Build a Dedicated Media Room as an Entertainment and Fun Hub

TVs were once these big, bulky things that demanded their own focal point in a room. Do you remember the large-screen TVs of the mid-2000s? Rear projection 50-inch-and-up models came in huge heavy cabinets that competed with fireplaces in your living or family room. And while those TVs had arguably better speakers than today's flat panels, that didn't include the sound system!

As we all know, times have changed. Today's sleek flat-panel TVs can mount on a wall and go anywhere – even above the fireplace with no room-focal redesign needed! And the soundbar didn't exist years ago, which offers a sleeker, slimmer approach to better sound from the TV. But if you have such a setup in your family or living room, does that make it your media room? If that’s what you want to call it, we won’t argue with you. But we will suggest that a media room installation is more than a TV and a soundbar.

Read on below to see how you can create a media entertainment hub in your family room, basement rec room, or whatever space you choose in your Chicago, IL home.

Chicago’s Leading Home Automation Company Has a Fresh, New Web Presence

Remember the Yellow Pages? The directory was once an all-important presence for local businesses to be found. If you needed a plumber, heating system repair, or just about anything else, the Yellow Pages was the place to look. And if you remember them, you know how many local businesses called themselves AAA plumbing or ABC Auto Repair to be listed at the beginning of them, with flashy full-page ads.

That world, of course, has changed. Today, an internet presence in the form of a website is a critical marketing card for any company. On the internet, you'll never be found by changing your name to AAAA Home Technology. Instead, you will be recognized by the quality of the content you put on your website and by continually updating it with fresh, useful information that helps people decide to contact you for your services.

In that vein, that’s why Barrett’s Technology Solutions – one of Chicago's premier home automation companies – has totally revamped our website. While our old website was extensive, the new design, layout, and richer graphics enable us to tell our story better. And with this change, we’ve also updated our web domain name – we are now Barretts.tech. The new URL, changing from Barretts.tv, better reflects our focus on all things home technology. 

Keep reading below to learn more about our new website. Please check it out, peruse our new look, and reach out with any questions!

Learn about Client and Designer Approved Tricks to Hide AV Tech for Seamless Décor

Let's face it, much of today's electronics are not aesthetically pleasing. Whether we are talking about giant flat-panel TVs that can stretch to 100 inches or most audio components that are a sea of black metal, most of today's equipment lacks design flair. Some speakers, like Meridian Audio models, make a statement in a room. But others take up space that both you and your designer would prefer not to design around.

If your Lake Geneva, WI home is on the cutting edge of style – whether modern, transitional, or mid-century – you do have options for hiding the AV installation in your home. In this blog, we’ll cover four ways of blending the best technology into your home in a way that will leave you and your interior designer smiling at your ingenuity and taste. Stay with us below!

You’re Likely to Get More Smart Connected Devices this Holiday Season

Did you shop online this past Black Friday? Or did you brave the crowds at the store to get those early bird deals? Whatever your preferences, it’s highly likely that some smart connected device is on the holiday shopping list, Black Friday or otherwise.

Have you ever thought about your home network's ability to handle all those devices? Most people don't. Your child gets a new iPad, and it gets added to the network. A new Amazon Echo or Sonos speaker, and it also connects. How about a new refrigerator? Many of the latest ones also get connected to Wi-Fi to keep you informed about malfunctions and maintenance.

If you stream video, like so many people, the strain on your network multiplies. You might not think about it, but your kids may be streaming 4K videos on that shiny new iPad they just got for Christmas, all day long. Is your network ready for all that? If you’re still relying on the home network installation from your ISP when you moved into your Lake Geneva, WI home, it may not be ready for the next wave of connections you just added!

Keep reading below to see how you can invest in a home network system that can keep up with your needs now and into the future.