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!

Home automation wiring combines the very best in technology with the most creative and custom solutions available to today's sophisticated and busy homeowner. Home automation wiring links vital home systems and entertainment features directly to a central computer that allows for single-point access to the many different elements of quality home living. As life becomes increasingly hectic, the home becomes more of a sanctuary and the one environment that the individual has direct and unilateral control over. Wiring the home for automation not only makes things more efficient, but also empowers the individual with a sense of control not only over technology, but of personal freedom and choice which can seem a bit elusive at times in today's unstable and chaotic times.

Illuminations Lighting and Design maintains a fully trained staff of certified electricians who know the ins and outs of electrical wiring and home automation systems. Since we work in the most exclusive neighborhoods of Houston such as River Oaks, West University, Tanglewood, and the Memorial Villages, we routinely encounter custom homes with unique architecture that calls for home automation wiring that the standard generic equipment of retailers simply cannot adequately or safely deliver. Our goal is to provide each and every homeowner with structured wiring that will accommodate future upgrades and home renovations and expansion. Before laying the wire for the home automation, we carefully calculate the many variables that compose the system and install cable plant design based upon the client's unique automation requirements. While almost all of our systems utilize home automation controls by manufacturers such as Lutron, Vantage, and AMX our home automation wiring layout is tailor-made for the architecture of the house and the individual tastes of the homeowner.

ILD knows that entertainment matters to its clients now more than ever before. As increasingly larger numbers of people entertain friends and family at home, they need increasingly sophisticated technology to deliver a superior audio/visual experience. Few of our competitors can deliver the level of customization we routinely employ to the benefit or our many satisfied clients. Even fewer can design automation systems that will anticipate and adapt easily to new technologies. We take a very active and forward-looking approach to home automation wiring that distinguishes us in this marketplace and provides the customer with the most adaptable system congruent with present and anticipated future technologies. We centralize low voltage solutions that accommodate current audio/video demands and leave room for future upgrades. We further enhance these layouts with high cables for speakers, high definition video, phone systems, intercom systems, and security cameras. Knowing that technology changes very rapidly, we wire home automation systems with high end low voltage cabling that offers the very best interface for anticipated technologies that could appear on the market at any time.

ILD prides itself on the level of satisfaction we deliver daily to clients throughout Houston and Greater Texas. As our communities continue to show every growing interest home automation, our specialized blend of creativity and technologically savvy proves increasingly valuable in this unique and rapidly evolving industry. Call us today at 713-863-1133 to see what we can do to take your life to a whole new level.

Home automation represents a rising and rapidly evolving industry. Home automation installers are highly trained professionals who are equally savvy as technical experts, licensed electrical contractors, and creative designers. Illuminations Lighting and Design, Houston's premier lighting design and electrical consulting firm, heads up the city's most impeccable home automation department, with installers trained and cross-trained in every nuance of equipment selection, installation, and project development strategy.

Home automation clients can be new homeowners or existing homeowners who decide to take their lifestyles to the next level. Often we encounter new clients who have already installed or had installed a measure of home automation from either a retail source or a competitive entity. The first thing these clients usually tell us is that their existing home automation network fails to deliver control over every element of life. A client with a state of the art home theatre system may suddenly realize he or she has to get up and walk across the room to close the shades or dim the lights. Clients hosting parties at home quickly realize that remote control of the air conditioner would not only add convenience to the event but help them save on energy costs as guests fan the doors all night and move back and forth between the home theatre, the garden, the patio, and the spa. Such integrated and centralized control is the difference that sets a custom home automation project by ILD apart from competitive entities specializing only in the equipment itself or limited home automation installation specific only to segments of the lifestyle rather than comprehensively accommodating the entire lifestyle.

When our home automation installers step into such an arena, they carefully evaluate existing technology and retrofit the very best in new technology for a home automation network that leaves room for future growth and evolution of technology. Since most home automation installation in today's market requires customizing or creating a home theatre system, we require all of our home automation installation consultants to train and certify in high-end home theatre systems by Sony, Boston, and Vienna Acoustics. This way, our clients are assured that every element of living is not only automated, but also fully optimized to manufacturer standards and equipment specifications.

ILD's home automation installers spend many years in training and continuing professional education programs to develop the knowledge base required to meet the high demands of this intense, technically demanding industry. Additionally, each ILD technician mentors as an apprentice under a veteran technician to learn the proprietary methodologies exclusive to Illuminations Lighting and Design. The result of our intensive training and apprenticeship programs is a knowledgeable, experienced team of home automation installers whose expertise in current and upcoming technologies enable us to install home automation networks that are completely unique and individualize to each specific client we service. The safety, reliability, and exceptional value of our work are backed up with tangibles every time at the end of the day. Our home automation installation specialists carry design certifications and undergo frequent cross-training with other industries such as architecture, construction, and landscaping as well to ensure that our solutions truly address every aspect of home build and home living.

