Improving Daily Life with Ketra Natural Light

Improving Life with Ketra Lighting Products:

Southern Californians are known for living a healthy lifestyle. We’re okay with our granola, kale, and yoga stereotypes. We take pride in our ability to keep a healthy work-life balance, and are famous for our holistic approach to living. We take advantage of our incredible surroundings: staying active at the beach, hiking in the canyons, and snowboarding in the mountains. Unfortunately, most of us can’t be outside all day long. We can get stuck indoors at work and at home, leaving our bodies without the proper daylight it craves.

When most of us think about the health benefits of sunlight, we immediately think of Vitamin D. Although Vitamin D is important, our bodies crave the sun for more than one reason. Did you know that your body’s internal clock that tells your brain when to be alert and when to go to sleep is regulated by the sun? That internal clock is called your circadian rhythm. (Read more about circadian rhythm below).

Keeping our circadian rhythm running smoothly is important to our overall health. We take time to de-stress, eat healthy foods, and exercise for better personal care. As significant as all of these things are, if your circadian rhythm is off, you can’t optimally experience their benefits. With Ketra, you can incorporate circadian lighting into your home.

Ketra encourages you to take a holistic approach to circadian rhythm by incorporating lighting in your home that replicates natural light all day long. Ketra’s full spectrum, tunable light dynamically shifts throughout the day to precisely mimic the color temperature and intensity of natural light.

Can My Family Benefit from Ketra’s Natural Light?

People who work from home, stay-at-home parents, children, and the elderly are all susceptible to daytime fatigue, jetlag when traveling, and irregular sleep patterns. Introducing Ketra natural light into the home helps to combat these effects, allowing you to live a more balanced lifestyle by receiving the stimulus your body needs to maintain proper health and rest.

With Ketra natural light, wake to energizing cool toned morning light to give you the best start to your day. Naturally stay alert and focused throughout the afternoon without the extra cup of coffee, and slowly unwind in the evening to prepare your body for rest.

Whether recharging during the weekends, or coming home in the evenings to calming warm-toned lighting, Ketra Natural Light is for everyone, and benefits everybody.

Circadian Rhythm 101

Your circadian rhythm is a 24-hour internal clock that runs subconsciously in your brain and cycles between sleepiness and alertness at regular intervals. Circadian rhythm can be influenced by many factors, but the most prominent is daylight. During the day when the sun is its brightest, your circadian rhythm triggers you to be alert and awake. In the evening when the sun is setting, your body knows to wind down into sleep mode.

Scientists have found that circadian rhythm does not only regulate sleep-wake cycles, but it also influences the molecular biology of individual cells and organ systems. So, what does that mean for our body if our circadian rhythm is disrupted?

When your body’s circadian rhythm isn’t optimally synced, you can experience sleepiness during the day, difficulty initiating sleep at night, poor concentration, impaired performance, reduced coordination, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues.

The symptoms of a disrupted circadian rhythm can seem overwhelming, especially if you don’t have the ability to be outside in the sun or near a window all day to get your body set to its optimal schedule.

Office workers are the largest group of people who are negatively affected by a decreased exposure to daylight. Without the proper daylight, office workers tend to experience an afternoon lull in energy and focus. This is mainly caused by a lack of exposure to daylight. Commercial spaces have taken notice, and have started to install circadian lighting that mimics the light levels and tones of the sun.

For more information on Ketra Lighting, what it can achieve, and how to plan for your own natural lighting oasis, call us at 310-836-9333. In the meantime, feel free to download Ketra’s Natural Light brochure for more information, and specifics about Ketra’s products:

Choosing the Right Drapery for your Automated Window Coverings

Southern California homes are known for their exquisite floor-to-ceiling windows that take advantage of sweeping views. Whether you have an ocean, city, or mountain view from your windows, or just want to fill your home with daylight, large windows offer many advantages to Southland residents. Unfortunately, large windows come with their own set of drawbacks including heat, glare, sun damage to upholstery and artwork, and a lack of privacy. For all these reasons and more, most homeowners choose to install window coverings.

The options seem to be endless. Various fabrics and linings, mounting styles, automation, the list is very long. To aide in your determination of which style of window covering suits your home and lifestyle best, we’ve compiled some helpful information on typical design standards.

DRAPERY

Lining options:

Blackout: Usually used in bedrooms to completely block out light
Regular: a semi permeable fabric to filter the amount of daylight that emits from the fabric
Unlined: No lining on the back of the window covering fabric. Depending on the fabric chosen, this can filter less light to maintain some level of daylight in a space

Mounting styles:

Ripple fold:
- 1” header with 5” bottom hem
- Standard fullness: 120% with options for 80% or 100%
Pinch pleat: Top tacked
- 5” header with 5” bottom hem
- Standard fullness: Triple pinch (right) with options for single pinch (left) or double pinch (middle)
Pinch Pleat: Middle/bottom tacked
- 5” header with 5” bottom hem
- Standard fullness: triple pinch with options for single pinch or double pinch
Tailored pleat:
- 5” header with 5” bottom hem
- Fullness: 200%
Grommet:
- 5” header with 5” bottom hem
Sheers:
- 5” header with buckram header
- ½” bottom euro hem with chain

Additional drapery items to consider:

Buckram: strip of white or translucent stiffener that helps add more defined shape to a drapery
Memory stitch: an optional service that maintains the “S” shape at the bottom hem

ROMAN SHADES

Lining options:

Blackout: Usually used in bedrooms to completely block out light
Regular: Ad semi-permeable fabric to filter the amount of daylight that emits from the fabric6
Unlined: No lining on the back of the window covering fabric. Depending on the fabric chosen, this can filter less light to maintain some level of daylight in a space
Flat Roman Shade: Powerfull’s standard. Customers that want a streamlined look gravitate to this style because it is made from one solid piece of fabric with no seams
Plain Classic Pleated: a flat shade with horizontal pleats sewn across the width of the shade
European relaxed: These shades curve up when raised, creating a softer, more relaxed look. This style is popular for homeowners using more luxurious fabrics
Front slat Roman: This style features horizontal tucks on the front of the shade to add texture and visual interest
Soft fold/hobbled roman shade: A more traditional style, constructed with larger tucks of fabric all the way down the shade. Looks great in formal settings
Mock-Roman shade with banding detail: a mock-Roman, or faux-Roman shade is a longer valance made to look as if a Roman shade has been raised. A mock-Roman doesn’t actually move up and down on the window
Fabric to the back, valance forward: This style uses a reverse method of hanging fabric by creating a valance with fabric that has been looped in front to hide the shades when raised

Additional Roman shade items to consider:

Hardware covers: Side cover is continuous to the roman valance. Usually used for CFWD fabric to the back of roman shades.
Hard return: Fabric wrapped plastic side cover for manual roman shades
Soft return: Fabric side cover for manual roman shades

DRAPERY TERMINOLOGY 101

Header: The top of the drape or curtain from where it is hung onto a curtain rod

Fullness: Curtain fullness is the relationship between the length of the curtain track or pole and the amount of fabric used in the curtains. There are different fullness ratios for each heading type, because some curtains need more fabric when hung

Buckram heading: A strip of white or translucent stiffener that helps add a more defined shape to a drapery header. Buckram hides between layers of fabric and lining to create a sturdier header

Valance: A shorter piece of fabric at the top of a window that can add a decorative element and comes in various styles. Valances can be used on their own to cover the tops of windows, of used in conjunction with drapery and other window coverings

If you need assistance deciding what shading system is right for you and your project, please call us here at Powerfull Systems.

To download our Whitepaper “5 Crucial Tips: What You Need to Know Before Buying & Installing Window Coverings“, please click here.

