refresh rate of a particular TV, normally 1/30 of a second. 1080p on the other hand refreshes the screen all at once. Hence the "i" stands for interlaced and "p" stands for progressive.

1080p in theory is considered better then 1080i because of its ability to refresh in a progressive manner, thus having a name of "Ultra-HD" or "Full HD". The ability to refresh screens at once makes for a crisp clean image, which is preferred for images in motion, like sports and fast action movies.

Having said this, the next question that comes to mind is what content is available in true 1080p format. And the answer to that question is: None. All the programming provided by cable or satellite companies is either in 1080i or 720p format. HD-DVD, Blu-Ray and Sony Playstation 3 are capable of outputting 1080p.

So why get 1080p?

Given the size increases in LCD and Plasmas, ranging from 13" to 101" from quality manufacturer's like Samsung, LG, Sony, Runco and Marantz, the extra level of refresh rate will make a difference between a pixilated image and a clean smooth image once the 50" threshold is crossed. 1080p is currently the digital standard for filming digital motion pictures. Directors such as George Lucas shoot their digital films in this high definition mode to be shown in home theaters equipped with 1080p equipment.

Why not let the home automation experts at Illuminations Lighting Design assist you with your home theater, surround sound, or HDTV plasma needs. They can be reached toll free at 800-863-1184 or online at www.illuminationslighting.com.

This is your home. Yours - nobody else's. And it's perfect. You planned it. You brought it to life. Now let it do the same for you. Hear it sing. Watch it play. Let it wrap itself around you. Tell you stories. Show you worlds. Open doors you didn't know were closed.

Make yourself at home... with all the power of Sony. Now there's a built-in entertainment system that's perfectly suited for your home and lifestyle.

Sony Electronics and Illuminations Lighting Design have joined forces to promote a new line of Sony audio video solutions for new homes. These custom Sony products are only available through authorized dealers, such as Illuminations Lighting Design, and are not being sold directly to the public. You've grown up with Sony, the leading name in home electronics, so who would you rather live with in your new home?

These unique high end Sony components are installed by the Sony Authorized experts of Illuminations Lighting Design. Our technicians and designers are trained and experienced professionals who must pass Sony's rigorous requirements in order to insure they can meet yours. Naturally, all Sony components are backed by world-class Sony support. Service that is second to none - service you can count on today and tomorrow.

So what are these special Sony components available through Illuminations Lighting Design and what makes them so special? Sony's new home entertainment solutions incorporate the whole house - totally integrated. Big-screen home theater. Small screens for news and sports. HD in the movie room. Late-night talk shows in the bedroom. CDs, DVDs, VCRs, Cable and satellite. Symphonies with dinner, rock where you roll out your Pilates mat. Multi-room, muti-source, muti-user - with Sony and Illuminations Lighting Design you can have it all! No boxes. No wires. No hassles. Everybody's happy!

Just think. Your new home, and your new Sony home entertainment system - one and the same. Magnifying pleasure. Multiplying features. Minimizing costs. With a built-in convenience you can't achieve any other way. And you know what? It can increase the value and salability of your new home investment because the next buyer will be smiling too. You'll love this part. The system can be absorbed in your home investment or rolled into the mortgage. You're buying a new home. With Sony entertainment solutions built in.

Sony new home entertainment solutions are designed to fit the way you live. Work the way you think. And be installed during construction by Illuminations Lighting Design, not later - when built-in wires, screens, and speakers can be costly and impractical. So think about it. Not just where you'll sleep or eat. What you'll do for excitement. Inspiration. Information. Fun. Then let Sony do the entertaining.

Founded by Tom Kretzschmar and Jim Stephens back in 1980, Illuminations Lighting Design was formed as a subsidiary of Rulon Electric Company to focus on the art of lighting.

Tom became interested in the idea of specialty lighting and saw its potential in the Houston area, especially among customers of the family business. His grandfather, Eldred Otis Rulon, at the end of World War II, started the electrical service company that bears his name, catering to the city's upper economic echelon. Tom's father, Gary, who had married Otis's daughter, May Lee, was eventually handed the reigns of the business and set it on a path of aggressive growth.

After attending Southwest Texas State University and joining the family business, he met Jim Stephens who also had an interest in lighting. Stephens had taught theatrical lighting design at Syracuse University and later was head lighting designer at the famous Alley Theater in Houston. After his career with the Alley, he and Kretzschmar teamed up to created what is now know today as Illuminations Lighting Design.

As a unique two man team, Tom and Jim, quickly honed their skills and created a growing list of loyal clients who appreciated their passion for lighting. Interestingly, twenty five years later, with a staff of 45, Illuminations Lighting Design is still the only game in town doing what is does and is the largest as well. This includes almost everything related to lighting, encompassing consulting, designing, installations, sales and maintenance for interior, exterior landscape lighting as well as home automation services.

