forrest@theinnovative.group In Audio / Video, Custom Install, Design, Home Automation, Home Theater, Project Spotlight, Speakers, Team, Technology

Innovative Wins Smart Home & Home Theater of the Year

Innovative was honored to have one of our amazing projects chosen as both the Smart Home of the Year AND Home Theater of the Year by CEPro Magazine.

This is a top-in-class, premium project in every imaginable way. The interior and exterior of this home features the best in quality technology from brands like McIntosh, Bowers&Wilkins, Wisdom Audio, Sonus Faber, and more.

The team at Innovative had the opportunity to partner with an amazing client on this project to bring a vision for a technological oasis at this beachfront home to life.

Every aspect of technology in this home has been meticulously engineered, installed, and programmed to provide seamless integration of technology into every room. Control 4 + Josh.ai provides the backbone for automation and control of the house for audio/video distribution, climate control, lighting control, motorized shades and drapes, security, and outdoor entertainment.

Everything is intentionally connected and designed for lifestyle convenience no matter what room or what occasion.

This home features a custom home theater featuring Samsung’s 146″ Video wall, a gaming setup for all platforms, a home gym with Wisdom Audio, and a home office command center.

Truly, this home experience is a showcase of what is possible with premium technology and design from Innovative.

What is Smart Home Automation?

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US

SIMPLICITY

Simplicity is what home automation is all about. Imagine adjusting the lights, the climate, even browsing your personal music library all from one simple to use remote. Control4 offers the best home automation systems on the market in terms of cost and reliability.

FUNCTIONALITY

The idea behind home automation is to make your life easier. See yourself arriving home, arms full of groceries and with the press of a button on your key chain you disarm the alarm, turn on the lights, even start your favorite TV show.

EFFICIENCY

Home automation integrates all the independent systems in your house allowing for more efficient use of all the systems. And the best part is, we handle everything. We tailor a system to your specific lifestyle needs.

CONTROL4 HOME AUTOMATION

Control4 is the leading home technology company in the industry. At Innovative Sight & Sound we use their products exclusively as they offer quality products, high performance, reliable solutions, and the best price. This has enabled us to become the most trusted Control4 home automation system installation company in Charleston.

We design and build centralized systems using Control4 that keep all of your equipment in one central location that is out of sight and easy to service. These components are then distributed throughout the various rooms of your home. This helps reduce the impact of electronics components on the decor of your home and also reduces the amount of equipment you need to own.

Tired of dealing with multiple remotes to control your home entertainment system or home theater? We can integrate your audio video and home theater system into one simple-to-use remote or touchscreen device. This makes watching your favorite movie or TV show as simple as the press of a single button.

Our systems are designed to enhance your enjoyment of your space.

AUDIO VIDEO & HOME THEATER

Tired of dealing with multiple remotes to control your home entertainment system or home theater? We can integrate your audio video and surround sound system into one simple-to-use remote or touchscreen device. This makes watching your favorite movie or TV show as simple as the press of a single button.

Innovative Sight & Sound specializes in implementing whole house audio video systems. Gone are the days of multiple pieces of electronics in each room. We design and build centralized systems that keep all of your equipment in one central location that is out of sight and easy to service. These components are then distributed throughout the various rooms of your home. This helps reduce the impact of electronics components on the decor of your home and also reduces the amount of equipment you need to own. Your favorite recorded shows, movies, and music will be available in any room you like from the living room, to the gym, to the master bedroom.

Imagine easily listening to all of your favorite music from any room in your home. Your favorite streaming sources can be accessed from any remote, touchscreen, or smart device. Enjoying your favorite music has never been easier. It’s only the touch of a button away.

Want music in every room in the house? No problem, simply select the rooms you want and the music you want to listen to and you’re ready to go. Our systems are designed to enhance your enjoyment of your home.

LUTRON INTEGRATED LIGHT CONTROL

Lighting systems can simplify and enhance the look of your home. Replace the large banks of switches on your walls with an elegant keypad that can operate every light in the room.

With a Lutron solution you’ll never have to remember which switch controls which light again.