Powerfull Systems Wants to Help

Powerfull Systems is your smart home system solution. Located in Los Angeles, California, and established in 1998, Powerfull emerged at the dawn of “smart technology.” Servicing distinguished homeowners in the Los Angeles area, Powerfull Systems has built a reputation on integrity, innovation and expertise that is second to none. Plus, they offer their “Peace of Mind. Every Time.” Guarantee to assure the job is done to your satisfaction.

For more information on what a smart home can look like, what it can achieve, and how to plan for one of your own — in particular the Josh AI voice activation controls — call us at 310-836-9333.

Powerfull wins Lutron Excellence Award for work on Villa Sarbonne residence

Powerfull Systems is honored to win the Lutron Excellence Award in the “Best Use of All Lutron Products” catagory, presented at CEDIA in San Diego in September, for our work on the Villa Sarbonne residence.

Villa Sarbonne & Arya Group

Villa Sarbonne began as a vision of a high-tech luxury masterpiece. The concept was to create the most technologically advanced residence in the Los Angeles area. It was to be fully automated—incorporating light, wind, water, and fire as a manifestation of Zen in every aspect of the design. The home was to be sold fully furnished, including luxury cars, a maintenance staff, and butler concierge services, thereby naturally ushering the homeowner to experience the majestic feel of the here and now.

We had the honor of working with a leading master of design and construction Ardeshir “Ardie” Tavangarian, founder and CEO of Arya Group. Ardie founded Arya in 1981, and for over 37 years he has specialized as a general contractor, and is a veteran in the realm of custom home architecture. When we began talking with Ardie regarding his vision for the Villa Sarbonne project, we were intrigued by the challenge at hand. Ardie laid out a design/build plan that would break through any limitation we had. We knew this special project would elevate Powerfull Systems and Powerfull Electric to a higher level of excellence.

Through the span of one year, we worked tirelessly to bring Ardie’s vision to life. The most skilled craftsmen were brought onboard to produce the most exquisite quality and aesthetics imaginable. One of the most important principles that we wanted to adhere to was to keep the spaces open, uncluttered, and flowing. We designed the lighting layout to naturally flow throughout the space. We were given carte blanche to layout and design the complete lighting and controls package for the project in a manner that would unite the technological aspects of the home automation system with the modern aesthetic Ardie envisioned. In doing so, we used warm, luxurious feeling LED lighting to create a sense of comfort and quality. During our installation of all the lighting throughout the home, we incorporated a back lit designer wall at the stair landing by creating a natural fusion of gypsum LED fixtures to the drywall. The various-sized round fixtures appear as if light naturally shines through the façade, seemingly creating a naturally illuminated wall.

HomeWorks QS

Villa Sarbonne is controlled by a Lutron Homeworks QS system, consisting of 17 Lutron panels and 4 processors. There are 150 keypads in all, consisting of 107 custom Signature style oil-rubbed bronze keypads and 43 Seetouch style keypads. The home required 25 interior roller shades and 56 exterior louvered motorized Venetian-style aluminum blinds. We used 185 contact closures that control drapes, fireplaces, fountains, motorized interior and exterior doors, and fire pits. Our level of attention to detail piqued when we created a custom mounting of only ¾” separation between keypads. We incorporated wired and wireless features, connecting the bridge control integration of HVAC, landscape lighting, security systems, roller shades, skylight shades, custom drapery tracks, motorized doors, car lifts, fire features, and music control.

We utilized our favorite Lutron sheer and blackout roller and skylight shades throughout the home to bring warmth to the space, but also to add another layer of comfort and ease for the homeowner. The home also boasts an overlay of drapery tracks, which brought additional softness, movement, and tranquility to the space. The 50’ drapery track system in the master bedroom resides in a 20’ custom-built pocketing wall. In the guest bedroom, we installed a custom S-type drapery track system– both fully integrated and operational through the HomeWorks QS system. In addition to this, we controlled custom motorized louver shutters which were placed on all the exterior windows of the home. These motorized louvers feature a custom miter 45-degree angle in corner applications.

Continuing the open concept vision, we integrated sun and window sensors with the louvers so that when the sun hit the windows, the shutters would automatically tilt by 7° to minimize the glare, while still keeping the viability of the area maximized. We also installed a wind sensor on the roof, so that during windy days the home will automatically retract the shutters. The home has minimal wall space, therefore the roller shades and drapery served as room separators, which seemingly transition out of sight in a matter of seconds. The overall design and layout of the window treatments allowed us to keep the open feel that Ardie envisioned.

Ardie’s ground-breaking design sought to establish the homeowner within the ‘here and now’. For this purpose, the exterior features of the project were just as important as the interior.

The design intent was to soothe the homeowner to a Zen-like state as soon as they started up the driveway. The experience begins as soon as the homeowner enters pre-set geofencing radius to trigger the “Welcome Home” scene controlled by the HomeWorks QS system. When entering the driveway of the Villa, you are welcomed by a tranquil yet awe-inspiring waterfall, along with a fire feature the spans the entire length of the water. The front entry welcomes you with an oversized swiveling door that seems to float midair. As you walk into the home, you are greeted by the welcoming sight of natural wood and stone throughout the home. The warm lighting invites you to kick off your shoes and relax. You hardly notice how the shades and drapery have softly moved out of sight leaving a stillness that allows you to quiet your mind. At night, when you walk outside and take in the view, you turn back to see the home has come to life. You finally see how alive everything is. How alive you are. This is living in the here and now. This was our vision for Villa Sarbonne.

Powerfull Systems endeavored to create the ultimate luxurious homeowner experience. In doing so, we all feel that Villa Sarbonne has become one of our finest works to date.

For more information on what a Smart Home can look like, what it can achieve, and how to plan for one of your own, call us at 310-836-9333.

Powerfull Systems. Peace of Mind. Every Time.

Phone 310-836-9333 | Fax 310-733-1707 | www.powerfull.com

Powerfull Systems Wants to Help

Josh A.I. : Complete Voice-Activated Smart Home Control

Meet Josh A.I., Your Complete
Voice-Activated Smart-Home Solution.

Many large tech companies including Apple, Google and Amazon have forayed into the voice-activated smart-home market. The problem with some of these services, is that although they have their merits, the technology can oftentimes be a bit cumbersome.

Today’s home automation systems are all about convenience and comfort. Voice commands act as an integral part of the home system’s convenience factor. Issues can arise when the voice assistant doesn’t work as well as the user had hoped. The task of interacting with a voice activated mechanism can be awkward at first. Many devices rely on specific commands to speak “key phrases” to a device, to get the device to not only hear your command but understand your command can be problematic.

A Better Voice Controlled System

Josh.ai began as a small startup, seeing a need for an advanced voice control system. The company quickly raised $11 million in pursuit of a more user-friendly interface.

Today, Josh.ai is making waves in the home automation industry as being the premier voice control experience for luxury homes. Their revolutionary product called Josh Micro is the new standard for the high-end home market.

Meet the Josh Micro

The aim of Josh Micro is to simplify voice control. The Josh Micro component can be mounted just about anywhere. The device comes with an easy-to-install wall mount option, to give users a choice to have the device on a table or mounted on the wall. Equipped with a robust far-field microphone array, Josh Micro can easily hear requests from across the room.

More than Voice control

Josh Micro is built to handle more than just voice commands. With seemingly unlimited touch possibilities, Josh Micro has a touch sensitive surface that makes way for custom event triggers. Single or double tap to trigger a scene such as turning off all the lights in your home. Josh Micro is completely customizable. The device is equipped with an assortment of contextual awareness and smart automations. The “Fine Tune” control feature adapts to your needs based on your latest command. By telling Josh Micro to turn on the lights in your kitchen, the dial becomes a dimmer to further control the lighting.

