Welcome To The Lighting Blog Posts

The Cobbler Has New Shoes

October 5, 2011

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Audio and Video Home Controls

Ever since the start of my career in consumer electronics and every time I meet a new person who learns of my career I get the dreaded question:” You must have a great system at your house?”
The answer was always been the same; A nervous laugh followed by the comment that the “cobbler never has any shoes”.
Yes, it is true. For the last 20 years I have walked around barefoot in my electronic home. All of my “stuff” has been a mishmash of older components strung together with left over patch cables and power strips. Quite a sight to behold for the home of an electronics “professional”. (“Honestly” Leslie interjects, “We’ve had some cool technologies over the years…”
Why you ask? Money, time and priorities. Plus, when you are around the stuff all day, it seems crazy to have it at night too. At least so I thought.
Everything changed last month.
I took some bucks I had saved in the kitty and bought, installed and programmed (myself) an integrated system for entertainment, lighting and HVAC control. My house now has an in-wall touch panel, keypads, smart switches, communicating thermostats, iPad and iPhone control, streaming radio, XM, etc., etc., etc.
We didn’t just get new shoes, we got Nike high-tops with brightly colored laces and pump up soles.
While I was carefully removing each new Crestron Prodigy device from its den of cardboard, styrofoam and plastic, I wondered if it would make a difference in our home. Of course our teenage sons would think it was “sick” and all, but how would it be for Leslie and me? Maybe the Wal-Mart “Air-tops” would have been sufficient?
I can honestly say it is great fun. I am now experiencing what I have been telling my clients all along. Sentences like: “You will discover your music again” and “If it is simple to use, you’ll use it” and “You’ll find it so convenient” are all true. In fact, we have been really enjoying our new system so much that I keep obsessing about how I can add to it. So, now I look forward to meeting someone new with the hope that they will ask the question. Heck, I might even try to bring it up because it’s really cool to have new shoes and it feels great to be a proud cobbler.

A New Hampshire Home

September 8, 2011

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It can be difficult to communicate the scope of the work that we do, but this article tells a big part of the story.  There were a number of exceptional houses featured in the current issue of New Hampshire Home Magazine.  We are thrilled that this particular home was included.  We loved being part of such an innovative design and construction project. Portsmouth, New Hampshire Installation It is always a pleasure working with the brilliant architect, Lisa DeStefano and kitchen designer, Scott Purswell of Dovetailed Kitchens and of course the very gracious and creative homeowner.  Congratulations to everyone who was part of this tremendous collaboration. Also, a big Thank You to MaryJo Drewn and the staff at New Hampshire Home Magazine for the generous mention of DC Home Systems in this article.

Updated Lighting

May 11, 2010

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Adjusting the lights in your home through programmed controls is becoming more and more desirable, not only for the convenience but also for reducing energy consumption and costs.   This technology is more widely available than ever before.  Thanks to recent product innovations, retrofitting your current lighting to controllable lighting is as easy as replacing a light switch.   You can choose to replace one switch  or have as many as 200 switches programmed on to the system.  Start with just a single room or area and expand the system to the most logical spaces. The right dimmers, switches and keypads talk wirelessly to a central control point, enabling control of all of the lighting in your home with simple, intuitive keypads, both in-wall and table-top. And as an added benefit, the controls are elegant and available in many colors and styles.    

lighting keypad switchLight control Keypads

As switches are added, groups of lights are programmed to come on to preset levels based on the ambiance you want for the occasion. Now, as you enter the den, you press a button on a keypad near the entry and your over head lights come on to a dimmed setting,  your desk lamp turns on and the art light illuminates your favorite painting. Lights can be programmed to turn on, off or dim according to the time of day or occupancy patterns, saving energy and bulb life.  Further, with a built in astronomical clock, your system can be programmed to turn lights on automatically at  sunrise, whatever the time of year.  You can even turn off all the lights in the house from a keypad beside your bed with the push of a single button.     

Your system can include progammed sensors which automatically turn the lights on when movement is  detected in a room.  Conversely, when you leave the room and the sensor doesn’t detect movement for a few minutes, the lights will turn off to save energy.    

Car visor controls provide an additional level of safety and security. When you leave your home, you simply press one button to turn off all the lights, except the lights that provide security in your absence.  Similarly, when you return, a button on the visor control illuminates a safe path to your entrance and task lighting inside the home.    

Sophisticated systems aim to optimize not only electric light but also natural day light. Motorized shades  are an important part of light and energy management.  The shades/drapes can be programmed to rise with sun. The shades lower with the mid day sun, to protect upholstery, flooring and minimize energy spent on cooling.   You adjust the shades to any level you choose using simple keypad buttons.  The shades are whisper quiet in operation, offer a variety of privacy levels  and come in a beautiful array of fabrics.    

Visit these sites to learn more about these well engineered solutions for total optimization of  both electric and natural light.   

http://www.lutron.com/   

http://www.crestron.com/

Motorized Shades

March 29, 2010

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Motorized Window ShadesAutomated and motorized window treatments will enhance your control of energy costs both in winter and summer. In winter, shades that automatically lower at dark will block heat from leaving your home. Conversely, in the summertime, shades that automatically lower during peak sunshine will prevent heat from coming in your home and straining your air conditioner. Fabrics come in an excellent variety of styles and colors. You need a  certified professional to properly design, measure and install the ideal treatment for your home. Additionally, if you have a lutron or litetouch lighting control system, you can most likely be able to adjust your programming to minimize lighting consumption-little changes can make a big difference.

Balancing Technology and Tranquility

February 4, 2010

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I wrote this article for a magazine last summer. Based on the feedback I received, readers found this article helpful in visualizing how the latest technology can be seamlessly and invisibly integrated into the most classic home decor.

I’m usually the partner that is in the office, creating a website, calling on architects or trying to unravel the mystery of social media in an effort to spread awareness of our ever expanding technological offerings.  Sadly, I don’t often see the end result of the hours of design, engineering, programming and installation performed by our talented crew. So, on a recent (and rare) sunny day I took the opportunity to visit a residential lake side project that we are bringing to completion.  And despite the fact that I now have lake envy, I am thrilled on many levels that I took the time to see this marvelous home and the brilliant work of our team.

Imagine 15,000 square feet of lake side living, unobtrusively nestled in the moss and ferns and barely noticeable to the passing kayak. Despite the size, the home is nostalgic and inviting, like a child hood summer camp, complete with a soaring stone fireplace, 10 foot dining hall table, even boys and girls bunk ‘houses’.  And, proudly, our team played a significant role creating this feeling of comfort while preserving the wistful charm. 

These gracious clients invested many dollars in the technology of comfort, convenience, functionality and entertainment and entrusted us to keep it all out of site. Every bedroom has a flat panel TV hidden behind the doors of a cabinet designed to support and hide all of the wiring and peripheral components.  Every room offers multiple sources of music and volume control easily accessed from a low profile touch panel control, not a wire in sight. The reclaimed chestnut rafters, soft wool upholstery and well loved board games are unaware of the 60” plasma TV, only visible when it rises on a motorized lift from the custom cabinet where it hides.  No guest will ever fumble for a light switch as each room has labeled lighting control key pads which are programmed with preset lighting scenes specific to the space.  And though this is a lake side retreat, the homeowners are afforded all of the conveniences of wired and wireless internet, cell phone coverage, iPod docking and video gaming.

We installed 3 1/2 miles of structured cable, hooked up hundreds of electronic components and spent countless hours programming to the client’s specific needs.  But apart from enjoying all the fun and convenience you would hardly know we were ever there.  Thank you, job well done!