Smart home control transforms your lifestyle on a day-to-day basis by blending technology seamlessly into every aspect of your life. A tailored technology solution that guides you throughout the day for unrivaled convenience, comfort and peace of mind is the ultimate luxury for your River Oaks, TX, home. Intuitive control of lights, entertainment, climate and more lets you create the ideal environment at the press of a button whether you're getting ready for work or preparing to host friends and family.  

We’ve written before about smart devices and home automation. As you know, there are many choices in smart technology available in the market. Many of your clients might think that home automation is about a collection of smart devices that can be cobbled together to make a smart home.

We want to present a different, more comprehensive view of smart home technology and automation. It is not about offering apps on a smartphone to control a light or a camera, nor is about another form of remote control away from home. Smart technology, ultimately, is about total home integration. What do we mean by that?

Traditionally, home systems and functions do not work with or talk with each other. Heating and cooling is its own subsystem. Electrical outlets and lighting are another. Water and plumbing are another, and the typical irrigation system does not tie into anything either. Consider pool and spa equipment as well. While those systems may not change much in terms of what they do, what is radically changing is how they are controlled, how they can report and inform on what they are doing, and how they can be made to work in tandem with other functions.

As designers and builders, you want to plan residences for your clients that are ready for this new integrated future. That means planning for the infrastructure that will support smart technologies. In most cases, we can't accurately anticipate what technology will be available 5-10 years down the road, but we can plan for the foundation that makes it easy to integrate new technology.

So how do you plan for the new future of total home integration in your Memorial, TX projects? Keep reading to learn more.

If you really love music, it’s likely that you’re particular about how you listen to it. If it’s on headphones, you don’t just have any headphones. If you’re an avid listener in your car, you probably have the upgraded audio system. If you have a listening room in your home, you likely have high-end speakers and electronics.

In today’s busy lives in Houston, people rarely sit and listen to music. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have audiophile sound in every room – even outside – throughout your home, as you do other things. That’s where a whole home audio system comes in. A centralized system with speakers in multiple rooms and outside spaces can fill your home with pristine sound, without adding equipment in every room. 

You might say that home automation technology is almost mainstream these days. Google, Apple, and Amazon are making devices and home control platforms that enable control of smart home devices like thermostats, lights, AV equipment. But home automation technology is older than you might think, and some companies have been at it for a long time.

Crestron is the company that practically invented home automation. Starting in 1971 by building a variety of automated machines, it began focusing on electronics control in the late 1980s with one of the first wireless remotes for commercial systems. The company’s long history and focus on automation have made it a staple of control systems from corporate boardrooms to the largest homes.

As the premier Crestron authorized dealer in Houston and operator of a Crestron showroom, Refined Systems has the experience and expertise to automate virtually any aspect of your Houston residence. Read on to learn more about what makes Crestron stand out from other home automation systems.

If you’re looking into adding smart features to your current home or perhaps building or renovating a new one, there are a few home automation systems to consider. 

You might wonder what the differences are between these systems.  There is one overarching reason why we at Refined Systems recommend Crestron – it is supremely flexible.  Crestron’s approach to home automation is to deliver the best customer experience, and that means one that is as personalized as possible to the customer’s requirements. 

Intrigued as to what that means?  Read on for a couple of examples of what’s possible with a Crestron-powered smart home system in Houston. 

As a designer or architect, you are no doubt being asked by your clients about home automation technology.

Your most sophisticated River Oaks clients will want a complete and flexible solution – one that may incorporate automation of lighting, climate, security, audio and video, pool and spa, and perhaps even a wine room.  You want that solution to be well integrated, fit with the home’s design, and be easy to use.

Crestron is one of the original names in home automation. Their technology is among the most robust and flexible in the industry.

Read on to learn more about how Crestron home automation can fulfill your clients’ vision of the ultimate smart home.

As an interior designer, you always are working to achieve the ideal look within any space.

A sound design entails far more than just a seamless flow throughout the room. Lighting can play a crucial role in determining the success of your projects.

When you work with a Crestron dealer for the lighting control and shading needs in your Houston, Texas-area projects, you can optimize your design projects and have more power in achieving your design goals.

We explain how in the sections below.

Let’s face it: as wonderful as modern technology is, sometimes it can be a real pain. Especially in conference rooms, where it’s vitally important that meetings go smoothly, one IT issue can throw off an entire day. Advances in technology have made it possible for businesses in Houston, Texas to collaborate with people all over the world in real time, but most conference room setups still fall victim to some very common problems:  equipment that isn’t reliable or easy to use. If you’re tired of struggling with mismatched conference room AV equipment, then read on to learn about the easy way to improve.