Josh.ai and Lutron Electronics

So you’re hooked. Josh.ai sounds like all of your voice control dreams come true. But what does it work with to make the magic happen? Josh.ai works in congruence with all Lutron smart home systems, plus a host of other devices.

Some of the many devices Josh A.I. will work with:

Powerfull Systems Wants to Help

For more information on what a smart home can look like, what it can achieve, and how to plan for one of your own — in particular the Josh AI voice activation controls — call us at 310-836-9333.

Ketra + Lutron – Re-imagining Natural Light

The Science Behind Living with Circadian Lighting Technology

In the race to re-imagine light for built spaces, Lutron and Ketra have made some massive steps. Based in Texas, Ketra has revolutionized the lighting industry through the creation of a new category called “Natural Light”.

As we spend more and more time indoors, in front of screens and away from natural sunlight, our bodies aren’t receiving the stimulus they need to maintain proper health and rest. Ketra brings Natural Light into the built environment, and influences our overall wellness where we live and work.

Founded in 2009, Ketra has made dynamic light accessible in any environment with a flexible, fully integrated lighting and controls solution. Ketra’s tunable light creates high quality white, pastels and saturated color from a single-point source, enhancing the look of any space, and allowing you to tailor your light to meet your specifications.

The Science Behind Living with Circadian Lighting Technology

Circadian rhythm is the physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow the daily cycle of the sun. It corresponds primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment. When spending time indoors, how do we keep our bodies on an optimum rhythm?

Bring natural light home

Ketra has developed the highest quality, most accurate natural light in the world. This revolutionary circadian lighting technology changes from cool toned, early morning light, to soft and warm lighting at night. The subtle change in the white light throughout the day keeps your circadian rhythm balanced for optimal health and well-being.

Lighting that automatically works to improve your body’s circadian rhythm

Ketra Lighting is the residential circadian lighting solution. Ketra’s tunable light creates high quality white, pastels, and saturated color, enhancing the experience of any space, helping homeowners experience natural light for better, healthier living.

Not only can Ketra’s advanced technology imitate natural light, supporting circadian rhythm, but mixing the proper colors will enhance the atmosphere of a space, and make your artwork look more vibrant. Ketra’s tunable light provides the best lighting for any space in your home, on demand.

Recently acquired by Lutron Electronics (the company that has created the best, and most user-friendly smart-home systems), Ketra provides a complete system of lighting, controls and keypads that can be easily programmed and customized.

What’s all the hype about?

Artificial circadian lighting was first used in hospital rooms to give patients who have to stay indoors a sense of night and day. Doctors found that not only did it speed their recovery, but boosted their state of mind. Circadian lighting areas were then used at nurse’s stations to allow nurses who worked long shifts to keep their bodies balanced.

Scientists have found irrefutable evidence that incorporating tunable, circadian lighting can benefit the body and mind in the following ways:

Aging

MIT study finds that a gene associated with longevity also regulates the body’s circadian clock. “Our findings indicate that [the] SIRT1 [gene] activates the central pacemaker to maintain robust circadian control in young animals, and a decay in this activity may play an important role in aging.”(1)

Jet-lag

“Jet lag is caused by a misalignment between circadian rhythms and local destination time… We showed that a 3-day preflight treatment with bright morning light, which could be easily self-administered at home… Thus, this would be a feasible method to reduce jet lag for eastward travel.” -US National Library of Medicine (2)

Healing

The impact of daylight illumination on reducing patient length of stay in hospital after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: “The patient LoS[length of stay] reduces by 7.3 hours per 100 lx increase of daylight illuminance near a point above patient’s head… These findings are based on evidence from real-world field analysis data rather than theories, reviews, references, and tools” -Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK (3)

Sleep

NASA uses circadian lighting to help astronauts get more restful sleep. “The new lights will have three “on” settings — one to boost alertness in the morning, one to help astronauts relax before bed, and a regular mode for midday. All of them appear white, more or less, but the morning setting is brighter and is “enriched” with cool, bluish tones, while the evening setting is heavier on warmer, reddish hues.” (4)

Decreased health risks

Studies in animals have found that when that rhythm gets thrown off, health problems including obesity and metabolic disorders such as diabetes can arise. Studies of people who work night shifts have also revealed an increased susceptibility to diabetes. (1)

Powerfull Systems wants to help

Powerfull Systems is your smart home system solution. Located in Los Angeles, California, and established in 1998, Powerfull emerged at the dawn of “smart technology.” Servicing distinguished homeowners in the Los Angeles area, Powerfull Systems has built a reputation on integrity, innovation and expertise that is second to none. Plus, they offer their “Peace of Mind. Every Time” Guarantee to assure the job is done to your satisfaction.

For more information on what a smart home can look like, what it can achieve, and how to plan for one of your own, call us at 310-836-9333

SOURCES:

The Building Blocks to a Smart Home

The Building Blocks to a Fully Custom Smart Home

Whether you’re constantly traveling, hosting movie nights, or work from home, smart home technology can add a level of convenience to your life that you didn’t think possible.

There are multiple ways to get the most out of your smart home system. The more you build into your system, the more you’ll be able to get out of the smart home experience. Your investment into your smart home is more than just resale value and fun gadgets. Fully integrated smart home systems are an investment in your convenience, safety, and peace of mind.

Foundation: Lighting Control

Likely the most common way to take your smart home technology to the next level is to create custom lighting scenes. Scenes are preselected light levels for multiple lights for a certain task or event. Scenes make it possible to never walk into a dark home again. Not only do they save time, and add convenience, but they can also slay fear, and save stubbed toes.

Welcome Home!

A “Welcome Home” scene can be preset to turn on your garage, hallway, and kitchen lights, or any path into your home that you choose. It could also raise your automated shades, lower your thermostat, and turn on your favorite album. What an entrance!

A Nighttime Pathway

If you often wake up in the night to use the bathroom, or get a drink of water, you can set a dimmed lighting scene to give you a clear, yet not overly bright pathway to save your toes and shins from the usual dangers of walking in the dark.

Good Morning

Do you have a hard time getting up and active in the morning? Set a scene with a time clock to activate as your alarm clock. Set the scene to raise your bedroom shades, turn the lights on to 30%, and play your favorite song. If only your smart home could start the coffee (there might even be a smart device for that!)

Food Prep

Kitchen scenes make the home-cook more efficient and productive with a “food prep” scene for over-head lighting on the kitchen island and over the sink. There’s no need to have every light on in your house. Not only is it a waste of resources, but a harshly lit home doesn’t envelop it’s inhabitants in a cozy atmosphere. Next time you’re having friends over for a Netflix binge, dim your living room lights with the push of a button. Scenes make every day tasks impossibly simple.

Foundation Level 2: Automated Shades

Automated shades are another form of lighting control- day lighting control. Automated shades are not only convenient, but can save considerable energy. The glare and heat from windows can be hard on our eyes and on our energy bill, but it can also wreak havoc on furniture, textiles and artwork in the home. Homeowners are turning to automated roller shades to work seamlessly with their smart home systems such as Lutron RadioRa2 or HomeworksQS.

Daylight Harvesting

To kick your smart home into high gear, daylight sensors are a perfect way to marry your lighting control with your automated shades. Daylight sensors are about the size of a quarter, and detect when the sun is making it’s largest impact on your home. Daylight sensors can wirelessly dim or turn off your lights to save energy, and raise and lower your shades depending on your specific settings.

The Mortar to Hold All the Bricks in Place

Apps on your smartphone or tablet are the “wizard behind the curtain.” They are the hub where you choose all your settings and preferences. Your home automation apps are where you’ll set up scenes, time clocks, and more. Set up your apps for optimum convenience. Everyone knows that you can use your apps to do things like wirelessly turn your lighting on, or change your thermostat, but there is so much more that smart home apps are capable of. All of the below actions are set up through your home automation app.

