News

Double CEDIA award winners

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Fresh from the 2017 CEDIA Awards on Friday NV Integration picked up a pair of awards:

Best Integrated Home £360,000 and Over – widely considered the top prize of the awards ceremony, and ‘best smart house’ of the year. Read more about our Siam Super Smart House.

Technology Meets Design – this recognises the considered approach we apply to ensure the solutions we install work in harmony with the scheme of the project. Check out our previous news post Integrated Home Technology, to understand how NV Integration set themselves apart in this field.

These awards recognise NVI as one of the industries leading companies. We’re aiming to be back at the CEDIA Awards next year with some of our current projects. In the meantime, you can get in touch

Integrated Home Technology

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

When NV Integration started out in 2010 we wanted to be different. Our mantra is “Integrated Home Technology” and we’ve never forgotten it! Too often Integration companies don’t give enough gravitas towards the rest of the home when designing a project, maintaining a stubborn attitude towards positioning and placement of speakers and suchlike, which benefits no one.

We understand that our customers want to have modern technology in their homes, whilst not conflicting the impact of the scheme of the home. It should rather complement or enhance the home experience wherever possible.

Seven years ago this was our message, and it’s still true today. There are lots of subtle ways to implement technology, and some big ways too.

We’ve handpicked a few of our favourite, and are looking at what is current today.

Integrated Home Technology means blending into room design. Trufig understands that you need sockets, switches and a whole range of devices for you to conveniently control your home. With Trufig you can have these necessary devices exist in harmony with room design, rather than stand out like a sore thumb.

A standard touch screen or iPad mounted ‘on-wall’ can stick out as much as 50mm, or you can have it sit flush against the wall. We know which we would prefer.

Sonance, the parent company of Trufig, takes this concept of flush technology further by applying it to their speakers.

For those people who love the built-in ‘architectural’ look Sonance go all the way and produce flush in-ceiling speakers that match the shape and size of ceiling downlights.

Samsung’s The Frame TV is an impressive means of hiding a TV within a piece of artwork in a room. Over time they have become better and better, both in picture and design. Now they are 4K UHD TVs with HDR that provide incredible displays.

The Frame TV also sits flush against the wall with its no gap wall mount acting just like a painting in a room.

Please see below:

Sometimes we don’t want to display a TV at all and it is better to hide it within joinery where it can rise up from an enclosure, drop down from the ceiling or sit behind moving doors.

Future Automation, a UK based company, provide these lifts and mechanisms that can hide technology in the home. They can conceal pretty much anything, and it doesn’t stop at TVs. They can hide drinks cabinets in walls, they can conceal cinema chairs and even statues in a garden.

We use Future Automation regularly because they are reliable. No one wants to look at a black screen when its turned off so hiding it behind a piece of artwork or bespoke joinery would be so much nicer.

It is important to note that when working with Future Automation an integrator is needed to ensure it is controlled simply and can provide a complete design service to outline movement. The expensive TV and mechanism could up being the cheapest part of a solution when compared to that rare piece of artwork which hides it.

Our recent CEDIA award winning project featured a number of these hidden home technology tricks, as you can see in this video:

At NV Integration we will always stick to our mantra Integrated Home Technology and ensure that homes are delivered beautifully with technology seamlessly blended into the design.

If you would like to find out more or discuss the ideas above for your next project, then get in touch

CEDIA Awards Finalists

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The annual CEDIA Awards celebrate the excellence of smart home and marine installations completed in the past year.

The CEDIA Awards puts the best AV companies in Europe, Middle East, and Africa to the test, presenting their projects from fourteen different categories. Last year more than 200 projects were presented, coming from 18 different countries.

NVI are proud to be selected among CEDIA Awards finalists for ‘Best Integrated Home over £360,000’, which is the most prestigious category a single dwelling can be nominated for.

Watch this space as the awards ceremony is in September.

Click here to view the project we have been chosen as finalists for.

Smart building award winners

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration were recently awarded ‘Best Home Cinema’ at the Smart Building Awards, for our Siam Super Cinema project.

NV Integration’s Technical Manager Chris Alley collecting the award.

The project was recognised for the attention to detail, and scope which NV Integration provided; while also considering the challenges raised by the geographical distance of the project.

Would you like to learn more about home cinemas and media rooms?

What can alexa do for you?

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

New technologies are often met with scepticism; will they catch on, or be another passing trend?

When it comes to voice control, this is one advance in technology that is here to stay. It’s certainly has changed the life of David Holmes in this video.

NV Integration have incorporated Alexa into our Belgravia showroom, allowing clients and fellow design professional to come and experience voice control, just as you would in a real-world setting.

Alexa, without a home automation system, is a pretty neat stocking filler, it can play music, tell you about the weather and even top up your shopping list. When you integrate it into a home automation system the possibilities are endless.

As the big players in home automation announce their offerings of what this technology can do, it’s good to understand how Alexa will impact how you interact with your home. Voice control integrated with the right control system can give you access to lighting, HVAC, audio & video facilities and many other 3rd party services in the home.

If you want to know how best Alexa and other voice assistants can work in your home contact us today.

Click here to get in contact

Are you an architect who wants to know more about Smart Home Design? Register for one our RIBA and BIID accredited CPDs by clicking here.

Meridian Cinema

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration has been featured in the February issue of Home Cinema Choice magazine for their meridian based cinema.

NV Integration chose to use Meridian audio speakers for their 7.4.4. setup. Utilising specialised versions of the DSP7200 floor standing speaker for the LCR soundstage as well as in-wall and in-ceiling speakers. There are also four in-wall subwoofers to complete the Dolby atmos sound space. Every speaker & subwoofer par the floor standing DSP7200s are matched to the wall surfaces.

Click the image to read the full article.

Click here to view the complete case study of this cinema.

If you are looking to have your own home cinema or media room, please don't hesitate to get in contact with us.

A House From the Future

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration have been featured in the spring issue of Bridge for Design magazine:

“NV Integration managed to turn a large, complicated smart home into an easy to use and seamless experience for the client.”

Click the image to read the full article.

Click here to view the completed case study.

Are you looking to build the next house of the future? Then get in touch with us today to find out how we can modernise your home.

Click here to get in contact.

The RIBA London Roadshow

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration was invited to spend a day talking about smart homes, to budding architects at the RIBA London roadshow in Marylebone.

Pip Evans, NV Integration Director, presented the RIBA and BIID approved CPD: Designing Integrated Future Ready Smart Homes.

This 45-minute talk touches on the infrastructure required when designing or planning a smart home, and some of the services you may expect to find in the property.

The CPD which was put together by CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association), is just one of their RIBA & BIID approved CPDs.

Whether you are an Architect, Interior Designer, Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor or an M&E Consultant, we have CPD for you.

NV Integration currently have three CPDs which you can book by clicking here.

Click here to register for your CPD

NVI receives KNX Integrator partner status

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration are proud to be a KNX Integrator for the design, install and commissioning of KNX in the home.

KNX is the worldwide standard for all applications in home and building control.

Ranging from lighting and shutter control to various security systems, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, energy management, as well as household appliances and lots more.

As KNX is a standardised protocol it provides us access to thousands of products from over 400 manufacturers.

This enables implementation for simple applications, or whole home building management systems (BMS) – allowing us to provide a flexible, independent, and unbiased approach to any project.

If you would like to find out what we can do for you as a KNX Integrator, then please contact us to arrange a meeting.

NVI joins FSB

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

As experts in business, the FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice in government. Their mission is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions.

NV Integration joins this community to help us serve our customers more effectively, knowing that we have the backing and support of the Federation of Small Businesses behind us, which empowers us to provide a better service for our clients.

NVI joins bark

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV INTEGRATION

Bark is the easy way to find local service professionals in your area, and NV Integration are pleased to have been recognised in their member directory.

Future Proof

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In our final Ask the Expert video with The Fabric of Things Pip talks about future proofing your home during a refurbishment, to safeguard for new technologies

Part one – ask the expert

Part two – home automation FAQs

Part three – interior design for your smart home

Part four – exciting times

Exciting Times

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

In our next video with The Fabric of Things, Pip talks about what excites him about home automation, and how he sees it becoming more commonplace in everyday life.

Part one – ask the expert

Part two – home automation FAQs

Part three – interior design for your smart home

Part four – exciting times

Interior design for your smart home

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Architectural finish keypad

In our third video with The Fabric of Things Pip Evans talks about just a couple of ways a professional company will make sure the technology enhances your home, rather than intrudes on it.

Part one – ask the expert

Part two – home automation FAQs

Part three – interior design for your smart home

Part four – exciting times

Home Automation FAQs

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

If you haven’t already seen part one of Ask the Expert from The Fabric of Things then click here.

In this next video Pip Evans from NV Integration talks about some of the frequently asked questions regarding smart homes, and home automation.

Part one – ask the expert

Part two – home automation FAQs

Part three – interior design for your smart home

Part four – exciting times

ASK THE EXPERT

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

The Fabric of Things recently interviewed Pip Evans from NV Integration for an Ask the Expert feature. Helping their readers unravel the jargon surrounding all types of modern technology that you may come across in the home.

Part one – ask the expert

Part two – home automation FAQs

Part three – interior design for your smart home

Part four – exciting times

Feature: Design Industry News

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

An article on our Belgravia showroom has been featured in the latest issue of Design Industry Weekly News.

The piece outlines the design solution we used to create a smart home cinema system that blends in with a normal living room, and completely hides away when not in use.

If you are interested in viewing our showroom or hidden home cinema systems, please contact us to arrange an appointment.

NV Integration Joins BIID as Industry Partner

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration is excited to announce that we are now industry partners of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID).

The partnership recognises NV Integration’s design-led approach to smart home technology, which places the greatest emphasis on design and aesthetics to deliver home automation systems in harmony with their surroundings.

If you would like a demonstration of design-minded, unobtrusive home technology, please get in touch to book an appointment at our Belgravia showroom.

About BIID

The British Institute of Interior Design is the pre-eminent professional organisation for interior designers in the UK. The British Institute of Interior Design is committed to encouraging and supporting creativity and competence in the field of interior design through facilitating best practice, practical professional support, development opportunities and education.

Interview: ID&A Awards

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration has been shortlisted for Design et al’s International Design & Architecture Awards.
As part of the shortlisting, the worldwide publication has featured an interview with NV Integration Director Pip Evans in which he discusses his own background, the rise of home automation, as well as the more practical aspects of approaching a smart home project.

The award entry features the home cinema from our Belgravia showroom – which you can find out more about here. The awards will take place at The Hurlingham Club in September 2015.

Tell us a little about your background in design.
My journey into home technology began studying as a sound engineer, which in turn led to work with a local company. From there I gained a position with a larger firm in London. This early experience shaped the way I wanted to go when I setup NV Integration in 2010. I felt that AV companies could be a little inflexible, getting too excited about the tech, and forgetting their product is going into someone’s home, who, while they want the end result, do not want it to compromise on the design. This was my eureka moment behind NV Integration and has been the mantra ever since. It allows us to work with the project team, and client’s vision of how their home should look. It enables us to make sure they can have the best of both, the right performance and the right look.

In what direction do you feel that the home technology industry is moving towards in a general sense?
It’s a fantastic time to be in this industry – the traction and buzz around home automation at the moment is huge, with nearly all high-end residential developments or refurbishments in London viewing it as a must have, rather than a nice to have. Also with the big players such as Apple and Google getting involved (both have bought companies or will have products imminently), this is going to dramatically increase awareness at the mass-market consumer level. This in turn will feed up into the high-end sector too.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to home automation, what would it be?
Get in touch with a home automation specialist as early as possible, ideally during the design phase and prior to construction. The advice of a company like NV Integration will help you to specify the other services in the home, such as heating and security. This will save time, money, and provide the most reliability for the homeowner.

How important are The International Design and Architecture Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
They are widely recognized and highly regarded across many industries, something no other awards achieve. Architects, lighting designers, or building contractors are all aware of the awards, so winning is of significant importance.

What projects are you currently working on?
We’ve just finished a five-storey town house in Chelsea, during which we worked with one of London’s top interior designers and the finished result looked fantastic. We integrated many services in the property to keep the wall spaces clean, and the services simple to use.

Recently we began a project in Thailand which is our biggest to date, so our design team is currently busy producing the technical drawings. This includes a Crestron home automation system with all of the mechanical and electrical services integrated – it also includes a six seat home theatre.

We are about to complete a project in Primrose Hill, involving a vast double basement featuring a home cinema in a room which is 265m³, this presented a challenge to design the audio correctly to ensure an even sound, yet enough bass in such a large space.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
As we are an expanding business with year on year growth the aim is to maintain that steady rate of expansion, while increasing our project size and expertise in-line with the resources and skill-set of the team. We already have a healthy project pipeline for the next 12 months, so the plan is to deliver to a high standard, and further the business by being judged on the success of our work….Oh, and to win the 2015 Design et al awards of course!

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself

Your most treasured possession?
My vintage watch, an indulgent purchase when I was younger but I will never part with it.

Your favourite holiday destination?
Too many fantastic places to choose from – Brazil, or Phi Phi in Thailand would definitely be contenders.

Your favourite hotel / restaurant / bar?
Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan or Pollen Street Social in Mayfair.

Your favourite book / film / song?
Shantaram.

Your favourite food and drink?
Food: A Sunday roast with apple crumble for pudding in the autumn.
Drink: Monkey 47 & tonic

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
A walk in the British countryside.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
Working in this industry has made me realise how much job satisfaction architects must derive when someone gives them the seed of an idea, and they turn it into a building that will outlive them many times over.

Anything else interesting?
A one time Pamplona bull runner…

If you would like to find out more about any of the services listed above please contact us to arrange for one of our consultants to visit you and discuss your requirements.

International Design & Architecture Awards

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration have been shortlisted for Design et al’s International Design and Architecture Awards.

The entry features the home cinema from our Belgravia showroom – which you can find out more about here. The awards will take place at The Hurlingham Club in September 2015.

NVI speak to Inchbald School

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This week the NVI team welcomed the students from Inchbald School of Design for a tour of our showroom. We spoke about, and demonstrated how the latest smart home technologies can be considerately integrated into residential living spaces.

The tour concluded with a CPD (continued professional development) seminar in the home cinema, titled – Designing Integrated Future Ready Homes.

If you would like to arrange a CPD for your own practise or company at our showroom, or your own offices please get in touch.

NVI featured in KBB Magazine – ask the expert

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This month we’re back in Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms magazine for another feature. They met up with Pip Evans from NV Integration for an ‘Ask The Expert’ feature on all things smart home technology.

Please click the image to read the article in fullscreen.

NVI Win Artcoustic Installation of the Month

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve been awarded installation of the month for August 2014 by Artcoustic for our recent Belgravia Smart App Apartment.

This stunning refurbishment features an Artcoustic Multi SL Soundbar, that matches the width of the TV screen, providing high quality LCR audio. Architect SL2-1 are installed in the ceiling for rear channels in this simple 5.1 TV system, with a concealed subwoofer hidden from view behind the furniture.

NVI magazine feature – Better by design

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This month we’re back in Essential Install magazine for another feature, they meet up with Pip Evans from NVI and discuss how we are setting ourselves apart by working with London’s high-end interior design community.

Click the link below to read the article in fullscreen.

Better by design

NVI featured in KBB Magazine

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

This month we’ve been featured in a Home Automation article in the Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.

Please click the image to read the article in fullscreen.

NVI receives CEDIA accreditation

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration are pleased to announce that we have joined the CEDIA association, which is the benchmark for reputable companies in the custom installation industry.

This ensures we adhere to the highest working standards and that our training and skill-set are continuously updated in order for us to keep giving our customers the best possible service.

CEDIA is an international trade association of companies that specialise in designing and installing electronic systems for residential properties. All certified professionals are proven experts who are committed to a higher standard of education; allowing you to find qualified, reputable and insured design and installation contractors to help you with your project. Hiring a CEDIA Certified professional gives you peace of mind and the finest in custom electronic design and installation.

NVI host open day for the interior design community

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

This week the NVI team hosted an open house day and welcomed the interior design community to come and tour our showroom. We spoke about, and demonstrated how the latest smart home technologies can be considerately integrated into residential living spaces.

Each tour concluded with a CPD (continued professional development) seminar in our home cinema, titled – Designing Integrated Future Ready Homes, which is a BIID and RIBA approved CPD.

We had some fantastic feedback from those who visited all said came away with some 'smart' ideas for their next projects!

If you would like to arrange a CPD for your own practise or company at our showroom, or your own offices please get in touch.

NV Integration Director judges CEDIA Awards

Wed, 23 May 2018 00:00:00 +0000

We're proud to say that NV Integration Director, Pip Evans, has been asked to sit on the judging panel for the 2018 CEDIA Awards. This includes the EMEA and Global Awards, to be held at CEDIA's UK offices on the 27th and 28th of June.

This comes on the back of our success at the 2017 Awards, after scooping the much-coveted "Best Integrated Home over £360,000", and "Technology Meets Design" awards.

This is great industry recognition of the great work we're doing, and we're humbled and honoured to see that this is recognised in the industry. Well done Pip!

You can read about our success at the 2017 CEDIA Awards here

NVI featured in EI Magazine

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000

We're back in Essential Install Magazine. The "One night in Bangkok" case study features our Siam Smart House and Siam Super Cinema multi award-winning projects.

View the article here Essential Install One Night In Bangkok

Lutron Award Winners

Wed, 12 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration is pleased to announce we have won the highest achievement at the 2018 Lutron awards - "Best HomeWorks QS Project".

HomeWorks QS is Lutron's flagship product and is ideally suited to high-end residential houses or apartments. Our Siam Smart House project was submitted for the awards and we feel was a worthy winner, with the judges commenting "we are stunned by the size, scope and complexity of this project".

This is incredibly the fourth award that this project has claimed, having also picked up "Best Integrated Home over £360,000" and "Technology Meets Design" at the CEDIA 2017 Awards, and "Best Home Cinema" at the Smart Building Awards 2017.

You can learn more detail about this project and the lengths it took to claim the coveted top prize at the Lutron awards below:

Background

This new build property which took 5 years in the making, features total light control via HomeWorks QS comprising 350 lighting circuits and 85 Sivoia QS Window treatments. The spectacular lighting design employed circuits controlled via mains switching, Phase Adaptive, 0-10v and DALI Dimming to realise the designer’s vision.

Owing to the size of the property, the Lutron HomeWorks QS system was split between seven LCPs, over three locations throughout the property. Complementing this are over 25 audio zones and 16 video zones with a Crestron system deployed to allow the matrix switching between sources and outputs. NV Integration is proud of this project given the logistical issues of delivering a project of this size with the geographical, logistical, and language challenges we overcame.

Brief

The client was familiar with smart houses as this is their third (NVI also look after their UK property) and was a key part of the brief. Wherever possible we were asked to consider creative ideas that could provide that wow factor and to make this house as ‘one of a kind’ as possible because entertaining is the primary function of this home.

Challenge accepted. We designed solutions that allowed the technology to be hidden when not in use, yet reveal at the touch of a button all from simple and intuitive controls.

The Controls

The project was originally specified by the consultant with alternative home automation, lighting control, and window treatment systems. After discussing the brief with the client, we wrote a report to the project team explaining the disparity between the specified manufacturers and the inability of those to meet the clients brief.

At that time the project was re-specified as Lutron HomeWorks QS for the lighting and window treatment controls, and Crestron for the home automation. NV Integration were also informed it was no longer a competitive tender, but a negotiation for us to undertake the project.

Not content with the hidden technology mentioned above, we were tasked to provide bespoke user interaction for control of the system:

Lutron

A house of this stature and contemporary style was perfectly suited to Lutron Palladiom keypads. The client loved the look, feel, and responsiveness of them. In every room, the lighting and window treatment controls were integrated into the engraved buttons. Once again going above and beyond with this project we also integrated the air conditioning ‘on/off’ controls into the Palladiom keypads in each zone; this includes AC feedback status thanks to the illuminated text. This two-way feedback is always responsive, even if the AC is controlled from another source (Crestron, or manufacturers proprietary controls).

By using the intelligence within the LQSE-2DAL-D module we created an incredible sequencing effect in the main stair hall. The concept was to simulate a shoal of fish swimming upstream and was executed by illuminating the appropriate downlight in timed order above the glassfish so that the reflected light created the illusion of the fish circling above the stairs. This stairhall is also notable in that it has four Roller100 side guide wired controlled Sivoia QS blinds which drop over 6 metres from the ceiling to the finished floor level of the ground floor below.

Delving under the hood we used Lutron for the ‘heavy duty’ lifting of the project also. The client spent tens of thousands on fully developed adult Koi Carp to populate the stream which hugs the circumference of the building. These ponds needed strictly timed oxygenation to keep the fish alive, and the air was forced into the water via fountains controlled from Lutron’s DIN rail switching modules

In such a hot climate Lutron was also called upon for integrating the sprinkler system. This can be actioned or suspended (in case the client is using the garden) from the Palladiom keypads, but typically runs on a pre-determined timer depending on the season. Through the Crestron integration, we were also able to listen to an RSS feed, and during the monsoon season, the sprinklers do not run if it has rained that day to save water, energy, and prevent over-watering.

Crestron

This included integration with the wine cellars, allowing the Crestron system to keep track of, and show information regarding the wine stored via label camera recognition. Plan layouts of each floor provide feedback as to room status – showing if the lights or air conditioning have been left on, and the ability to switch off at the touch of a button. Plus the much used ‘party mode’ feature. These custom designs set the user interaction of this project apart from the usual ‘cookie cutter’ approach.

Summary

We are tremendously proud of the accomplishment achieved with this project, in light of the challenges faced we turned a large and complicated smart home, into an easy to use and seamless experience for the client.

Since completion, we have been appointed for our third project with the client. This is a mixed-use new build property in Asia, with commercial office space over 5 floors, and a private penthouse apartment for the client on the top floor. The entire building will be controlled via a Lutron HomeWorks system, with Sivoia QS window treatments, and Palladiom controls:

Smart Home Podcast Audio

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration visited Meridian Audio this month, with Director Pip Evans taking part in recording the latest episode of The Integrated Home podcast, alongside Meridian Sales Director - Barry Sheldrick, and presenter Jeff Hayward. This was set in one of two home cinema rooms at Meridian's HQ in Cambridgeshire.

This months subject was talking about all things audio, and the emergence of media rooms in Central London. Listen to the whole podcast below.

NVI Director judges 2019 CEDIA Awards

Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

We're honoured to say that Pip Evans, Director at NV Integration, has been asked to sit as Vice Chair on the judging panel for the 2019 CEDIA Awards. Pip will be judging the EMEA and Global Awards, to be held at CEDIA's UK offices on the 19th and 20th of June.

