Ensuring the Ultimate Smart Home Experience

Smart homes are no longer a rare commodity in luxury living. Today, they are in demand, driven by the desire for smarter security, breathtaking lighting, and an ease that’s hard to define until experienced. 

Unfortunately, the demand has not kept pace with the knowledge that integrators—those who design, install, and program smart home solutions—should be called in during the blueprint stage, long before the foundation is laid. 

Instead, many homeowners treat it as an afterthought. “Hey, wouldn’t it be nice to have a whole-home audio system and effortless control of our lights and shades?” Had that thought arisen during the design phase, homeowners would not be faced with integrators cutting into drywall and the increased costs associated with change orders. 

Seamless integrations turn into missed opportunities with home automation that doesn’t always line up with the aesthetics. 

At Prodigy, we collaborate with architects, builders, and designers to ensure that lighting, shading, sound, and control systems integrate cleanly with design intent. To achieve this requires tech planning from the start. 

Here, we’ll explore the difference it makes when smart home solutions become part of the conversation during the blueprint stage. 

Discover Why Designing Your Smart Home with the Future in Mind Is Essential

In the excitement of embracing automated technology and creating the smart home you’ve been dreaming about for years, it’s easy to get caught up in the present moment. Which systems and user experience would best suit you and your family? From smart home entertainment to the latest LED lighting systems, the possibilities are nearly limitless.

So, where do you begin? 

And that’s where the problems start. So caught up in present needs and expectations, many homeowners forget to look to the future. Not only does technology change, but families change, with children who ultimately find their way in the world and parents who need a comfortable home to age in place. 

To create a smart home that meets your needs now and into the future, you should keep one eye on the horizon. Here, we’ll explore the best options for building a smart home that meets your needs today and doesn’t fall short as your needs evolve. 

The Inherent Pitfalls in a DIY Smart Home

Walk into nearly any big-box store and you’ll find smart devices scattered throughout the aisles and in various departments. You might discover smart speakers in electronics, smart appliances in the kitchen aisles, and smart thermostats in the electrical department. 

How hard could it be to pick them up, install them yourself, and, voilà, you have a smart home for a fraction of the cost of a professional installation. Of course, you also have a mere fraction of a smart home. 

Here, we’ll explore the difference between DIY and professionally designed and installed smart homes—and why you should consider a professional installation. 

How Travelers Can Keep Their Homes Safe in Their Absence

It’s that time of year when many people find themselves packing their bags and heading out of town to visit family and friends as they celebrate the season of giving. Unfortunately, criminals are keenly aware of this activity and use it to their advantage by targeting unoccupied homes. The National Crime Victimization Survey found that larceny and robbery increase by about 20% every December. 

A standard precaution is setting lights on timers. However, because this act has become so common, thieves use the regularity of lights turning off and on as a sign that no one is home. 

There is a better way. It’s called smart lighting control. Here, we’ll explore the benefits it brings and how to ensure a home that appears occupied through the holidays and beyond. 

Discover the Power of Just Video Walls

There was a time when 4K HDR laser projectors and large handcrafted movie screens defined the luxury home theater. That, however, was before 2022. 

It was at this time, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that a company bent on revolutionizing the home theater display began emerging. Their official announcement came in a press release on August 13, 2023, which declared, “Just Video Walls on a Mission to Disrupt the MicroLED Category with Non-Disruption.” Interesting.

As integrators, they had directly experienced the challenges inherent in MicroLED displays for home theaters. They also knew that there must be a better way to share this incredible technology with the world and knew it would one day play a significant role in the luxury home theater market. 

That day is here. 

At Prodigy AV, we partner with Just Video Walls to offer unparalleled visuals and a captivating atmosphere. 

Make Your Outdoor Space Work Year-Round

The Nashville heat won't last forever. Soon enough, Middle Tennessee's crisp fall air will arrive, and most homeowners will retreat indoors until spring, but you don't have to.

The right technology and planning lets you extend your patio season well into the cooler months. Smart outdoor heating paired with automated shading creates microclimates by blocking cold winds, capturing warming sunlight, and providing consistent heat when temperatures drop. 