Time Clocks

Most people use time clocks to control landscape lighting, or to make it look like the house is occupied when a family is on vacation, but there are many more uses for time clocks. For example, in Orthodox Jewish homes, time clocks are often used for many devices during Shabbat when work is prohibited. In your smart home system’s lighting controls, you will find a multitude of ways to use time clocks. Not only are they able to repeat on any schedule you choose, but they can change (if you choose) according to daylight savings, and sunrise and sunset.

Never Enter a Dark Home Again

Geofencing is an easy way to up your smart home game. When geofencing services are set up, your custom “Welcome Home” scene can be triggered to activate when you arrive within a pre-selected radius of your home. A “Goodbye” scene can also be added to geofencing to turn off lights in your home when you leave. Within your phone’s settings, you’ll want to make sure that your “location services” are activated. Once you’ve done that, inside your smart home app, you’ll find the options for geofencing. You’ll be able to preset your desired radius for your scenes to turn on and off. Don’t worry about turning the lights off on your spouse when you leave the house, you’ll get an alert asking you if you’d like to turn the lights off. You can decline if the house is still occupied.

Alexa, Turn On Good Morning

Voice recognition is the most popular way to get the most out of your smart home. Setting up voice commands to handle tasks such as, “turn on my food prep scene,” or “lower my bedroom shades,” can really make you feel like your smart home is doing a lot of the work for you. Voice commands can be used for a myriad of tasks including light control, automated shade control, thermostats, music, television and more.

Accessories to Enhance your Smart Home

3rd party products that you can add on to your smart home are what will really give you a greater sense of the smart home experience. Virtual assistants such as Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, and Google Assistant seamlessly integrate with most smart home systems to operate your voice commands.

Automate the Temperature

Smart thermostats from Honeywell or Nest have grown in popularity because of their ease of integration with popular smart home systems. Audio visual products from Sonos, and Control4 give you the ability to integrate with your smart home’s scenes to be able to have an “entertain” scene that could lower your recessed lighting and shades, turn on your chandelier or pendants, and play your favorite album- all with one command.

A Safer Home

Smart alarms, locks and doorbells can all be used to add an extra level of security to your smart home. They can be controlled from voice commands, or controlled straight through your smart home app. Alarms, locks and doorbells aren’t your only level of defense in your smart home. Smart home systems such as Lutron RadioRa2 can set a “panic” scene that can raise your window shades, and flash lights in your home to alert neighbors or people driving by that the home is in distress.

Your Home, Your Way

The possibilities for upgrading your smart home are almost endless. The more you add to your system, the more technologically advanced, convenient, and secure your home will be. The best part about your smart home system, is that you can customize it specifically for you and your family. Your wants and needs for a smart home aren’t going to be the same as your neighbors, so why have the same system. Customization is the best way to ensure that your home is working for you as an individual, not as a general consumer.

Reach out to Powerfull

Powerfull Systems is your smart home system integrator! Located in Los Angeles, California, and established in 1998, Powerfull emerged at the dawn of “smart technology.” Servicing distinguished homeowners in the Los Angeles area, Powerfull Systems has built a reputation on integrity, innovation and expertise that is second to none. Plus, they offer their “Peace of Mind. Every Time.” Guarantee to assure the job is done to your satisfaction.

For more information on what a Smart Home can look like, what it can achieve, and how to plan for one of your own, call us at 310-836-9333

Shade Systems: What Are Your Window Covering Goals?

General Needs

Homeowners and interior designers alike who embark on purchasing window coverings need to determine their priorities when choosing window dressings. Below we have outlined many of the top reasons for smart window coverings:

Light control
The most common reason for window coverings is for daylight control. Whether you’re wanting to block light from a darkened room, or let light in during the day, window coverings will be a necessity.

Privacy/Blackout
Large windows can make a homeowner feel like they are living in a fishbowl. Privacy shades are a necessity for many reasons both in residential and commercial applications. Commercially, blackout shades are a must for healthcare and hospitality projects, while residential applications can provide privacy to homeowners with family members who sleep during the day or have young children.

Reducing Carbon Footprint
As we become more conscious of our footprint on this planet, we realize that making the most of daylight in our homes or commercial spaces simply makes sense. Window coverings also help to trap heat, thereby reducing your energy consumption.

Reducing HVAC costs
Another benefit to window coverings is the shade from the sun – and its heat. The sun can beat down on your windows, and heat up your house in the summer, causing air conditioning bills to rise.

Wake up naturally
The studies of circadian rhythms indicate that our bodies are synchronized with daylight. Automated shades can be set as an “alarm” to have bedroom shades go up when you need to wake up.

Solar Exposure protection
Shades can provide protection to furniture, artwork and other valuables from fading or other damage from constant solar exposure.

Automation

We discuss the advantages and options available for automated shading systems, which can be controlled from your home system or hand-held device from practically anywhere.

The convenience of automated shades should not be overlooked. Not only can an occupant electronically raise and lower automated shades from a button on a wall or remote, but with the right system, they can also wirelessly control them from a mobile device, or even voice activation. There are many options for automated shading systems. Not only are there options for the shades themselves, but also for the keypads or remotes. A new favorite on the market for both residential and commercial projects is Lutron Electronic’s Palladiom Wallstations.

These unique illuminated keypads combine elegant design with intuitive operation. The wall stations allow the control of lights, shades/drapes and HVAC from one location, providing optimal user experience.

The more specific you can get about the actual needs for the space, the easier the specification process will be. It is crucial to reflect on how you live and work. Doing so will determine the proper solutions for your needs, be it commercial or residential.

POWERFULL PRO TIP: You can even connect a daylight sensor to your shading system to have your shades automatically raise and lower depending on the current daylight.

For more information and assistance in choosing the right window covering option for your project, call us at Powerfull Systems 310-836-9333

To download our Whitepaper “5 Crucial Tips: What You Need to Know Before Buying & Installing Window Coverings“, please click here.

Shade Systems: What Type of Window Covering?

There are a wide variety of kinds of window coverings, starting with either interior or exterior. We outline the various kinds and options available, from rollers to shutters to draperies and more (for interior), and rollers, awnings or solar screens (for exterior). (Letter callouts correspond to the image below).

Interior Solutions

A. Roller Shades Lutron roller shades create the perfect light for any space or activity with an offering of sheer, dim-out, and blackout fabrics. Choose a sheer to maintain view while diffusing UV rays that may damage furnishings. Dim-out fabrics provide privacy while blackout fabrics are 100% opaque to eliminate all daylight. B. Horizontal Sheer Blinds Beautiful fabric meets industry-leading technology in these window treatments, where the soft elegance of a sheer is paired with the precise control of a blind.

C. Drapery Systems Lutron drapery track systems electronically operate a variety of styles, including pinch pleat and ripplefold, in addition to the innovative Kirbé® Vertical Drapery System. Select a fabric from The Avant Collection™ for complete systems.

D. Pleated Shades The angular design of pleated shades adds a crisp, modern look to any space, and the wide array of colors and fabric options ensure a signature look.

E. Fashion Honeycomb Shades Fashion honeycomb shades add dimension to a space thanks to their cellular design, and their air pockets trap heat to provide superior insulation.

F. Roman Shades with CERUS® Safety Technology Roman shades lend an air of sophistication to any space while managing daylight. With over 100 fabrics and woven woods available in a variety of pleat styles, you are sure to find the perfect aesthetic match. CERUS (Cord-Eliminating Roman Uptake System) provides a safer, more reliable and better performing Roman shade.

