What is the difference between a media room and a home theater? Honestly, we don't know. OK, we're being a little facetious here, but we'll explain. You can call that best place in the house to watch movies, Falcons games, Netflix binges, or anything else whatever you want. If you think it's the home theater, that's what it is. If you prefer the media room, then it shall be so.

That said, there are some differences in what most people might think of between a home theater or media room. The home theater is more likely to be a dedicated space, and the media room is more likely to be a multipurpose space. However, by no means is any of this is set in stone. You can have whatever you want, and there are solutions for creating any type of media room or home theater you desire.

Whether it’s a home media room or theater for your Duluth, GA, home, one thing people tend to want is technology that is unobtrusive, fits the décor, and does not get in the way of a home’s aesthetic. We’re going to discuss two ways of hiding the tech below – please keep reading!

Are you always listening to something? Is it music while you check on your investments in the home office or a podcast while you cook? Does relaxing on the patio with the sound of nearby ocean waves in the Florida sun demand just the right playlist? 

If there’s a soundtrack for everything you do, you should consider investing in the luxury of a whole-home audio system. A Control4 whole-house audio setup lets you funnel anything you want to listen to in perfect synchronicity all over your Alys Beach property. Keep reading to learn more about this smart audio solution.

We spend a lot of time on these pages expounding the benefits of smart home technology, because, well, it’s what we do. And we are genuinely excited about all areas of AV and home technology, as evidenced by our ample 20,000 square foot Marietta showroom, well worth the drive from your Cumming home if you can tear yourself away from beautiful Lake Lanier for a bit.

Maybe you've already invested in a home automation system. Or perhaps you happen to have bought a Cumming property that already had a system or a component of one like lighting control. If what you have isn’t broken, why fix it? We say, don’t fix it, but maintain it so it continues to run well. We can do that for you too. But if your system has a few years on it, we’re going to recommend you upgrade. Why? Because there’s so much you can do with the latest smart home technology! As metro Atlanta's leading home automation company, once we show you all the things your smart home can do, you’ll have no excuse not to upgrade. But below are the excuses you can use to justify it to your significant other! 

SEE ALSO: Why You Should Trust a Smart Home Company with Your Home Automation

Let’s face it, anyone can have some level of home automation and smart control these days. Hundreds of smart devices are available at the click of an Amazon Buy button, at Home Depot, or Best Buy. You can be your own integrator, programmer, and head debugger and install a surprisingly extensive smart home system yourself. 

Perhaps you're not interested in integrating your own system or trying to figure out why your outside lights didn't turn on at sunset. If you’re a busy professional, your time away from work is likely far more valuable than debugging your smart home devices. We're not going to tell you hiring a professional for your smart home installation will be less expensive – when is it ever? But we can tell you what you will get with a professionally installed smart home system like Control4, and how a Control4 installer like GHT Group, Atlanta's leading home technology integrator, can ensure you don't spend your free time as your home's IT person. Keep reading for more. 

SEE ALSO: Introducing Control4's Newest Home Automation Platform: OS 3

Lutron is a name well known in every aspect of the management and control of light. Since the invention of the first solid-state dimmer over 50 years ago, the company has continued to innovate in lighting. Lutron lighting controls can be found in commercial buildings like the New York Times building in Manhattan and grand residences like the White House.  

About two decades ago, Lutron entered another area critical to managing light - motorized shading. The company’s mission is to manage and control light for comfort, aesthetics, energy efficiency, and wellness. Typical of Lutron, they pay attention to every detail to produce the industry standard in motorized shading and window treatments. See how they do it below. 

SEE ALSO: Answers to Your Common Questions About Lutron Motorized Shades

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. -- GHT Group, a leader in custom home technology, lighting, shading, and audio-video solutions based in Metro Atlanta, is excited to announce that it is expanding its custom solutions and services into Northwest Florida.

In January, GHT Group acquired the Santa Rosa Beach, Florida operations of Audio Video Excellence, an established integrator with a loyal customer base, excellent reputation for quality work, and the same ethic for elevated customer service and support for which GHT Group is known.

While GHT Group has operated primarily in the Metro Atlanta area since 1989, it has done projects for customers far and wide when asked, in locations including Florida, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Carolina and beyond. With many customers owning second homes in the beautiful beach areas of Northwest Florida’s Emerald Coast, from Destin to Panama City Beach and along the famous “30A,” the company is pleased to have a local presence to better serve customers there.

As we’ve written about at length on these blog pages, home theaters have never been more popular. The ongoing pandemic has forced the closure of live venues and movie theaters, making the home even more of a hub for entertainment. Homeowners have been reevaluating their media room and home theater installations, looking to add larger, up-to-date screens, more immersive audio, upgraded seating, and more. 

Some people go about doing home projects by hiring a builder and letting them manage the project. Others might get more involved and hire the specific trades and subcontractors, overseeing a project more directly. How should you go about building or upgrading a home theater in your Roswell, GA home? Should you hire a home theater company like GHT Group? Keep reading for our take on the subject.