Your outdoor space becomes as comfortable as your living room, no matter what the thermometer says.

Ensuring the Perfect Fit & Functionality for Every Room

Motorized shades effortlessly manage sunlight and privacy, connecting you to the outdoors in ways that are unattainable with manual window coverings. In many homes, when the midday sun causes excessive heat gain and glare, the shades are lowered and remain lowered for the rest of the day. Automated shades change that, controlling natural light and privacy in a finely tuned manner from morning until night. 

However, many people think that roller shades are their only option for automated window treatments. You might be assuming that automated shades are a one-size-fits-all solution, forcing you to install the same roller shades on every single window whether or not this matches your preferences and window design. The truth is, roller shades are just one style that suits a specific aesthetic and window type—but they are not your only option. So, what happens to the rest of your windows and rooms? 

At Prodigy, we partner with Lutron, the global leader in managing natural and artificial lighting. Their automated window coverings extend far beyond traditional roller shades. 

Here, we’ll explore how tailoring shades to unique spaces ensures intuitive control, elevated design, and the perfect fit for every room.

Stunning Illumination, Impactful Design

Light has a profound impact on a home’s design in ways few other elements can. In the right hands, it creates a unique sensory experience, changing moods and highlighting surfaces and textures we may have never noticed. It sets the stage for all of life’s activities, creating functional environments that speak to the heart of the matter. 

In the wrong hands, light is nothing more than illumination to perform our many tasks. There may be a pendant light over the kitchen island and a lamp in the reading nook, but it does nothing to transform those who view it. 

Light should be so much more. 

At Prodigy, we partner with Lutron’s Ketra, one of the most advanced lighting systems in the world. With its customizable technology, our lighting designers can create spaces of intrigue and beauty, as changeable as the weather and as breathtaking as storm clouds building up on the horizon. 

Here, we’ll explore the true meaning of architectural lighting design and how it’s transforming homes and those who live in them.

Crestron Flex Delivers Stunning Audio and Video with Ease

Have you noticed the impact a state-of-the-art conference room has on staff and clients? It's a room that says we value collaboration, teamwork, and communication. In addition, a well-designed conference room gives customers the impression that your company's organized and at the top of its game.

Do away with outdated, bulky equipment and old furnishings. In today's remote work and video conferencing world, successful businesses are turning to automation to improve their conference room spaces. No more massive wiring and multiple remotes; it's time to create a space that makes a great first impression and empowers staff.

Crestron, a smart technology firm known for its programmable customization, makes this possible. Let's see what a Crestron system brings to a commercial conference room and what it can do for your Franklin, TN business.

SEE ALSO: Bring Whole-Home Audio to Every Last Corner of Your Space

A MULTI-ROOM SETUP 

Take advantage of the ability to play music in multiple rooms simultaneously! Set up high-end speakers strategically throughout your home to create a seamless audio flow that’s available whenever you want. Whether you're hosting a party or simply moving from one room to another, the music will follow you, ensuring a consistent and immersive listening experience.

SMART INTEGRATION 

Connect your whole-home audio system to your smart home system for seamless integration across your whole property! This integration allows you to control the music with a tap of a button or simple voice commands, effortlessly adjusting the volume, skipping tracks, or even changing playlists. You can also sync your audio system with other smart devices, such as lighting, to create the perfect ambiance for any occasion.

CENTRALIZED CONTROL 

Did you know you can manage your whole-home audio from just one single interface? This could be a dedicated remote control or a mobile app on your smartphone or tablet. With centralized control, you can easily select different sources, adjust volume levels, and create personalized playlists for each room, providing a convenient and intuitive way to manage your whole audio system.

OUTDOOR SPEAKERS 

Why keep the fun indoors? Extend your whole-home audio system to your outdoor spaces. Install weatherproof speakers in your backyard, patio, and pool area, allowing you to enjoy music while relaxing or entertaining outdoors. Whether you're hosting a summer barbecue or lounging by the pool, the music can follow you, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor environments.