G. Venetian Blinds with Independent Control of Lift and Tilt Venetian blinds are an attractive and effective way to ensure privacy while still allowing daylight to filter into a space. Independent Control of Lift and Tilt maintains uniform tilt and lift positions across blinds and combines smooth, quiet motion with independent control of lift and tilt. Lutron Venetian blinds feature presets to recall a predetermined position and tilt for the ultimate in performance and style.

H. Tensioned Shades Tensioned shades provide solutions for skylights, bottom-up, and angled windows. The innovative design keeps fabric panels taut and parallel to windows with minimal sag at a variety of slopes. Lutron tensioned shades reduce light gaps around fabric, and maximize the view when opened by eliminating cable guides that are typical in skylight shades. The frame may be surface mounted, inside mounted, or recessed while still allowing easy access to update the fabric.

I. Cable Guided Shades Cable guided shade systems can be used to achieve precise shading control in angled applications by keeping roller shades at the exact angle of the window. The system is also useful in areas of high velocity airflow to prevent unwanted shade motion.

Exterior Solutions

J. Rolling Shutters Rolling shutters provide piece of mind and and will enhance your lifestyle.

K. Retractable Awnings Enhance your outdoor living space with retractable awnings.

L. Solar Screens An exterior solar screen will provide shade from direct sunlight while allowing you to save on energy costs.

Once it has been decided what type of shade is needed, a decision will also have to be made for the mounting. A new trend both residentially and commercially is to build a pocket for the shades to disappear into. More traditional styles are available as well, such as a rod and finials. These are largely aesthetic choices, but these decisions need to be made early in the design process.

POWERFULL PRO TIP: Are you having a hard time deciding between blackout and sheer shades? Try a “double stack” of both. Sheer during the day so that you take advantage of daylight control without losing your outside view, and blackout shades for privacy, and sun control.

If you need assistance deciding what shading system is right for you and your project, please call us here at Powerfull Systems. To download our Whitepaper “5 Crucial Tips: What You Need to Know Before Buying & Installing Window Coverings“, please click here.

Shade Systems: Choosing the Right Fabric

Living in Southern California, we love our views. We are proud to live in one of the most beautiful areas of the world, where we can experience ocean views, mountain views, and city scapes, possibly all from the same room. This means large, floor to ceiling windows. The only problem with this comes from glare and heat. Not only can the glare be hard on our eyes, but it can wreak havoc on furniture, textiles and artwork in your home. So what’s the solution?

Homeowners are turning to automated roller shades to solve the problem. Automated roller shades come with many advantages for homeowners, but the task of choosing the right fabric can seem daunting. In this article we will cover the main things to consider when purchasing automated roller shades for your home.

Openness factor

This simply means how tight the weaves of the fabric are woven. The tighter the weave, the less daylight can filter through. A “3% openness factor” means that 97% of the light rays have been blocked by the fabric. A “10% openness factor” blocks 90% of the daylight, and lets 10% into the space. Blackout fabrics consist of a 0% openness factor (all light is blocked out). The question is, how do you choose the right openness factor for the space?

Latitude and Orientation

Take note of the position of the windows in the space you’re wanting to add shades. As everyone knows, the sun rises in the east, and sets in the west.

Windows facing east will need considerable sun control. A tighter weave with an openness factor of 5% or less is recommended. Without the proper shading, there might not be much heat gain in the space, but the morning sun can be much too bright and can create glare.

In a Western facade, the sun has a chance to heat the room, making more daylight control required, so again, a 5% openness factor or less is recommended.

Northern facades are subject to indirect sun, so a homeowner can choose a fabric with a much greater openness factor, and still experience visual comfort while retaining their privacy.

Southern facing facades however, endure the heaviest sun exposure throughout the day, so a tight weave with a small openness factor will be essential to living in a glare-free home.

HOMEOWNER QUESTION: What if I have a room with windows that face more than one direction? Can I have multiple openness factors in the same room, or will that look funny?

POWERFULL ANSWER: As long as you choose a fabric in the same family, with the same color, the only difference you’ll notice is that one has a clearer view than the other. Other than that, they’ll look exactly the same.

Color

Besides openness factor playing a large roll in maintaining your view to the outside, the color of the sheer fabric can also play a major roll in maintaining your million dollar view.

Light colored fabrics reflect daylight, and do a great job at reducing heat in a space, the problem however, is that the homeowner will not be able to see their view through the shades as clearly as if they would have chosen a darker colored fabric. If maintaining your view is a priority, a darker colored fabric with a minimum of 5% openness factor will be required.

Sheer fabrics – or any fabric, can accomplish many things, but multi-tasking really isn’t one of them… No fabric can do it all. There isn’t a magic fabric out there that can maintain your view, but also give you privacy, such as in bathrooms. In cases where you want optimum view, but maintain privacy, the only real solution, is to use landscape lighting, and aim the light directly at your window. The light would reflect off of the fabric, washing out the view that you don’t want your neighbors to see.

If having a light directed at your window doesn’t seem like a feasible option for you, the only other option would be to do a “double stack.” This requires a deeper housing to hold two fabric rollers within the same housing, so that you can have sheers during the day, and blackout at night.

Battery Operated vs. Wired Shades

If in the process of building a home, wiring your shades into your home automation system is preferable. You’ll never have to change out the batteries, and your system will never encounter any interruptions. Battery powered shades are a perfect option for a homeowner who is looking to add shades to their existing home without interfering with the home’s current wiring. Typical battery life with normal use runs for an average of 1.8 years without needing to replace the batteries.

Control

There are many ways to control your automated shades. Wireless Pico remotes on pedestals can be placed on bedside tables, kitchen islands, etc, while seeTouch keypads, and Palladiom keypads are two of the most common in-wall controls.

Daylight Sensors

Daylight sensors are the perfect addition to your home for maximum convenience and optimum lighting control. The sensor (about the size of a quarter) wirelessly sends a signal to your shades to automatically raise and lower depending on the amount of daylight. These sensors give you the freedom to never have to worry about the level of shading in your space. It’s all done for you, without ever having to press a button.

In Conclusion

We know that the many options in automated roller shades can be overwhelming. We’ve provided this information in the hope that this has helped you understand all of your options. When designed and installed correctly, roller shades can not only enhance a space aesthetically, but make it more functional, and efficient.

About Powerfull Systems

Powerfull Systems is a window coverings installer and smart home system integrator located in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1998, at the dawn of “smart technology,” Powerful Systems is one of only 10 systems integrators in the U.S. to achieve the status of Black Diamond Dealer for the smart home technology systems.

Servicing distinguished homeowners in the Los Angeles area, Powerfull Systems has built a reputation on integrity, innovation and expertise that is second to none. Plus they offer their “Peace of Mind. Every Time.” Guarantee to assure the job is done to your satisfaction. The Powerful Systems professional team can show you how to utilize your interior window shading system to save additional energy beyond routine use of shades- all at the touch of a button.

If you are a general contractor, architect, interior designer, lighting designer or homeowner that needs assistance with the design and installation of window coverings, please call our office at 310-836-9333

Better yet, make an appointment to see our showroom located at 5222 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA.

SeeLess Solutions: Aesthetic Architectural Fixture Housings

Powerfull Systems is proud to offer and install SeeLess Solutions products. For a modern sleek design, SeeLess Solutions offers gypsum-based in-wall mounts designed to house a variety of wall and ceiling components flush and unobtrusive, an aesthetically pleasing finish for any smart-home installation.

Manufactured locally, these products are available in a wide variety of in-wall mounts designed to accommodate many different lines of receptacles, including light switches, outlets, keypads, dimmers, thermostats, and smoke detectors. SeeLess in-wall mounts are compatible with products offered by Nest, Honeywell, Lutron, Control4, and many others.