Throughout Houston and now Greater Texas, our division of home automation installers is rapidly gaining not only notoriety, but also an outstanding reputation for being the single source of the most comprehensive home automation designs that apply only the very latest and advanced technology in a one of kind design. Best of all, our home automation installers are good communicators and even better listeners who know how to make a project not only a technology upgrade, but a lifestyle upgrade as well that exceeds the expectations of clients. Call today 713-863-1133 to see what our team can do for your world starting now.

Have you ever wanted to turn a room in your house into an awesome home theater? That's what we do here at Illuminations Lighting Design. As lighting designers, electrical contractors and home automation specialists, we build excitement into your lifestyle!

On a recent residential project we transformed a simple kid's playroom into a awesome home theater and XBOX360 gaming Mecca. The before and after pictures show how the room was altered to be both a serious theater for the parents and a great space for the children to play games and watch Television.

Like all home theater projects we met with the clients first to discuss their requirements, talk through the plethora of options and establish a preliminary budget. Once a budget was established we began looking at various plasma TVs, surround sound systems, DVD players and of course, speakers.

After careful consideration it was decided that we should alter the existing cabinets to incorporate the new A/V equipment and provide enough wall space for a screen. The customer was pleased that we did not have to move the furniture and kept the same room orientation. Once we got the decorating out of the way, it was time for selecting the components.

Here is what we installed:

(1) Runco DLP Projector
(1) 84" Stewart Film Screen
(1) Marantz Surround Sound Receiver
(1) Marantz DVD Player
(1) HD Cable Box w/DVR
(1) APC Power Conditioner & Battery Backup
(1) Vienna Acoustic Speaker (Center)
(2) Vienna Acoustic Bookshelf Speakers (Front)
(2) Vienna Acoustic Bookshelf Speakers & Stands (Rear)
(2) Vienna Acoustic Sub Woofers
(1) Programmable Remote Control
(1) XBOX360 (For the kid's)

You have to see this one in person to appreciate the clarity of the picture and the quality of the sound. If you are interested in creating an entertainment center at your home contact the professionals at Illuminations Lighting Design. Call toll free at 800-863-1184 or visit us online at http://www.illuminationslighting.com/.

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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.

News Flash - Home Automation delegation from Illuminations Lighting Design has just returned from Denver Colorado where they attended the annual CEDIA convention. You might be asking yourself, what is 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. CEDIA Members include residential electronic systems contractors who have emerged as the "fourth contractor" in the building and remodeling industries alongside electrical, plumbing, and HVAC professionals. For more information on CEDIA, visit the association's Web site at http://www.cedia.org/.

CEDIA EXPO 2006 was a huge educational experience for the ILD staff as they met with over 600 exhibitors displaying the latest technologies in home automation, lighting controls and audio video systems. They attended seminars, classes, and private training to learn about technological advances in the home automation industry.

Illuminations Lighting Design is a member in good standing with CEDIA and employees both CEDIA certified installers as well as CEDIA certified system designers.

If you would like more information on the latest and greatest in home automation, contact one of our friendly sales staff in your area. Visit them online at http://www.illuminationslighting.com/ or toll free at 800-863-1184.

Runco's award-winning home theater and home cinema products are now availalble at Illuminations Lighting Design.

As one of Texas fastest growing custom home theater and home automation companies we are proud to add Runco home theater and home cinema products to our list of credentials . Runco equipment easily integrates with any decor or lifestyle. If you are looking for the highest quality large screen viewing experience, Runco from Illuminations Lighting Design is the answer!

The Runco CL-610 (pictured above) and CL-610LT offer 1280 x 720 native resolution DLP light engines featuring Runco's powerful SuperOnyx technology for bright, pristine, high definition images. Black levels, brightness and contrast exceed anything previously available in this projector class.

Key features of the Runco CL-610 DLP projector:

1280 x 720 (16:9), high-definition native resolution
Selectable Lamp Intensity Control (SLIC) provides two lamp intensity levels for varied lighting conditions
Internal aspect ratio control with 5 available settings
Creates bold pictures on screens up to 96 inches wide

Since 1986, Runco has been a leader in the large screen projection industry through its commitment to research and development toward cultivating the latest refinements in video display technology.

