Smart home automation is a trend that is here to stay, and it's accelerating. According to Statista, there will be 77 million smart homes in the U.S. by 2025! Other surveys point out how new homebuyers are prioritizing smart home features – and are willing to pay for them – as much as upgraded kitchens and bathrooms. 

As design and build professionals, you see these trends. Therefore, it pays to have a relationship with a home automation company so you can integrate smart technology into your projects efficiently and seamlessly. Let's take a closer look at how bringing in a smart home company early in your process results in better outcomes for your Kennesaw, GA projects. 

You’ve probably heard the old saying, “when you assume, you make …” We know you know the rest. And when it comes to a smart home, you’d be wise to remember this one. A smart home, after all, is not just about stuffing some smart electronics in it to control things like lights, window treatments, and entertainment. Technology needs to coexist with your interior design. And you should not leave that part to chance, as we know of too many costly mistakes when that happens. 

What shouldn’t you assume is being addressed in your smart home interior design? Here’s what you’ll want to avoid in your Atlanta, GA, smart home. 

First, do you need a home theater designer at all? We'll argue that it's a great idea unless you really like to run projects like a general contractor. Home theaters have a lot of things in them, from technology to electrical to finishes, and they are serious projects. Like building a house in Milton, GA, it’s wise to have someone that puts it all together and knows how to manage the process from start to finish.

Now that we have that established, what should you ask a home theater designer or company when interviewing them? We could write multiple blogs about this, but here are three questions you can ask so they'll know you're an informed home theater buyer!

Are you still on the fence about home theater? Did you buy a house with the perfect bonus room for it but can’t decide between converting it into an exercise room or home theater? We’re not going to dissuade you from exercising more, but we can make the case that you will get a lot of use from your home theater. 

There may have been a time when home theaters made more sense for movies than anything else. But that was long ago, when TV was low resolution, surround sound wasn’t common, and the only content that really took advantage of big screens and great audio was movies. Today, we have 4K streaming, Dolby Atmos surround sound, and incredible video processing that makes older content look like it’s ultra-high definition too. 

A home theater can be your entertainment central for everything related to audio and video. And summer is a great time to enjoy it, with kids on vacation and families kicking back to enjoy more fun together. All you need is a knowledgeable home theater company like GHT Group to design and build it! To help you get off the fence and get started, here are three ways you and your family can enjoy your home cinema in Sandy Springs, GA.

Crestron is a pioneer in home and commercial automation, with a history dating back to 1971. Some companies tend to rest on their laurels when they've done well for a long time, but not Crestron.

Many competitors to Crestron have sprung up in the home automation space, both with professionally installed systems and DIY consumer automation devices. Yet, the company has stayed true to its roots to deliver meticulously engineered, sophisticated home automation solutions that scale up to the needs of the most complex homes.

How is Crestron continuing to stay ahead in home automation? Let’s look at three reasons you might want to choose Crestron for your Marietta, GA smart home. 

SEE ALSO: How to Enhance Online Activities at Home with Crestron Automation

With summer temperatures across the southern U.S. setting records in some areas, we know we’re in for some scorchers in Georgia and Milton. But even if it’s a little hotter than usual, it’s not a surprise. However, wouldn’t it be nice to save a little money on energy costs in the current economic climate? 

You can with the help of a home automation company. A smart home system can synchronize your lighting, window treatments, and climate control for a cooler, more comfortable, and efficient summer season. Keep reading below to see how!

As we write this, it feels like autumn has finally descended on the Atlanta area. With comfortable, cool days, crisp nights, lower humidity, and fall color, it's a great time to be outside. Let's break out those sweaters and jackets!

With daylight savings time now in effect, our days are getting a little shorter too. We have one hour less to enjoy the Georgia fall color in the afternoon. But we have a few ideas for turning that frown emoji into a smiley one. As an outdoor lighting company with the latest lighting and home technology, GHT Group can help you enjoy your Roswell property’s fall color at night, too. Keep reading below for three ideas to make the most of the fall color with landscape lighting. 

With comfortable temperatures in the 70s and 80s, spring in Georgia is a wonderful time for all things outdoors. Whether it’s a long bike ride on the Silver Comet Trail, a day at Stone Mountain Park, or just enjoying the sunshine and fresh air in your own backyard, it’s a perfect time to play before the arrival of summer heat. But then it’s time to swim, right? 