SeeLess model SLD-1G-062 for double power outlet.

Made from gypsum with aluminum components, the fixtures are easily incorporated into new construction or part of a remodeling project. They can be painted and molded to become one with the surrounding surface. A variety of options are available, including rounded or sharp corners, recess depth, bevel style, and more.

SeeLess model SLN-TS-750 designed for thermostat controls.

For more information, contact Powerfull Systems. For added product and model information, visit SeeLess online.

Choosing the Right Shading System for Your Home

Introducing our latest Whitepaper — “5 Crucial Tips: What You Need to Know Before Buying and Installing Window Coverings,” available now for download. When considering Shading Systems/Window Coverings for your Smart Home or Commercial Space, there are a number of categories to choose from, and from there, a whole host of options. When faced with the wide variety of choices and options, it’s easy to become overwhelmed — this is why we have settled the decision-making process down into 5 specific tips in our Whitepaper. 1. What are your Window Covering Goals? Initial considerations include HVAC costs, privacy, light control and more. 2. What Type of Window Covering? Whether your Shades are external or interior, choices are plentiful. We break down the various kinds and options available. 3. What Fabric? For interior shades, you have every possible fabric and color option available to match decor or serve specific needs, such as blackout shades. 4. Automated Shades Systems. We discuss automated shading systems, which can be controlled from your smart device from practically anywhere. 5. Selecting the Right Installer. Once your choices have been made, it’s time to consider a qualified installer who knows shading systems. Download our Whitepaper on Shades from this link, and review your options. Powerfull Systems, a Los Angeles based installer and integrator, will be pleased to assist you in your Shading project, residential or commercial.

Visit Actor/Environmentalist Ed Begley Jr.’s LEED-Certified Smart Home

There are the people that talk the talk, and then there are those who walk the walk. When it comes to Green Living, Ed Begley Jr. isn’t messing around. Ed is that one guy that you know from pretty much everything. He’s appeared in hundreds of films,TV shows and stage performances. He is probably best known for the TV series St. Elsewhere, for which he was nominated for six Emmys and a Golden Globe. What you may not know, is that Ed Begley Jr. is also an avid environmentalist. Recently, Ed built the greenest home in America, with a LEED-certified Platinum rating. Ed and his wife built the home to meet both of their needs – a gorgeous French country house for her, environmentally progressive for him. The home boasts 12-inch walls for optimal foam-filled insulation, a recycled-steel frame, a grey-water recycling system for irrigation, water-saving appliances and faucets, a passive solar design, a 10,000-gallon rainwater tank… the list goes on. One of the facets of his green home that Ed is most proud of is his Lutron automated lighting and shades system. “They (Lutron) have played a key role in making my home more energy efficient.” Not only do his shades raise and lower on a time clock, but all of his lighting works on Lutron dimmers to save energy. Top: Ed Begley Jr. with his wife Rachelle Carson-Begley on-site during construction of their LEED-certified home (Getty Images). ENERGY SAVING TIP: Everyone knows that LED bulbs save money—but did you know that you can save even more by dimming them? Dimming to 50% not only reduces electricity use by half, it helps to prolong the life of the bulb.

Left: Ed shows off the extensive Lutron dimmer control panel in his basement. See below for the link to the video. In multiple interviews, Ed – who has an ongoing competition with Bill Nye for who has the lowest carbon footprint – explains the rewards of dimming, and how accessible Lutron dimmers are for the everyday homeowner looking to save money and go green. Not only are you saving money on your electricity bill, but – when paired with LED lighting – you greatly reduce your carbon footprint, create less demand for foreign oil, and promote cleaner air in our cities. Dimmers are a fantastic start, but Ed took it a step further and added automated shades on a astrological time-clock to harness daylight and block heat. Automated shades are a great way to accent your home and add some serious eco-friendly points. Manual shades are great in theory, but we never actually adjust them throughout the day as we should for the optimal sun shade and heat protection, which is why automated shades make so much sense. With all of this energy saving, how much is Ed’s electricity bill? Running the house and pool, and charging the car cost Ed a mere $36 per month. Most of that is due to the pool, which he forgot to take into account when building his system. Ed says “Start small and build up. Get one dimmer… Do something today.”

Can my Smart Home System do that?

Home Automation isn’t what it used to be. Up until 2014, most home automation was mainly about being able to wirelessly control your lights and shades. Today, we’re in an altogether different era of home automation. The commercials make it all look so easy. The smartly dressed man sits down on his couch and says “Hey Alexa, dim my living room lights.” All of a sudden his lighting has dimmed, and he’s turning on his TV with his feet up—without ever having to get up to play with a keypad, dimmer or remote. It seems so simple. You have home automation, but can your system do that? Or, after watching said commercial, you wonder how it all works, and what you need to make it happen. Here’s what you need to know about the new generation of smart home technology. Apple HomeKit — Runs on iOS 10 or later, can easily and securely control all your HomeKit Accessories (such as Lutron Caseta Wireless). You can ask Siri to turn off the lights, or see who’s at the front door. There are over 50 integrators that work with HomeKit. Amazon Echo — A hands free speaker you can control with your voice. Alexa can handle a variety of commands for anything from ordering more cereal on Amazon, to lowering your bedroom shades. Google Assistant — A virtual personal assistant that can engage in two-way conversations to trigger apps and devices for anything from lighting scenes to playing music. Samsung Smartthings — A hub that wirelessly connects hundreds of compatible devices including lighting, speakers, locks, thermostats, sensors and more, allowing them to all work together. Nest Learning Thermostats — A smart thermostat that learns your home’s habits for day and night time, and can even connect to your alarm to switch to an away mode when the alarm has been activated. Josh.AI — New luxury home automation system with wireless voice control for table mount or wall mount hub. Controls lighting, shades, A/V, etc. Now that you have a better understanding of some of the technology out there, how do you use it? Lutron Caseta Wireless: This is the entry level home automation system that works seamlessly with almost any 3rd party accessory you want—for a home 2,500 square feet or less. This limitation is mainly because the system has a 30ft. radius, and is capped at 50 devices. Caseta can include smart home ready dimmers, shades, fans, home audio, and thermostats. There are a variety of accessories that play nicely with Caseta: Apple HomeKit (Siri), Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Assistant, Samsung Smart Things, Nest, and Sonos are the most common. Caseta is the perfect starter home system because it is buildable. You don’t have to wire a whole home at once. It’s a wireless system that can be added to at any time, without the pressure of buying several hundred dollars all at one time. Lutron RadioRA 2: RadioRA 2 has all of the features of Caseta- on a grander scale. There is no longer a limitation of square footage or number of devices. Unlike Caseta, RadioRA 2 is a home system that although it can also be completely wireless, tends to be installed as a whole home system all at once instead of small items at a time as with Caseta. With RadioRA 2, all of the same 3rd party systems are available: Apple HomeKit (Siri), Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Assistant, Samsung Smart Things, Nest, and Sonos. Lutron HomeWorks QS: HomeWorks QS is the luxury home automation system with even more options than Caseta and RadioRa 2. Some of the most popular differences are the designer keypads, and thermostat options such as Palladiom. HomeWorks QS also has more automated shade options than Caseta and RadioRa 2. HomeWorks QS will work with all of the same 3rd party systems such as: Apple HomeKit (Siri), Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Assistant, Samsung Smart Things, Nest, and Sonos—with the added addition of Josh.AI. Josh.AI is the sleek new luxury home system that can completely run your life from when you first wake up, until you ask Josh to turn your lights off and close your shades to go to sleep. If your system was installed before 2015, it’s possible that you may be experiencing some compatibility issues with appliances, intermittent power outages, or it might not even be connected to the internet. If you’re still using HomeWorks Interactive, HomeWorks Illumination, or RadioRa Classic, you’ll need to upgrade to be able to enjoy the latest in internet-based home automation. The most recent version of Homeworks and RadioRA strives to make your convenience the number one priority. With the new HomeworksQS and RadioRA 2, you can control your entire system with voice activation, or right from your fingertips- anywhere in the world with the HomeworksQS app, and HomeControl+ app. This allows you to control anything from anywhere. Leave a light on at home? Want your house cool when you get home? Need to let a repair man in while you’re at work? HomeworksQS and RadioRA 2 can handle it. Some other products and services that work with Lutron home systems are: Sonos — State of the art wireless speakers IFTTT (If This Then That) — Create “recipes” such as lowering your shades if it’s sunny, or turning off lights if the Nest Learning Thermostat is set to Away Mode. XFinity Home — Control your lights from anywhere using the free XFINITY Home app. Logitech Harmony Hub — Dim lights, lower shades, and start a movie with one button press on Logitech Harmony hub-based remote controls or the Harmony app. Alarm.com or ELK Products — Automatically turn off lights and close shades when arming the security system before leaving for the day, or if the alarm is tripped, the lights come on, and shades go up to draw attention to the situation. ELAN Home systems — ELAN enhances Caséta controlled shades, enabling you to add up to 50 ‘Phantom Buttons’ that can be set to control shades or even recall specific presets. iRule — An app that runs on iOS and Android devices and controls audio/video, lights, shades, and more. Simple Control (formerly Roomie) — a home control app that supports everything from Roku and Apple TV to Philips Hue and Nest Thermostats… and of course, Lutron. LAUNCHPORT — Simplified home control with hard buttons on an iPad RTI — A series of products for home automation such as remote controls and touch pads. GE telligent — Instant wireless dimming with a GE LED bulb that is embedded with Lutron’s ClearConnect Wireless technology and controlled by a Lutron Pico wireless remote. Savant — Luxury fully customizable home automation system for everything from A/V, lighting, thermostats, door locks, etc. The innovative efforts of Lutron Electronics along with Powerfull Systems, want to upgrade your home with the latest luxury smart home technology. Powerfull Systems can walk you through the process of integrating the new cutting edge system into your home—making day to day tasks, that much more intuitive and painless—not to mention, more enjoyable to interact with. Contact Powerfull Systems today to discuss how to bring your home into the next era of automation.