The awards will recognise the hard work of industry professionals and their innovative projects and products that they have been working on in the past year. We are looking forward to seeing all participants at the Victoria and Albert Museum on the 26th of September where the Awards will be hosted and winners announced!

The Changing AV Landscape

Sun, 19 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte Ashley meets Pip Evans, the man at the helm of NV Integration, a custom installer enjoying success in both the UK and further afield, to discuss the ever-evolving AV landscape and working with high net worth clientele.

When HiddenWires calls Pip Evans, owner and director of London-based installer, NV Integration, he’s ironically in the middle of having a smart metre fitting in his London home. Does the AV industry stalwart believe these type of IoT products can have a positive effect, if any, on the prosector?

“Yes, I think you can call it a trickle-up effect.” He adds: “It raises awareness for consumers and they might talk to their friends about it, and they might have someone that wants to do that at a higher or better level.” Evans details a client who offers the perfect example of this; “The son of one of our clients bought all this IoT-type stuff for his student flat because that’s his budget, but he’s actually encouraged his parents to invest in the pro-side because that's what he aspires to have. That's a classic example of the trickle-up effect,” explains Evans.

NV integration, renowned in the industry for installations like the multi-CEDIA Award-winning ‘Siam Smart House project in Thailand (a follow-up to a London project for the same client), has enjoyed huge growth for a company of 10 over the past 10 years with Evans at the helm. For the director, his life-long love for technology becoming his every day was the perfect transition; “I was always very hands-on with computers, as much as they were around when I was young,” he states. “It was always a case of ‘oh, the printer isn’t working, go and get Pip because he’ll know what to do.’ I generally occupied that role so I found it quite an easy learning curve.”

A sound engineer by training, AV provided the perfect in to fulfil his desire to do something he loved but still be part of creating a special experience. “I never thought that when I was working for smaller AV firms doing Sonos music systems in people's houses in the home counties, that this was something that would take me around the world, but starting NV has given me that, and I was wrong (thankfully).”

With luxury residential projects at the heart of what NV do, alongside a small number of high-level commercial installs in London, NV has a full roster of upcoming projects, with more small ‘bespoke MDU’ projects possibly on the horizon. “It’s an interesting market for us and one we’re pushing a bit harder to get into because they can be quite exciting projects, but also quite challenging at the same time as you’ve got so many factors to integrate,” he explains.

The company’s growing reputation Evans attributes partially to putting time into building good relationships on all sides of the industry. Hosting CPDs are an integral part of the process for the company – something Evans likes to run in the most honest way possible; “I open by saying ‘Hi. I’m Pip and I set up NV Integration because I was fed up of being the AV guy that nobody likes’ and everyone usually laughs.”

"Our clients are high net worth individuals just want a system that works and offers the functionality that they want."

He adds: “When I worked for other AV companies, we’d have a brief of products that we sell to the client and then we’d be thrust upon the design team and just told to get on with it. A lot of these products were plastic and ugly back in the day anyway, but regardless, I found this really alienated everyone we met along the way delivering the project, that I was trying to build relationships with, because interior designers and architects like really clean, minimalist contemporary lines and then we’ve just trashed that with some AV gear.”

The integrator’s 3,500ft² Belgravia-based showroom is a testament to its design-led approach, themed by distinct rooms to allow prospective clients to envision what their future home could look like and offer to make their life easier, with no particular brands pushed to them. “Our clients are high net worth individuals just want a system that works and offers the functionality that they want – they don’t care if it’s X, Y or Z’s product, they just want it to work,” he says. Rather than introducing x touch panel or speaker, NV simply prioritises demonstrating the functionality to the client rather than the look and feel of what they may currently have in their showroom facilities (an ever-changing offering) – created in partnership with interior designer Staffan Tollgard.

“We say come to the showroom- it isn't necessarily what you're going to have for your project, but this is the type of concepts of what you might want to have,” says Evans. “And guess what? You don’t have to see it on like a white plastic kiosk as you might in a retail shop or similar – it's installed and it's going to look exactly how it we show you. I can pull the TV out, show you how all the cables are dressed, show you our AV cabinets and lighting control panels. You can touch and see how much space is required and you can plan. This really, really helps get the message to people what it is we can do and they leave saying, “Oh wow, this is so much more useful than looking at a PDF - I'm so glad I came down.’”

Working with high net worth individuals

Dealing with the high net worth individuals of the world has given Evans a sense of perspective about how best to build relationships with NV’s target clientele; “ With these really, really high net worth individuals of the world, there's one common denominator between them: they generally may not immediately trust you as they have so much wealth,” states Evans.

“It’s essential to build that trust with them and can show that you're there to do a good job and you care about the project and the success of it (and will make some money along the way, but won’t rip them off).” He continues: “These type of people are so rarely sought after to these high net worth individuals that you'll probably make a friend for life to be honest. I think that's one of the most important parts of my job.”

Looking to the future

Looking ahead, Evans is sure the giant marketing budgets of the Apples, Googles, and Amazons of the industry will grow their presence in the smart home sector, but they’ll still be a place for the CIs of the world. “These IoT products aren’t going away, but I don’t think that these companies are going to wipe out our market by any stretch.”

He adds that in the local market, the industry faces a significant challenge in adapting to the current post-Brexit vote climate. “This has led to a guarantee of uncertainty and us to consider how different London might look in ten years’ time. Foreign money is still going to be important to live and work in London in 10 years’ time,” he says. “A vast majority of our projects have come for money from the city of London and it possibly may not exist in the same shape it does now ever again,” he concludes.

Ceccotti Collezioni Store

Thu, 23 May 2019 00:00:00 +0000

OVERVIEW

NV Integration's long-standing partnership with Staffan Tollgard Design Group has recently been strengthened with a new experience centre located in the centre of Chelsea Harbour’s Design Centre, at the Ceccotti Collezioni store.

This 1,000 sqft space is the little sister of the company's Belgravia showroom and was the opportunity to showcase how discreet, considered, and integrated home technology solutions work in smaller spaces; while maintaining the super-prime residential look and feel both companies are so well known for.

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Working closely with the interior design team we ensured that the smart home installation did not detract from the scheme of the store, but enhanced the look and feel of the space in every way. This included a smart lighting system from Lutron Electronics, and entirely hidden AV: using Samsung’s Frame TV, and plaster over invisible speaker systems.

If you have a project large or small you’d like to discuss, come and see the art of ‘Integrated Home Technology’ in action. Contact us.

With kind thanks to our partners for making this amazing space happen:

Staffan Tollgard Design Group.
Staffan Tollgard Design Group offers an award-winning architectural interior design service for an international clientele.

Lutron Electronics.
Lutron is the leader in the lighting control industry and offers a wide selection of energy saving dimmers and lighting control solutions.

Amina Speakers.
Amina Technologies Ltd was formed in 1999 and is now one of the world’s leading suppliers of totally invisible loudspeaker solutions.

Sonance.
Sonance offers innovative and unique solutions that harmoniously blend technology and aesthetics.

The Art of Hidden Technology

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

As technology advances, we are able to adapt our approach to how AV equipment looks and feels in a modern home. When NV Integration entered the industry 11 years ago we set out to create uniquely tailored luxury homes, by fulfilling the vision of the client and the design team.

CENTRALISED IS BEST

In a typical modern home, rooms are commonly littered with smart home devices, audio setups, TVs, and just generally 'black box electronics'. These gadgets are great and are there to make our lives simpler, but they rarely consider the aesthetic downside.

Taking up valuable space and often with trailing wires making a room look untidy. Our solution is to centralise equipment as much as possible, with only the necessary equipment in living spaces.

With this method control of the home stems from one place. With the added benefit of a home automation system, such as Crestron or Control4, which unifies technologies to interact with each other and allows the homeowner a simple modus operandi with a de-cluttered lifestyle.

Clean up the wall acne

Wall-mounted touch screens allow you to hide more technology than you might think. An integrated home is the combination of various technologies such as audio, video, security, lighting, and temperature, working in unison with each other.

Each interface is programmed so you can quickly access or receive information, such as answering the door. This negates the need for having a variety of switches and buttons that are confusing and ultimately detract from the interior scheme.

_{On the left is a home automation system which displays a standard user interface, The right side touch panel from Crestron is completely customisable in its appearance and function.}

Let there be light

Smart lighting control systems, such as Lutron are the solution to having too many light switches that litter the walls of your home. Traditionally a light switch is wired to the physical light making the switch on the wall the only way to control it.

However, with a lighting control system a scene function, such as 'Welcome' can control numerous circuits to predetermined levels.

Having the lighting wired to a central system enables you to have control over all of the lights without needing to be in the room or even the house.

Furthermore, lights can be programmed to pre-sets such as movie mode where lights are dimmed, or a night time scene where lights turn down but also close blinds and curtains.

Did we mention Lutron also controls those? While pre-programmed conditions can work autonomously, a simple wall-mounted keypad is a practical device, that looks stunning on the wall.

_{Examples of Lutron's Palladiom keypads. Left showing an architectural in-wall finish, and right standard installation.}

TV, hidden in plain sight

With some creative thinking and the right design, there's plenty of ways to have a TV be seen only when you need it to be.

Just two examples are mirror TVs and the Frame TV.

The mirror TV is quite unique and completely customisable. The mirror is made of a special material that allows light to pass so when the TV is on it shows an image and when the TV is off it will simply be a mirror.

The Frame TV, on the other hand, is a TV which sits inside a bordered picture frame which is flush to the wall. Frame TVs have a default art mode so it will display high-quality artwork from an online catalogue when in standby.

_{On the left is a Samsung Frame TV. The right is showing an installed mirror TV in a bedroom.}

Hi-fi, yes and no?

Hi-Fi stands for High fidelity audio. This just means the highest quality of audio, and we love that but not the clutter that comes with it. Hi-Fi has been around forever but seems to be making a resurgence with digital technology like MQA.

Combining various pieces of hardware, amplifiers, speakers, subwoofers, and media players. The big drawback is the space you need for all this equipment, that can often look very man cave.

With our centralised platform, we can leave the audio in the room without having to see one piece of hardware. But you also might be thinking where are the speakers?

We regularly use invisible in-wall speakers that hide a thin topcoat of plaster. So that you hear sound, but don't see speakers.

_{Left and right images show invisible in-wall speakers hidden behind wallpaper and plaster finishes. The speakers have also been successfully installed behind wood veneers and even stone. Both of these systems are available to see and hear in our London showrooms.}

If you are interested to learn more about the art of hidden technology click here to book a viewing to one of our showrooms.

Summer Time Speakers

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

British people love our homes, and we love the great outdoors. So what is better than listening to great sounding music while you barbeque sausages in the rain. We've got you covered, here's our list of the top five outdoor speakers to have, that you don't need to dust off the extension lead for...

Architettura Sonora

Starting our list off strongly, the Architettura Sonora speakers are not your average outdoor speaker. These individually crafted speakers are hand-built in Tuscany, making each and every speaker unique.

Unlike other speakers, Sonora comes in different shapes, sizes and materials. There are over 15 different styles and finishes to choose from. Beyond aesthetics, Sonora boasts outstanding quality in the acoustics department too.

We think they wouldn't look out of place as a piece of art, and your guests would probably presume they were just that.

_{On the left is the Tall Cylinder speaker. On the right the Sphere speaker. Both come with mood lighting options.}

Leon Terra

Leon Terra speakers are built for the outside. Manufactured in the USA they are specifically housed in a UniCavity enclosure that can protect them from all the perils of English weather: heat, rain, flood, and ice as well as protecting from animals and insects.

The speakers make a great addition to the outside as they can easily blend into planters, and soil beds. Another great addition is the integrated LED lights, which just like the Sonora speakers, can be controlled from your smart home.

The lights are perfect for late parties providing excellent low-level mood lighting around pathways and soil beds. The grilles for Leon Terra speakers can also be custom printed with a design, family crest anyone?

_{On the left is the Terra Luminsound with mood lighting. The right is the Terra Six which has a custom print.}

Sonance SLS

The Sonance Landscape Series speakers come as a set linking each one to another, as well being paired with a subwoofer. They are specifically designed to fill an area of your garden with music, that doesn't upset the neighbours, and still allows you to hear the music, and each other.

Similar to the Leon Terra series, these speakers with their soil brown tone blend perfectly into the planters, so you won't even see they're there.

_{On the left is the Sonance speaker on a stake. The right shows a speaker and subwoofer hidden amongst plants.}

Sonance Extreme

The Sonance Extreme is another speaker offered by Sonance. The grilles are made of 316L Stainless Steel. An extremely hard and durable metal that will last against extreme high and low temperatures, high-velocity winds, hailstones, and any other weathering you can think of.

These speakers are perfect for homes on the coast as they will repel any saltwater but their signature design are fantastic for contemporary London rooftops and gardens. The metal rust-resistant grille can also be sprayed to suit a render or painted wall.

_{On the left is the square version of the Extreme speaker. The right image is courtesy of Perfect Integration showing the Rectangular speaker.}

Bowers & Wilkins

The AM-1 Bowers & Wilkins are speakers you can trust. B&W is one of the oldest speaker manufacturers in the country. We have seen first hand the AM-1s withstand the worst of English weather conditions.

In the HQ of Bowers & Wilkins on the South Coast, a sole AM-1 sits upon a pole withstanding seawater, wind, heat and snow. It still works.

_{On the left is an AM-1 mounted on the side of a building. The right is showing an AM-1 mounted sideways. AM-1s come in black also.}

These five outdoor speaker systems are some of the top of the line speakers we use in our projects delivering high-quality audio to homes and gardens. In our opinion, each of these works, extremely well outside. However as no two projects are the same, we work with you, to find the perfect match for your project.

To find out more get in touch here.

The Green Smart Home

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change and global warming are affecting us all. Can smart homes be the key to conserving energy? Read on below to find out some ways we can preserve energy in your smart home.

Location Monitoring

Smart homes connect to your mobile which allows your home to know your location. When you are arriving home, it will react by turning the heating on. The smart home will allow you to conserve energy and by not having the heating on at set times, and only be on when you need it.

When your home knows you have left, it will turn off the heating to make sure extra energy is not wasted.

Smart Sensors

By using motion detectors your smart home can detect what part of the house you are in. If you are in the master bedroom the home will react by turning the heating on in that room. whilst making sure other rooms in the home are not heated, saving wasted energy in empty rooms.

Infrared sensors are also integrated into intelligent lighting. Lights will turn off in a room if you come in and then leave within a few minutes, or if there is no activity.

Shading Protection

By closing the shades, blinds and curtains you will be saving energy both in the winter and the summer. Heat transfers easily through windows, inwards and outwards. In the summer when temperatures are high, shades will respond by automatically closing and stopping the transfer of heat from a window into a room (this is called solar gain).

In the winter heat will escape through windows. However, with our blinds and curtains, which are made from an insulated fabric, the transfer of heat is slowed down significantly.

The heat will stay inside the room and slowly dissipate, keeping a room warm without the need for heating from radiators and air conditioning.

Smart Systems

Further energy savings are made when air conditioning and heating systems are integrated into smart home systems. Our systems are intelligent enough to know which device is on: the heating or air conditioning.

If the heating is on in a room the air conditioning will automatically turn off and vice versa. This will stop energy being wasted.

Natural Air

Air conditioning has been used for cooling in homes for a long time. But they waste lots of energy and can prove harmful to your health. Air conditioners recycle air in a room that often contains a lot of carbon dioxide.

Monitoring temperature and CO₂ can be integrated with Smart Window Control. When a room becomes too hot and has a high value of CO₂ then the windows will automatically open.

This lets cooler, oxygen-rich air into a room that brings the temperature down without wasting lots of energy with an air conditioner. Smart Window Control can also be integrated with fire alarm systems. If too much smoke is detected then the window will open letting out dangerous fumes.

Smart water

Sprinkler systems are often seen as a waste of energy and water. Which is a concern in London where we may face water shortages in the next couple of years. But, there are smarter ways to conserve and reuse water.

Homes can capture rainwater from roofs and gardens. This water can then be cleaned through a natural process that produces safe non-potable water. That water can then be redistributed into your sprinkler system for the garden.

This water can also generate high levels of ammonia, which can help plant life grow faster. The same water can also be used for flushing toilets, one of the largest uses of water in a home.

We hope these solutions have opened your eyes about how we can reduce energy usage in your home and keep your home environmentally friendly.

If you'd like to learn more about any of the solutions above - get in touch

Smart Home Reliability

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The question of reliability is often raised when discussing Smart Homes. The horror stories in the news of inexpensive, third rate products convince consumers smart homes are not worth it. However, smart homes that are professionally installed by integrators are reliable. Read on to find out why a professionally installed smart home is miles better.

A QUESTION OF NETWORK

What is the cause of frustration for consumers with smart devices? A bad connection. Connecting speakers, smart TVs, laptops, mobiles, tablets all on WiFi will strain on the average home connection. When we install our smart home system, each device is connected by a hardwired data connection. This ensures that every device is always online, always connected and always working. But how do we ensure the connection is fast enough for our clients? A dedicated leased line provides a private fixed bandwidth data connection with a reliable connection. The issue with standard broadband connections is that you do not own the full bandwidth. That connection is shared with those around you. Lease lines are owned 100% by you, the homeowner.

A hardwired connection to devices and a leased line are the way to secure constant reliable connections if one place, but what if you are on your laptop or mobile and moving around the house where the connection can drop? A single WiFi point will not reach from one side to the other without coming into interference. To combat this, we discreetly install W-Fi access points around the home to that boost the connection everywhere.

These three aspects of networking will provide a secure, fast and reliable connection that our clients never worry about loading a 4K film or streaming music

WORKING OFFLINE

Yes, a network is important but our smart homes do not always need to be connected to the internet. That hardwire connection we mentioned earlier is connected to our Centralised Smart Home System. That Smart Home System is connected to everything in the home, the lights, the security, the audio, video services as well as the building management control. A network connection is needed for streaming services like Spotify, Tidal and Netflix. But everything else needs only to be hardwired. A classic example is Phillips Hue lights, if the internet is down, the lights are useless as you can't connect. In our Smart Homes, we use Lutron an intelligent, hardwired lighting system. If the network connection drops then Lutron will still your lights. The same applies for offline audio and video as tehy are locally stored and not streamed they can still be played.

THE RIGHT HARDWARE

Smart Home Systems are built to last, unlike some smart products which break or become outdated after a couple of years. We install a system that will last for a lifetime and increases the value of a home. We achieve this in three ways: cabling, future-proofing, superior hardware.

Sometimes you don't know what to do with a room, make it a bedroom, a media room, a reading room, there are so many options so you want to be ready for any choice. We help you prepare for a room you might want by running cables to these rooms and discreetly terminating them in architecturally finished panels. If you wanted to add the extra TV that connects to the smart system, then we can install it without ripping the walls apart.

The smart system, often located in the basement or services room, is a neatly built equipment rack that holds all the hardware for audio, video distribution and smart home control. These equipment racks are built to be upgraded, and our clients are always looking to expand and upgrade their systems with more hardware. By building an equipment rack with plug and play features, it becomes effortless to switch out hardware the Smart Home System.

While we strive to build a system that can be upgraded we install products from manufacturers that have superior hardware. Crestron, an automation and integration company, manufacturers the most reliable products on the market. They do this by subjecting every piece of hardware to gruesome testing, as you can see in the video above. Once a product has passed this extreme level of testing they are ready to be installed on-site. We use these manufacturers because we can rely on them to create the best products that will not fail us. Crestron and other companies like it have been around for many years, and their products are not like iPhones which have new releases every year. They are built to last for a very long time.

If you are looking for a reliable Smart Home System that won’t fail you, look no further. Get in contact with us today to discuss your new home or book an appointment to visit our showroom in Belgravia to see Smart Home features in action.

Are smart homes truly reliable?

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Smart Homes are being seen as unreliable more and more. The rise of smart devices in the past few years has led to customer opinion shift across the industry. Often views of smart devices like the Alexa, Google Home, Phillips Hue and Ring Doorbells shape views of the home automation industry.

The issue that smart devices succumb to the most is the connection issue. This is where every device uses the wifi, putting a strain on the connection. The result is low-quality video streaming, video call issues, and longer loading times.

Whilst this is the issue for everyday homes, it is not the same for an automated smart home. To combat wifi issues, devices in homes are hardwired. Good cabling by smart home installers ensure every device receives an equal amount of data without ever dropping in connection.

Smart homes can be reliable as you will see in the video below. David Holmes was a professional stuntman that had an accident on a Harry Potter film. He lost the use of his legs and dexterity in his fingers and hands. It became harder to live his life but with a Crestron home his life he was able to live easier.

The Crestron system allowed David to feel like he was at home and not in a hospital. The integrated Crestron system allowed him to take control of doors and windows. He was able to take control of the Bang & Olufsen audio system and stream films straight to his TV. The intelligent lighting was integrated into Crestron as was the phones so he could pick up the phone from anywhere. He uses his iPad as the main command centre for his entire house.

Crestron builds its products and software to a high quality. Each device is put to the test by subjecting it to extreme temperatures, physical force and software attacks. By pushing their products to the limit they know that they are suitable to be sold used in homes.Watch this second video here to see how Crestron test their products.

Reliability is important and with the right installer and manufacturer behind your new smart home, you will not have to worry about anything.

Smart Home Security Systems

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Security is one of the most important aspects of our smart home systems. For every project, we take a tailored approach and by integrating different security systems.

The final result can be more effective, and make our clients feel safer within their homes.

Read on below to find out some of the ways we integrate security in your smart home.

Surveillance Cameras

Cameras are a primary starting point for any security set up - not only do they give vital evidence should an event occur, but they also act as a deterrent to potential intruders.

Multiple cameras can be installed around the home, with different features to suit the application; and be interconnected with other services - e.g. if movement is detected in a sensitive area, lights turn on, or speakers play a pre-recorded message.

This gives the homeowner the freedom to watch the camera's live feed from any display within their home but also from their phones and tablets anywhere in the world.

Camera footage is kept on-site, safely behind a battery backup in case the power is cut, but can also be uploaded to the cloud so it is kept safe and able to be accessed quickly.

Having cameras integrate into our smart home system gives our clients peace of mind knowing that if there is a break-in their footage is readily available to send to the police without delay.

Door entry

The door entry system allows a homeowner to see who is at the door and communicate with them without having to open the door.

The homeowner can answer the call from their mobile, and simulate the house is occupied even when they're away from home; or where to leave packages/even unlocking the door and allowing them to come in.

Advanced features of this system integrate facial recognition and allow for quick entry to the home which is especially good routine visitors, such as gardeners or cleaners who come and go regularly.