Runco offers other home theater products such as:

Females traditionally dominate the decorating of a home and males tend to get the garage and outdoors. On everyman's wish list is to have a few areas that is for males only. In his dreams of dreams he would love to have a custom home theater, a four-car garage and a workshop to tinker in. Often one room has to be used for several functions, an office combined with a billiard room and a male only retreat. It is time for the man to come out of his shed!

Here at Illuminations Lighting Design we specialize in creating environments that men can appreciate and enjoy. You know, a sound system in the cabana, a big screen television in the master bedroom, a dimming control system for the home or just a hand held remote of his own. Our Cedia certified designers know how to make the man of the house feel like a king!

Men typically want electronic toys and gadgets that are fun to operate. Sometimes dad only uses these toys with the other family members sneaking in to play around. But make no mistake, these are dad's toys and you better not mess them up. Simple to use remotes or touch screen panels can make even the most complicated audio/video system a snap to operate.

Looking for your very own personalized Sony whole-house entertainment systems professionally installed throughout your home during construction? Something you can roll into the mortgage and start enjoying the day you move in? Let the CEDIA Certified audio video professionals at Illuminations Lighting Design and Sony show you the way!

Whether you are looking for a small whole home audio system like the Sony NHS-301, Sony NHS-710, Sony NHS-1000 or a larger more sophisticated whole house audio system such as the Sony NHS-2010, Illuminations Lighting Design is ready to help you configure just the right system for you! See how this integrated, multi-room solution gives you all-new ways to enjoy music, TV, and video throughout your home with advanced features and capabilities you won't find in typical home entertainment systems. An expandable solution for home entertainment. With the Sony NHS-2010 solution, you can fill your new home with a full array of music, TV and video entertainment - all customized for the way you live. You'll have a complete, full-featured home theater in your great room (or any room you choose), plus up to six additional rooms of music and video.

High-performance home theater experience
Your whole-home entertainment solution begins with an elegant home theater system that is designed to blend in with the rest of your living space, not distract from it. It will entertain you with DVD video, VHS, CD, AM/FM music and optional cable/satellite programming - all delivered through built-in speakers and an advanced Sony TV. But that's only the beginning!

Entertainment at your fingertips
In your home theater, you'll have an intelligent color touch-screen RF remote that controls all elements of your home entertainment system automatically. Want to watch a movie on DVD? A typical home theater system often requires multiple remote controls and knowledge of how your system is connected. Sony's cutting-edge remote eliminates all the clutter and complexity. Just touch the DVD button, and all the necessary components, including your TV, will power up and set themselves automatically. No more confusing procedures to follow. All your entertainment needs are preprogrammed and pre integrated for you into a single button push.

Up to six additional zones of entertainment
With the Sony NHS-2010, you can extend your home theater experience to up to six additional zones: bedroom, living room, den, patio, home office, or any other rooms you choose. Not only can you share the same music and video throughout your home, but you can also watch or listen to different sources in different rooms. Just imagine the whole-house convenience this system will offer to you and your family.

Digital in-wall keypads

Sony's advanced digital in-wall keypads will act as the gateway to home entertainment in each room. Stylishly designed, the keypad will blend into any decor. Using the keypad's 4-line LCD display, you can view all the movies available in the 400-disc DVD player, browse the preset radio stations, and control any source in your system. The keypad even comes with an external remote control so you can control the keypad from your easy chair.

Installed professionally
Your solution is installed during the construction phase of your new home by Illuminations Lighting Design one of a select few Sony Authorized Installers in the Houston area. This ensures that the day you move in your entertainment solution will be ready for you to enjoy!

With your advanced home entertainment system, you can enjoy:

A fully integrated Sony Whole House Audio Video system from Illuminations Lighting Design such as the Sony NHS-2010 solution includes all the necessary components, along with an integration package, that will fill your entire home with audio and video from the very first day you move in.

Here are just some of the features on the Sony solution:

400-Disc DVD/ CD Changer
No more need to manually flip through discs in order to find the movie you want to watch. The Sony Mega DVD Changer allows you to store up to 400 of your favorite DVDs and access them from anywhere in the house. You will be able to easily browse and select movie titles through displays on the touch-screen remote and the in-wall keypads.

DVD Recorder/VCR Combo
Record and playback your favorite shows - onto VHS or DVD, from any room.

400-Disc CD Changer
Store up to 400 CDs and enjoy them with one touch throughout your home. Album titles can be easily viewed through the keypad and touch-screen remote.

5-Disc DVD/CD Player
Load your favorite DVDs and watch them with one touch throughout your home. The Advantages to having a separate DVD/CD player are three rooms can each watch a separate DVD. When you rent a movie, you can drop it into the 5-disc player without having to look for an available slot in your 400 disc DVD Changer and finally with the 400-disc DVD/CD player, 400-disc CD player, DVD Recorder/VCR Combo and this 5-disc player, you can listen to four CDs in four different rooms.