Simply press the “On” button and every light in the room comes on to a pre-programmed level. Our experienced team can design and install a solution that fits your budget and needs.

An automated system replaces these banks of switches with a simple and elegant keypad. Not only does this cut down on wall clutter, but it also allows you to use your lighting to enhance the interior details and architectural features of your home. One keypad can control anything from a single light, to an entire room, to the whole house.

In addition to simple “ON” and “OFF” functions, each keypad can be pre-programmed to carry out multiple “scenes”. Perhaps you’re entertaining tonight, simply press the “Entertainment” button and all the lights in the house can be set to a pre-determined level. Ready for bed? Press the “Sleep” button on the keypad next to your bed and all of the lights in the house will be turned off for you. You can even have a few lights stay on for security purposes.

Outdoor lighting can also be added to your system to enhance both the look and security of your home. And just like the interior lights they can be controlled from any keypad, remote, or smart device.

We use Control4, Colorbeam, and Lutron lighting products.

Learn More About Our Lighting Solutions HERE

CLIMATE CONTROL (HVAC) INTEGRATION

Integrating your thermostats into your system allows you to adjust the climate throughout the house using one simple interface. Set temperatures, adjust schedules, and monitor your system from anywhere in the world.

We can even install occupancy sensors that allow your home to turn off rooms that are no longer in use.

Integrating your heating and cooling system into your smart home system delivers convenience and significant energy savings. Quickly and easily set the temperature for any room in your house using a smart phone, tablet, or touchscreen remote. Our automated thermostats are completely programmable, allowing you to set the schedule for each climate zone in your home.

Since your entire home is accessible via your phone or tablet you can even control the temperature of your home while you are away. Perhaps you left on vacation but forgot to turn down the air conditioning. No problem, simply open your control app and set the system to vacation mode from wherever you are in the world.

MOTORIZED SHADES & BLINDS

By integrating your shades and blinds into your system you can further enhance energy savings and security. During the hot days of the Georgia summer direct sunlight can cause indoor temperatures to increase dramatically.

Help lower your cooling costs by having your shades and blinds automatically close during the hottest parts of the day.

– Automate Shades, Blinds, & Curtains

– Wireless Options

Innovative Sight & Sound offers a full line of motorized shades to suit both your design needs and lifestyle. Automated shades can lower and raise based on the time of day, keeping your cooling costs down in the summer. Shades are simple to operate and are integrated into the same keypad as those used to control your lights. This allows you to quickly and easily change the amount of natural light in any given room with the touch of a button.

Shades can also be used protect valuable furniture and artwork from damaging rays of the sun.

Learn More About our Motorized Shade Solutions HERE

CONTROL YOUR POOL & HOT TUB

Smart home technology allows your pool and spa to be controlled with the press of a button. This allows you to have full control of temperature set points, pump, and cleaning.

Imagine the ability to login to your system before you leave work and turn on the hot tub so it’s nice and hot by the time you get home

INTEGRATED SECURITY and SURVEILLANCE

When it comes to your family, security is a high priority. Integrating your security system with your smart home allows you to monitor everything from one app on your smart phone.

Arming and disarming your alarm is just the start. You can also automate lighting in the event of an emergency such as a fire or home invasion. We also provide video surveillance solutions.

Our smart homes allow you to leverage your home’s security system to create even more peace of mind. You can monitor your home from anywhere inside the house, or from anywhere in the world. Need to disarm the system while you’re out of town to allow someone into the house? No problem. Simply hop on your smart phone or tablet and you can disarm the system in seconds.

Integrating your security system also allows you to control lighting functions based on alarm events such as a fire or intruder. If your system detects either, it can turn on the lights, potentially scaring off a burglar, or giving you light quickly.

Starting a new project? Contact us today to get started on your system design.

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US

forrest@theinnovative.group In Audio / Video, Custom Install, Design, Home Theater, Speakers, Technology

Home Media Upgrades

Upgrade Opportunities for Your Home Media

With us all spending more and more time at home than ever before, its a great time to look at upgrade opportunities for your home media to enhance your enjoyment while at home.