This level of security is a great way of protecting the home as homeowners can interact with everyone from a safe place, and have notifications of the comings and going to the house if they desire.

Sensors

Sensors are a great way of detecting movement around a property.

The sensors that we install are so acutely sensitive that they can detect the difference between a leaf and a person going by a sensor, and stop being a constant nuisance with false alarms.

We can then further integrate into the lighting systems and security systems. When integrating with lighting it is possible to have lights turn on to deter potential intruders.

When it comes to security, windows and doors can automatically lock and cameras can turn to face the area where the sensor has been tripped.

Vibration sensors can also be attached to windows and doors. If an intruder is brazen enough to break in despite any deterrents and breaks a window or door, a sensor is tripped and will notify the local authorities and the homeowner via mobile apps.

Internet security

Whilst protecting against physical attacks is important, there are other ways criminals can get a hold of valuable information, with cybersecurity valued by the UK.Gov website as worth £8.3 billion in 2020¹.

This is primarily carried out through hacking. There is a myriad of ways a hacker can enter into an unsecured system, by guessing simple passwords, entering through out of date software and other connections - such as the cloud, which are often not appropriately secured with domestic products, plus other means (phishing, fraud, etc).

When we install a home network for our clients this is one of the things we advise them to consider, because as high-net-worth individuals, they're at a higher risk. As such advanced firewalls can filter out these unwanted attacks, ensuring our clients and their families can be online safely.

Security is an important part of the smart home. If you want your smart home safe and secure click here to get in contact with us.

1 - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-booming-cyber-security-sector-worth-83-billion

Top 5 Smart Home Myths

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Home automation is sometimes associated with mainstream consumer-based IoT products, which has led to common misconceptions. This often influences customers before they even consider a smart home installation.

Read on to find out about some of the main misconceptions and how in the professional sector, we put our customer's minds at rest.

You have to be a smart home expert

It is true that smart homes are a complex network of hardware and software, which just reinforces the need for a good quality installer; but that doesn't mean you need to have a degree in engineering to understand what is going on inside a smart home.

Thanks to the bespoke customisation within our solutions, complex information can be tailored to the homeowner's preferences and displayed in a simple and clear format.

For example, setting the intruder alarm when you leave the house can automatically close blinds, turn off heating or air conditioning and lock doors.

Compared to the alternative of doing all of those commands independently, what could be simpler than that?

Smart Home Security Is Not Safe

Everyone is concerned with cybersecurity, and yes it can be a concern if a network is not set up properly. An NVI smart home installation includes advanced security configurations within the products, to keep the homeowner's data safe.

Also as our systems do not need to communicate via the cloud there are no security issues from leaving potential back doors open into the homeowner's network.

Physical security is also important. We integrate security systems into your smart control system so that you can access cameras, and door entry feeds from anywhere in the world.

Smart home or smart gimmick?

Many believe that smart homes are gimmicks. Whilst there are some not-so-smart devices like the smart toothbrush. There are useful solutions that can benefit the modern day family.

Door entry systems provide a video feed of who is at your door, to mobiles and tablets. This allows you to communicate directly to visitors from inside the safety of your home.

Intelligent lighting systems can help when the whole family is heading out and lights are left on in several rooms. The integrated lights can be turned off from one button instead of turning every single light switch off, or simulate a random lived in routine while you are out.

Integrated heating can link to phone locations and automatically turn off when the homeowner leaves or when no one is in the home. It can also be integrated with sensors, so heating is on only when someone is in a room.

These automated solutions can save time, energy and money in a home without letting a homeowner worry about the need to remember to action them manually, and the wasted energy when it’s forgotten and left on.

A Smart Home Running On Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is both a blessing and a burden. Even though you can get an internet connection everywhere in your home, you cannot have every smart device running on it. Especially in a luxury home.

For example, 4K streaming consumes a lot of data to show the highest quality image. If it is streamed wirelessly then a poorly designed network would constantly buffer and drop in quality whilst sending over masses of data.

Learn more about the Home Network here

To combat this, structured cabling is installed to TVs, speakers and other devices that need to be connected to the internet. This will ensure that every device has a secure hardwired internet connection.

This way everyone can watch what they want without losing any quality, as the wireless bandwidth is kept free for the devices which need to use it.

The smart home system is already outdated

One of the biggest misconceptions is that a smart home will be outdated within a few months. With new and constant technology on the rise, we can see how this can be a concern.

However, future-proofing is something that we build into a smart home system.

A centralised system will include an equipment rack which contains all of the hardware. In the future when key components do become outdated, they can be easily be swapped out for the latest model.

Cabling is an important aspect of future-proofing. By having foresight over future technologies, the cables we put in the walls will keep the house prepared for the next generation of technology.

We hoped we opened your eyes to the truth of luxury home automation.

Smart home devices like the Google Home and Amazon Alexa, whilst impressive, can be unreliable. Our bespoke systems that are hardwired are more reliable.

Want to Learn more about Smart Homes? Register for our CPD here.

Alexa and the Smart Home System

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

What is the future of Smart Home Automation?

Amazon's Alexa and Google’s Voice Assistant devices have been at the forefront of voice control and home integration for the everyday consumer. They are able to integrate into a variety of devices but the majority of consumers won’t go beyond some basic functions.

This is where Smart Home installers and the bespoke customisation they allow, enable you to take things further. By taking voice control into the realm of smart home automation they have opened new ways to interact with the home.

Simple Smart Home Control

Controlling your home should be simple and easy. A smart home system, like Crestron, already gives you full control over things like: lights, speakers, TVs, projectors, air conditioning and so much more.

Remotes, in-wall touch panels and mobile apps, are the typical ways to access control around the home. However, with Alexa you will be able to speak to your home and take control of any connected service even easier.

Why Alexa works for the Luxury Smart Home.

One of the main reasons Google Voice Assistant, and Alexa exceed over other voice control devices is the ability to programme new commands. Combining this with Crestron integration for home automation, any smart home installation will standout with its added functionality. This gives the home an element of luxury.

For example saying “Alexa, goodnight.” Can activate a pre-configured ‘scene’: the blinds close, lights dim, and heating set to eco mode.

In the video below, you can see how Crestron and Alexa make homes easier to interact with. It certainly did so for David Holmes, a former stuntman living with a disability. Thankfully his smart home keeps him independent.

Alexa goes beyond Amazon's hardware. Alexa voice control can be used with high-quality sound systems like Sonos.

We have incorporated Alexa & Google Voice Assistant into many previous projects, and our Belgravia showroom. Come and experience voice control, just as you would in a real-world setting.

BOOK A VISIT HERE!

Click here to learn about Josh.AI Smart Voice control in the home.

Shading in the Smart Home

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Lutron blinds in an overseas project in S.E. Asia.

Window treatments in smart homes have made a resurgence and with more people preferring to integrate their window treatments into smart home systems. Read on below to find out how we integrate blinds into a smart home system.

Keeping it cool with shades

Shades in homes have other advantages than blocking out light and adding to the aesthetic of a room. During the summer homes experience solar gain. This is where the sun shines into a room and the temperature increases.

This happens because windows are bad insulators that easily transfer heat. Blinds or curtains are a good way of reducing solar gain as they create an air pocket between indoors and outdoors.

By integrating shades, the smart home system can automatically react to direct sunlight or high temperatures and can lower shades.

The opposite is true in the winter, heat escapes through windows. This can be stopped when shades are lowered as they will retain the heat generated from the heating system within a room.

A scene for every occasion

Within a smart home automation systems like ours, shades are connected to the intelligent lighting system. Unlike traditional lighting systems, lights are wired to a central location.

The system is then programmed for control which allows us to set 'scenes'; for example evening, relaxing, or focus. For bedtime, pressing a button on a keypad will turn lights off, and close the blackout blinds.

For a morning scene, shades can slowly rise at the time you've set your phone's alarm for, bringing in natural blue light from the sun and releasing the chemicals in your body which make you wake up.

There is no limit for programming scenes and being able to set scenes effortlessly sets the right mood for any occasion.

Talk to the blinds

Amazon Echo and Google Home have excelled in their smart home devices. Whilst their speakers aren't going to win any hi-fi reference awards (click here to learn more about voice control Integration) their voice control features cannot be matched.

We integrate voice control into our smart home systems so that lights and shades can be controlled this way. For example, you can say "Alexa turn on the lights in the bedroom" for just that to happen.

You can also say "Alexa play a movie in the cinema" where a scene will activate and the lights will dim, blackout blinds will lower to block out light, and a film will play.

Using voice commands makes interacting with a home even simpler, this the ease of use our clients are always looking for.

Smart Shades that look neat

The most infuriating aspect of shades is the misalignment of hembars. The hembar is the bottom of a blind that gives it a uniform look. When they are out of alignment with each other it becomes instantly noticeable and will distract from the exacting details required within high-end interior design.

Misalignment occurs when a motor is not self-correcting. With a regular electrical blind, mechanical parts wear over time this results in corresponding blinds moving at different speeds, and hembar misalignment. However, there is a solution...

IHA - Intelligent Hembar Alignment ensures blinds will never be misaligned due to a self-correcting motor. The motor's speed is measured 500 times per second and any errors in speed are then corrected. This ensures that the blind moves in a smooth consistent motion.

IHA goes one step further as it can be programmed to different sizes of shades in a room with vaulted ceilings and create smooth transitional movement between the shades. Utilising IHA lets shades blend into the background and not be a distracting feature in a room.

pocket it up

In modern new builds or refurbishments, the strive for clean lines can be critical. Rather than seeing the blind in the up position sat above the window, we can design a dedicated ceiling pocket so that the hembar falls from a thin channelled slot in the ceiling. With perfect placement, you won't even notice it's there.

SHEERS and curtains

Sheer and lined curtains are also popular, for total blackout or as dressing for the room. If you have tall windows it can be quite un-elegant tugging at curtain fabrics to get them all the way open or closed.

An electric curtain track eliminates this fuss and allows you to create just the right mood for the room. If a curtain track isn't the right application there's even motorised curtain poles now too, the motor is conveniently hidden behind the curtain stack meaning it's always hidden.

Window treatments come in different sizes and a variety of different options. If you are interested in fitting shades, blinds, or curtains for your new project don’t hesitate to get into contact with us here.

Book a visit to our showroom and view how these systems function first hand by clicking here.

CEDIA Member of Excellence

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

CEDIA has recently launched their Member of Excellence Programme.

This highly anticipated scheme celebrates the highest achieving CEDIA Members, who have shown outstanding commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to clients, investing in continued professional development, technical ability, and serving the community.

At NV Integration we pride ourselves on delivering award winning projects, offering exceptional customer service, in-house education, and serving the design community through CPDs and outreach. CEDIA recognises this, and we are proud to be recognised in this elite tier, of which there are only fourteen companies worldwide, as CEDIA Members of Excellence.

The Sonos Watershed

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Starting from May 2020 legacy products will no longer receive any software updates or new features from Sonos, but they will continue to work (in the meantime). The reason for the caveat, is because if any of the music streaming providers, like Spotify change their 'api' (which allows the two systems to communicate), then without a future update from Sonos to correct that fix, the service will cease to work.

These affected products are listed below.

Bridge
Connect (2011-2015 models)
Connect:Amp (2011-2015 models)
CR200
PLAY:5 (Gen1)
ZP80
ZP90
ZP100
ZP120

Sonos claim this is because the hardware has been taken to its limit and will not be able to handle the requirements of future software updates. So, they will continue to work, just without any new features or updates. Sonos' CEO has vowed to make sure these legacy products are kept up to date though, with security patches and bug fixes so they cannot be compromised.

Existing Sonos systems need to have up to date software across all devices. So, if there is a mixture of legacy and new products in your system, Sonos is working on way to split your system so that they will work together.

We don't have a crystal ball, but it seems very likely Sonos are planning some big announcements for 2020, and this recent negative news paves the way for some more positive changes. Rumours include a new app, and a potential high-res music offering, to take on the likes or Roon, and Bluesound. Those who like to keep their tech up to date will certainly be swayed (or should we say coerced!) into upgrading if and when those announcements do come.

To soften the blow, anyone with legacy devices will earn 30% off the cost of upgrading to new equipment, however the old device will be turned into an expensive paperweight - which has received very bad press in the media, especially in these climate crisis times. To combat this, NVI are e-cycling any old Sonos product which is upgraded.

If you'd like to know more about keeping your Sonos system up to date with the latest features, updates and models contact us, we'd be happy to help.

If you're just getting into Sonos, and would like to see a demonstration you can book an appointment at our showroom here.

Update: 24/01/20 - an email from the Sonos CEO:

"We heard you. We did not get this right from the start. My apologies for that and I wanted to personally assure you of the path forward:First, rest assured that come May, when we end new software updates for our legacy products, they will continue to work just as they do today. We are not bricking them, we are not forcing them into obsolescence, and we are not taking anything away. Many of you have invested heavily in your Sonos systems, and we intend to honour that investment for as long as possible. Whilst legacy Sonos products won’t get new software features, we pledge to keep them updated with bug fixes and security patches for as long as possible. If we run into something core to the experience that can’t be addressed, we’ll work to offer an alternative solution and let you know about any changes you’ll see in your experience.Secondly, we heard you on the issue of legacy products and modern products not being able to coexist in your home. We are working on a way to split your system so that modern products work together and get the latest features, whilst legacy products work together and remain in their current state. We’re finalising details on this plan and will share more in the coming weeks.Whilst we have a lot of great products and features in the pipeline, we want our customers to upgrade to our latest and greatest products when they’re excited by what the new products offer, not because they feel forced to do so. That’s the intent of the Trade Up programme we launched for our loyal customers.Thank you for being a Sonos customer. Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. I hope that you’ll forgive our misstep and let us earn back your trust. Without you, Sonos wouldn't exist and we’ll work harder than ever to earn your loyalty every single day.If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Sincerely,PatrickPatrick SpenceCEO, Sonos"

Designer TV Mounts

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

SERVICE MULTIPLE DISPLAYS QUICKLY

Speed is a critical component of customer service offered by professional integrators and the ability to perform servicing and upgrades at a location quickly is a great way to keep clients happy. By removing the need to unmount the display from the wall it's now simple to gain access to the rear of a display for servicing and upgrades. Rather than sending two service engineers to site, you can send them to two separate clients. You've just doubled your efficiency and can offer better service to more customers. You also have the flexibility to send two team members to site for half the time to service hospitality venues, hotels and MDU's.

SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE YOUR MOUNTING GAP

Creating a perfect transition between a display and its' surrounding cabinetry is not possible with a flat bracket as it requires vertical space to hook the display to the bracket. Manual articulating display mounts can be pulled away from the wall to be removed, meaning they can be mounted within a recess without a surrounding gap. This enables integrators to create cabinetry which perfectly surrounds the display.

WORK ON LARGE DISPLAYS WITH EASE

Clients who demand quality will often look to large format displays to offer cinema-like experiences in all rooms of the home, not just the home theatre. Panels upwards of 100" can be particularly tricky to perform servicing and upgrades to because of their size and weight. However, a smooth articulating bracket enables an integrator to manoeuvre a display with a single finger. The ability to access the rear of a display of this size and weight without removing the panel from the wall significantly reduces the risk of damage. The upfront cost of a professional display mount is significantly less than the loss of trust from a client because their display was damaged during a service call.

OFFER CLIENTS THE ABILITY TO MOVE THEIR DISPLAY

In addition to the servicing and upgrade flexibility offered by manual servicing mounts, they can also offer benefits to the client. Large rooms can have multiple seating areas making watching tv a tricky task with glare and reflections from windows or interior lighting. The client can also manipulate the display with ease which is ideal when a room has multiple seating arrangements available.

Read more about concealing home technology in this article The Art of Hidden Technology

*Please note as this is a guest post, not all images are our own.

How to hide a bedroom TV

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

We've got several unique ways to mount displays in bedrooms so they're only there when you need them to be.

Up and away

Ceiling space is an often overlooked area to conceal a display but is often an ideal location to house a display when it's not in use.

Our range of Ceiling Hinge mechanisms allows you to gain a vast amount of wall and floor space which is ideal in a bedroom where you might want to dedicate that space to a dresser, or large mirror instead.

Many highrise apartments feature larger windows and breath-taking views, so there is often less wall space on which a display can be mounted. By installing the display into the ceiling you get to keep your view and have the comfort of watching TV in bed at a moments notice.

No monsters under here

An under-bed solution is also a novel alternative way to save space in a bedroom.

The display is safely stored inside the bed frame and can be summoned by the owner to advance from under the bed and hinge up to face the user.

The height adjusting arm of this mechanism can be preset to the perfect height for the client and there are also models which can rotate to face up to 6 preset locations (perfect if you like to watch TV while getting ready to go out.

We've also developed an electronic drop and roll flap which completely conceals the mechanism so that it's hidden when not in use.

tucked away

It's not always a necessity to completely conceal a display in a home. Instead, the owner might want to angle their display to watch it from multiple positions within the bedroom.

A PSE90 can move a display up to 90° to face the user while they're sitting in bed. The TV sits flush against the wall when you're not watching it so that your views aren't obstructed.

Something afoot

This system is flexible in its' design and is capable of moving incredibly large and heavy objects.

Moving heavy materials, such as granite or marble is now simpler to achieve as the power output of the servo motors is much higher than traditional motors.

Conceal and reveal

Sliding panels are one of the coolest ways to hide a display in a bedroom and is one of our most popular solutions because of it's stealth-factor.

The sliding front panel can be fitted with a custom fascia to match the surrounding joinery so that the mechanism blends seamlessly into any space.

At the users' command the panel slides up into the wall and the display advances forward to sit flush with the surrounding cabinetry. This ensures that the mechanism is hidden from view when the user chooses to watch TV. Once the user has finished watching TV it can be completely hidden from view so the room maintains its' original aesthetic.

Artistic License

Moving art can completely conceal a display behind a canvas or framed print if wall space is at a premium and you want to include both items in your bedroom.

This solution cleverly avoids having to keep your display on view at all times, as it can be unsightly when not in use. Instead, a single or split panel canvas print can glide in front of the display to completely hide it from view.

Our team are able to create bespoke canvas prints using client images or artwork in-house that are crafted to perfectly match with our mechanisms.

Click here to visit the Future Automation site and learn more about their brackets and wall mounts.

Click here to book a visit to our showroom to view Future Automation brackets and wall mounts in action!

*Please note as this is a guest post by a third party, not all images are our own.

Top 4 Benefits of Smart Homes

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

There are many benefits to having a Smart Home. Here are the top 4 benefits!

Power Management:

A smart home automation system will help you cut down on the cost of your energy bills. Smart home systems can monitor heating, air conditioning, as well as control lighting and other devices in that, have high power consumption. Lighting, for example, has a high power consumption. With a smart home you are able to monitor which lights are on and off, even if you are outside of the house. The smart home will have control over the lights so you can turn them all off at once and save the energy, as opposed if they were left on and you didn’t know.

Convenience

Simplicity, ease of use and time saving are what drives technology forward in the service of people. We are constantly striving to find ways to make our everyday life simpler and easier to navigate and with a smart home automation system this instantly becomes a reality. The system connects to audio, video, lighting, HVAC, security all through a network. This allows you to be connected to everything from one place, an app, a remote, a touch panel, or a voice-controlled speaker. By being connected you can easily turn on all the lights, set any movie to any TV, play music to any speaker in the home, view the security camera anywhere in the world and even turn off all your heating at once. Convenience comes through connectivity.

Secure Homes

Smart Home systems allow you to have more advanced security in your home. The latest state of art door entry systems has microphones and cameras that connect to the central control system that we mentioned earlier. This allows you to view the feed on the door entry on any device, TV, mobile, tablet and then be able to communicate to the person outside. Allowing them to come inside or telling them to leave your property. View our full breakdown on smart security here.

Always online

Each of our smart homes has a central controller in the basement of the house that is connected to everything, the internet, the lighting the security system and heating. Everything is connected together but what happens when power is cut. A normal house all services will switch off, no more wifi, no more control over lighting. But when you have a smart home installed by an integrator the central system has a power back up that supports all of the equipment in the home. Having this power back up is the best solution in your home.

Latest smart home tech in 2020

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

At NV Integration we work with trusted partners such as Creston, & Lutron to provide our clients with the best experience.

Both of these companies embody the ethos of a Luxury Smart Home - by giving unrivalled quality and reliability, and therefore making customers for life.

However, we seldom come across new products that also personify this idea of luxury, but we have found 3 new products that we love to use in our installations and one new product that could become much more common in the next couple of years.

More control

Thermostats are often an afterthought in a home, resulting in a cheap white plastic device on the wall.

However, with the Zentium thermostat from Polar Bear Design, it is possible to have a simple yet sleek looking thermostat.

Zentium integrates completely into BMS, HVAC, and lighting systems.

A room in a smart home will typically have intelligent lighting as well as heating, and for bedrooms air conditioning too. Normally these are controlled separately but can be combined into one faceplate with the Zentium Thermostat.

It utilises a digital crown which doubles as a multi-function button that controls temperature, but it can be programmed to do much more.

Dimming lights, air-cons fan-speed, volume for music, etc can also be controlled. Heating zones can also be defined and controlled from the thermostat.

Two zones on the same floor can be controlled by the same panel allowing for simpler control without overpowering a space with control panels.

Alexa away

Amazon's Alexa gives homeowners voice control in the home as it can integrate directly with our smart home control systems to cover: audio, video, lighting, blinds and much more. However, the downside of using Alexa is the trailing wires and bulky plugs around the home.

By using a wall dock we can integrate the voice-controlled speaker into the wall, or fix it underneath a kitchen cupboard or joinery - keeping Alexa out of sight, and leaving countertops and floors free from loose wires.

A different look

Almost every smart home installation by NVI has a touch panel that gives the homeowner access to the services in their home.

However, when we are partnered with architects and interior designers the white or black screen bezel that is often used is not appealing and detracts quickly from the interior design.

In these cases we can supply these third party fascias to cover the surround of the touchscreens, allowing the metal finish to match those in the rest of the house, giving the option of a more refined faceplate that compliments the interior aesthetic.

Instead of the black bezel, the touch panel can be finished with a metal faceplate that matches the other light switches and power outlets in the home.

A new artificial assistant

Josh.ai is not available in the UK, yet. Nevertheless, we thought we would mention this product as it could be the next step in smart home voice control.

We have seen Alexa, Google Home and Siri integrate with smart home automation systems like Control4 and Crestron.

However, control on these consumer devices can be quite limiting, needing to say a scripted text to get the command you want.

This is where Josh.ai comes in as a new artificial assistant that has been built for the luxury smart home industry. By constantly learning about the way homeowners interact within the home Josh.ai can learn how they like things, such as blinds and lights as well as other routines that are consistently followed.