SEE ALSO: The Importance of Working with a Home Theater Company

In most of life's endeavors, there's a good way and a not-so-good way of doing things. Sometimes you can learn from mistakes without major repercussions. Sometimes, mistakes can be extremely costly and aggravating. Bear with us here; this is not a life coaching blog. 

GHT Group is in the home technology business and not trying to compete with Tony Robbins. What we can do, based on our over three decades in business in the metro Atlanta area, is give you solid advice on how to go about planning for smart home automation in your residence. 

Keep reading for our tips on what to do and not to do when planning your smart home. Did you know lousy home automation has been known to break up relationships? Trust us on that one; we've seen a few things.

SEE ALSO: 3 Home Automation Trends to Watch in 2021

Home audio systems tend to last a long time. Good quality hi-fi audio gear sometimes may not be replaced for 15 years or more. Analog components like preamplifiers, amplifiers, and speakers don’t need to be replaced unless they falter or you simply want something newer and different.

So why ever upgrade a home audio setup? While the analog side of audio hasn't necessarily changed that much, digital technology is another story altogether. As we know, almost any digital technology moves forward at a breakneck pace. Today's TVs offer astounding performance advantages over those of a decade ago. And your smartphone is nearly obsolete after about five years.

So why might you take another look at your audio system and decide to step it up? Let GHT Group, metro Atlanta’s home audio installation expert, give you three reasons to nudge you into something new.

We are all familiar with things that require routine maintenance. Cars may be the first to come to mind. Oil changes, lube, tune-ups, tire rotations, and other items are standard services that all vehicles need. OK, so electric cars don't need oil changes, filters, or spark plugs, but they require other maintenance too. Closer to home, HVAC systems and other functions need routine maintenance for optimal performance.

Home automation is an increasingly popular upgrade to today’s homes. Homeowners enjoy the many benefits of lighting control, motorized shading, HVAC control, unified AV systems, and integrating all of these through smart home automation systems.

Do home automation systems need maintenance? Should you seek out companies in Marietta, GA (like us) that specialize in home automation services to "tune-up" your system? What services could possibly be needed with some electronics and software? The answers below might surprise you.

If you read these blog pages, you may note something we have said several times: Everything looks better in the right light. We didn’t invent that phrase, but it is our mantra when it comes to our work in lighting design and control for our clients.

Landscape lighting is one of those things that can turn a home’s exterior from forgettable to memorable when the sun goes down. It’s also one of those things that’s some parts art and some parts science. Here are some tried and true landscape lighting design ideas to spice up your Atlanta home’s exterior.

GHT Group is bullish on LED lighting, and if you have spent any time reading our blogs on the subject, you'd have a reasonably good understanding of why. They're efficient, flexible, highly controllable, and much more.

A very effective manager we once knew lived by this adage: Tell them, tell them again, and tell them that you told them. In the spirit of this messaging style, we’re going to recap here five of the most important reasons why we think LED light fixtures are a brilliant (pun intended) investment for your Atlanta, GA home. We invite you to peruse our other blogs about LED lighting for even more reasons!

Smart home technology is high on the list for homeowners building or remodeling a home or even redoing a living area or an outdoor patio and pool. Control of lights, audio-video systems, shading, and more bring not just convenience but energy efficiency and security benefits as well.  

While some simple smart home features can be addressed with DIY consumer solutions, a truly integrated smart home installation is best left to professionals. They can determine not just what system is best for you now and into the future, but they are also experts in essential infrastructure like cabling, wiring, and networking that will enable your smart home to work fluidly and reliably. 

How do you go about choosing a smart home company for your project in Destin, FL? Keep reading for three critical things to look for in making your decision. 

It’sno secret that we've all been spending much more time at home. The pandemic will end, but it has undoubtedly brought about lifestyle changes that will likely endure into the future. Some of those include continued work from home as technology allows for efficient communication and collaboration, distance learning that may provide a way to reduce the high cost of college, and more ways to stay fit, healthy, and entertained at home. 

What do these trends have to do with motorized shades? More than you might think. Motorized window treatments are an increasingly popular option in both new and existing homes in Dunwoody, GA, and the metro Atlanta area. Beyond the sheer convenience, let’s explore how they can help you make the best of your time at home, no matter the activity. 

Few things can change and elevate your mood like music. Whether it's the energetic beat that motivates you on your workout, the dulcet voice of a favorite singer that relaxes you, or the song that transports you to some of your fondest memories, music has the power to move you.

Many people have a primary audio system that may be part of their media room or home theater setup. They may enjoy music over headphones or a powered smart speaker in other rooms. While those are all acceptable options, there is a better way to never miss a beat in your Rosemary Beach, FL home – with a multi-room speaker system. Read on to see how you can love your music in high quality everywhere you roam in your home.