Technology upgrades are a great investment in your home fun, home efficiency, home security and home value.

Home Fun – large flatscreen TVs and soundbars make an amazing combo to upgrade in any room for movies, music, and video games.
Home Efficiency – adding a home automation system to control your climate, lighting and other home systems increase convenience and save dollars on energy efficiency
Home Security – adding security cameras around your property and integrating an alarm system gives you peace of mind and increases the safety of your home.
Home Value – integrating technology systems like home automation, security, lighting and climate control to your home increases the desirability of your property in todays age of smart homes.

forrest@theinnovative.group In Audio / Video, Custom Install, Design, Home Theater, Speakers, Technology

Elements of a Home Theater

There’s nothing like a high performance theater system to make your favorite movies as life-like as possible. Our team will design and implement of a state of the art home theater system tailored to your specific needs. We carry the best high performance brands in the world. Whether you’re looking to build the home theater room of your dreams or need to stick to a more down to earth budget, our systems deliver both high performance and high value.

What Makes a Home Theater?

A Dedicated Space

A dedicated space that takes into account size, sound, lighting to maximize the home theater experience.

Visuals

A 4K projector and custom screen or a top of the line flatscreen delivers premium picture quality.

Audio

Surround sound speakers and subwoofers provide the highs and lows of sound to immerse you in media.

Seating

Home Theater seating ranges from recliners to couches...whatever you want for your environment. Your comfort in the home theater experience is a priority.

Control

Controlling your media, climate, lighting and all aspects of your space makes the home theater experience complete.

forrest@theinnovative.group In Custom Install, Design, Home Automation, Home Theater, Speakers, Technology

Why NOW is the Perfect Time for a Home Theater

We are all spending more time at home than ever before. Working from home, schooling from home, getting food delivered to our homes. This makes home entertainment a big priority…especially since local theaters are less and less of an option.

So, what’s the best solution? A Home Theater!

Its a cinema experience so immersive you won’t ever want to step into a theater again. With total control of the lights, temperature, speakers, and all entertainment gear, your home theater just became a box office hit. There’s nothing like a high performance theater system to make your favorite movies as life-like as possible.

Here’s 3 reasons why you should start your home theater project today:

You're Home More Than Ever

Being home more than ever, means how you enjoy entertainment at home is a big priority. With more of a home focus for your lifestyle, its the best time to think about how you consume media content. If you're going to be at home, why not create a space where the cinematic feel of a movie or the roar of the big game can come to life?

A Custom Designed Solution

A home theater from Innovative Sight & Sound is a custom designed and integrated solution. That means that whatever your space and budget is, we work to design a home media experience that you will love to enjoy without leaving the house.

The Benefits of Motorized Window Treatments

Saving Energy

Motorized shades, when properly integrated with a smart home control system, can help you to save a significant amount of money on your monthly energy bill. In Southern states such as Florida, and South Carolina, it’s possible to save as much as ten percent.

How does this work exactly?

By closing and opening shades at the appropriate time you can change the rate at which your house stores and releases heat. During the summer months closing shades during the brightest parts of the day reduces the amount of solar energy entering through your windows. It also reduces heat transfer through the windows themselves. This can have a dramatic impact on the internal temperature of your home. The result is that the air inside the house remains cooler with having to run the air conditioning as often.

In the winter months the shades can trap heat in your home during the night, and open to allow more sunlight in during daylight hours. The result is a significant energy savings.

Entertainment Purposes

Coastal homes in the Southeast get lots of sunshine. This is great when you want it, but it can be a nuisance when you’re trying to watch a movie or your favorite TV show. Integrating your motorized shades or blinds with your home entertainment system means that with the press of a button your TV turns on, the lights go down, and so do the shades.

This helps to reduce glare making your experience more enjoyable. This is especially important in home theaters where projectors and large screens can be significantly impacted by ambient light.

Wake Up Naturally

So many of us are used to waking up with an alarm clock. But our bodies are naturally designed to awaken with the appearance of daylight. An automated home can raise your shades at sunrise, or any time of your choosing. This means you can ditch the alarm clock and wake up the way nature intended.