However, Josh.ai can go even further by understanding where you are and giving you information about your home.

For example, if you leave the house and lights are left on, music is playing and the heating is on, the homeowner will be notified and they can remotely turn these off.

Having an artificial assistant alert you to these things in the home is an excellent way of cutting down on energy waste and truly changes your home into a smart home that reacts to your presence.

Check out this video of Josh.ai in action!

We like using these products in our installations and if you would like these superior products in your home as well contact us here to book an appointment at our showroom.

Top tips for cinema design

Tue, 12 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Designing a home theatre room? Not sure where to begin?

For designers outside of the AV world home cinemas and media rooms can be quite a challenge to get right, but not to worry we are here to help you get every part right before you call your AV partner.

Read our top tips for cinema design.

LIGHTING

Lighting for cinema rooms adheres to a different set of rules than the rest of the house. Lighting in a cinema or media room has to be warm and not powerfully bright.

Once the film is over the lights should not instantly come back on at full. The light levels should raise slowly, starting with any indirect light sources, such as LED coffers, so that the viewer's eyes can re-adjust.

Our Smart Home installs are fitted out with smart lighting systems which can do so much more than regular lights.

The advantage of smart lighting is that it can integrate with other services, such as audio-video systems. When you want to watch a film, the lights should dim-to-off as the projector turns on, allowing the viewer’s eyes to adjust to the darkness and view the film with the best possible image.

If the phone rings or you need to leave the room, pausing the movie can automatically raise low-level lighting, illuminating a path to guide you safely out of the room.

The smart lighting system can also have control over shades and curtains. In some of our central London homes where space is a premium dual-purpose cinema/media rooms can be transformed from a living space, into a cinematic environment. This is achieved by treating the natural light (blinds and curtains) and artificial light (luminaries) at the touch of a button.

These factors set the tone and feel of the room so that the movie is enjoyed without degradation to the image on-screen; and so that the viewer forgets their surroundings, allowing them to become immersed in the action.

Having the right lighting design, which doesn't turn the viewers off to the film or affect the image quality is key; coupling that with the right 'scenes' thanks to the smart lighting system makes it a breeze to pick the right mood and feel for the moment during movie night.

Learn more about Smart Lighting here.

SEATING & Viewing angles

In a home cinema, the number of seats and placement is based on calculations around the room size, and screen size.

Depending on how large a room is we can calculate how many people can be comfortably seated. The size of the screen allows us to find the ideal viewing distance = how far back the viewer should sit.

Not only is the distance from the screen critical, but how centralised the viewer should sit in the room is important too, so that you don't strain your neck viewing the screen off axis. The image quality can also be compromised if you're perpendicular to the screen.

The same is true for the vertical viewing angle, which is how far up or down you need to look to see the screen...and yes that means the TV over the mantelpiece is out of the question.

For home cinemas distance is crucial as the image can be quite large. However, for media rooms with TVs the distance the viewer sits from the TV can vary for optimum viewing.

For 4K televisions, the minimum distance from the screen is 1-1.5 x the screen height of the TV.

For 1080p displays, the minimum distance is 2-2.5 x screen height of the TV.

The increased distance for 1080p displays are so you maintain the quality of the image whilst for 4K, which twice as detailed as 1080p, you can sit closer to maintain quality.

But what the viewer is sitting on is just as important.

Comfort is king when it comes to cinema seating as viewers will be sitting for 2-3 hours watching a film, you must be comfortable otherwise it won't be an enjoyable experience. A perfectly balanced, ergonomic, chair with a headrest that reclines is the ultimate seat to complete the cinematic experience.

COLOUR

The colour of the walls and ceiling is important when designing a home cinema. As the room is submerged into darkness you would think any colours would be fine. However, projectors emit a huge amount of light, and this light hitting the screen fabric creates the image and reflecting back into the room. This light will reflect off other bright surfaces too and can illuminate the room when the walls are also reflecting light. This is also why mirrors are not recommended in a cinema room.

Think of it just like wearing clothes when the sun is out. White clothes reflect light energy, whilst black clothes will absorb light energy.

So, darker, neutral, matte colours in this space work well as the walls won't reflect any light. Many of our home cinemas incorporate curtains as they are aesthetically pleasing, and act as an acoustic treatment that will also catch and reduced reflected sounds.

HOME CINEMA OR MEDIA ROOM

A lot of people think that a Home Cinema Room and a Media Room are one and the same when in reality they are different. Yes, in both spaces you can watch films and TV shows with high-quality audio-video, but beyond that things change massively.

A cinema room is a space that is purpose built for viewing. Everything in that room is specifically designed to maximise the viewing experience with clear, crisp audio and video. While a media room can be quite a flexible space that doesn’t have as many restrictions.

Home cinemas need to have a variety of aspects to complete the cinematic experience. Here are some top tips of what to consider first:

Speakers placed in exact locations: Dolby Atmos technology allows sounds to move around the room with amazing detail, but the speaker placement is key to performance.
Acoustic treatments on the walls and ceilings: unwanted or reflected sounds produce negative noise, clean these up with absorption, diffusion, and bass trap panels in the right places.
Good-quality seating accurately placed in a room, keep in mind the chairs may need power.
A projector or a very high-quality display. Key things to consider are the brightness of the projector (this is called Lumens) and how large the screen is. A projector which isn't bright enough, but still has the image scanning over a large screen will compound the issue and make the picture look flat.
Minimal or no natural light in a room.
The room should be rectangular in shape to provide the best cinematic experience. Square rooms are great for one seat viewing experiences.

A media room, on the other hand, is more flexible. Speakers can be high-quality but also hidden in-wall or in-ceiling with a wide dispersion so placement isn’t so restrictive. OLED TVs, as opposed to a projector, will not be affected by glare from windows but a projector needs darkness to work perfectly. Furniture can be open instead of rows of seats which is great for viewing with a large group, or watching sports.

Whilst media rooms offer more flexibility, a home cinema can offer a cinematic experience like no other. Always bear in mind that the guidance above will have specific calculations based on things like the dimensions of the room, and construction. Ultimately working with a specialist to design your home cinema room will give the best results.

Check out some of the Home Cinemas we have installed:

Siam Super Cinema

Highlands Estate

Marvel Cinema

Check out some of the Media Rooms we have installed:

Lennox Luxury Home

Kensington Terrace

Siam Smart House

Are you thinking about Home Cinema or Media Room for your next project? Contact us today.

New Sonos products

Thu, 07 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Sonos have released new products and apps, such as the Arc, Sub, Five and the new Sonos App S2. Read on below to read all about their latest update.

The new Soundbar

The Arc, an update to the Playbar is the answer to the premium soundbar in the age of high-quality audio. The Arc is much sleeker and has much-improved hardware and software compared to its predecessor.

The biggest change is that this is the first speaker from Sonos that offers Dolby Atmos support for 3D soundscapes and all-encompassing audio.

The new Arc is 114cm long, making it just narrower than a 55" TV. This larger size compared to its predecessor allowed Sonos to pack more hardware into it.

Internally there are 3 tweeters and 8 elliptical woofers

2 for left and right
2 for the centre
2 for surround left and right
2 above

Furthermore, the Arc like other Sonos speakers uses TruePlay to dynamically tune the speaker for a room but unlike other Sonos products, the Arc comes with upward-facing speakers that take into account ceiling height.

This is all used to optimise the sound for the room. The Sonos Beam, the much cheaper alternative has a similar build but the Arc has more power behind it giving more clarity and richer bass and can reach greater distances.

This will just continue to improve the surround sound in a room. It also comes with virtual assistants from Google and Amazon as well as far-field microphones so you talk to it at the comfort of the sofa.

A new Sub & speaker

The other updates Sonos released come in the form of a new sub and speaker. The Sonos sub has been updated, externally and internally. With a new white finish, it sits better in luxury properties than it’s black box counterpart.

The Play:5 now just called Five also comes in white. The new speaker and sub are major updates internally, with better memory and processing power to handle the new S2 app that Sonos is releasing.

The new app

Sonos caused quite a stir earlier in the year when they announced they were bricking old devices and stopping support for much older devices. Click here for the whole story. They have since backtracked and will continue to support but no longer provide updates for older devices.

They are now releasing a new app the S2 which will take control of the new devices. The app on everyone’s phones will be changed to “Sonos S1 Controller” and the new app will be named “Sonos”. They will be similar in design but the S2 has a lot more packed into it.

The S2 allows for more bandwidth which means that Sonos speakers will be able to receive higher quality audio from streaming services like Tidal. The new app also allows access to more features like Sonos Radio a new version of Tune.In radio with thousands of new stations as well as the option to listen to stations curated by artists and musicians. The app will be released on June 8th while the Arc and new products are available now.

The S2 allows for another system of Sonos devices in the home. So, Sonos is giving you the option for three types of systems.

Complete legacy devices
Combination of legacy devices and devices released after 2015
Devices that are supported only by the S2 app.

For clarity, these are the products that are supported on the new S2 app.

If you are looking to upgrade any Sonos devices in your home, to get the latest products or to keep the system compatible with the new S2 app contact us here to get 30% off your upgrades.

Smart Home Infrastructure

Mon, 18 May 2020 00:00:00 +0000

It’s official – an English persons home really IS their castle. Researchers who carried out a detailed study found out that one third feel "incredibly proud" of their homes, with half admitting they regularly spend hours ensuring it is beautifully presented.

Therefore the planning for those fortunate enough to be building a new home, or having extensive refurbishments would make total sense - to ensure they get the technology side of things covered, at the appropriate time in the project.

This 'smart home planning' can be a challenge, for starters we don't have a crystal ball for the future, but that's just what is needed to safeguard the home for the next 10 years against future technologies; no-one wants to be in a situation of running fresh cables after the house is finished.

Thankfully there are guidelines you can follow to make it more manageable, efficient and cost-effective. Having the right infrastructure in place will benefit the project, by safeguarding for a variety of home technology services, increase the value of the property, streamline the construction process, and make sure costs and time do not get out of hand.

Read some of the advantages of getting the infrastructure right for smart homes, and download this free Smart Home Infrastructure Guidelines article below, set out from CEDIA the leading industry body.

Download Smart Home Infrastructure Recommended Guidelines

First fix

First fix is an important phase of construction. This is when all the internal services for plumbers, electricians and structural works behind the walls are to be completed. After first fix, the walls are closed and plastered.

Smart home technology needs a variety of cables for different services in the home. Cables for each service run behind walls, from each room to a central location - this is called star wiring. Without the correct cables, the functionality may not meet the homeowners desired brief.

Top tip: don't plan for the cables you need when the house is complete, plan for the cables you might need in ten years time. For example, copper Cat6 cabling is normally used now, but fibre optic cables will soon overtake them due to the added headroom that they can transmit down cables which are a fraction of the size.

Want to learn more about first fix? Register for our CPD.

Aesthetics

The final aesthetic of the home is arguably one of the most important aspects of design. When you are involving smart home technology, the design teams must consider how each piece of equipment is displayed in each room, and how those devices connect to power, the internet, and each other.

Within a smart home, equipment sends audio, video, data, and control commands around the home. This equipment and commands are all managed by a brain (called a processor) in a central location. Cables that are hidden behind walls are run to these devices. During first fix, the home technology company will supply the correct cables and drawings for providing each service in each room.

For example, a TV may need Cat6, coaxial, and fibre-optic cables for different purposes. For example to receive high-quality 4K content direct from the internet, or to access to a Sky or Virgin box which is elsewhere in the house. It would look unsightly if all of these cables were trailing out of the TV to set-top boxes and alike.

So, having everything centralised, with the cabling inside the walls removes as much equipment from the room as possible, along with the trailing wires. Leaving the décor of a room intact without any distracting features.

The image below is a great example of a localised system (on the left) and a centralised system (on the right) which only requires the TV and speakers on-show in the room.

A SOLID BACKBONE

Incoming services are an important aspect in luxury residential properties. It is very unlikely a single broadband router will provide wireless coverage for the entire house, provide a strong connection, and stream constant high-quality content to devices all at the same time on Wi-Fi. There will inevitably be areas where the signal would diminish, resulting in negative effects like slow loading and buffering.

A good integration company can survey the property, identify the locations where the signal is lacking and can boost it by adding wireless access points in strategic locations. These WAPs will be hardwired back to the centralised location via data cabling, ensuring the speed and performance for each area of the house.

A hardwired cable provides a constant and stronger internet connection. This is also, why devices are connected with hardwired connections so they don’t end up sharing the wireless bandwidth with solely wireless devices, like phones and tablets. Other services for telephones, cable TV and satellite all should be considered and routed to the central system.

At first fix, the infrastructure for these services needs to be put into the property so that your integrator can commission and get those services online at completion. By having a structured wiring infrastructure in place, this will guarantee the performance for all smart devices, ensuring the connection and keeping things online.

Future planning

Your home is your castle. We never know what the future holds. Many families are looking for a bigger space, planning for new arrivals or they are looking to upgrade a current property to sell it on. So, it is imperative that the property is ready for future applications.

More often than not rooms will get transformed, a reception room can become a media room, a bedroom can turn into an office space and the garden could end up as an outdoor cabin for a home office. Regardless of the fate of a room, it is better to be prepared.

When cables are installed they are neatly terminated to a faceplate which can be used for later use. This allows for more devices to be added to that room without destroying walls and creating trailing wires.

For example, after project completion, if you decided to hang a TV in the lounge the cables would already exist in the room. They would be able to hang that TV and connect it directly to their Smart Home system to stream Netflix and connect to a Sky/Virgin set-top box without calling the builders in.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PARTNER

Finally, and perhaps the biggest issue when it comes to planning your next smart home - deciding who to work with for your home technology?

Question: How do you identify a home technology company with an upstanding reputation, solid design and installation experience, world-class expertise, and a long list of happy clients?

Answer: The answer is simple - CEDIA, the certifying body for the home technology industry. Any company can become CEDIA certified, and this is a great place to start, but with over 3,700 members in the UK, you might need to narrow it down a bit further.

Thankfully in 2019, CEDIA launched their Member of Excellence programme to help professionals and end clients do just this. Only those that exhibit dedication to continuing education, customer service, and community outreach, as well as a record of award-winning craftsmanship and dedication to advanced industry certifications, are bestowed this singular title.

To date, there are only 14 Members of Excellence in the world.

CEDIA Member of Excellence

We think the Member of Excellence programme is a brilliant way for clients to have more reassurance and peace of mind when engaging with companies who provide home technology services and CEDIA is a great place to start out when conducting research for your project. Any individual or company, no matter the size, can apply to be a Member of Excellence, as long as they meet the standards within the criteria.

If you are designing a smart home then downloading the industry guidelines for “Smart Home Infrastructure Recommended Guidelines” from CEDIA below is a good first step in bringing smart home technology to your next project. The second step would be to get in touch with a CEDIA member company that best fits for you and your project.

DOWNLOAD SMART HOME INFRASTRUCTURE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES

Crestron vs Control4

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

There are two Smart Home systems that we use at NV Integration - by purchasing the necessary hardware and software, and then customising them to each project: Crestron and Control4.

Both systems are capable of carrying out the Smart Home functions you are aware of: lighting control, high-quality audio and video streaming, security integration and bespoke integrations with third party devices. However these Smart Home systems can go far beyond these simple functions.

Read on below to learn about each system, and which one might stand out for your next home or project.

Interface & Ease of Use

Control4: The way that Control4 looks and feels is standard across all devices, whether it is a touchscreen, tablet, or mobile app. The interface has been purposely designed for ease of use, and speed of deployment. With simple navigation to commands, and a bright interface. Homeowners will be able to use this system intuitively without the need for prior training.

However, you cannot customise this interface. You will not be able to change layouts, icons or customise the home page with buttons for a specific request or command that is not within the template.

Crestron: For Creston systems there are differing systems that we can use, depending on the size and scope of the project: Crestron Custom, and Crestron Home.

Crestron Custom is a fully bespoke system where the interface is built from scratch for each project by our in-house team. This means the interface will be able to display as much or as little information as you want it too - making it tailor made for the clients preferences. At NV Integration we have Crestron templates we have refined for the best user experience in residential homes, and can offer varying styles to suit.

_{Left: Crestron Home Interface | Right: Control4 Interface}

Crestron Home is a new operating system for small to mid-sized high-end residential. Their interface resembles iOS in design and experience. With a smooth, sleek layout, it will easily blend into the background of a home with luxury interior design. The look and feel of the layout is not bespoke, making it more constricted in this area, but considerably faster and cheaper to program and commission because of it.

Creston Home is a relatively new product to the market. This means that the third party integration possibilities are currently more limited, albeit expanding quickly; and you may find that restricts the possibilities of using Crestron Home, or just having more limited choices over what and how you integrate it with other systems.

Control4's interface and controls can be customised to an extent. Similar to Apple’s iOS there are set commands and control over devices, with varying degrees of customisation for third party devices. Control4 have heavily invested in integrating 3rd party devices, with a large library of drivers to enable integration with the other systems in the home - such as Nest or Heatmiser heating systems.

Creston Custom, as we mentioned earlier, is a fully customisable system. So every layout, colour, fonts, and icons can be changed. But this also means that every interaction between devices can be programmed to work more efficiently - making the integration possibilities limitless. As we have installed more and more Crestron Custom systems we have found what works and doesn’t, and have refined our user experience for homeowners.

As Crestron is a programmable system, we are able to accommodate your specific requests. For example, a morning scene can consist of: shades opening, the TV will turn on to a news channel at a set volume, ventilation brings fresh air into a room, and tuneable lighting will emit a colour tone similar to the early morning sun, which tells your body to awake.

Furthermore, Crestron Custom has scalability built-in. Whether your home is a small apartment in Central London or a vast manor in the home-counties. Crestron Custom will work for any size home and with more agility thanks for the bespoke layouts, compared to Control4.

Creston Home sits in the middle between a completely customisable system, and a set system like Control4. There is customisation in Crestron Home as well as programmable features to give homeowners a unique tailored home experience.

3rd Party Integration

Control4 has invested heavily in integrating third party products and can integrate with thousands of products and systems from companies like Google, Sonos, Lutron, Amazon, and KNX. For these products, to work there are drivers which allow for the devices to communicate with each other.

Crestron Custom, the smarter the device is the more control Crestron can have over it. As Crestron requires a programmer, devices are coded together to work seamlessly together - and the only limitation is really the limitation of the device that Crestron is integrating with. For example imagine a simple doorbell that rings, compared to a full colour video entry system with audio, door release, and notifications.

Out of the two systems, Crestron has a clear advantage as more control over devices can simply be programmed, and presented in a way which is tailored to the device - i.e. a motorised blind or curtain will appear completely different on a page in a way that is intuitive to the user, compared to a lighting circuit.

_{Left: Control4 & Alexa | Right: Crestron & Sonos One with Artificial Assistant Alexa/Google Home}

Click here to Learn how Alexa and Crestron work together

Security

Both systems are able to integrate with security systems and function very well. Being able to integrate into cameras with live feeds, door and gate entry as well as perimeter sensors and alarms. Control4 has an edge here by offering a larger range of door systems that they can communicate with, but the most reliable offerings work with both.

Control4 have a security system built into their operating system so that it can be set-up quickly, and accessed easily. They have spent a lot of effort making sure the security interface is simple and intuitive so homeowners can access security feeds as quickly as possible, via a secure cloud connection, without having to first access a VPN.

_{Control4 Security Interface and Door Entry Solution}

Tabletop, in-wall touch screens and mobile apps also function as door entry systems allowing homeowners to control and interact with people at their front door from anywhere.

Similarly, Crestron offers a security system that integrates directly with security systems. Crestron Home and the traditional Crestron system both can be programmed with a variety of devices, such as cameras door entry, sensors and alarms to provide a robust and reliable system of security - for example, displaying images from the CCTV cameras on TV screens when the doorbell rings.

_{Crestron Home Security Interface with 2N Door Entry Solution}

HVAC & BMS

Heating Ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) are essential parts of the home to create a comfortable environment for homeowners. Crestron and Control4 can both integrate with HVAC systems. KNX is a scalable building management system that NV Integration use for controlling HVAC; it unifies all of the different heating and cooling sources in the home, and allows us to display that information in a consistent way for each room.

As KNX is a purpose built building management system, it allows more control than if Crestron or Control4 were to integrate directly with the heating or cooling systems, and provides a clean line of demarkation for future servicing and maintenance.

Both smart home systems can communicate with KNX for the most common commands: such as reading or setting room temperatures, or the mode of climate between heating and cooling.

For this section the points must go to Crestron however, because should the homeowner want to add any function over and above Control4's limitations - for example a button to turn on or off the hot water then this is not easily achievable within Control4, due to their fixed layout.

_{Left: Control4 Interface for HVAC | Right: Crestron Interface for HVAC}

How big can you go?

Control4 and Crestron are more than just software. They require hardware so that devices like TVs, speakers and lighting can connect and communicate together. This hardware is stored in a central location and connects to every device in the home that needs to be controlled by a smart home operating system.

Generally the larger the home the more equipment you need to control all the devices. For example, an apartment in London may only have a couple of rooms which have TVs, speakers and Wi-Fi access points. While a Manor House may have as many as 50 rooms with the same devices, therefore it would require more equipment to connect and control those devices together.

Crestron was initially built as an enterprise solution for large companies, so scaling for homes isn’t an issue and requires the same level of hardware to handle the variety of equipment in the home. Control4, have really targeted themselves at a volume market, selling a handful of devices, to a wider base that can afford the smaller outlay - so when it comes to the larger projects, we generally see Crestron as the go-to.

Left: Palatial Penthouse | Right: Siam Smart House

Hardware

On the point of hardware Crestron and Control4 manufacture their own equipment in-house - making compatibility and control guaranteed. Control4 has recently merged with SnapAV, which in the coming years will give them an enormous arsenal of hardware to use as well as more manufacturing capabilities.

However, Crestron which has been around for over 50 years has a dedicated manufacturing team that puts all of their products through rigorous testing. Extreme heating and cooling, drop and stress testing, overloading software. They are constantly updating their product lines, and remain the industry leader in 'first to market' innovation.

On average hardware fails are due to improper installation, lack of planned servicing, or useable product lifecycle expiration. This lifecycle is one of the greatest smart home questions, and varies from device to device. For example an in-ceiling speaker would be good to last 15+ years, however a flatscreen TV would likely be replaced more frequently as the technology advances.

Left: Palatial Penthouse | Right: Kensington Terrace

Lighting

Smart Lighting is the most requested feature of the smart home. It is now one of the top 3 smart technologies consumers own, and since 2015 the number of consumers who have bought smart lighting has increased by 40%.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SMART LIGHTING HERE

At NV Iintegration we can work with both Crestron and Control4’s lighting solutions. Both are very powerful and add value compared to a simple light switch, however frequently we prefer to use a Lutron HomeWorks lighting control system, for this part of the scope.

