Automation
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
A properly designed and implemented home automation system can ease everyday tasks and dramatically simplify your life. With systems like Control4 and Savant not only can you control whole home distributed audio/video systems but with the touch of a button you can also control a host of other aspects in your home. With Josh.ai you can get powerful voice control of your entire home without worrying about your privacy. All of those options provide a single unified interface with powerful intuitive control so you’re not juggling a dozen different disconnected apps. From lights and motorized shades to heating and cooling systems, pools and spas, entry gates and locks, security systems and surveillance cameras, the options are nearly endless. Want to turn on your fireplace from your iPad? Want to be notified when someone enters your property? How about setting all the lights in your house, locking the doors, adjusting the thermostat and arming your alarm with a single press of a button before bed? Whether controlling a motorized TV that raises out of a cabinet or turning off the lights downstairs it’s all possible with ease.
While the thought of so much integrated technology may sound complicated or intimating, rest assured that a properly engineered system is not only easy to use but intuitive and fun. If you can dream it up it is likely possible and we can help.
Home Theater
“There’s no place like home...”
A dedicated home theater is the most elegant and immersive way to enjoy movies in the comfort of your own home. Imagine pressing a button and having the lights dim and the system start up. You settle into plush luxury seats and motorized foot rests allow you to kick your feet up as you grab your popcorn and the movie begins. Audiophile sound and deep rich bass engulf you from the subtlest of whispers to the biggest explosions. With a properly engineered theater you will forget you’re simply watching a movie and instead feel the emotion in each scene. It’s no longer entertainment. It’s now an experience.
When planning a dedicated theater we work closely with designers and architects to make sure the performance and aesthetics blend smoothly so your experience is optimized. It is imperative that speaker, screen and seating placement are properly planned for the absolute best theater experience. When building a new luxury home, a custom theater is the ultimate touch of class.
Lighting Control
“Where there is darkness, let there be light.”
Automated lighting systems are a modern and elegant way to manage your lights. Similar to motorized shade systems, they are about simplicity, efficiency, and safety. When you are able to control lights from an iPad or an on wall keypad you no longer have to walk downstairs to turn the lights off before bed. You don’t have to worry about leaving them on when you leave the house. Want exterior lights on in the early evening but off late at night? No problem. Lights can be scheduled to turn on and off at any time of day. By adjusting the default brightness you’re able to be energy efficient and save money on electricity bills. You never have to walk into a completely dark house or get up to dim the lights before watching a movie. Elegant scenes can be programmed so with a single button press all the lights in a certain area or even the whole house will adjust to your exact specifications (i.e. entertaining, movie watching, romantic dinners, good night, etc). When you leave out of town you can turn on “vacation mode” so it will appear as if the house is occupied as usual.
The best news? Lighting control systems come in all shapes and sizes for every house. Whether a new build that requires a panelized lighting system for the ultimate in design and elegance or an existing home that wants more control without cutting drywall and completely rewiring, Lutron and Control4 have solutions that will meet every need
Multi-Room Audio/Video
“Music is life itself.”
If you have ever had people over for entertaining then you know the importance of music at a party. Distributed audio/video systems can be the ultimate mood setter. Properly placed speakers throughout the home can enhance the vibe whether hosting a big event or cooking dinner with a loved one. A well engineered system allows you to watch or listen to any source in any room. Whether you want to enjoy the same thing throughout the entire property, or something different in each area, the choice is yours. Source selection can be controlled from on wall touchscreens, iPads or handheld remotes. With all the equipment centrally located in a rack in a designated closet or cabinet there is no need for unsightly clutter or cabling in each room. With nothing more than a TV or speakers in each room you’re still able to enjoy all of your media wherever you are.
Motorized Shades
“Twilight drops her curtain down and pins it with a star.”
A close cousin to lighting control, motorized shading systems from Lutron offer an elegant touch of class and convenience. They are energy efficient, easy to use, and with a wide variety of high quality fabrics and textures they are sure to enhance the décor of any home. Like it pitch black while sleeping but prefer waking up to the beautiful California sunshine? No problem. Shades can be scheduled to raise or lower at any time of day or night or even with the rise and setting of the sun.
With a selection of sheer, dim out and blackout fabrics they fit the design and function of any room in the house. Sheer or dim out shades can be used in common areas where you want privacy but still want to let in natural light while blackout shades can be used in bedrooms, TV viewing areas or theaters where complete privacy and/or darkness are required.
Often times the hassle of manually raising or lowering heavy window treatments prevents them from being utilized as they should. Have a room with lots of windows? What about really high windows? With motorized shade systems a simple button press can raise or lower them all at the same time. This makes it easy and convenient to operate so anyone can do it. Beyond the convenience of operation, shading system disperse harmful UV rays and can protect valuable flooring, furniture or art from sun damage and costly repairs. This allows you to protect your investment and enhance the style and functionality of your home.