Increase Your Home’s Security

Motorized blinds can be programmed to operate as though you are home, even when you’re on vacation or out of town on business. This can be a powerful deterrent to burglars looking for easy prey. Further integrating your shades and lighting system makes it even more convincing. Your home will emulate your routine even though you may be 1,000 miles away.

Enhance Privacy

Lot’s of windows are great when you want to look out and see the beach. But what about when you would like more privacy? Those same windows offer strangers and neighbors a view right into your home. With an automated shading solution you can press a single button and create a more private space for you and your family.

If you’d like to learn more about how motorized shades and blinds can enhance your lifestyle, contact us today.

forrest@theinnovative.group In Custom Install, Design, Home Automation, Technology

5 Ways Home Automation Can Reduce Energy Costs

The convenience of home technologies such as interior lighting control, motorized window shades, and other such innovations is obvious. What we’ve found over the years, however, is that many people aren’t aware of just how easy it is to save money by installing these products.

Intelligently designed home automation systems can help lower your home’s energy consumption, thus reducing your household expenses and your carbon footprint. There are several key ways in which lighting control, motorized shades, and other technologies can help you to save money.

Motorized Shades Help Reduce Heating and Cooling Costs

By automatically regulating the amount of heat which is able to enter and escape from your house, through the use of motorized shades, you can dramatically reduce your heating and air conditioning bills throughout the year.

Normally, changing shades on up to fifteen windows or more throughout the average two-story house, several times per day, would be a chore… and if you want it done while you’re not around, it would literally require someone coming to your house to do it for you.

Motorized shades remove the hassle, allowing you to program a series of actions in advance – or to remotely adjust your shades individually, from anywhere in the world if you like. Keeping your home cool has never been easier or more efficient. When properly integrated into a smart home system, motorized shades can help keep your house several degrees warmer or cooler than normal, towards your advantage, and all while saving money on heat and AC.

Automated Climate Control Monitors Your Activity

Climate control – the heating and cooling of your house – can be automated, even on a room-by-room basis. Heating and cooling can be turned on and off, or raised and lowered as needed, depending upon whether or not there is activity within a room. If there’s nobody around, why pay to heat or cool empty rooms?

This type automation is the hallmark of the equipment offered by Control4 and Savant. Over the course of months, the simple savings accumulated through the addition of automated climate control can add up to a significant amount of money. Combined with other aspects of an automated home, this functionality can have a significant impact on your overall energy usage.

Reduce Power Usage through Lighting Control

How many times have you climbed into bed only to realize you left a light on in another room? With lighting control you don’t have to get up to go turn it off. It’s as simple as pressing a single button to turn off all the lights in your house.

You can program settings in advance, or use a mobile device to change your house’s lighting mode from anywhere in the world. Lights can be automatically dimmed, or programmed to turn off at key times of the day – such as when you’re going to bed. The need to remember to turn off the lights after leaving a room – a particular concern in a house with children – is gone; now, you can do that from anywhere. All of this combines to significant savings on your electric bill.

Reduce Phantom Energy Use

The term “phantom energy” is an increasingly common one. It refers to the power drain through appliances which are left in “energy friendly” modes, idling or dormant. The term “energy friendly” is something of a misnomer, since it refers to a mode in which the appliance – such as a computer, or a television set – isn’t actually serving any purpose, but is still drawing power.

Many appliances draw a surprising amount of power, even while they’re turned off: on average, this represents up to ten percent of your monthly electric bill. Traditionally, the only solution to this is to unplug appliances while they’re not in use – right down to your microwave, and your washing machine. Now there are devices that can tie into your energy management system allowing you to negate these appliances’ “standby” modes in a much more convenient fashion.

Integrate Energy Management Systems for Personal Monitoring

Energy management systems, such as solar panels, can be integrated into your smart home system as well. This allows you to monitor electrical production, usage, and even chedule functions which draw the most power accordingly.

