How to Think About the Design of Your Next Media Room

What’s a media room? Some people might say it’s also a home theater, and it can be that, too. A home theater tends to be a room tailored for longer-form content like films, while a media room might double as a family room, living room, or recreational space.

While you shouldn’t be concerned about calling your media space the home theater, media room, or anything else, thinking about how you will use it will guide you to make the right choices to create the ideal media room installation that fits your Chicago, IL home.

Ready to learn more? Let’s dig into some critical questions and considerations.

Discover Our New Chicago-Area Location and Exciting New Additions

We have exciting news from Barrett’s Technology Solutions: we have moved! Our new location in Lombard brings us to a more centralized location to downtown Chicago, IL and the surrounding suburbs for more conveniently located and personalized services.

As Chicago’s luxury smart home company, we’re bigger and better than ever in our all-new space. Guests can explore and interact with our smart technology systems to find what will suit their lifestyles at home. Continue reading to see all that’s happening and what’s to come at our new headquarters.

Incorporate Automatic Window Treatments & Hidden AV in Your Design Projects

Minimalism is not just a design trend anymore—it’s a lifestyle. The term is no longer exclusive to stark, cold spaces with little to no furniture. Your clients can fill their homes with bright colors and eclectic pieces while remaining sparse and leaving room for their taste to shine.

But the one thing that can kill a minimalist’s dream? Unsightly technology. Wires, boxes, switches, remotes, screens, and bulky speakers don’t do much for aesthetics. Yet many modern homeowners desire smart technology to enhance their lifestyle. Luckily, there’s an overlap between minimalism and tech, and that’s found in hidden technology. Continue reading to see how hidden AV and automatic window treatments will enrich your Chicago, IL interior design projects.

Impress your clients with lighting control in these 4 home spaces

Smart home technology is going to be increasingly in demand if you build homes or work in interior design. Prospective homeowners want these devices in their homes because of the convenience they offer and how they contribute to a superior lifestyle. And one of the most common home automation systems your clients will be asking for is lighting control. To show you’re in touch with their needs, here are four spaces you can install or plan for smart home lighting in your Lincoln Park, IL building projects. Read on to see what they are.

Add the Ultimate Stylistic Spark to your Chicago, IL Home with Our Smart Shading Solutions

When listing the benefits of motorized shades, it’s tempting to focus on the benefits that go way beyond the impact on your decor. A smart shading solution is also vital for managing your security, lighting, and climate. But that shouldn't take away from what many consider to be motorized shades' primary purpose—to add a finishing touch to your interior décor.

When choosing between manual shades and motorized shades, there are a few reasons the latter are a better stylistic option for your Chicago, IL home. From sleeker installations to greater ease-of-use, we outline their top stylistic benefits below.

SEE ALSO: Get More Stunning Window Treatments with Motorized Shades

Deliver Greater Elegance, Comfort and Efficiency With Lutron Lighting Control

Are you interested in adding Lutron lighting control to your Chicago, IL home? You may have heard about the benefits of managing all of your lights from a mobile app or a modern touchpad. Switches on the wall seem archaic in comparison. For your day-to-day needs, though, you’ll still want a tactile way to manage the lights in the room.

Our Lutron lighting control systems offer advanced, sleek on-wall control solutions through their vast array of keypads. Not only do these keypads streamline your décor by reducing the number of switches needed on the wall, but you can manage audio, shades and climate through them as well.

Each keypad model is available in a wide range of colors, finishes, and configurations to provide the perfect match for both your interior design and lifestyle. Our latest blog highlights the many Lutron keypads you could incorporate in your space.

Invest in Technology Designed to Improve Your Overall Wellness

Every client we work with has a different reason they want to integrate smart home technology. In the past, this has included a yearning for greater security or more immersive entertainment. Getting a more streamlined approach to technology, both in aesthetics and functionality, is another common motivation. Health usually has not been part of that conversation, but that may be about to change.

Recently, technology has emerged that improves homeowner wellness and health in various ways. How exactly does it achieve this in your Naperville, IL, home? This blog highlights three technology innovations from our partners Delos that put wellness at the forefront. See how circadian lighting, air purification, and water purification will transform your lifestyle.

Explore the Latest in Lighting Control, Video Distribution and Energy Management

One reason we love working with our premier control system partners, Savant, is their constant innovation. Every year they release new technology to improve their existing solutions and accommodate the latest smart home trends. As Savant dealers, it's our job to keep you up to date with their most recent innovations and help you upgrade your Savant home system.