While we’re not Atlanta’s version of Outside Magazine here, we are one of the metro area’s premier purveyors of outdoor entertainment solutions to make your home’s outside spaces the place to be in warm weather. In that spirit, here are three ways to enjoy an outdoor sound system this summer!

You might think that great surround sound is easy. Just buy the system, set it up, and presto, incredible surround sound. Admittedly, there are some soundbars and system-in-a-box solutions that will give you decent surround sound from movies and shows. On the other hand, you’re not likely to get that visceral, blown away feeling from any of them. 

For truly stellar, immersive, “OMG, that's so incredible!” sound like you’ve only experienced at the best movie theaters, you need a real, full surround sound system with separate components and speakers. Even then, you still won't be blown away unless it's properly set up. Keep reading to learn more about three areas that merit special attention when setting up a surround sound system. 

When you’re feeling down, what’s the one song that gets you feeling better? Even though the songs we turn to may differ—maybe it’s a high-energy punk anthem or nostalgic classic rock ballad—the power of music in enhancing our mood is undeniable. That's not the only way music can positively influence your lifestyle. 

Below, we highlight three ways listening to music can improve your overall wellbeing. Throughout the blog, we'll also showcase ways to use the whole-home audio system in your Atlanta, GA home to embrace the power of music in every room. 

SEE MORE: What to Listen to on Your Whole-Home Audio System

If you’re like millions of Americans, you likely have some summer travel plans away from your Georgia home. Whether you’re planning an extended summer trip at your lake house by Lake Lanier or Oconee or a couple of weeks in Europe, you’ll want to ensure you keep your Buckhead property safe. 

Even if you have someone looking after your place, you can ensure you’re always on top of what’s happening with smart, proactive security enabled by home automation. As a premier home automation company, GHT Group loves to show clients how to keep homes and properties safer with smart home systems. Here are three ways you can do it!

It's that time of year again. Everyone looks forward to the holidays, but holidays can bring about stress. Part of the pressure might be from shopping for the perfect gift for that special someone who seems to have everything. 

So, what do you get for the person who has everything? If they are a home audio enthusiast, we’ve got you covered. In previous blogs, we’ve mentioned that this is a golden age for audio, with an incredible array of products in the market to serve any audio need. That means that excellent gift choices abound!

We’ve lined up five great gift ideas for your Sandy Springs audio lover. Some are plug and play, and some might require a home audio installation. Either way, GHT Group is here to help, as we support our products with world-class service. 

Read on for our 2019 holiday gift guide for audio lovers. If they happen to be video lovers too, you'll find our home theater gift guide helpful also!

Lighting should be an integral part of home design. Interestingly enough though, it is often an afterthought. Sometimes lighting design is relegated to a line item as an allowance in an overall construction budget. 

Lighting design is both art and science. Established guidelines exist to calculate illumination needs for a given space based on square footage and other considerations. But that aspect may not cover the objectives for the aesthetics or overall feel of a room. You can light it up so there’s plenty of light, but it doesn’t mean it will be right, in much the same way one can fill a room with expensive furnishings but not achieve the goal of a well-designed and sorted space.

Great residential lighting design is both art and science. Read on to learn more about how good lighting design can elevate your Buckhead, GA home. 

SEE ALSO: Make Residential Interiors Shine with Superior Lighting Design

In the world of high-fidelity audio, Focal speakers have long been synonymous with excellence, and the introduction of the Aria Evo X line heralds a new era for audio enthusiasts in Atlanta. Building on the revered Aria 900 series' legacy, the Evo X range promises an elevated auditory experience, blending Focal's rich heritage with groundbreaking acoustic advancements. This line is meticulously engineered for the purest sound, catering to music connoisseurs and cinema fans alike. Prepare to be immersed in the depth of sound like never before as we delve into what makes the Aria Evo X an excellent, accessible option in Focal audio.

Lighting is a crucial element in designing your ideal home environment. You probably have lights all around your home, but how customized are they? Do they add convenience to your day-to-day routine and allow you to create ambiances with the touch of a button?

Installing a Ketra tunable lighting system in your Alpharetta, GA, home can give you all the above benefits and more. Here are three ways Ketra lighting can help you achieve the perfect lighting.

SEE ALSO: GHT Group Adds Home Lighting Design Services