Much of this can even be handled automatically, allowing you to augment the savings provided by your solar panels – without having to worry about changing settings manually from one day to the next.

forrest@theinnovative.group In Custom Install, Design, Home Automation, Technology

5 Ways Lighting Control Can Enhance Your Home

Modern home automation has produced innovations which were a pipe dream a mere ten years ago, but which have rapidly gained in popularity..

Through mobile internet connectivity and local device networking, you can control everything from your lights to your motorized window shades at the touch of a button.

But aside from the convenience and the “gadget factor,” a lighting control system can offer significant enhancements to the safety, energy efficiency, and overall look of your home.

Highlight Architectural Details and Art

A great deal of time and money goes into the design and construction of your living space. Many modern homes feature innovative architectural designs as well as important pieces of art. Light allows you to call attention to these important features and pieces.

The creation of “scenes” within an automated lighting system allows you to do just that. With the push of a button, you can activate preset lighting levels for a single room or your entire house. Popular choices include scenes for daytime, evening, and entertainment, but the options are unlimited.

Light plays an extremely important role in setting mood and ambiance. A lighting system allows you to do this both quickly and easily

Time Savings

Lighting systems offer a great many practical applications. Perhaps you’re used to walking around your home, turning lights on and off as you go. But imagine if your home could sense when a room was in use and adjust the lighting accordingly. Not only does this provide convenience, but consider the potential for energy savings.

How often have you forgotten to turn off a light upon leaving a room, leaving it on for hours? Or perhaps it’s time for bed. Many of us are used to walking around the house turning off all of the lights. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Automated lighting systems allow you to press one button on a keypad next to your bed and turn all the lights off in the entire house.

Ease of Use

It’s a small nuisance, but it’s one that occurs over and over again. Our keypads are clearly labeled and illuminated so you can tell which button to press whether it’s light or dark. One button illuminates the entire room.

Through the use of a home remote, such as that offered by companies such as Control4 further enhances your level of control. You can adjust individual lights one at a time as needed – without having to get up out of your comfortable chair.

Enhanced Security & Safety

This is one of the most popular inquiries made with regards to home automation, and yes – you can tie it into your home security system. In fact, the technology behind home automation arose from that which has been in use in remotely monitored home security systems for decades. There are a variety of popular functions available, such as turning on your home’s exterior lighting in the event that an alarm is tripped.

Your Home Works While You’re on Vacation

A “Vacation Mode” setting allows you to set multiple processes to run automatically according to a schedule, while you are out of town.

Once in vacation mode your home will turn lights on and off, shades can be raised and lowered, all to give the impression that the home is occupied. In addition to a home security system and cameras, lighting can offer a powerful deterrent to burglars while you are thousands of miles from home.

If you’d like to learn more about automating your living space with a lighting system, contact us to set up a demonstration at any of our four offices around the Southeast.

forrest@theinnovative.group In Custom Install, Design, Home Automation, Technology

Practical Applications of a Lighting Control System

One of the most powerful components of a fully “automated” home is the lighting system. Automated lighting not only enhances the look of your home, it can also contribute to considerable energy savings over time. Let’s take a look at a few of the more practical applications of today’s automated lighting solutions.

Long Term Energy Savings

Lighting typically makes up 10% of a homes overall energy expenditure. A home automation system with integrated lighting contributes to long-term energy cost-savings. This is done by automatically reducing or eliminating lighting loads in rooms that are no longer in use. Through the use of occupancy sensors, heat sensors, and light level sensors a system can instantly respond to it’s environment and adjust light levels accordingly.

What does this mean?

Perhaps your children often leave lights on when leaving a room. A lighting control system will detect this and turn the lights off after a pre-programmed amount of time.

The average American household incurs 18% of their energy costs from air conditioning. A lighting system can also be integrated with motorized shades and blinds. This is one of the fastest ways to realize significant energy cost savings. Sensors in a room can detect sunlight and lower blinds to reduce the load on your cooling system. This is especially important in coastal areas where bright sunlight and lots of windows contributes to high energy consumption during the hotter months of the year.