One of the biggest reasons we like Lutron is the engineering quality - and this shows in their reliability, and the quality of their keypads. However a well designed lighting control system can do so much more with lighting - and whichever system you choose it will flawlessly integrate with Control4, and Crestron so it can be displayed and operated from touchscreens and mobile devices.

Lutron goes beyond just controlling lighting and can take control of window treatments, like blinds, shades and curtains. They have a huge range of luxury fabrics that to suit the interior scheme.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SMART WINDOW TREATMENTS HERE

Left: Lennox Luxury | Right: Palatial Penthouse

Conclusion

Both Crestron and Control4 will do the essentials in your home; controlling media, security, lighting and HVAC systems. Control4 boasts a more basic and simple interface with limited customisation; while Crestron has a more powerful system that allows for bespoke ground up customisation and integration with any device.

If you are satisfied with a Smart Home that does the basics, then Control4 may be right for you. However, if you are looking for a tailored solution then we feel that Crestron Custom or Crestron Home is the best system to take control of your smart home needs.

The most important take-away from this article is that our experienced sales consultants are here to help you decide which smart home is right for you. Get in touch and start the discussion in developing your smart home journey with us.

What is Intelligent Lighting Control

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Artificial lighting has long been an integral part of our lives and as such, so has lighting control. However, as our understanding of light reproduction has evolved, so to have the number of options available. It is no longer only a case of On, Off or Dim. We now have the ability to fine tune and manipulate artificial light, creating specific environments in our homes to suit our mood or certain activities throughout the day. Whether it may be dramatic lighting for entertaining guests, or soft warm lighting to create a sense of calm before bed. All is possible at the touch of a button with Intelligent Lighting Control.

Read on to learn more about how lighting control can improve your wellbeing.

SIMPLE LIGHTING SYSTEMS

A traditional lighting setup is wired in a relatively simply way. The room will typically have a light switch or dimmer which is connected to all light fittings in that room.

The image above demonstrates a simple lighting setup; with all lights wired to a local switch.

Intelligent Lighting Systems are typically star-wired, meaning all cables run back to a central location instead of to local switches in each room.

In another article we talked about Smart Home Infrastructure where star-wiring is key. Explore it here.

The central location at which all lights are wired to is called a Lighting Control Panel or LCP. The LCP houses modules which power and control lights in connected rooms. All modules are then connected to a central processor.

In-room keypads are wired to the central processor which then allows for control over lights.

The image above shows lights connected to the LCP, meaning lights can be controlled in both rooms via one keypad.

LIGHTING CONTROL

There are several ways to control an Intelligent Lighting System. Smart Homes will typically have a central control system, taking control of all audio visual, security systems, HVAC and Building Management Systems (BMS). Intelligent lighting control is designed to seamlessly integrate into these other control systems.

Click here to learn more about the two main Smart Home operating systems and which is right for you.

By integrating lighting control with BMS, you expand the level of control available to you.

You have the ability to access lighting control via the following devices:

Wall-mounted or table-top touch screens – High-resolution touch screens allowing you to take control of lighting throughout the entire property.
Mobile device – Apps which are quickly accessible allow you to control your lighting on the fly. Mobile apps also allow remote access - meaning you can take control even when not at home.
Remotes – Universal remotes can also take control of lighting, allowing you to select preset scenes, dim certain zones or switch on/off altogether, all at the touch of a button.

While these solutions are available, there are some which are perhaps easier to use; the simplest form of control, the Keypad.

A keypad is the same size as a light switch, however boasts a whole host of additional functionality as well as beautiful design. There are typically two types of keypad, both produced by Lutron, that we see specified in most smart homes. SeeTouch and Palladiom.

SeeTouch adopts large, easy to use, backlit buttons with custom engraved buttons. Palladiom meanwhile embody subtle elegance, with their flush mounted buttons and sleek design, they are favoured by interior designers. Both keypads have a variety of faceplates that can be matched to your interior. There are also options for custom faceplates if required.

Alisse is the latest offering from Lutron. It combines a simplistic layout with Lutron's exclusive metal finishes to create a classic, yet highly functional keypad. The Alisse also features custom engravings.

PROGRAMMING

Unlike a switch, keypads offer a greater level of control. Any key can be programmed to respond to a light touch, a hard touch, or even a timed press. As well as this, keys can be programmed to operate shades, blinds and curtains. Meaning complete control of artificial as well as natural light.

Furthermore, each key can be custom engraved to represent a specific function. For example, as well as having basic Open and Close commands. With intelligent programming, we can incorporate scene control; utilising lights, shades and curtains to create beautiful scenes of mixed lighting.

In bedrooms, we typically include a keypad with a preset Night scene. This night scene can be programmed to turn off all lights, close all shades, and activate any relevant security protocol. This keypad can also be installed wirelessly at the bedside, allowing ease of use.

Intelligent lighting design and programming play an important role in the home, adding convenience and creating ease of use for homeowners.

One keypad can control many different light fittings all at once.

Conveniently located keypads can be programmed to control large areas of the home with a single key command. For example; each floor of an 8 storey townhouse can be controlled either on the landing of each floor, or at the main entrance. Allowing for a single 'All Off' command before exiting. Saving time and adding convenience.

The same principle can be applied upon entry to the home. A 'Welcome Home' scene can activate lighting in key locations, instead of having to go room by room switching on individual lights.

This level of lighting control provides ease of use for the homeowner, saving time and adding convenience. As well as providing the ability to access the system from anywhere in the world.

If you would like to explore Intelligent Lighting for your next project, contact us today to discuss your options.

Auto-Tilting Blinds

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Natural light and direct sunlight are not the same. Too much sunlight can have adverse effects on those in the home but with Lutron's Auto-Tilting Blinds using Natural Light Optimisation technology, too much sun won't be much of an issue.

The Sun, good or bad?

There are numerous studies that prove natural light is beneficial for homeowners. Natural light helps our body to produce vitamin D, improve our natural circadian rhythms, helps up and focus and even gives us more energy throughout the day.

However direct sunlight can be harmful to the body where overexposure to UV rays can be harmful to your skin causing sunburns. Exposure can also cause heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Too much light in the home can cause your furniture, carpets and rugs to discolour and cause lasting damage, especially to wood.

Direct sunlight can also be blinding, especially in the mornings when you are waking up a beam of light to the eyes can cause annoyance or in some cases give you a headache as soon as you awake. Having a window treatment like blinds in place is a good way to stop direct sunlight from entering into the home.

Blinds vs Shades

If you are too chose between blinds and shades then it comes down to two things, privacy and light control. Shades only have one option: open or close. This means that if you want to keep out light then you have to keep the entire window covered which also gives you the most privacy.

But if you are to have light enter through the window then you are also exposing the interior of your property. Blinds have slats that can be tilted and let in light at an angle, directly to the floor, whilst also providing some much-needed privacy during the day.

Auto Tilting

As we mentioned earlier natural light has benefits but too much direct sunlight can be quite damaging. This is why Lutron has created this auto-tilting feature with Natural Light Optimisation. The blinds can run in two ways. As it is connected to the intelligent lighting system an automatic scene can be run to match the path of the sun around the home.

Opening and closing at set times of the day. The second option is to connect the Lutron system to your mobile. It will pick up natural sunlight and adjust accordingly to the amount of light detected in the room. The blinds in the home react to this by closing when the sun is facing the blind and opening when it is not.

This way a room will automatically balance the amount of light in a room without the homeowner having to lift a finger and constantly fiddle with blinds and buttons.

This level of automation and control over blinds creates a truly automated home that is effortless to live in. Homeowners will not have to suffer from glare, heat and too much sun in the home and can protect their furniture too.

If you are interested in knowing more about intelligent lighting and blinds contact us today.

Garden Entertainment Areas

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Technology seldom makes its way into gardens and terraces within London properties, leaving much to be desired when hosting that long-awaited summer BBQ. Functionality is often overlooked due to the amount of time actually spent outdoors.

However through the use of integrated technology and intelligent design, these spaces can be transformed into something beautifully designed around you; whether that be an exciting entertaining space, or perhaps an area to relax and unwind.

Read on below to find out how we can help transform your outdoor spaces, from overgrown and overlooked, to key feature of the home.

GARDEN LIGHTING

Intelligent lighting control is quickly becoming the most requested feature within luxury smart homes. It therefore makes sense to extend this level control to the exterior of the property also.

Great lighting design combined with intelligent control has the ability to create inviting and well-balanced environments to suit your mood. Effectively using light and shadow, we can create truly dramatic effects whilst also providing useful practical benefits.

During the day the sun doesn’t discriminate. It washes the garden with light, illuminating beautiful planters through to the more unsightly sheds, storage and silos.

However, at night we have the ability to regain control. We can choose what to see as well as what we'd rather not see. Imagine having ability to hide any unsightly areas of your garden and highlight all the beautiful parts?

Picture the scene: a vast span of darkness, with narrow beamed lighting illuminating a singular water fountain, statue, plant or tree. Light can be used to highlight specific features, and hide the noise.

Through intelligent lighting control, this is all possible and then some... Utilising ambient, decorative and accent lighting, we can create scenes ranging from 'Relax' to 'Dining' to 'Party' and everything in between. All of which can be easily accessed and managed, either via physical keypads or mobile device.

Motion and proximity sensors are another great way of controlling light autonomously.

Sensors can be integrated into the intelligent lighting system and can automatically activate specific lights or scenes to highlight seating areas, pools or walkways. It is also a useful animal deterrent.

Motion sensors can also be integrated with the alarm system. If motion is detected, the system can activate lighting around CCTV cameras, hopefully warding off any potential intruders.

On warmer summer days, shade is a must. Awnings and other forms of artificial shade can also be integrated and controlled, either independently or as part of the aforementioned scene control.

OUTDOOR AUDIO

Outdoor entertainment areas wouldn’t be very entertaining without audio, so great speakers are a must.

Audio design in the home focuses on filling a confined space with high quality audio. However when outdoors, sound design is more focused on the direction of audio, getting it to the key areas as efficiently as possible.

The key to great outdoor audio is to position speakers in such a way to create an even distribution of sound, encompassing the garden with an even level of audio. As opposed to having one area that is very loud and rest struggling to be reached.

How the homeowner interacts with the garden is a good indication of what type of speakers to specify and indeed where. Are they to be fixed in one place? Or will they need to be movable depending on activity. Size of the garden naturally plays a key role in the decision phase, as does the vicinity to neighbouring properties.

We classify outdoor speakers in three ways.

Hidden or landscape speakers are popular as they subtly blend into planters and greenery around the garden. Providing powerful sound and an immersive listening experience with speakers that are not visually distracting.Sonance Sonoarray Speakers
On-wall speakers are also a popular choice, they can be positioned under the roof of a gazebo or on beams of a veranda. They are extremely versatile and work well in outdoor spaces without greenery to hide speakers amongst.Bowers & Wilkins On-wall speakers, left and right. Sonos on-wall speaker with Sonance, centre.
Display speakers are designed to make a statement. Beautifully designed, handcrafted and provide omnidirectional sound. These speakers are designed to provoke conversation, they will stand out as the ultimate combination of luxury design and sound engineering.Architettura Sonora Speakers
Mechanical Speakers can hide and reveal themselves when needed. CSEED Speakers

Whether garden or roof terrace, having audio outside can transform a space. With an integrated control system, you no longer have to worry about woeful Wi-Fi strength interrupting your listening experience. As part of the design process, we will ensure speakers and subwoofers are all connected directly to your streaming services, meaning Spotify and Tidal can stream at full resolution with zero drop out.

All outdoor speakers should be water and weatherproof to withstand extreme heat, rain and snow.

GARDEN VIDEO

As integrators who have designed cinema rooms we conclusively say: do not put a projector outside. We love projectors and they work brilliantly... inside!

Natural light will wash out the projected image and with constantly changing weather conditions, projectors need to be constantly adjusted for the perfect picture.

Is it still possible? Yes. However, the time, effort and associated costs involved in making an outdoor projection system work will equal that of a pretty decent dedicated indoor home cinema room.

Outdoor video is an essential element to any garden entertainment area. Whether it be for the latest sporting event, watch parties, or even home movies. The right TV and ideally optimal conditions are required in order to create a pleasant viewing experience.

Samsung The Terrace Outdoor TV shown with The Terrace Soundbar

TVs housed within weather-proof enclosures is an option when installing an standard TV outdoors. This provides a simple solution to stop water, dust and other particulates from damaging your TV.

However, the downside is that the TV will need to be positioned in the shade in order to view the picture correctly. Indoor TVs typically cannot produce nearly the level of brightness required to be viewed outdoors, or in direct sunlight.

The second, and in our opinion best way, is to have an IP rated outdoor specific TV such as the Samsung Terrace. This TV is purpose built for outdoor applications, and can achieve up to 4 times the brightness of a standard indoor TV. In-built sensors can detect ambient lighting conditions and automatically adjust itself, ensuring you always see a perfect image.

TV audio can also be directed to any outdoor speakers or from an IP rated soundbar sitting underneath the TV.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Samsung The Terrace TV;

Samsung The Terrace TV

Furthermore, outdoor TVs can also be hidden inside custom joinery. This way you can hide and reveal the screen whenever needed.

Future Automation custom movement with outdoor TV.

Outdoor TVs will change the way you use your garden. Transforming your outdoor space into the perfect venue to spend time with the family or friends, watching sports or the latest films.

COMPLETE INTEGRATION

Beyond lighting, audio and video integration, other systems such as networking and HVAC can also be extended from the home into the garden.

“No-one ever gets Wi-Fi in the garden” - Sound familiar?

Having Wi-Fi access outdoors is possible. IP rated, weather proof Wi-fi boosters can be hardwired into the central network enabling complete coverage outdoors. Good cabling infrastructure here is key. Through great network distribution, we can also ensure all external fixed devices such as TVs and speakers are also hardwired to the network, keeping Wi-Fi free for mobile devices.

HVAC systems can also be extended outdoors, allowing for simplified control over a variety of services. I.e. Preheating swimming pools, activating heat lamps, hot tub jets etc. all before even stepping outside. Home automation can also take control of sprinkler systems where needed.

THE PERFECT GARDEN

With intelligent control, lighting, audio, video and other home services can be activated at the simple push of a button. Meaning spontaneous outdoor evenings are now an option.

Let us help create your perfect outdoor space. If you are interested in learning more, contact us now to discuss.

CEDIA Podcast

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A recap of the panel discussion with integrators and interior designers on how they can work together from the CEDIA Design-Build Conference at ISE. Guests include NV Integration Director Pip Evans, Dean Keyworth from Armstrong Keyworth; Susie Rumbold from Tessuto Interiors and James Ratcliffe from Homeplay.

Listen below.

How can customers be trained to use technology?

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re a designer, architect, or builder, you’re confident and skilled with your craft. Sometimes, however, customers might bring up something — especially about home technology integration — that’s just beyond your scope.

To shine a light on some of those questions and topics, we’ve tapped into the expertise of two first-rate CEDIA integrators for a series we’re calling "Things designers want to know, but are afraid to ask".

Their answers have been adapted from appearances at a major design-build gathering that also featured Dean Keyworth, founder of Armstrong Keyworth, a company providing services ranging from informal design consultancy to full project coordination including building work, planning, lighting, decoration and furnishing and Susie Rumbold, managing director of Tessuto Interiors, a multi-disciplinary interior design practice with international, private, and commercial clients.

How can customers be trained to use technology?

James Ratcliffe, managing director of UK-based Homeplay, a home technology integration business focusing on home cinema and media rooms, lighting, audio, and wi-fi connectivity. He said:

“The main thing is for us to design a system that doesn’t require any training. It should be intuitive enough for people to walk up to it and figure it out. For example, you want to put the lights on the bright setting, you push the keypad button that says ‘bright’ and the lights change accordingly.

But this doesn't always happen. Over the years, we've had clients say, ‘I had X system in our old house, and we hated it — we couldn't use it. I don't want it again. I just want something simple.’ The reality is, simplicity requires some complexity, but in the background.

If you've got a beautiful lighting design with thousands of circuits in a room, trying to control that with a bunch of rotary dimmers is pretty much impossible. Instead, we should do the complex part that allows you to have a simple pre-set keypad with an engraved button that everyone can understand.”

Pip Evans, director of UK-based NV Integration, a bespoke designer and installer of home automation and cinema systems for customers in the luxury residential category. He said:

“We like things to be beautiful and quite often, what is beautiful is very minimal. But that doesn't always lend itself to be the most user intuitive. I’ve got two remotes in mind — one is a very design-led remote with a touchscreen and it's very ergonomic and sleek and the other is a lot uglier, but it's more functional.

We show our customers both options, but we tend to steer them towards the one that has the physical hard buttons because you don't have to navigate a touchscreen to pick your sky channel, but it’s the client’s choice.

People who have grown up in the iPhone generation are very familiar with using a touchscreen, whereas a client who is in their later years, will be much more familiar with physical hard buttons that can be engraved. Lots of our clients have their second houses in London. So, English isn't their first language.

We've installed lighting control keypads on the wall that have been engraved with text in Russian and Italian, for example. This is very important. It's not our house, it's our customer's house, so we need to make it for them.”

Click here for the next entry in this series that will cover budget and space considerations.

Listen to the CEDIA Podcast here:

This is a guest post by CEDIA Writer Dan McGowan. View the original article here. https://cedia.net/news-knowledge/news-knowledge/cedia-news/news-detail/cedia-news/2020/06/05/things-designers-want-to-know-but-are-afraid-to-ask-(part-one).

2020 CEDIA Award Finalists

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0000

We are excited to announce that we have been shortlisted for the 2020 CEDIA Awards. Two of our projects in Central London have been selected as finalists, both for the “Best Integrated Home” categories in different tiers.

We look forward to the 8th of October at the virtual CEDIA Awards ceremony where they will announce the winners as well as showcase the amazing work done by other integrators in the industry this year.

View our submissions for this year:

Palatial Penthouse

Kensington Terrace

TECH X DESIGN SUMMIT

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

TECH X DESIGN

NV Integration Director Pip Evans spoke at the keynote “Successfully Integration Technology with Design” at 14:00 BST / 09:00 EDT / 06:00 PDT. Watch the keynote address below.

If you have registered for the summit you can watch all previous videos on demand by clicking here.

The complete lists of events were as follows.

Agenda 23 September 2020

The Keynotes

Designing Lighting for Wellness | 09:30 BST

Successfully Integrating Technology with Design | 14:00 BST / 09:00 EDT / 06:00 PDT

Establishing Collaborative Relationships - How Design Professionals can Work with Integrators | 1:25 p.m. EST / 10:35 a.m. PCT

Professional Development Session 1

11:15 BST

Designing Home Cinemas and Media Rooms

What is a Luxury Entertainment Space and How to Design for it

Professional Development Session 2

12:35 BST / 07:35 EDT

Living in a Material World: Specifying Shade Fabrics to Meet Occupant Needs

The Five Levels of a Smart Home

Professional Development Session 3

15:45 BST /10:45 EDT / 07:45 PDT

Introduction to Microgrids

Supporting Green Lifestyles with Technology Systems

Professional Development Session 4

17:05 BST / 12:05 EDT / 09:05 PDT

Improving Façade Designs by Comparing Automated vs. Manual Solar Shading

Designed to Disappear

Agenda 06 October 2020

The Keynotes

Establishing Collaborative Relationships - How Design Professionals can Work with Integrators | 09:30 BST

Technology Trends that are Shaping the Smart Home | 14:00 BST / 09:00 EDT / 06:00 PDT

Transforming Lighting Design with Technology | 13:25 EDT / 10:25 PDT

Professional Development Session 1

11:15 BST

Understanding and Specifying Invisible Sound Solutions

Taking the Smart Home to the Next Level

Professional Development Session 2

12:35 BST / 07:35 EDT

New Media Art & The Architectural Digital Canvas: Connecting the Dots

Light & Wellness - Design Ramifications of Circadian Lighting in the Built Environment

Professional Development Session 3

15:45 BST / 10:45 EDT / 07:45 PDT

Your Home is Your (Smart) Castle

Professional Development Session 4

17:05 BST / 12:05 EDT / 09:05 PDT

Today's Smart Home

What is a Luxury Entertainment Space and How to Design for it

Regents Park Terrace

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Regents Park Terrace History

NV Integration are working a new project in Regents Park. Read on below to learn about the history of Regents Park and the famous architects who built the area.

Regents Park has quite an extensive history and has changed hands throughout English history. It began in the 16th century with the dissolution of monasteries under Henry VIII when he split from the Catholic Church. The Manor of Tyburn and the woods and lands around it were converted to hunting grounds and then Regents Park.

_{Regents Park when it was used as Farmlands}

Once the English Civil war came in the 17th century the land was ‘disparked’ and then the next 100 years the land was used for farming instead of hunting. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 19th century when the land was resurveyed and was deemed suitable for redevelopment.

The Prince Regent George VI commissioned John Nash, Architect to the Woods and Forests, to develop the land into a park with exclusive fashionable estates along with a summer palace for the George VI.

From left to right: John Nash, James Burton, Decimus Burton

Unfortunately, crown finances dried up rather quickly as the Prince Regent turned his eye to developing Buckingham Palace. Subsequently, they withdrew from the development. This is where James Burton, the most successful real estate developer of the time refinanced the project with some terms for Nash. One of which was to take Decimus Burton, James Burton’s youngest son, as protégé to Nash.

Nash and Burton decided on developing the park as well as 10 luxurious estates that would look over the park.

This area consists of 10 estates with terraced houses.

Gloucester Terrace (now Gloucester Gate)
Cumberland terrace
Chester Terrace
Cambridge Terrace
York Terrace
Cornwall Terrace
Clarence terrace
Sussex Place (No longer a residential property)
Hanover Terrace
Kent Terrace

From top left to bottom right: Gloucester Gate, Chester Terrace, Cornwall Terrace, Clarence Terrace, Hanover Terrace, Kent Terrace, York Terrace, Sussex Place, Cambridge Terrace, Cumberland Terrace.

Decimus also designed and built the property The Holme. This was the home of his father, James Burton. It looks over the boating lake in Regents Park. Architectural critic Ian Nairn wrote of The Holme: "If you want a definition of western civilization in a single view, then here it is".

The Holme

Decimus and Nash worked together to design the rest of the estates surrounding Regents Park. They wanted to design a traditional English townhouse but also incorporated many Greco-Roman styles. This period of architecture was known as the Regency and was popularised by Nash and Decimus who managed to capture the essence of the Greco-Roman style whilst maintaining some aspects of Georgian Architecture.