The newest releases this year include lighting fixtures that enhance your wellbeing, a whole new way to watch video, and a smarter way to manage energy in your Chicago, IL home. Here we highlight each of these new features and offer additional information on how each will affect your day-to-day lifestyle.

Take Into Account Style, Lighting, and Viewing Preferences When Choosing

How do you know what display would be the best fit for your media room? Getting optimal video quality while maintaining your tailored interior décor requires the right technology. In this blog, we’ll highlight three installation options ideal for luxury homes in Lincoln Park or throughout the greater Chicago area.

Naturally, all families and their spaces are different, which is why we want to highlight three unique approaches instead of merely focusing on product recommendations. We’ll discuss flatscreens first since they are still the go-to option in home media rooms. However, there are impressive new projectors and screen technologies to consider.

Ensure You’re Installing Value-Added Solutions in Your Projects

Over the past decade, smart home technology has gone from a rare upgrade to an expected feature for luxury residences. Technology helps custom builders attract better clients while differentiating themselves from their competitors. However, approaching technology the wrong way will have an adverse effect. Generic or disjointed solutions could turn future buyers away since they'll see you're not prepared to handle that kind of project.

Reach out to Barrett’s Technology Solutions, the top smart home company in Hinsdale, IL and the greater Chicago area, who can help you best integrate technology into your projects. Along with educating you on the latest trends, we’ll partner with you directly to install state-of-the-art home automation systems in your new construction projects. Not only will you be able to add value to your projects, but you’ll be able to avoid the following common mistakes.

Enjoy the Perks of a Professional Whole Home Audio Installation

How do you typically play music in your home when hosting a party, doing the dishes or relaxing after work? In most cases, people listen to streaming services or digital libraries using a smartphone, wireless or Bluetooth speakers. Sometimes these do the trick, but in the long run, they come with limited quality, reach, and scalability that will leave you wanting more. Often adding more speakers helps, but this means a lot of unsightly components not blending in well with your interior décor. You can get more out of your favorite music by upgrading to one of our professional audio installations.   Using speakers from Sonance and a control solution from Savant, we can deliver the ultimate listening experience in your Hinsdale, Il home. Our whole home audio systems give you instant access to your favorite music while providing high-end sound to every corner of your space. Intuitive control of your music makes it easy to set the right mood for any activity or environment.

With their Ivalo and Ketra lines, Lutron brings their lighting expertise to bear in a new way

It’s no secret that we’re fans of Lutron here at Barrett’s Technology Solutions. With their technical expertise, attention to detail and focus on creating easy-to-use systems, Lutron is the go-to brand for smart lighting control and motorized shades.

But did you know Lutron also makes lighting fixtures for your home? With their Ivalo and Ketra Lines, Lutron has crafted a range of home lighting solutions that seamlessly blend elegance with functionality. Here are all the ways a Lutron lighting control system integrates these high-end fixtures to improve your Hinsdale, IL, home.

Explore the Technology That Will Be on Display at Our New Location

Big news from the team at Barrett’s Technology Solutions: We’re moving! We’ll be transitioning to our new office in Lombard over the coming months. What does this mean for you, our customers and trade partners? A more centralized location closer to downtown Chicago, the surrounding suburbs and lake home communities means quicker, more personalized service for all our clients.

With brand-new technology systems on display, this new location also offers us the ideal environment to educate you on the best solutions for your space. By getting to experience the top technology on the market firsthand, you’ll be able to gauge which is the best fit.

This move offers opportunities for longtime clients as well as those who may not be as familiar with us as a smart home company. Today’s blog showcases some of the things you’ll be able to explore at this experience center, whether you’re interested in home theater design, conference room technology for your business, or sprucing up your kitchen with the latest smart home technologies.

Barrett’s Technology Solutions brings specifiers to visit leading smart home manufacturers to learn about our evolving industry

It’s crucial that a smart home company serve as a technology ambassador, educating specifiers and homeowners alike on the latest products, features and trends. From Illinois’ Gold Coast region to Chicago, the suburbs and beyond (as you’ll see below!), we take proactive steps to help our trade partners in particular know what role technology can play in their projects.

As technology becomes such an integral part of homeowners’ lifestyles, it’s more important than ever that architects, designers, and custom builders be able to have conversations with them about how to optimize this aspect of their homes.