Enhancing The Look of Your Home

Traditional lighting systems are either “all on” or “all off”. The use of dials or rheostats allows for some additional control, but require manual adjustment every time you turn on the lights.

A lighting system allows each button on a keypad to be pre-programmed for a specific function. All you do is press a button, but behind the scenes light levels are precisely controlled to best accent the features of the room. This might mean highlighting a specific piece of art, using up-lighting to create a dramatic effect, or lowering the lights for watching your favorite movie.

In addition to the enhanced control, lighting keypads reduce wall clutter. Multiple switches are consolidated into one keypad that is clearly labeled and backlit for easy use. No more searching for the right switch each time you enter a room. Simply press the “on” button and walk away.

At Innovative Sight & Sound we can help you choose the right lighting solution for your home. Through design and program we can ensure you get the maximum benefit from an aesthetic point of view.

Enhanced Security

Integrating your lighting system with your home’s alarm system can significantly enhance it’s effectiveness in several ways.

When an alarm is triggered the lights in your home can be programmed to flash on and off. This attracts attention and reduces the odds that an intruder will enter your home. Since most of us have grown accustomed to loud alarm sirens, anything you can do to draw additional attention to your home makes for a powerful deterrent.

This same solution can also increase your family’s safety in case of a fire. When smoke or fire is detected the system can automatically turn on specific lights creating a path to the fastest escape route for you and your children.

You can also use a key fob to turn on lights before you even enter the home. No more entering in complete darkness.

At Innovative Sight & Sound we are proud to offer lighting products from both Control4 and Lutron.

Design

Home Theater Magic

INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS IN THIS PROJECT

Innovative Home Theaters

Theater Design & Installation

High Performance Surround Sound

Video

Custom Theater Seating

Simple Automated Controls

Media Rooms

Let's Create Your Home Media Experience

Connect Today & Experience a Home Theater From Innovative

Innovative Design Center Locations

ATLANTA, GA

BIRMINGHAM,AL

CHARLESTON, SC

NORTHWEST FLORIDA

TAMPA / CLEARWATER

What is Smart Home Automation?

SIMPLICITY

FUNCTIONALITY

EFFICIENCY

CONTROL4 HOME AUTOMATION

AUDIO VIDEO & HOME THEATER

LUTRON INTEGRATED LIGHT CONTROL

CLIMATE CONTROL (HVAC) INTEGRATION

MOTORIZED SHADES & BLINDS

– Automate Shades, Blinds, & Curtains

– Wireless Options​

CONTROL YOUR POOL & HOT TUB

INTEGRATED SECURITY and SURVEILLANCE

Theater Design & Installation

High Performance Surround Sound

Video

Custom Theater Seating

Simple Automated Controls

Media Rooms

Let's Create Your Home Media Experience

Connect Today & Experience a Home Theater From Innovative

Next Steps

Innovative Design Center Locations

ATLANTA, GA

BIRMINGHAM,AL

CHARLESTON, SC

NORTHWEST FLORIDA

TAMPA / CLEARWATER

Upgrade Opportunities for Your Home Media

Elements of a Home Theater

What Makes a Home Theater?

A Dedicated Space

Visuals

Audio

Seating

Control

Why NOW is the Perfect Time for a Home Theater

Here’s 3 reasons why you should start your home theater project today:

You're Home More Than Ever

A Custom Designed Solution

More Content Available Than Ever

Saving Energy

Entertainment Purposes

Wake Up Naturally

Increase Your Home’s Security

Enhance Privacy

Motorized Shades Help Reduce Heating and Cooling Costs

Automated Climate Control Monitors Your Activity

Reduce Power Usage through Lighting Control

Reduce Phantom Energy Use

Integrate Energy Management Systems for Personal Monitoring

Highlight Architectural Details and Art

Time Savings

Ease of Use

Enhanced Security & Safety

Your Home Works While You’re on Vacation

Long Term Energy Savings

Enhancing The Look of Your Home

Enhanced Security

OUR LOCATIONS

SERVICES & SOLUTIONS

OTHER DIVISIONS

– Wireless Options