Outdoor Audio/Video
“You can journey to the ends of the Earth in search of success, but if you’re lucky you will discover happiness in your own backyard. ”
In Southern California where the sun shines more days than not backyards, pools and BBQ’s are a popular place for entertaining and relaxing. A properly designed outdoor audio system can sound better than you probably ever thought possible. The emergence of in ground burial subwoofers from company’s like Sonance, James and Triad add a remarkable level of bass and warmth to the sound while maintaining a low footprint that blend into all kinds of landscaping. Whether hosting the Super Bowl, an anniversary party or a birthday, music sets the mood and helps people enjoy themselves.
It’s a common misconception that more speakers means “louder”. While that can certainly be the case, with outdoor audio the truth is in fact the exact opposite. While you can always turn up the sound to jam your favorite song the goal of strategically placed speakers throughout the yard is more important for playing music at low volumes. Unlike indoor areas where the sound is confined and bouncing off objects to reach your ears, the sound disperses easily in open spaces like a backyard. With evenly placed speakers around the yard you are able to play the music at reasonable volumes and enjoy it everywhere without having to crank the sound on a couple speakers to hear it across the yard. Trust us, your neighbors will thank you.
Surveillance
“There is nothing more important than a good, safe, secure home.”
Let’s be honest, seeing is believing. When it comes to the security of your family and your home the peace of mind that a modern surveillance system provides is priceless. With the latest camera technology, the grainy hard to make out images you may be familiar with are a thing of the past. It’s now possible to view and record in 4K or even higher so the details are crisp and clear. Cameras from Luma or IC Realtime can offer AI analytics to notify you when a human or vehicle enters your property or even flashing lights or an audible warning to deter an intruder.
Whether safety is your primary concern or you just want the convenience of viewing the snow conditions at your mountain cabin, surveillance cameras give you the ability to see what’s going on without being there. Remote viewing is easy with phone or iPad apps so you can view from anywhere at anytime. Night vision means you can check in 24 hours a day, and motion detection recording can be setup so the important events are never missed. Simply put, cameras allow you to sleep soundly
Network & WiFi
“When wireless is fully applied the Earth will be converted into a huge brain, capable of response in every one of its parts.”
With modern day technology, a well-designed and functioning network is an integral piece to virtually every aspect of the system. Whether surfing the web, checking email, video conferencing, streaming music or videos, viewing surveillance cameras remotely, or simply printing a document, a network is something you use every day even if you don’t realize it. While your 4G or LTE cell service will allow your phone to do some of those things, a home or office network allows all of your devices (whether hard wired or wireless) to reside on one Local Area Network (LAN) and communicate with each other. A well designed and functioning network will be faster, more reliable, and (when properly implemented) more secure.
Unfortunately, although the network is such an essential piece of your system it is often something that is overlooked or poorly planned. Anything beyond the most basic systems in smaller homes quickly become too complicated for cable TV or Internet service providers to handle. And while many “AV guys” can hang a TV or install a speaker, they typically have limited understanding of how to properly configure a network. With over 20 years of experience in IT, Imperial Integration can help setup and support a network that not only works when you want it to but how you want it to. We can ensure that not only are all the necessary devices in your home or office connected and communicating properly but that network security is properly configured for your safety and WiFi coverage reaches the furthest corners of even the largest properties.
Low Voltage Prewiring
“God hangs the greatest weights upon the smallest wires.”
Whether audio, video, phone, networking, lighting, motorized shades or surveillance cameras the importance of proper and thorough prewiring cannot be overstated. Not only is the correct wiring essential to a reliable and fully functional system, but having the necessary wiring gives you and your technology the ability to grow and adapt to future needs. Routing new wiring after your home or office is finished can be expensive and at times virtually impossible without costly repairs. Therefore anticipating the future and properly planning the prewire is critical to the value of your investment. With a well-engineered prewire your home or office will have the flexibility to fit the needs of any system, big or small.
It is imperative the prewire design starts early in the build so the necessary wiring can be routed to the proper locations before drywall. This will ensure there are no shortcomings. With many years of experience, Imperial Integration can help to properly plan and implement every aspect of the technology in your home or office and it all starts with the prewire.
Commercial
“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.”
Technology and entertainment are not just confined to a home. Whether video conferencing in a board room, listening to music while dining at your favorite restaurant or catching the game at your local sports bar, technology is all around us. Having technology properly integrated throughout your business can be a critical piece of not only productivity but also your customer experience.
A properly designed network and reliable WiFi can be the difference in a successful sales meeting or a presentation. Smooth, warm audio and the right lighting can set the mood at your restaurant so your customers are relaxed and having a great time while enjoying your menu. If you own a sports bar the ability to show the big game on all the necessary TV’s is a must. Guest WiFi networks can be setup to allow visitors Internet access while restricting access to private network devices and data. Digital signage displays and video walls can be used for marketing and entertainment.
Technology in a business is not only important for productivity and efficiency but also conveys a positive impression to your customers of being modern and in touch with the times. Fumbling through your technology is not only frustrating but also embarrassing. Because of that it is of the utmost importance that your system works when and how you need it to. We can help design a system that will enhance your and your customer’s experience.