That’s where Barrett’s Technology Solutions steps in to help, introducing our specifier partners to the top manufacturers in the smart home industry. As part of this ambassadorial role, Barrett’s hosted a group of specifiers on a trip to New York City to let them experience some of our favorite technology partners firsthand! Below are some highlights on what our group got to see during our trip.

A smart home audio system opens new and exciting ways to enjoy music throughout your Chicago home and outdoor living spaces.

Whether you’re cleaning your kitchen, enjoying a glass of wine after a long day or entertaining your friends, music makes your home a livelier and more enjoyable place to be. Given all the ways audio can enhance both everyday activities and special occasions, why not make it as easy as possible to listen to your audio of choice anywhere in your home?

This is where whole home audio systems come into play. Using a network of speakers connected by sophisticated software, your music can follow you around your home with ease. There are additional benefits as well. Want to know more about whole home audio for your Chicago home? Keep reading.

Barrett’s Technology Solutions shares which safety gear makes the biggest impact during this vulnerable season!

As the heat rises, so does the prevalence of crime. In fact, studies have shown that most varieties of criminal activity peak during the summer -- seeing an increase of more than 10 percent.

Research cites many reasons that this could occur. Homeowners are away longer for vacations, or they’re opening windows to invite the fresh lake breezes. Some psychologists have mentioned that warmer weather and increased alcohol consumption result in increased crime compared to temperate climates.

No matter the root cause, it’s our job at Barrett’s Technology Solutions to prepare your home in Lincoln Park and throughout Chicago for anything. That’s why today, we’re giving you a comprehensive home safety and surveillance system checklist that not only compensates for summer mishaps but also pays off all year.

Barrett’s Technology Solutions Gives You More Control of Your Entertainment Spaces.

You want your home media room to stand out. Imagine creating an entertainment space, with the help of a certified integrator, that becomes the talk of your Chicago, IL, neighborhood. With Barrett’s Technology Solutions, your dreams can actualize into a cool, polished environment that you’ll be proud to enjoy by yourself or with friends.

Picture stepping into a media room uniquely designed for you, pressing one button and seeing your favorite titles appear on the screen. Settle into your favorite chair and sink into a comfortable escape for hours. Sound enticing to you? Here’s how to make your dream a reality.

Barrett’s Technology Soltuions helps building professionals in the Chicago area design and install outdoor audio/video systems that will wow clients every time

As you probably know by now, today’s discerning homeowners view smart home technology as a must-have feature instead of a nice addition. If you’re an architect, designer or interior decorator and you aren’t including home automation systems in your projects, you’re missing out on a substantial revenue source.

With summer approaching, homeowners want to enhance their outdoor spaced with smart technology. It’s easy to see why; outdoor audio and video systems help people relax and have more fun in their yards. But setting up outdoor audio and video requires specialized training, knowledge and a set of skills most electricians or contractors don’t have.

That’s why you want an expert technology integrator like Barrett’s by your side for your next project. Today we’ll walk you through all the reasons you should bring us on for any upcoming outdoor audio/video projects you have in Chicago.

Get faster, more reliable performance from your devices while also improving your network security with help from Barrett’s Technology Solutions trusted integrators

We know our tech savvy clients probably know the basics of setting up a home network: You plug a modem into the wall, then plug a wireless router into the modem, and you’re up and running. However, if this is still the setup, you’re using for the devices in your home in 2019, you’re in dire need of an upgrade.

There are so many devices in our homes with wireless internet connectivity compared to years past. This puts a tremendous amount of strain on your network, which could cause all sorts of problems. Security and logistical concerns that didn’t exist before the proliferation of Wi-Fi devices are now big issues for homeowners.

Here are a few reasons why your existing home network installation isn’t enough in 2019, and what homeowners in Illinois’ Gold Coast gain from a network upgrade.

Everything you as a homeowner needs to know about smart lighting solutions for your home

They may not be something you think about a lot, but your home’s light fixtures play a major role in setting the mood for a room, as well as how you feel. Even if it’s just at a subconscious level, you know that darker lighting in a room puts you to sleep while bright lights wake you up.

With this in mind, wouldn’t you like a system in your home to make your lights easier to manage? And wouldn’t it be great if that same system could boost your energy and help you live a healthier life? You can do all this and more with smart home lighting for your Hinsdale, IL residence. In this blog, we’ll walk you through three of the top benefits of smart lighting control.