Upgrade to HomeWorks QS

Don’t leave your home automation in the dark!

Did you know that there is a new and expanded version of Lutron HomeWorks available? If your system was installed before 2015, it’s possible that you may be experiencing some compatibility issues with appliances, issues following power outages, or internet connectivity.

If you’re still using HomeWorks Interactive, or HomeWorks Illumination, you may want Powerfull Systems to upgrade your home with the latest luxury smart home technology.

The integration opportunities with the new HomeWorksQS system are endless. Powerfull Systems will walk you through the process of integrating the new system into your home—making day-to-day tasks more intuitive and convenient.

What can you expect with an upgrade?

HomeworksQS offers extensive options to upgrade your home’s decor:

Expanded fabric and drapery options for your automated shades
Keypads that feel as good as they look
Dimmers that seamlessly match even the most modern interior design

The new Palladiom line of keypads and thermostats are the most beautiful and easy to use on the market today, featuring backlit buttons that make an upscale statement both day and night.

The GrafikT dimmer incorporates a single illuminated minimalist style whereby users tap or slide to the light level desired.

The latest version of Homeworks strives to make convenience the number one priority. With the HomeworksQS app, you can control your entire system with voice activation or any smart-phone, tablet, or computer.

Leave a light on in the garage?
Want the house cool when you get home?
Need to let a repair man in while you’re at work?

HomeworksQS can handle it. The upgrade also integrates with other smart home technology, including the Amazon Echo, Google Home, Nest Thermostats, Apple Home Kit, and Sonos.

Homeworks is also environmentally conscious. You’ve spent the time and money to replace your lightbulbs with LED. Make sure you’re getting all of the benefits of LED—including dimming without the flickering, energy savings, and bulb longevity.

Contact Powerfull Systems today to discuss how to bring your home into the next era of automation. For more information, click to download the HomeWorks Upgrade brochure (left).

Los Angeles Design Community Loves Minimalist Design of Palladiom®

Many of today’s interior designers, architects and others in the Los Angeles design community desire a minimalist aesthetic in residential homes. At times, finding accessories and fixtures to coordinate the desired design plan can be challenging. Lutron Electronics, along with Powerfull Systems, has addressed these challenges with its Palladiom line of electronic accessories to include keypads, faceplates, thermostats, and automated window shades.

Palladiom boasts a subtle elegant design for any space while also encompassing intuitive operation that elevates the user experience by using backlit engraved buttons that are easy to operate and easy to find in a darkened room.

Meet the Palladiom family

The Palladiom product line begins with keypads and faceplates. The Palladiom buttons are flush to each other and feature a consistent material to create a clean, minimalist look. With large tactile buttons that are backlit, the text is easy to read and easy to find in any room. Keypads area available in many configurations in order to meet the design demands in today’s minimalist creations.

Next in the Palladiom product line is the Palladiom thermostat. The Palladiom thermostat aesthetics match with Palladiom keypads for a coordinated look throughout the home. Also boasting flush buttons and backlighting, the low-profile mounting enhances today’s smart-home residential designs and the needs of those who desire stylish home automation. The thermostat can be controlled anywhere with the Lutron Connect App and is compatible with most HVAC systems using the QS link.

Last but certainly not least, the newest member of the Palladiom product line is the Palladiom Shading System. The Palladiom Shading System has an attention to detail and craftsmanship that has not been seen in any other automated window covering product. Its simple, elegant design boasts a visually striking, exposed bracket installation which is minimal in form and deliberate in simplicity. Because the design is so sleek, it’s hard to believe that these shades are motorized. Due to superb design and construction, the brackets are designed to conceal all wiring, structural fasteners, as well as the programming interface. Additionally, the design allows clients a high-performance shading solution for exposed conditions, eliminating the need for custom pockets or bulky fascia.

To download more information on this product line, download our brochure by clicking here or for immediate information on this product, design professionals and homeowners alike are encouraged to contact Powerfull Systems at 310-836-9333 or visit our showroom at 5222 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

Introducing Lutron’s Palladiom Shading System

Powerfull Systems is pleased to announce Lutron’s New Palladiom Shading System, coming December 2017.

Lutron is introducing the new Palladiom Shading System, a beautiful, new shading solution that features highly-crafted exposed hardware for the world’s most exquisite homes. This new aesthetically-driven solution offers industry-leading shading performance and reliability, plus seamless integration with Lutron’s HomeWorks QS system and other third-party products to create an immersive light, shade and temperature control experience.

An Elegant, Simple Design To achieve the desired minimalist aesthetic desired by the architecture and design community, Lutron completely redesigned its shade drive and structural architecture, ensuring the Palladiom Shading System would be visually striking in an exposed install condition. Lutron’s archetypal Palladiom keypad was the inspiration for the design language exemplified by the brackets and hembar for the Palladiom Shading System – minimal in form and deliberate in its simplicity.

Palladiom Shading System features include:

large window capacity: available for shades up to 12’ by 12’ within a slender 3” profile
symmetrical ½” light gaps, the smallest light gaps of any Lutron automated shade
hand-polished hardware that’s available in a variety of metal finishes
clean finish: minimal profile brackets elegantly conceal all wiring, structural fasteners and the programming interface
The Palladiom Bottom Rail completes the look with a slim, metal hembar that perfectly fits into the negative space behind the bracket when the shade is fully open.
accommodating design: highly-specialized window covering and custom installers can now offer clients a high-performance shading solution designed for exposed conditions, eliminating the need for custom pockets or bulky fascia

Palladiom Shades will be available to select dealers, including Powerfull Systems, in December, with broader availability in early 2018.