ES Receiver
This component provides all the intelligence for your home theater. From AM/FM tuning to A/V switching, the receiver is the heart of your system. You can quickly access all your favorite radio stations, which will be displayed on the touch-screen remote or the in-wall keypads.

Home Theater TV
Your Sony New Home Entertainment Solution includes a choice of television to complete your home theater viewing experience. Whether you choose a high-definition Plasma WEGA, Grand WEGA LCD Rear Projection TV, or the Trinitron Direct View WEGA model, you will enjoy incredibly rich and detailed images and the sound they provide. Your TV set will also be HDTV-compatible.

LCD Touch-Screen Remote
In your home theater, a touch-screen remote automatically controls all elements of your theater experience. Simply touch the LCD controller's color screen and it will give you simple one-touch control over your entire system. It also provides easy navigation of all your music and video. Best of all, everything's preprogrammed for you and ready to use on the day you move in.

In-wall Keypads and Remote
Easily watch DVDs, listen to CDs, and view cable/satellite programming from any room in your home. You'll be able to access all your home entertainment using the advanced wall-mounted keypads. Each keypad also comes with a remote control for added convenience.

Custom-Selected Speakers
Your Sony new home solution comes with an array of built-in speakers that are carefully selected by your Sony Authorized Installer to match the layout and decor of your home and the configuration of your customized Sony solution.

Wiring
All the specialized wiring needed for your Sony new home entertainment solution is installed during construction by Illuminations Lighting Design. This includes the connections between components as well as the wiring for each room in your system - completely separate from any structured wiring you have for telephone and data services.

The basic NHS-2010 new home Sony system comes ready to provide entertainment in three rooms, with the ability to expand out to seven. Please talk with Illuminations Lighting Design about expansion options, pricing or availability in your area.

The Sony NHS-2010 comes with three rooms of entertainment and is upgradeable to seven rooms. And since each room is a separate zone, A/V source selection and volume controls are discrete. Plus, all rooms can receive audio and video signals, which mean you can watch and listen to any source from any room.

Sony Whole House Audio Video Systems from Illuminations Lighting Design come with one of the following quality video products. Select from any of these HDTV-capable Sony TVs to match the way you prefer to watch movies, sports, and TV. All of these WEGA televisions deliver outstanding television entertainment and complete your Sony New Home Solution with style.

Direct View Hi-Scan FD Trinitron Wega TV
The best picture quality and High-Definition Television (HDTV) connectivity, with four times the picture resolution compared to conventional TVs. The FD Trinitron flat picture tube diminishes glare, while the Digital Reality Creation circuitry delivers a picture that rivals hi-def without a hi-def signal. The Memory Stick media slot allows for instant access to digital photos and video.

Grand WEGA LCD Rear Projection TV
The thrilling Grand WEGA Television features Sony's exclusive optical engine, which provides crisp and consistent resolution of 3.28 million dots, for both conventional and High-Definition TV programming. The Fixed Pixel Display and constant light eliminate any trace of flicker, and the slim, lightweight design enhances any decor. Plus, both images and audio come alive with Enhanced Memory Stick media. Allows playback of both JPEG and MPEG1 files on screen.

Plasma WEGA Integrated Plasma TV
The original ultra-slim all-in-one design with floating glass panel will have them in awe before you turn it on. The Digital Pixel Generator technology displays a natural, rich image, while the pixel-by-pixel I/P conversion creates fluid motion with remarkable detail - for the purest reproduction of film, video, and broadcast sources. The Sony WEGA Engine System and Direct Digital Circuitry provide a consistently crisp picture, and the DRC feature allows for amazing resolution. It's HDTV-ready, too.

BRAVIA XBR LCD Flat Panel HDTV
Packed with the latest technology, Sony's BRAVIA XBR LCD Flat Panel HDTV features the WEGA Engine system, which delivers superb picture quality from any video source minimizing signal deterioration. Other features such as WEGA GATE guide allow the user to easily navigate television functions: favorite channels, television channel lists and external input list of settings. Watch your living room come to life with Sony's BRAVIA XBR LCD Flat Panel HDTV.

Illuminations Lighting Design a full service design build firm specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting installation, service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters and lighting control systems. Please visit http://www.illuminationslighting.com/ for more information regarding Sony new house systems, HOME AUTOMATION or LIGHTING DESIGN for your new home. We can be reached toll free at 800-863-1184 Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 CST.

*Sony, Trinitron, Wega, Bravia, XBR, memory stick, DRC and Grand Wega are registered trademarks of Sony Corporation of America.