This was evident through the front of houses which followed an Ionic style of architecture which is defined by the columns, more precisely the volute. This spiral/scroll-like capital sits atop an Ionic column. Every estate in Nash and Decimus design incorporates these columns.

Furthermore, columns support pediments which incorporated detailed design with the face as well as statues on top each of roof.

Details of Gloucester Terrace (Gloucester Gate) Far Right is an example of a column of the Ionic Order by it's spiralled volute.

The properties once completed have been through a lot in the past 200 years. In World War 2 many were damaged, or destroyed by German warplanes. However Nash and Decimus’s design survived and these properties were restored to their original quality.

As they have held significant history they have been classified as Grade I listed buildings as they hold exceptional historical and architectural interest

Over the years these terraced properties have hosted some famous residents such as Jamie Oliver, Sacha Baron Cohen, Stefano Gabbana, and Tom Ford. These are just some of the residents who have, or currently reside at around Regents Park.

What is NV Integration going to be doing in Regents Park?

We are going to be bringing a historical property into the 21st century by providing a tailored Home Automation solution for our client, that will seamlessly integrate into the interior design. Meeting the demands that a family would expect in a 21st century home, while also being considerate to the heritage of the property, and interiors.

Be sure to stay tuned for more updates on this project.

What is Dali Lighting?

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

DALI Lighting HISTORY

DALI lighting was born in the late 1990s. Manufactures such as Trionic, Osram, Huco and Phillips were in search of a more flexible dimming solution than the existing dimmer offering. The 0-10V dimming system simply comprises of a dimming unit wired to a lighting ballast, to create a rigid solution.

One of the main downsides of this approach is that, if you ever wanted to alter or redesign your lighting, it will a full or partial rewire, and would often not include any form of intelligent or smart control, unless wired to a Lutron lighting system.

The International Electronic Commission (IEC) created standard 60929, otherwise known as the DALI protocol. As DALI is not a patented technology, many manufacturers have developed their own range of DALI products. The biggest advantage of DALI lighting is that all products created with DALI protocols are able to communicate with each other, regardless of manufacturer.

For installers and designers, this provides the flexibility to work with the best products from many different manufacturers, and ultimately deliver a stunning lighting system.

Read on below to find out what DALI actually is and why it could be beneficial in your home.

WHAT IS DALI

DALI has recently seen a significant spike in interest within residential and commercial buildings. It provides greater flexibility and functionality when compared to other dimming systems currently available on the market.

DALI stands for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface.

How it works: A ballast powers a light fixture and reflects the conditions imposed by the control unit.

Each ballast is assigned a specific address with which the control unit communicates.

The control unit is the brains of a DALI lighting system. It can send and receive information from the ballast, commanding it to turn on/off, dim, as well as communicate fault information such as burnouts or malfunctions.

This is essentially the DALI Protocol; one control unit commanding many individual ballasts. Providing simpler, efficient and more cost-effective installation.

ADVANTAGES OF DALI

DALI control systems have the capability of performing a wide variety of functions beyond that of typical switches or dimming dial. Most buildings will typically include some form of dimmable lighting. Bedrooms, bathrooms, media rooms and cinemas all benefit from the ability to control the brightness or mood of the room.

DALI systems make this possible via programmable ballasts, capable of intelligently and smoothly dimming multiple lights to create preset scenes per room.

Read the case study Palatial Penthouse | Lennox Luxury

Scene presets are a defined program within the control unit. Each scene can utilise all or specific light fittings around the home to create the desired scene or mood with light. Light fittings are no longer held hostage to their appointed wiring circuit or room, they can be added to another group of lights in the home.

Having the ability to assign communal area lighting into specific scenes or rooms provides great levels of flexibility to the lighting design in the home.

Our installations (as pictured above) combine DALI lighting protocols with Lutron, alongside Crestron or Control4, smart home automation systems. Lutron keypads provide an elegant control interface with shortcut keys to recall specific scenes.

Alternatively, touch screens can also be utilised alongside dedicated mobile apps, such as Crestron and Control4, which can also communicate with intelligent lighting systems. These control points allow for unlimited scene presets which can be recalled for any occasion, from entertaining to meal preparation to relaxation.

Learn about the Smart Home in our CPD

When it comes to dimming DALI does it better. Unlike other lighting systems that are dimmable, a DALI is able to provide 256 levels of brightness. The dimming is set on a logarithmic scale so light increases incrementally over a larger range which will be more natural to the human eye.

There are also non-dimming DALI ballasts available, providing a cost-effective solution in areas not requiring dimming functionality.

DAYLIGHT HARVESTING

Interior designers and architects aim to create spaces that benefit from both natural and artificial light. Highlighting certain areas or features, even subtly emphasising colours of walls or furniture to create the perfect space for their clients. Good amounts of daylight are important for interior design, but also for the mind and body.

We hear lots in the media about the potential benefits of increased Vitamin D, and conversely the negative effects associated with being cooped up indoors.

We recommend Lutron for lighting and shading and window treatment control. Lutron does utilise the DALI protocols within its lighting modules. The intelligence of Lutron combined with DALI protocol allows for complete and efficient control of lighting and shading in the home.

DALI integrates with external light sensors which can calculate daylight levels. This will communicate with DALI ballasts, adjusting lights to create specific scenes for comfortable internal environments.

This combination of light sensors and utilising DALI lighting protocols allows for reduced energy costs and consumption in the home, whilst maintaining optimal comfort levels.

SPACE SAVING

Traditional lighting requires lights to be wired to a switch, and offer zero intelligence in the home. An intelligent lighting system star wires ballasts to the central lighting control panel (LCP). Each module can connect to four ballasts. A DALI module, however, can connect up to 128 ballasts.

Naturally, this significantly reduces the size of the required LCP down to 1/32th of its original size. Naturally lending itself well to central London properties, where space is often limited.

This is also beneficial in the home as it significantly reduces the amount of lighting cable required to run to the LCP, instead, DALI uses only 2 cables.

Utilising DALI will reduce the size of your system substantially. The left uses no DALI and the right uses a combination of DALI and standard lighting modules.

EASY MODIFICATION

DALI lighting is wired in a serial loop, from the LCP around the property. A DALI module has two outputs, and each of these outputs can hold up to 64 ballasts. Meaning each DALI module can control up to 128 lights with only 2 cables.

This is known as a DALI loop. As DALI is a programmable system, there are no specific requirements for the location of the ballasts within the DALI loop. As you can see in the image below, the lights are wired with only one cable back to the LCP.

Lights wired in a DALI loop back to LCP

As already mentioned, DALI ballasts have a unique address. This address is assigned to rooms by the integrator. The control unit sends a message to the ballast and commands it to display lights in a specific way.

If, for instance, a ballast fails, the installing integrator who initially commissioned the system would be able to take out the ballast and readdress it into the system so it continues to work, without the need for recommissioning of an entirely new system or chasing out cables.

DALI LIMITATIONS

Whilst DALI is a great solution there are some drawbacks when being used in high-end luxury homes.

Lavish homes often require lavish light fittings which draw a lot of power. Each DALI bus is capable of holding a maximum amount of current: 250mA. If the light fittings are collectively consuming more than 250mA on the DALI module, the system will begin to fail.

Feature lights such as chandeliers draw a lot of power. Power-hungry light fixtures on DALI can limit the number of fixtures you can control. This is where traditional lighting modules can be useful to take

Kensington Terrace: Read the case study

DISTANCE AND VOLTAGE DROPS

As with any wiring project, there are voltage drops associated with cable length. Having devices at too greater distances from the control unit can affect the system's reliability. However, this issue is more prominent in larger commercial projects. As a rule; the distance between devices should not exceed 300m. With most residential properties, this is not typically a common issue.

Learn about cabling in our CPD

SELF INSTALL

A DALI system should not be installed by the homeowner. In theory, this system is relatively straightforward, however, design, installation and programming is far more complex and should be carried out by a custom installer. This ensures complete safety and reliability.

CONCLUSION

DALI is most certainly a worthwhile investment for residential properties. When combined with traditional lighting modules, it provides complete flexibility to create a multitude of lighting designs and scenes throughout the home, incorporating multiple different light sources. Intelligent lighting design paired with powerful smart home control inevitably creates a beautiful home, which is flexible, reliable and intuitive

Why do you need a Home Automation Installer?

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Home automation, smart homes, integrated homes; like any system, elements of these can be implemented yourself, which is usually fine for plug & play, simple functionality. However, these systems are usually tailored towards whoever set them up and can get old for any other occupants very quickly...

Smart homes are now becoming far more mainstream, and 57% of homes in the UK now have a smart device controlling some aspect of their home¹.

With Amazon, Apple and Google at the helm of consumer smart home products, they are also now far more accessible. However, there are varying levels of a smart home; starting with DIY plug & play devices, all the way up to a professionally installed and maintained home automation system.

Read on to find out why you need a Smart Home Automation installer to help you build a functional, reliable, and practical intelligent home.

The traditional home

Let's begin with the basics. The traditional home has no smart devices attached, with basic on/off/dim light switches, thermostats running on analogue timers, and Wi-Fi emitting from a single location in the house, from the service providers supplied modem.

There is no intelligent lighting control or any smart thermostats and certainly no home automation.

DIY home Automation

The DIY home begins once a smart home device has been introduced. Nest thermostats and Ring doorbell cameras are some of the most common consumer products providing the homeowner with some level of convenience when controlling the home.

Phillips Hue lighting is another, allowing for control over lighting via wireless communication and battery operated devices. Primary control of these systems is via a mobile or tablet app. These devices are not connected to each other and therefore operate as standalone systems.

The majority of homes stop here, with a few smart devices plugged in around the home.

_{Nest Thermostat}

The connected Home

The connected home goes one step further. By introducing Amazon Alexa or Google Home, there is now has a degree of intelligence which can interlink devices through commands. This allows for cross-communication between different products in the home.

For example, Amazon Alexa can command a Smart TV to turn on, whilst triggering Phillips Hue lighting to dim, creating a cinema like viewing experience.

For this type of system, the homeowner must first learn about routines and secondly find a way to connect the lights, TV and speaker system together. They may also potentially require a third party to help with this, and will most certainly require communication to and from the cloud.

There is also an element of education required with a system such as this, ensuring all other occupants understand how the feature works.

At this point, frustrations may begin to surface; either the novelty starts to wear off, or the response time is too long, or the device simply does not work.

Furthermore, smart devices such as these can visually stand out in a room, drawing your attention and becoming a distraction with untidy cabling and devices plugged into sockets.

_{Google Home Mini & Google Home}

Many of these devices are Wi-Fi ready, meaning that they connect wirelessly only. Having a high number of products on the same wireless network will begin to create strain on the home Wi-Fi and impact internet speeds of other wireless devices such as mobiles, laptops, PCs and gaming consoles.

If hardwired to the router this may also reach capacity and begin to lag, with so many extra ports filled by hubs for control. Also causing the smart home products to become unresponsive or fail completely.

With many devices, it can also become cumbersome controlling everything from your phone. Additionally, if a device stops working, as often happens, the homeowner may not have the time or know how to fix it. The result is usually it continues to operate at half-speed or gets switched off altogether.

Learn more about Wi-Fi and Networks in our CPD

_{Amazon Alexa not responding to a command}

The tech giants have good intentions when it comes to smart home, however their lack of clear guidance and simple install often leads the average homeowner to leave the tech behind and go back to what they know works, even if it takes longer to control the home.

This is where the homeowner usually begins to crave a professional to do things correctly. Just as you would call a certified electrician to manage electrical circuits in the home, you need a smart home professional to deal with the network, the lighting, the AV, the security and integration of all of these separate systems. Building not a home with smart products, but a real automated home.

Pro Home Automation

A pro smart home is designed and installed by certified industry professionals. Pro smart homes focus on functionality, reliability, and design. A skilled integration company will work with the design team to deliver a system which meets the clients brief and budget, is considerate towards to the other design elements in the space and most importantly, it works.

_{A pro smart home hides all tech}

Homeowners today want technology that simply works, and more commonly to be out of sight. It is the same approach Apple takes to the iPhone - advanced technology that simply works.

This is why using an industry professional is vital, they have the knowledge and experience to set up systems that work.

Pro smart homes usually begin in the basement or cloakroom, where hardware such as amplifiers, routers, set-top boxes are all situated. This removes these distracting black boxes from the main living space entirely, allowing architects, designers and homeowners free-reign to design the room they want, and without compromise.

Book a CPD to learn more

All cabling is run behind the walls and connected to the hardware within an AV cabinet. Cabling in the main living areas is kept to a minimum, and connected only to the hardware on show such as TV, speakers, and perhaps in-wall touch screens.

This ensures all devices are always online and always connected to the network. This level of infrastructure ensures the wireless network is not impacted, meaning phones, tablets, and laptops all have a good connection.

_{Equipment is placed out of the way. Often in the basement of a home.}

View these completed projects here

Pro Smart Homes introduce a home automation OS such as Crestron or Control4. This allows integrators to connect several devices and control the home intuitively. For the homeowners, this means they have one simple interface to control the entire home.

A smart home OS provides the homeowner with more points of control. Rooms can have keypads for lighting or shading control at the entrances and also at bedsides. Remotes can control TVs and speakers but also display feeds from security cameras.

In-wall touch panels can be located throughout providing control of absolutely everything from lighting, audio, video and security, all from one point.

_{Control at the bedside}

Whereas a DIY smart home force the users to use their dedicated app, a pro smart home encourages you to take control in the most natural way you know.

In our experience, homeowners will naturally gravitate towards control points that are familiar to them, as opposed to a mobile app. Using a smart home OS, the occupants have the option to control the property as they wish, from wherever they are.

Pro Smart Homes appeal to the lifestyle of our clients as most technology is entirely hidden from view, and what is on display is customised and colour matched to the interior design. Properties are often larger than average and therefore a smart home is beneficial to managing the entire home efficiently.

Our flagship project

Smart home installers work with interior designers and architects to provide a completely integrated solution, ensuring the home responds to, and reflects the homeowners lifestyle.

Location enabled tracking allows for automated and intelligent control of the home. For example, to make sure heating and lighting are already prepared prior to the homeowner walking through the door.

Discreet sensors can also be positioned to activate or deactivate rooms as the occupants arrive or leave.

Conclusion

DIY Smart Homes are for tech enthusiasts but not for luxury high-end residential properties. Our aim is for our clients to have a home that is responsive and tailored to their needs.

Providing a professionally installed smart home that works behind the scenes of a beautifully designed home, providing complete efficiency, functionality and most importantly convenience.

If you would like to know more about the services we offer, please feel free to get in touch.

References:

1 - https://inews.co.uk/light-relief/offbeat/there-are-now-15-million-smart-homes-in-britain-according-to-research-293220

Newsletter September

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Learn about Smart Home Automation and Domotics.

Smart Homes are in demand now more than ever and as integrators, we want to help you blend high-quality home technology with luxury design, so you can deliver your client a home that is perfectly tailored to their needs and lifestyle. Read on below to learn more about home automation.

Working with interior designers and architects – Tech x Design Summit

NV integration spoke at the Tech x Design Summit with interior designers and architects on how best to work together when integrating technology and design.

Click here to watch the keynote.

Home Automation for luxury homes – Planning Guide

Designing a home with home automation? Then you want to be sure you are planning for the infrastructure. Planning is vital to maintaining an aesthetically pleasing interior design and a powerful network of equipment around the home that gives your client the home they deserve. Find out how to plan for smart home infrastructure and create a beautiful but functional home.

Click here to download the guide.

Register for our CPDs

NV Integration are offering a range of CPDs that give you the knowledge to talk to your client about Home Automation that can drastically improve their life within their new home. We conduct CPDs in person or we can do virtual CPDs.

We offer the following CPDS:

Designing Home Cinema and Media Rooms
Cabling for the Integrated Home
Hidden Technologies
Lighting Design
Designing the Connected Home

Click here to register for the CPD.

What do designers have to say about Luxury Home Automation?

Past BIID presidents and interior designers sit down with Home Technology Integrators and get answers to their burning questions on home automation in luxury high-end properties.

Featuring Pip Evans from NV Integration; Dean Keyworth from Armstrong Keyworth; Susie Rumbold from Tessuto Interiors; and James Ratcliffe from Homeplay.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

New Project in Regents Terrace

NV Integration are working on a new project in Regents Park for a private client.

Regents Park has a rich history and beautiful properties with architectural significance.

Click here to read all about Regents Park and our project.

CEDIA Finalist

Click here to find out which projects have been entered.

Is BIM useful for high-end residential market?

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

What is BIM?

BIM stands for Building Information Modelling. It is a process of compiling various 3D models that hold detailed information about that model to give designers and clients a real overview of the project beyond 2D drawings.

How is BIM used?

BIM is utilised through software like Revit or Navisworks which allow for the creation of 3D models and plans for buildings. Different companies can log in and work on the same document at once allowing for complete transparency throughout.

Once one a model is changed everyone can view it. Architects can continuously update plans and proactively notify sub-contractors of clashes which they can easily fix from within the software.

Why does BIM exist?

In 2008 there was a global financial crisis and the construction industry was about ready to collapse into itself as an industry it was failing.

A report from 2009 Construction Excellence highlighted that the industry was failing, budgets were being exceeded and timelines were not being met either resulting in upset clients which included the government.

In an effort to make a change in the construction industry, the government put out a mandate that every construction supplier post-2016 who wants a government contract must be at BIM level 2.

These levels of BIM were set out by the National Building Specification who works closely with RIBA. RIBA has also created a BIM overlay for stages 0-7 of the RIBA plan.

The implementation of BIM has saved £804,000,000 in costs across construction, as of 2018 and the framework set out by the UK has formed the backbone of the ISO 19650.

BIM has been proven to work on large scale projects, such as Victoria Underground. The initial planning in 2006 for the extension of the project believed it would be near impossible to complete this project without a 3D record of existing and 3rd party assets that helped them get around the lack of visibility underground.

The modelling allowed them to map out the project with existing tunnels. This allowed them to drill down confidently without damaging any existing infrastructure.

As the job progressed all the data that was gathered was put back into the tunnel allowing them to refine their design.

Furthermore, the clarity that was brought from the model and design increased the productivity of construction workers.

This has worked extremely well for larger-scale projects where 3D modelling and continuous data input have provided a smoother construction process and cost savings, why has this not been utilised to deliver smaller projects?

Can BIM deliver smaller projects?

BIM can be used to deliver smaller projects. As we have mentioned before BIM is all about collaboration and working together to achieve a smoother workflow for the construction process. For smaller projects, several companies are involved which need to contribute to the project.

This is where BIM does not work for some smaller companies who do not have the resources to invest in BIM education and software. They will be disadvantaged from working on these projects.

However, if companies do invest then they are going to benefit and improve the long term health of the residential construction industry by ultimately delivering a more streamlined efficient project that offers more clarity.

Narrowing our focus on the high-end residential market, the properties in Central London are large and luxurious whilst the properties outside of London are gargantuan and even more lavish.

Every detail within these homes from the paint, skirting, lighting, has to be perfect to the millimetre. These luxury high-end residential homes must be built perfectly, there is no room for mistakes.

By implementing BIM and working with software, like Revit, contractors can work better together understanding the overlapping services in a home and how to coordinate around each other.

This results in a clear scope of works with more information to complete the installation without any failure, wasted time, wasted material, and extra costs. Timelines can be plotted with clarity by having different contractors understand time frames and plan precisely when to work.

Furthermore, when meeting with the client as you can show them in 3D the layout of the property and the works allowing the client so they can better understand how their project is progressing as well as renderings of the interiors.

Conclusion

BIM has a place in high-end residential design but contractors and custom installers must be ready to invest into BIM to see a beneficial output.

NV Integration is ready. Are you?

Alisse the New Lutron Range of Keypads

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Alisse is the latest in Lutron’s long line of luxury lighting control keypads. Read more about this new design below.

Keypad Design

The Alisse has moved away from the contemporary architectural approach that the palladium keypad embodies so well. The simplicity of this keypad fits well into classical design that has been present in many older luxury homes. As they are being renovated, refurbished and rebuilt we are seeing a shift in design back to the classical.

Rectangular buttons are now replaced by elegant buttons with illumination giving it a lavish sense of control over lighting in the home. The buttons are tactile and respond to inputs in the same way previous keypads do.

The faceplates are handcrafted by Lutron's metal artisans in-house with custom finishes. Lutron also offers the Bespoke Metal Collection as a set of finishes for this keypad.

Download the Bespoke Metal Collection here

The keypads are customisable with etched engravings that are backfilled with a complimentary ink that creates a beautiful control keypad. This can be an attractive text or an illustrative icon.

The Alisse keypad also comes in three variants, single, double and triple column. The button configuration for each of them allows for a minimalistic approach with one button or a more control orientated design as the triple column can hold up to nine buttons of control.

The Alisse keypad integrates the best of Lutron technology and timeless design that is intuitive and completely personalised to your needs.

Watch more about the Alisse here

Newsletter October

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0000

the latest in luxury lighting design & Control

Lutron has been in the news this past month as they have released one of their latest keypads. The Alisse is a luxurious keypad with an exceptionally unique look and feel. With rounded buttons, it revives this classical look that has been present in so many beautiful London homes.

Designers now have the option to utilise Lutron's powerful lighting control whilst providing a beautiful keypad for control.

With extreme attention to detail, the Alisse is hand-crafted by metal artisans. Finished with a sleek architectural design that effortlessly blends into a room and a tactile response, the Alisse will deliver a truly unique lighting experience.

Click here to learn more about Alisse

Each Alisse keypad offers a sophisticated custom finish that will complement the interior design and decorative elements in each room.

Download the Exclusive Lutron Bespoke Metal Collection here

Out of London

One of our out of London project which was completed in 2019 is this beautiful home in Surrey. Find out how this home with Minotti Furniture and Tom Dixon accessories was enhanced with AV.

Click here to view the Case study

Regents Park Terrace

We are working on a new project in Regents Park. An illustrious home with Greco-Roman Architecture that is being preserved and made modern with our installation. Read more about the history and architecture of Regents Park here.

Click here to view the article

Earn your CPD points

Register for our virtual or in-person CPDs. NV Integration are RIBA and BIID accredited CPD providers. We are currently offering three CPDs:

Designing the Connected Home
Cabling for the Integrated Home
Designing Home Cinemas and Media Rooms.

Click here to sign up

New NVI Team Member

Sat, 14 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

We are pleased to welcome a new addition to the NV Integration team.

Yadev Tailor has come on board as a Business Development Manager, he brings a wealth of experience from a high-end residential background, and will be an invaluable asset for our team going forwards.