To continue the dream and expand the company services, new design and engineering talent has been added to the war chest of talent at Illuminations. Rick Luberger heads the Landscape Lighting division of the company. Louis Torregrossa, master electrician, heads the Electrical Division of the firm. Tom Kretzschmar continues to be a driving force behind the synergy of talent and maintain contact with their precious list of loyal customers.

Illuminations Lighting Design has evolved into a "one stop shop" for everything electrical in your home or office. Our clients live mostly in River Oaks, West University and Memorial and a few other upper end neighborhoods. They also extend to commercial developments and private homes such as Wyoming ranches, Colorado resorts, New Mexico retreats, Oklahoma mansions, Louisiana plantations, and New York lofts to name a few.

For more information regarding the services from Illuminations Lighting Design, visit our web site at www.illuminationslighting.com or contact us toll free at 800-863-1184.

Join us in celebrating our 25th year of business by viewing our Client Testimonials to see what people are saying about our services. Like music, lighting sets the mood!

RadioRa, the world's first radio frequency lighting control system, uses innovative communication technology and built-in safeguards to ensure reliable wireless communication between all system components.

RadioRA can be installed in any home - including existing homes, late-stage construction, and new homes - without rewiring or patching and painting! Simply replace existing switches with Radio Ra dimmers and add master controllers to any convenient location to create one-touch lighting control of one room or your entire home. Illuminations Lighting Design is a RadioRA Preferred Systems Provider for Lutron dimming and control products, including HomeWorks.

Here are some of the possibilities with Radio Ra from Illuminations Lighting Design:

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  Turn lights on from a master control and never enter a dark house again.
  
  
  
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  Touch one button when you leave for a night out and set all your lights for an "at-home" look.
  
  
  
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  Create beautiful outdoor lighting environments with one touch of a button.
  
  
  
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  Use lighting to create the mood for a dinner party or for entertaining a house full of friends and family.
  
  
  
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  Bring the show to life with lighting that compliments any home theater, living room, family room or TV room.
  
  
  
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  Light your house with one touch of the All On button, Radio Ra can also be linked to your home's security system.
  
  
  
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  And the best for last. Are you frustrated with lights being left on at night? A single touch on a Master Control by the bed will turn off every light in the house. Prefer a nightlight? Radio Ra can be set up to leave one or more lights on at night.
  
  
  

AMX is all about making your life and your environment easier to control and manage. AMX user interfaces talk with the central controllers which interact with device controllers. Simply put, just push a button and say "WOW."

Simplify Your Life
At work. At play. AMX Corporation incorporates one-touch control solutions to make business and home the perfect blends of technology and simplicity. Since its inception in 1982, AMX has led the industry with innovative control system products - sophisticated technology designed to be easy to use and understand. The company's strategy includes working with leading manufacturers, dealers and distributors to develop powerful control systems that successfully integrate and automate literally thousands of electronic devices. It's Your World.

A typical AMX integrated system consists of four components: user interfaces, central controllers, communications and integration software, and controlled devices.

User interfaces, which allow the user to control the system, can be as simple as a wireless remote, or as sophisticated as a color touch panel. AMX user interfaces come in a variety of shapes and sizes to best match the needs of their users.

Central controllers are the components that tie together the various devices controlled by the system. They are integrated invisibly into the system environment to do the work "behind the scenes."

The third component, communications and integration software, runs inside the central controllers and acts as the "brain" between the user and the system components.

The final component, the controlled devices, are simply put any equipment connected to the system that the user wishes to operate. Controlled devices can include communications devices, such as telephones, intercom systems, and computers; environmental devices, such as lights, thermostats, security systems, and window treatments; and audio/visual devices, such as televisions, VCRs, DVDs, cameras, and satellite systems.

In homes all over the world, you'll find AMX technology making life easier, increasing efficiency and generally making life more fun and exciting. AMX systems can automate home theaters, lighting, security systems, HVAC systems, communication devices and more. The only limitation is your imagination!

To learn more about HOME AUTOMATION or how to simplify your life through a well designed automated control system, contact the HOME AUTOMATION SPECIALISTS at Illuminations Lighting Design toll free at 800-863-1184.

Illuminations Lighting Design is a full service design build firm located in Houston Texas specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting installation, service and maintenance. We handle Crestron electronics, Lutron dimmer controls, Vantage dimmer controls, Lutron Radio Ra and other home automation products. Our experienced staff of professional lighting designers, system engineers and licensed electricians is well trained in all aspects of new home construction, remodeling, electrical wiring, home automation, architectural lighting and landscape lighting design.

Since 1980, Illuminations has worked with architects, interior designers, custom home builders, contractors and homeowners by providing professional services, from consulting, CAD drawings, documentation and project management, to furnishing, installing and fine tuning all types of lighting fixtures and control systems.