If you’d like to get in touch you can reach him on:

Top Tips for working from home

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

There are lots of factors to consider when setting up your home working environment – ergonomic chairs, extra monitors, a large desk, the all-important coffee machine for that caffeine boost. However there are certain things that can help level up your productivity and maintain focus.

Read on to find out what you can do to maximise your efficiency whilst working at home.

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Getting online

The most common complaint when working from home is an unreliable internet connection, interrupting zoom meetings and slow downloads from online file sharing sites like Dropbox and OneDrive.

This is usually caused by the number of devices connected to the internet, and oversubscribed service providers. The average UK household will has a minimum of 9 wireless devices on the network; mobiles, laptops, tablets, smart speakers and more all occupying valuable bandwidth.

So how can you get the most reliable connection? Well the best answer is a direct hardwired ethernet cable to your router. This will give you the fastest possible speed, and keep the wireless bandwidth clear for everything else.

Laptops and PCs often have ethernet ports allowing you to connect a data cable directly into your home router giving you a dedicated, reliable and most-importantly uninterrupted line that will not fail you during your meetings.

If that isn't possible, then having strategically placed Wi-Fi boosters around the home will ensure you are always within a good range of the nearest booster. A correctly designed and installed wireless Wi-Fi network will ensure a fast speed, even if you need to roam around the house.

Ideally, a dedicated internet line which means you don't share a internet connection with your neighbourhood will ensure that the speed you pay for is what you get. There are dedicated services available in the UK which can deliver fibre optic lines directly into the home, meaning that whatever time of day it is, you won't have to worry about the bandwidth of the incoming internet connection. Meaning your focus is kept on that all important meeting with Sharon in accounts.

Learn more about Cabling by registering for our CPD

Lighting up your workspace

Lighting is one of the most important factors that can affect productivity and mood when working from home.

Through evolution, our bodies have internalised a day and night routine called the Circadian Rhythm from the rise and setting of the sun. This change in light dictates to your body when it is time to sleep and when you should be awake.

As you can see in the image above, the colour temperature of light varies throughout the day with the highest awareness at around midday.

In the morning light is bright and cool which tells your body that it needs to be awake by blocking a hormone called Melatonin. Warmer orange-yellow light in the evening tells the body to release that hormone which helps us to go to sleep.

Warm light is not your friend in a work environment. Many homes that are utilising dining areas, living rooms, and bedrooms as workspaces have warm comforting light for relaxation, not productivity.

_{View these projects}Westminster Place | Kensington Terrace | Palatial Penthouse

This is why many homes mostly utilise warm lighting throughout. However reading lamps can be fitted with cool lighting to help you stay awake by blocking the release of Melatonin.

The best way to combat this is to open your blinds and curtains and let in natural light, which from sunrise onwards, has a cool blue tone to it that allows you to wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

The right light in your workspace can have a drastic impact on how you work. Getting the right lighting conditions will let you be productive and focused on your work without falling asleep midway through a boring meeting.

Open the windows

Studies conducted by the Centre of the Built Environment found that working in a well-ventilated workspace with oxygen-rich air resulted in increased productivity.

A home can become polluted with a variety of toxins such as allergens from pets, dust mites, skin cells, household appliances, bad odours etc. all contribute to polluting the air. With people now in the home more than ever, there is also a high level of Carbon Dioxide produced; without ventilation and often air conditioning which recycles air, CO2 ends up circulating and is repeatedly inhaled which has an adverse effect on your mood and productivity when working.

Learn about integrated blinds and curtains by registering for our CPD

When we think of pollution, we usually think of external factors such as pollution from cars and public transport as well as noise pollution. However, with a smart home automation system we can provide air filtration systems that monitor and clean the air, ensuring that you can breathe clean air at home, without the airborne pollutants or contaminants, or noise from having windows open in urban areas.

Music zone

Having a connected home means built-in speakers connected to your favourite music content; many of which are now equipped with features such as advanced voice control, however almost all fail on looks and sound, even the most expensive Amazon speakers fall short on sound quality.

Whilst most automatically look towards Sonos for their home speaker set up we turn to Bowers & Wilkins for their superior design and sound.

B&W Formation series is a range of wireless speakers, allowing you to build your system as you please. All of which utilise B&W’s superior sound, design and build quality delivering a fantastic listening experience as well as ease of use. From the many systems we’ve installed we can also confirm they are easier and quicker to set up when compared to a Sonos system.

If, like us, you consider yourself an audiophile - quality should never be compromised. Bowers & Wilkins ultra-premium speakers can not only stream via Spotify but also stream higher-quality / lossless audio such as Tidal. Their patented mesh network also claims a microsecond between speakers, meaning even over Wi-Fi you should not notice any lag in sound when using multiple speakers.

B&W can also easily integrate into any existing AV system without requiring copious amounts of new hardware.

If you want a speaker that exceeds expectations then Bower & Wilkins Formation series is what you need.

Conclusion

Whether you are working in your own dedicated office or repurposing your kitchen table, getting the right light, plugging your laptop into your router, opening up some windows and turning on some tunes from a great speaker will make working from home all the more enjoyable.

If you are looking to upgrade your home with a powerful home network, or an incredible home sound system then get in touch with us today for your Home Automation Solution.

November Lockdown

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration we will be staying open during this lockdown and will continue to operate as best we can with our partners.

Our staff are still following the strict COVID-19 guidelines of social distancing, wearing masks and regularly washing hands to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Our showrooms are still open, by appointment only. If you wish to visit our showroom please get in touch with us to book your appointment.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch. Thank you.

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The new 'Waitrose factor' of Homes

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

There's no denying the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we work, with our kitchens and living rooms now doubling as our new home offices.

With this, a fast and reliable internet connection is becoming an essential part of the household for everyone working from home.

The great news is that the UK is leading other European countries in the availability of super fast internet services, however not every town outside of London has access to fast internet.

Figures from the office for national statistics show that between April and June of this year, more than 46% of all employed people worked, at least partly, from home. This proves that there is a real need for not only fast internet, but also a reliable network meaning you can use the internet all over your home.

Super fast broadband is now so desirable, it has become the new 'Waitrose factor' of when refurbishing, buying, or selling a home. Read more below on how to get super fast and reliable internet for your home.

HOW TO GET SUPERFAST BROADBAND?

If you are considering moving home, we recommend checking with the big three; BT, Virgin, or Sky - the biggest and best internet service providers in the UK, as to whether they have super fast availability in the area.

Most UK homes in built-up areas will connect into an existing line in order to gain access to the internet. However, if you live somewhere more remote i.e. a large country estate, your access to fibre or even broadband infrastructure may be limited. If this applies to you, there are a number of things you can do;

Firstly you need a leased-line. Most people in the UK actually share their internet connection with the people in their street meaning there can be fluctuations in speeds. A leased-line is a dedicated line of internet to your home, provided by your internet supplier. This doesn't fluctuate in connectivity because it is all yours, all of the time.

Secondly, you need a robust home network. This is done by discreetly installing Wi-Fi access points around the home which are hardwired to a network switch. This ensures Wi-Fi is accessible and stable in every part of the home, instead of in random hot-spots. Having a leased line without a robust network behind it is like buying a Mercedes and never going above 20mph.

As networking specialists, we are experts in setting up and configuring home networks so you can have the most powerful internet network in your home, minimising the risk of dropping out of online meetings or having to watch Netflix buffer.

Get in touch with us today to set up your home network.

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Had enough of London and want to move out to the country? These four UK locations might be the best places to go to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, but still stay online.

LUDLOW

Located in Shropshire, Ludlow is a hub for foodies but often overlooked by Londoners as it is over 3 hours away. However, Openreach is expanding and upgrading the entire area with faster internet speeds. With over 500 listed buildings and lower than average house prices, demand and indeed prices may see a rise as more people flock to this lavish town.

CHILTERN HILLS

Living in the Chiltern Hills is a game-changer. Not only are the views extremely beautiful but there is an excellent internet connection in the area making it a fantastic place to work from remotely.

Commuting is also a breeze, with a rail link directly into Paddington station. Property prices in the area are a little higher, however it is surrounded by excellent schooling alongside acres of picturesque countryside, making it a wonderful place to work from remotely, as well as raise a family.

COTSWOLDS

There is a great community in Calne, with its Castlefields Canal and River Park. The Wiltshire town has the highest average download speeds in the country. Alongside this there is a current surge in new homes being built using locally sourced Cotswold Stone, it is another place to consider heading too to escape London.

NORTHAMPTON

The smaller villages around Northampton are becoming modernised with broadband going from basic to business-friendly fast in the past year. With commuter trains running regularly into Euston, and in under an hour, now is the perfect time to snatch up a lovely village home and redesign the way you live and work.

HULL

Not the sexiest city but when you head into the smaller villages like Elloughton, you find lovely homes within an area that have some of the fastest internet speeds in the country.

Working with a home automation professional

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

From a high-end residential architects perspective, appointing a dedicated home automation professional is often seen as an unnecessary, and perhaps lavish addition. Especially when considering consumer focussed 'Smart' devices are now readily available in the marketplace.

However, there are a number of professional home automation companies who have been installing and upgrading the homes of the wealthy and famous with the very latest technology, providing the occupants with the complete smart package, which is not only functional but also beautiful. This industry is rapidly expanding, and as such the need for integrators continues to grow accordingly.

But why do you need an integrator and what is their role in the project?

Read on below to find out what it is like to work with a smart home automation professional.

DIY IS NOT THE ANSWER.

Before we begin to discuss integrators, we have to state that DIY smart homes are far from an optimal solution. Whilst most consumer smart devices are relatively inexpensive, they are not without flaw; often becoming unreliable and eventually outdated and obsolete.

There are a number of systems that claim to control a multitude of functions in the home. However, enabling these to communicate and interact with each other, from a DIY standpoint, can prove overly complicated and longwinded.

Learn why DYI Smart Homes won't work in our CPD

For a single room, the DIY approach is somewhat manageable. However, when considering a 7 bedroom, 5 storey townhouse, it is almost impossible for a DIY smart home to work effectively.

Without an in-depth understanding of audiovisual systems, intelligent lighting control, HVAC, wiring and network infrastructure, or what to do when a device or component fails, it can become more of frustration than a convenience and the novelty can quickly wear off.

This is where the home automation professional steps in. With extensive experienced in design, install and commissioning of complete and efficient smart home systems, we ensure that the system is simple to use, reliable and intuitive.

Home automation professionals work alongside architects, interior designers, M&E consultants and contractors to build a beautiful home, meeting or exceeding the clients brief.

BEFORE BREAKING GROUND

Home automation professionals should be brought into the project as early as possible, ideally at the very start. By doing so, they can meet with the architect to review plans, discuss ideas, and suggest efficient ways to control the home.

They should also meet with the client to establish a brief, to understand how the client lives and what is important to them. This way they can then suggest suitable solutions to meet the client's needs.

We often meet architects and clients at one of our two showrooms in London.

BOOK A VISIT

Often when people think 'smart home', we imagine a complicated maze of menus and sub-menus, adding complexity and stress to our lives. When in actual fact the opposite is true, the aim is to make life simpler. Through the use of technology, we make recommendations aimed at improving the quality of life.

Whether it's gently waking you up with natural or artificial lighting, improving air quality, or transforming your traditional lounge into a fully-fledged home cinema at the touch of a button, an integrator can create the perfect solution for you.

Recommendations are not only based on budget, space and desired functionality, but also location and historical aspects of the building. We work on many Grade I & II listed buildings where there is a specific focus on preserving historical significance.

DESIGNING

One of the home automation professionals main responsibilities is to work with the architect to ensure the system they are designing is clear to understand for all parties involved.

This is achieved by producing detailed design documentation outlining the specific equipment required room by room. They will also produce elevations, and possibly even 3D visualisations, meaning there is no confusion on site.

The home automation professional will also actively interact with all other consultants and contractors to ensure that if their works need to be controlled, it is integrated into the control scheme of the home.

For example, the lighting designer will need to provide the integrator with necessary information such as lighting loads, fitting types etc. so the integrator can implement an intelligent and reliable lighting system that doesn’t suffer from overloading.

Exemplary lighting with Lutron

LENNOX LUXURY | PALATIAL PENTHOUSE

The same applies to M&E consultants. The integrator can ensure the HVAC system is controlled centrally and as part of the light and shade control, as opposed to independently via separate wall panels or buttons. Providing greater flexibility when determining the mood of the room.

A good integrator will endeavour to design a system whereby the benefits are felt but not necessarily seen, with as much hidden technology as possible. We understand that black boxes such as amplifiers, TV set-top boxes, and wires strewn across the floor are not visually appealing.

Learn cabling by registering for our CPD

We aim to shift as much equipment as possible away from rooms and into a central location. This is typically in the basement where we would install an AV cabinet housing all necessary equipment.

Having the design of a smart home system outlined and transparent for all parties involved makes construction a lot simpler, easier and lowers the margin of error on site.

INSTALLATION

The home automation professional takes full responsibility of installing all smart home-related equipment, this includes any third party device integration. TV's, speakers, keypads and on-wall control panels in rooms are all installed by the integrator.

Two finished AV Cabinets

PALATIAL PENTHOUSE | KENSINGTON TERRACE

As previously mentioned, the AV cabinet will typically house most of the equipment which isn’t to be on-show in a room. The AV cabinet alongside almost every other piece of hardware is set up and pre-commissioned off-site.

This allows the engineers to extensively bench-test every piece of hardware and software, looking for any potential bugs, faults or errors. Also testing heat output of the assembled AV cabinet as well as stress testing for extreme use.

By doing so, we almost guarantee all equipment will work immediately. It also means the integrator is not on-site for long periods of time during install, potentially delaying progress of other works.

Commissioning

After our pre-commissioned hardware arrives on-site and is installed, it is then wired to all of the equipment in the home. Lighting, HVAC, security, control, network, audio and video services are all connected and then tested.

We test every piece of hardware, no matter how small, to ensure everything is working as intended for our client. This includes testing every single lighting circuit, speakers, heaters, TVs, and more, to make sure they are carrying out their correct functions.

Commissioned Touchscreens

This is also the time when we can tailor interaction with our control systems to the clients liking. If the lights come in a manner they do not like or the blinds move too slowly or the remote needs a dedicated button for a particular channel then we can make sure their needs are met in the commissioning process.

When the client moves into their home then they will be able to enjoy these services without any issues.

CEDIA MEMBER

CEDIA is an international association for companies who design, manufacture and integrate technology in the home. Members are typically fastidious when it comes to learning, education and furthering their technical ability. Doing so earns them additional certifications meaning they can undertake more advanced installations.

NV Integration is a part of the upper echelon of installers, CEDIA Members of Excellence. Only 14 companies in the world hold this title.

CONCLUSION

A smart home integrator can add significant value to your next project. Their extensive product knowledge combined with technical knowhow means they can design and build a system that works for you and your needs. They will provide a comprehensive design package that will give a transparent overview of their work.

All equipment will be pre-commissioned by the integrator off-site by their experienced engineers minimising the risk of teething problems post install.

If your client demands a design focussed, intelligent, functional home that is tailored to their needs, then you need an integrator to bring it all together.

If this sounds like it might be you, get in touch to discuss your next project.

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The Voice Controlled Smart Home

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Architectural

Josh.ai are pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence in the home with the launch of Josh Nano and the Josh Core. These new products work together to provide complete voice control of the home, delivering an unparalleled automation experience.

The josh nano is the worlds first architectural microphone; it is small, discreet and designed to seamlessly blend into any home. Don't be fooled by its small footprint, this tiny device packs quite a punch.

It can connect directly to home automation systems such as Crestron and Lutron allowing effortless control of lights, shades, audio plus so much more.

General voice-controlled speakers are pushing the voice command to the side and focusing on creating a better, larger speaker that lends itself to be the go-to smart home control hub that sits in the corner of the living room.

However, the nano is different. It provides the homeowner with the four things they want from technology.

Seamless integration into any room design.
Simple to use.
Offers high-levels of privacy and data security.
A small form factor with powerful technology behind it.

Josh Nano measures in at 0.1 of an inch deep and 1.6 inches in diameter, making it only slightly larger than a £2 coin, it is almost unnoticeable when fitted onto a wall or ceiling.

It comes in two colours; coral white or jet back. However, it can also be fitted with a painted cover allowing the Nano to fit into even the most discerning aesthetics. Out of sight but never out of mind.

_{The Josh Nano blends perfectly into the wall}

Privacy & Security

The Nano features a four-microphone array including advanced far-field technology, meaning commands are received no matter where you are in the room.

However, knowing that a device is constantly listening is naturally a little unnerving, and may raise concerns surrounding security and privacy. Unlike similar devices by Amazon and Google, which are constantly listening for keywords in order to retarget customers, the Josh Nano does not share its data.

The Nano also features a revolutionary disconnect switch, which fully disables the microphone. Meaning what's said at home, stays at home.

Powerful Processing Power

The Nano is backed up by the Josh Core, the brains of the operation. The Core does not need to be located in the room it is controlling, it can instead be stored within the AV cabinet alongside all other AV equipment.

The Core is fully scaleable and can support up to 100 microphones. It also integrates into amplifiers and speakers, meaning it can provide audible feedback that commands are acknowledged.

The Josh Core and Josh Nano with use their own proprietary VoiceCast and VoiceLink technology to send responses throughout the home, creating a very lifelike and intelligent experience. Pairing Josh.ai with invisible or in-wall speakers delivers a true virtual assistant experience.

Josh Core uses a custom-made natural language processing engine, meaning it can handle multiple requests in one command. Josh have also developed great working partnerships with Crestron, Lutron plus many other companies, allowing full integration within these systems.

This allows homeowners to recall scenes or moods for each area of the home using natural voice commands. Josh.ai can be used to tune lighting, shading, audio/visual, security, HVAC plus lots more. Creating a truly automated experience.

We cannot wait to utilise Josh.ai in our projects when it arrives into the UK, and to provide our clients with a powerful voice-control system.

5 Advantages to Smart Home Automation

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

There are significant advantages to home automation that can add ease to controlling and living in a luxury home, especially during lockdown.

Read on to find out the top 5 advantages to professional smart home automation.

Luxury Interiors

A professional smart home automation install can save and even enhance the interior design of a home. This is achieved with three things: centralised equipment, cabling, and beautiful interfaces.

Every home with a virgin or sky set top box and internet will know the hassle of having to put those ugly boxes in the front room with wires connecting to the TV. It never looks appropriate and even when hidden in a media cabinet with a blu-ray player and consoles it will still look untidy.

We remove these media boxes and normally place them in the basement where we have an AV cabinet that contains all the equipment that is used to distribute and control media across a home.

Cabling is an important part of any home but as we mentioned before it can be ugly and detract from what is a beautiful room with cables trailing on the floor. Cables are installed behind walls so nothing is on display and leaves a clean aesthetic.

The homes we work in are often large, and lavish and every detail reflects this luxurious design in the smart home automation installation. We supply beautiful keypads and interfaces that can blend seamlessly into any room or make a statement drawing attention to it as a point of control.

All in one system

Those who own iPhones are likely to own iPads and MacBooks, why? These devices are all made by Apple, they share some a commonality in approach to design whilst making communication between devices incredibly easy.

When you have separate systems like in a DIY smart home it becomes harder for users to switch between interfaces and types of control which contributes to frustration and time wasting on trying to get what you want.

Multiple controls also means there are multiple interfaces on the wall that are being used creating wall acne with many ugly interfaces.

With a professional smart home automation install services for heating, alarms, lighting can be consolidated into one interface that can take control of everything without overloading the homeowner with so many options of what to do.

This makes it easier for homeowners to control their home without getting confused or wasting their time.

Flexible Control

Smart Home Automation encompasses both a traditionalist and modern approach when it comes to home design. We provide the best way for homeowners to interact with their home which means control needs to be flexible.

We are used to traditionally controlling the home, using keys to open doors, controlling lights at switches, controlling heating at thermostats. However, in a smart home, those options of control are still present but with added layers of control and a more attractive appearance.

For example, a lighting keypad can be both beautiful and functional. It can control more than the lights in one room. A keypad can be programmed to recall set scenes but also to control different lights in the corresponding hallway so you don’t have to step out of your room to switch lights off.

Smart home automation will consolidate all the services in a home and make it accessible through one simple control system. This means that the homeowner can interact with their home in a multitude of ways. Through mobile, tablet apps, remote controls, or on-wall touch panels.

We live in the age of technology and the home should be accessible all the time. We provide the most natural way of controlling your home but have these additional features.

When the lights and heating are left before going on holiday instead of going back they can simply turn it all off from their phone instead of going back to the home.

Flexibility control with a traditionalist design allows for more control.

Energy Efficiency

Many think that the more technology is in a home the more electricity is being used, however this is not always the case. With a smart home automation system considerable amounts of energy can be saved compared to a traditional home.

Presence detection can have a massive impact when integrated into a heating and lighting system – two of the most used aspects of the home.

Many of our homes are six storey mansions in Belgravia and Knightsbridge with many rooms such as guest rooms and media rooms that are used on occasion. Bedrooms whilst used every day often have gaps of hours when they are not being used. Presence detection will remove these rooms from a normal heat cycles would allow them to save a considerable amount of energy by only turning when someone is detected in a room.

Lighting often wastes energy when left unchecked. Presence detection will ensure that the rooms which have lights and no one in them will turn off automatically and save energy.

Beyond presence detection, there are other ways to save energy within your home

Air conditioning which is mostly only used in the summer time can become very expensive to constantly have on when rooms become hot. Employing the use of proper shading can stop the transmission of heat through windows which will negate the need for air conditioning.

Smart Home Automation can do more than control the movement of multiple blinds. With temperature integration a room can automatically close blinds in the summer to try which lower the temperature in a room.

Blinds are also integrated into the lighting system which means when blinds are closed lights will automatically turn on.

We have also found more and more that homeowners would like to know the finer details about their home which includes the amount of energy they are using. With a Smart Home Automation system that data can be pulled forward to display where energy is being saved and where it is being spent. This allows homeowners to make conscious decisions about their home to save on energy.

Maximising Security

A Smart Home Automation install can make your home safer by integrating security and alarm systems into a larger system of control for quick and easy access.

Home security encompasses several elements, cameras, motion detectors, alarms, lighting and secure entry. Each of these elements works together to create a wide-ranging security system that gives homeowners complete peace of mind.

Security cameras are installed around a home with eyes covering all potential entrances to catch any movement. These cameras are integrated into the larger system of control which allows homeowners to view the feed on their TVs, mobiles and tablets at any time of the day. The footage is also backed up to a physical hard drive in the AV cabinet but also to the cloud so it can be accessed at any time in case hard drives are damaged.

Motion detectors are a great way of deterring potential burglars from entering the property. They can also be integrated and programmed to turn on outside lights of a home when someone is trying to enter the property.

Technology has become so advanced that motion detectors can tell the difference between people and falling leaves or small rodents. This way lights will not be tripped unnecessarily causing the homeowner to wake up.

Door and gate entry systems are a great of checking potential aggressors at the door. Having a door entry system in place allows the homeowner to communicate with the person at the door, telling them to leave packages or let them in by remotely opening the door.

Door entry systems are also great for the elderly who have mobility issues.

Alarm systems are easily be integrated into the smart home automation system and can notify the homeowner when they are away from their home if someone has broken into their home as well as automatically call the police.

These aspects of security can easily integrate into the home but the most important factor for homeowners is being able to access security when you need it quickly. This is why our custom interfaces prioritise security and push it to the home screen.

Contact us

There are so many advantages to having a smart home automation system for your home from having simpler control over your home to ensuring that you are completely safe at home. Having a smart home automation installation can make a great difference.

Read more in this article about busting smart home myths:

If you are an architect or interior designer you can register for a RIBA approved CPD by registering here:

If you would like to discuss a project please contact us today or book a visit to our showroom.

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The KNX Smart Home - CEDIA Guest Post

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

KNX is often misconstrued as a product, but it is an open platform – it’s like a language. Products use the KNX language to communicate with each other and what that means is that it blows the playing field wide open.

You have hundreds of manufacturers making thousands of products, meaning that there is always the right puzzle piece needed for every project and that you can design a very modular and flexible system.

KNX has been around for over 30 years. I think, historically, it was aimed at the commercial market as you can have up to 61,000 devices in a project. However, the products are not commercially focussed or commercially minded in terms of aesthetics.

It’s much wider than that, which means that just as the products would work well in a Private Members Club or a 5-star hotel, they will also suit a very prestigious home or a block of luxury flats.

Like most CEDIA integrators, we came to KNX from the AV and IT side and our reason for exploring the options with KNX is through the need we have in being able to deliver more. KNX opens the doors to so many possibilities.

In our projects, we usually feature both centralised and decentralised systems. We pride ourselves in offering our clients unbiased consultancy to provide them with the system that's right for them.

So, if we are working on a full house system, we are still going to have a headend, we are still going to have a centralised network system, and we are still going to have our decentralised aspects as well.

As an integrator, you need to be multi-skilled. If we went into a project and just said that we are here to sell you a KNX system, then we would probably lose a lot of jobs because some people might want to have more than the KNX system is capable of.

Being a good integrator is about being a good multitasker and picking the right bolt-ons for the right project.

When it comes to deciding between whether to use a server or a KNX distributed approach, it’s dependent on each project. We have found that we are using servers more and more in different shapes and sizes. However, the important thing to remember is that because it's a decentralised system, whether you have that server or not, each device carries a piece of intelligence.

As long as you have designed and commissioned the system in the correct and proper fashion to make sure that the systems will talk to each other without the brain in the middle, then the homeowner can have the confidence that the system will carry on working even if the server goes down.

Going forwards, I think there's a lot going on around wellness and people placing more value and importance on their home being their haven. KNX has some great solutions that play into this market. For example, an air quality sensor could be installed into the bathroom occupancy sensor.

That could then be integrated into the ventilation system, and that occupancy sensor can also turn on the domestic hot water pump so that you get really fast hot water. All this is set up without you having to have an extra PIR for that separate device because it's all one clever system that's talking to each other.

That's the really nice thing about KNX. You might end up using four or five different manufacturers to have the building control talk to the home automation systems to feed back to the lighting control system to make something happen. Obviously, that's what we do, but there are potentially more points of failure. With a KNX system, you minimise these risks and can have more of a streamlined approach.

KNX RF has recently been released to allow you to create and deploy hybrid systems, which are suited to areas where you can't get cable or maybe you can only get local power. We sometimes use RF lighting control systems in a retrofit sense as we’ve always found it to be super reliable. We haven’t yet worked with KNX RF, but I'm sure it would work great.

If you are an integrator looking to get started with KNX, CEDIA has recently launched the hybrid KNX basic course, which explores all the aspects of the KNX protocol. The hybrid training includes six self-paced online modules, followed by a two-day on-site practical course. For more information, visit cedia.net/knx.

If you are looking to utilise KNX on your next project then get in touch with us here.

Sony Bravia Core, a better way of streaming?

Tue, 04 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Is the Sony Bravia Core the streaming service we all need?

Sony has come prepared to shake the world of home theatre with their latest line of TV models: The Sony Bravia XR which now comes with Sony Bravia Core. A premium streaming service that claims to stream select films in UltraHD Blu-Ray quality with Dolby Atmos sound.

Whilst the promise is high, the delivery may not be. We have been promised 4K UltraHD content from current streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+, who do deliver 4K but only at the threshold of quality. Can we assume Sony’s Bravia Core service will also do the same?

What sets Bravia Core apart from other streaming platforms is the amount of bandwidth that is needed. Netflix, Disney+, AppleTV stream 4K at 25mbps whilst Amazon streams at 15mbps:

Bravia Core, however, streams up to 80mbps using Sony’s Pure Stream technology. This means a minimum of 115mbps is required to stream films in 4k.

The reason the required bandwidth is higher is that movies are not as compressed and will deliver far more detail, and colour compared to something streamed on Amazon prime.

The audio is also not being compressed heavily. This allows movies to be mixed and heard in Dolby Atmos. If you have a home theatre set up with a minimum 5.1 surround sound system then you will be able to discern the audio quality more than other streaming platforms.

Bravia Core gives you access to a variety of movies that are licensed by Sony Pictures Entertainment. This is likely to expand once more people are using it and they bring the streaming service to other Sony products like the PS5.

There will also be a library of IMAX enhanced films that have been digitally remastered specifically for Bravia Core. The idea is to emulate the look and quality of an IMAX movie for home viewing. For Sony, it means delivering films in the highest quality possible, with the original aspect ratio the movie was filmed in. Most movies are shown in the ratio 2.35:1 which has often been cropped from 16:9.

Depending on the model Sony Bravia TVs will come with 12 or 24 months of free access to the streaming service when you buy a Sony Bravia TV. If you buy another TV then the free access to the streaming service will increase. Once the free access is over, Sony will implement a credits purchasing system for films.

Is Sony BRAVIA Worth it?

Yes, it is. Sony are the leaders in TV technology right now, and the XR models are incredibly high quality displays - great for viewing sports, movies and TV shows. However, we do not think that you should pick up this TV solely for the Bravia Core streaming service.

Before you purchase this TV there are two things that you need. A fast and reliable internet connection and cabling infrastructure.

Fast and reliable internet connections come in the form of leased lines. These are dedicated lines of bandwidth that homeowners do not share with other people on the street. This guarantees an incredibly high-speed and constant internet connection. Whereas a regular line of broadband is shared with other people in the home, but also in the neighbourhood.

Infrastructure cabling gives you a reliable way of making sure your TV is always online and ready for streaming. A Cat6 data cable connected from your router to your TV will enable you to have the fastest speed for streaming. This also keeps the wireless bandwidth free for all your other devices to use.

Relying on Wi-Fi for streaming is not recommended. Wi-Fi signals can be dubious and when your router is behind walls in different rooms, getting a sufficient signal can be a challenge.

Better than Bravia

If you are implementing a cabling infrastructure and paying for a leased line, then there is a better solution to using Bravia Core.

While Bravia Core has access to a plethora of movies, they are all licensed from Sony Pictures Entertainment, leaving you needing to use other streaming services anyway. The solution for this comes from Kaleidescape who partner with movie & TV studios to losslessly remaster movies and TV shows for home viewing.

Book a visit to our showroom to see how Kaleidescape works.

This is not a streaming service. Kaleidescape movies are directly downloaded to a local movie server and then played back in the highest quality. This means the movie is available offline and is always available at the press of a button without having to worry about buffering or drops in quality.

The Kaleidescape is also region free so a film that might not be available on Netflix because you are in the UK will be available for download on Kaleidescape.

Kaleidescape go through a rigorous process of error checking to ensure that content is played back in the highest quality video and sound.

Kaleidescape also remasters the sound in movies for a balanced and smooth audio playback. This enables you to be fully engrossed in the movie where action scenes and dialogue scenes are seamless in levels.

The biggest gripe people have with streaming movies is that the sound is never balanced. Action scenes are too loud and dialogue scenes are too quiet. Movies from Kaleidescape will be smooth and seamless.

This streaming service is a perfect addition to any Smart Home system that utilises an AV Cabinet to store equipment that is not needed in the room, like amplifiers, video matrices and home control hardware and a movie server. With smart control and video switching the movie server can connect to multiple displays in the home not just a projector.

If you are looking for a new TV to add to your home then the Sony Bravia XR models are going to be a great addition to your home with its incredibly high-quality display and being able to stream movies and TV shows directly to the TV.

However, if you are looking for a movie-watching experience unlike any other then investing in the Kaleidescape movie server will deliver unmatched video and audio quality as if you are were watching it in the cinema.

If you are currently working on a project and would like to discuss your new home theatre set up get in touch today.

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ESC-N Certified Networking Specialist

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to our very own Pip Evans for passing his ESC-N CEDIA Exam, who is now a recogninsed CEDIA Certified Networking Specialist.

Virtually all technologies are now part of the home network. With this ever-changing technological landscape, it is important to be working with a company that has a higher understanding of the home network. How it is designed, how it is installed, commissioned and how it can truly benefit the end-user in the home as it forms a critical part of a complete cutting edge smart home

Powered with this knowledge we can ensure that our networking solutions are even more efficient, reliable and powerful than ever before.

Crestron Elite Partners

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

NV Integration have proudly been awarded coveted Elite Partner status with Crestron.

The Crestron Elite Partner programme is aimed at recognising those integrators who are dedicated to continual Crestron training and educational development.

The Elite Partner status recognises companies that have achieved the highest possible level of skill and expertise required to successfully deliver Crestron solutions within both residential and commercial properties.

NV integration now also have access to Crestron's advanced training programmes, providing access to exclusive benefits such as the Global Enterprise Partners support programme which can assist in developing intuitive solutions for our clients.

We are elated to be recognized as an Elite Partner by Crestron. Our continued work on residential properties with Crestron has consistently produce homes that are both beautiful as well as functional.

If you would like to explore Crestron for your next project, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

See below case studies highlighting some of our recently completed projects utilising Crestron:

Draytek Certified

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

DrayTek Certified

We are pleased to announce that our engineer Malik Ahmed has successfully completed the DrayTek Certified Network Administrators course for DrayOS and VigorAP. He passed the exam with a perfect 100% score.

NVI Sponsors Together for Cinema

Tue, 16 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

We have become a gold sponsor for Together for Cinema, a non-profit organisation that builds cinema rooms in children's hospices throughout the UK. Our sponsorship will help to fund the TFC's upcoming and scheduled home cinema installations for those in need across the UK.

Here are some of the benefits that our sponsorship will provide to Together for Cinema:

Financial assistance: The sponsorship will help to fund Together for Cinemas' future work, by providing financial assistance to purchase the equipment needed to deliver the home cinema rooms. This assistance can help cinemas to cover their operating costs, upgrade their facilities, and maintain the home cinema rooms installed.
Training and operational costs: The sponsorship will also help to fund Together for Cinemas' training programs and staffing.
Advocacy: The sponsorship will also help to fund Together for Cinema' advocacy efforts. Together for Cinemas works to promote the program for the benefits of the children's hospices which they provide these amazing spaces to.

NV Integration's sponsorship of Together for Cinemas is a significant contribution to the organisation's work. The company's support will help to ensure that this much needed relief is there for those in need, and their support groups have these cinemas to use and share some special moments with.

Who is together for cinema?

Together For Cinema CIC is a Community Interest Company whose main focus is to work with the AV industry to design and install home cinema rooms in children’s hospices and other suitable locations across the UK. These rooms not only benefit the children and young adults, but also their families, carers, staff and volunteers. Together For Cinema has comprehensive support and backing from our industry, hence all products and installation services are donated.

https://www.togetherforcinema.co.uk/

CEDIA Smart Home Awards

Tue, 16 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

We're pleased to announce that we have entered two projects into the CEDIA Smart Home Awards 2023, Best Integrated Home and Best Home Cinema Categories.

You can learn more about these 2 projects below:

Best Home Cinema

Best Integrated Home

Fingers crossed as the judging process happens, and we hope to be on stage in the autumn!

Upgrade your old Lutron system

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

London is full of older Lutron HomeWorks Illuminations and Interactive legacy lighting control systems. NVI have updated stacks of these to the HomeWorks QS platform. This brings a number of benefits, but there are lots of aspects to consider. Read on to find out more...

There are a few different ways to upgrade a legacy Lutron system. The best option for you will depend on the specific system you have and your needs.

One option is to replace the entire system for new, while this is the best method it is also the most expensive.

The alternative is a hybrid approach where you keep the existing keypads, dimmers, or both, and change only the legacy processor (the brain of the system) for Lutron HomeWorks QS. This is usually cheaper overall, and will bring modern features such as app based control of the lights, but the saving also has downsides.

If you're not sure which option is right for you, then it's best to get in touch with us for advice. We can help you assess your needs and recommend the best upgrade path for your system.

Here are some of the benefits of upgrading your legacy Lutron system:

Improved functionality: Newer Lutron systems offer a wider range of features and functionality compared to older systems. For example, HomeWorks QS can be used to control blinds and curtains, thermostats, and other devices in addition to lights.

Lower maintenance: Newer energy saving LED bulbs have a longer lifespan than their halogen predecessors, we install it and you can forget about it. No more maintenance companies changing bulbs.

Lower bills: An offshoot of the above is that the LED bulbs are much more efficient, and therefore consume less energy than halogen bulbs. With energy prices at an all time high, that can count up to a considerable annual saving in larger properties, and in a short space of time the cost of the Lutron upgrade will have paid for itself in lower bills. Plus you'd be saving the planet too.

New products: The newest versions of Lutron HomeWorks will allow you to take advantage of Lutron's latest products, for example changing the legacy keypads to Alisse, or change your tired roller blinds to Palladiom.

App controls: The HomeWorks QS platform comes with app based controls for your phone, tablet, and smart watch. These even work when you're away from home, so you can turn off missed lights, set the heating prior to arriving home, or activate a holiday mode to simulate a lived in routine while you're away.
User level programming: If you want to adjust the lighting scenes in the future, you can access and edit the programming behind each keypad button press, directly from the app. This empowers the homeowner to tweak the lighting levels and circuits, without having the expense or wait of an engineer attending the property.
Smart programming: Newer Lutron systems can help you save energy by automatically dimming lights when you're not using them.
Improved security: Newer Lutron systems can be integrated with your smart home or security systems to provide added protection for your home. For example setting the alarm when you leave the house will automatically switch all the lights off, set the heating to away mode, and close the blinds.
Enhanced comfort: When the works are carried out, we can re-program the lighting scenes, helping you create custom lighting scenes that can help you relax, entertain, or focus.
Access to parts: If the worst should happen and a component of your legacy Lutron system fails, you could be relying on the availability of second hand parts to replace, which are becoming more scarce as each year passes. By upgrading, you're not only getting a fresh 10 year warranty from Lutron, but safe in the knowledge that there will be parts available 'off the shelf' and generally next day available should something fail.

Discounts: Lutron offer a cash incentive on any new product which is purchased at the time, for existing customers who are choosing to upgrade their Lutron HomeWorks systems.

If you're considering upgrading your legacy Lutron system, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

The cost of the upgrade will vary depending on the specific system you have and the features you want.
You will need to hire a Lutron partner to design, install, and commission the upgraded components.
If you choose to keep the legacy Lutron dimmers, you will not have the compatibility for modern LED bulbs and the energy savings that brings.

Lutron also have a useful brochure for explaining more about the process and the benefits, which you can access here.

Overall, upgrading your legacy Lutron system can be a great way to improve the functionality, energy efficiency, security, and comfort of your home, while also buying peace of mind and securing yourself against equipment failure. If you'd like to find out more then get in touch.

Planning a home cinema room

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Room shape and size:

There is no minimum size for a home cinema room, within reason. The ideal thing is to choose or build a room which is ideally rectangular. This will give an even balance to the acoustics. Depending on the number of seats or rows of seating, the floor to ceiling height is also important.

Screen and Screen size:

It’s important to remember that the screen size is relative to how far away you’re sitting, so there really is no habitable room that is too big or too small for a home cinema room.

Also, as the resolution of displays increases, our eyes feel comfortable getting closer and closer to bigger screens, because it’s possible to view from much closer and therefore larger screen while still in great detail, and without eye strain or fatigue.

Choosing a TV or projector is always a big question, and size is an important consideration to the cost, as TVs get very expensive over 85inch. If you end up choosing a projector the placement of where it’s installed in the room is crucial, due to throw ratios. Projectors also generate heat and noise, so ideally this would be considered by placing them in a projection room behind, in the ceiling above, or joinery at the back of the room. Bear in mind any enclosed projector will require some level of ventilation to stop it overheating.

In terms of image quality, a TV will outperform a projector and screen on nearly every metric which matters, however the most important metric is impressiveness, and that’s why the vast majority of home cinema installations have a projector and screen.

Seating:

The number of seats in your home cinema will depend on how many people you typically watch movies with. You'll also want to consider the size of the seats and how much space you need between them for people to get comfortable. If you’re having tiered seating think also about the height of the step between the first and second row, including any safety measures such as a handrail, it will be dark during movie time remember!

You should also consider what impact having seats too close to speakers will mean for people sat there. Less is often more with seating; your grandchildren, or nephews and nieces won’t mind sitting to watch Toy Story on bean bags at Christmas, it's only two hours in the whole year!

Having less seats in the right places will mean the people who do sit and enjoy the content, do so happily because they’re not in a compromised position.

Speakers and surround sound:

A good sound system is essential for a home cinema, all modern films are mixed in Dolby surround sound to some degree, and depending on the film and the number of channels recorded, you’ll need more speakers to reproduce that playback as the movie director intended!

The absolute minimum you'll need is a 5.1 surround sound system, which includes five speakers and a subwoofer, but generally this is the bare minimum and we would advise more if the room needs or suits it.

In 2012 Dolby launched a technology called Dolby Atmos, by having more speaker channels the sound is able to move between each speaker in a more natural, lifelike, and granular way – further enhancing the immersive feeling. For high end home cinemas it not uncommon to have 15 speakers or more. Each speaker must be correctly placed in the room so that the sound reaches your ears from the right place, where the movie director intended for it to come from.

Subs and bass:

The low frequency sounds are often overlooked in home cinemas, but have you ever heard a band playing without the bass guitarist? You’ll notice it’s flat, just as you would if the bass is lacking in a home cinema room. If you have multiple people watching a film, you’ll notice that some seats feel the bass more and others less, this is not ideal and having more subwoofers, but calibrating the room so that bass is consistent across the room and seating is the best approach.

Placement of the subwoofers is also very important. We use 3D modelling software to ensure the number of subs is correct, and the bass is going to perform in the chosen locations before any work starts.

Acoustic treatments:

Okay so the planning is going well, we’ve got our room, seats, projector/TV and sound system, but after spending some much of the precious budget on the sound, it’s important to get the best performance out of that spend, and having the right surfaces on the walls, floors and ceilings is going to be very important. Not only that it will have a big impact on the aesthetic of the room.

It is often overlooked, but far more important to spend less on the key things for the room, and still have some remaining budget to treat the room, than it is to buy the best equipment you can and blindly hope it will work optimally when it’s plugged in, the chances are it won’t – so factoring in acoustic treatments and the room the equipment is going into is an important factor.

Flooring: what finish would you like? People are often tempted to have a thick carpet, but this can potentially deaden the acoustics too much, making it sound overly unnatural. Depending on the room a hard floor such as wood, with a strategically placed rug or runner is often best.

Walls: Maybe you want to see the speakers you’ve purchased, but most don’t. This means having an acoustically transparent fabric walling system across the front, sides and rear walls of the room allows the speakers to be perfectly placed, but not seen. This method allows the void behind the fabric but surrounding the speakers to be filled with acoustic treatment ‘diffusion and absorption panels’ to stop reflected sounds bouncing around the room, ensuring you only hear the intended sound.

Ceiling: Again the speakers can be hidden, and ceiling also treated, but only if it is right for the room.

Anything else: the biggest thing in a cinema room which catches the reverberating sounds is the seats. You’ve probably added a good portion of the acoustic treatment just by having somewhere to sit.

Sound proofing:

Depending on the location of the home cinema room, sound proofing techniques might also be required, to contain the sound within the room. This starts with a solid door, but ultimately for best results would require losing some of the square footage of the room, allowing the installer to build a ‘room within a room’. This stops flanking noise travelling to other rooms and floors, as the walls which the sound bounces off are isolated from the rest of the structure of the building.

CALIBRATION:

Before we move on to the other elements of the room, it’s important to remember that the products installed in the home cinema room were not made specifically for that room, therefore to get the best performance for the spend, calibrating the audio and video components is vitally important, and should not be overlooked.

It is vital to remember that calibration cannot add something which is lacking, for example if the image is too dim it won’t be able to magically make it brighter, but it could make it dimmer to comply with a specific standard or specification so that colours looked more lifelike; the exact same is true for the audio components also.

Lighting & finishes:

The lighting in your home cinema should be dark enough to create a calm experience, but not so dark that you can't see the screen. A lighting control system such as Lutron would allow you to create ‘scenes’ of lighting, recalling a perfect level of each lighting circuit for the desired function.

If you’re having a projector and screen, this is already a huge light source, and that light reflects off the screen so that you can see a picture, but that light will also reflect off bright or reflective colour surfaces, so a darker colour scheme with non reflective surfaces will give best performance.

Heating & Cooling:

Think about how many people might watch a 2 hour film, and the heat those bodies will need to keep warm, or the cooling they’ll need to stay comfortable in summer. Forced air makes noise, and this will take away from the immersive enjoyment of the film. We recommend oversizing the heating and cooling for any home cinema room so that the systems only run at minimal demands, and therefore low noise.

Control:

Bear in mind that when you’re watching a film the only sound you want to hear is the movie, and not the electronics which make the room work. Therefore we’d typically install a data cabinet housing the equipment close by, such as in an adjacent room. This means that the standard remotes which come with each device probably wont work; therefore we provide the home cinema room with a simple to use remote, or app for operation of the room. This would control all of the audio visual components, but can also control the lighting, temperature, chairs, and more!

Conclusion:

We hope you found these tips helpful and insightful for planning your next home cinema install or project. NVI have a breadth of experience in designing and installing home cinema rooms, we’ve even won awards for it. If you’d like to find out more about NVI, or the home cinema installations we offer, then please get in touch. Home cinema demonstrations are available at a number of locations across the UK.