For more information on the entire Palladiom Collection by Lutron, see our recent article (with BROCHURE DOWNLOAD).

For more information, and how Powerfull Systems can provide specifications, installation, and support, call us today.

Palladiom Thermostat Performs As Good As It Looks

One of the many new products recently revealed at CEDIA 2017 in San Diego was the Palladiom Thermostat in clear black glass. The thermostat provides HVAC control, while offering a coordinated, sleek aesthetic with other Palladiom products – keypads and accessories.

The Palladiom thermostat in clear black glass is only one of the stylish options in the Palladiom Family of products by Lutron.

What are the features and benefits?

Palladiom Thermostat
• Thermostat aesthetics match with Palladiom keypads (plastic, glass, metal) for a coordinated look throughout the home
• Display and button backlighting adjust automatically for viewing in any light
• Low-profile mounting
• Multi-location HVAC support
• Control/monitoring of temperature from anywhere with the Lutron Connect app
• HVAC as part of system scenes – Home/Away/Vacation/Entertain
• Compatible with QS link for a wired HVAC solution
• Polished Graphite and Clear Black Glass
• Expands options for coordinating aesthetics throughout a home, particularly in kitchens and baths

Click to download the Lutron Palladiom Thermostat brochure. For more information, call us at Powerfull Systems!

For more information on these products or for answers on smart technology for your home or business, call Powerfull Systems. Get the straight-talk about smart home (and business) integration from the people who know.

Lutron Introduces RA2 Select at CEDIA 2017

At the CEDIA 2017 event in San Diego (September 2017), Lutron introduced their latest wireless controls product: RA2 Select.

RA2 Select allows for personalized smart lighting and shade control for any home, at any budget. Enjoy added convenience, more comfort, enhanced peace of mind. Stay in control of your home, even when you’re not there. All with RA2 Select.

The RA2 Select main repeater lets you control your lights and shades on your smartphone or tablet, from anywhere in the world using the free Lutron App. You can also use the versatile Pico remote for control throughout your home. The Pico is available as a keypad, for scene control, or as a remote, for individual light and shade control. The main repeater supports up to 100 devices.

For more information, download the RA2 Select brochure, and call us at Powerfull Systems!

Powerfull Systems CEO, Shalom Illouz Featured in CEPro Magazine

Our President and CEO was featured in the February 2014 issue of CEPro Magazine.

Powerfull Systems CEO Shalom Illouz was recently interviewed by a reporter with CEPro Magazine. CE Pro magazine is the leading trade publication for professionals involved in the custom electronics business. Their readers specify and sell technology-related products to homeowners, homebuilders and SMB (small/medium business) owners.

The story examines how Powerfull Systems focus mainly on specializing instead of diversifying services. Being an expert is key to the business.

You can read the whole article here CePro Magazine Feb 2014

Top 5 Advantages Of Home Automation

Home automaton has been around for several years, with systems that let you control the lighting, temperature, door locks, window curtains, appliances and much more. Earlier years of automation, its considered a luxury but as smart phones and tablets become increasingly common to every household, home automation is becoming easier to use and dramatically more affordable. Here are the top 5 advantages why you should install home automation in your home.

Safety. The ability to control small appliances and lighting with your fingertips anywhere you are will add safety in your home. You can make sure appliances are off when its needed to be off and on when its needed to be on.
Security. The ability to lock the door through your phone is one of the greatest benefits of home automation. This will give you peace of mind knowing that the door is close and not guessing. The fact that you can be alerted each time someone enters your home also allows you to monitor who is entering your home at all times, especially when you are not there.
Convenience. The ability to control everything with your fingertips is very convenient. You never leave the house without your wallet, keys and your smart phone. With our smart phone always with us, we can easily monitor our home and control everything with just touch of a finger.
Saves Time. Since we are living in a very fast-paced environment, we don’t even have time to worry about our home. With home automation, we can save time going back to our home and make sure everything is order, like if the kids close the door from school or turn on the lights when you get home.
Save Money. This is the biggest advantage of home automation. With the ability to control the light, whether dimming or turning on/off on specific time will saves homeowner a great ton of money. You can save money through household temperature, with proper automation in window shades and automated thermostat. In addition, you can save gas, by not driving back home if you forgot to turn off appliances or lock the door.

7 Ways To Keep Your House Cool This Summer

Summer heat can be very uncomfortable and be very dangerous. By making some simple changes, you can avoid the heat and cool your house this summer

Avoid using any appliances that produce heat. Instead of oven and stove, use microwave or order food. Replace your incandescent bulbs with LEDs. Turn off your electronics such as TV and computers if you’re not using them, since it produce a lot of heat.
Shut your blinds and curtains during the day. Close all windows and keep the doors and windows closed throughout the day.
Circulate the air in the house using fan. Set up a fan so that fan sucks up cooler air form from below and blows hot air upwards towards the ceiling.
Let the night cooler air in by opening a window. Open certain windows so that the cold air from outside gets in.
Use smooth cold fabric all over the house. Use satin for pillowcase or just throw white linen over furniture. Using white or light colored fabric doesn’t absorb heat as much as dark fabric and the smooth texture will give you an impression of coolness.
Plant Trees. Trees provide shade for your home and keep the surroundings cooler.
Install Awnings. It provides shades where there’s insufficient roof overhang.

4 Things To Consider When Buying Shades

You’ve just decided that window shades are the better choice for your home window treatment. So where do you next? Do you go online, local home center or specialty shade store? Here are some few things to consider when buying window shades.

Budget. No matter what we desire, it all boils down to how much can you afford. Can you afford a window or the entire house? Shades are priced based on the size, but the styles and texture increases the price as well.
Privacy and Sunlight. How much of these do you desire? Do you want the room to be bright or dark? How much sunlight do you want to come in? This will all depends on what style and fabric you’re going to use in your shades.
Cleaning Time. How much time do you have for cleaning? The materials you choose will depends on how easy it is to clean.
Safety. Having cordless windows will reduce your accident risk especially if you have kids.

Wireless Home Controls for Beginners

If you’re in interested lighting control for your home but don’t know where to start, or you have a home 2,500 sq ft or less, Caséta Wireless is the answer. Caséta Wireless controls your lights and shades with dimmers, keypads, and wireless remotes, as well as from anywhere in the world with your smart phone. Caséta dimmers install in minutes, work with numerous bulb types – including dimmable LEDs and CFLs, and bring the convenience of a connected home to your fingertips. Whether you would like to control one room, or multiple rooms, Caséta is an easy alternative to a larger home automation system. Caséta offers energy-saving capabilities with wireless control for lighting, shades, thermostats, and fans. With a radius of 60 ft.,Caséta Wireless uses radio frequency with Lutron’s Clear Connect Wireless technology that won’t interfere with other remotes, such as garage door openers. Caséta is perfect for the beginner because it’s scalable. Start off with a few “smart home ready” Caséta dimmers, then down the road, have the capability to add the Caséta Smartbridge to take full advantage of all that Caséta has to offer. Smartbridge connects to your wifi router, and works best when placed in the middle of the house. After downloading the free Lutron Caséta app, and pairing your devices, you’ll have full control right from your phone–anywhere in the world. Never again walk into a dark house. The geo-location service in the Caséta app gives you the option to have lights turn on when you come within a certain distance from your home. Wake up in the middle of the night and need a glass of water? Use a Pico remote next to your bed to turn on your bathroom or hallway lighting. Caséta is also programmable for time clocks (think outdoor lighting, or vacation settings) and lighting scenes for times that you need multiple lights on to different levels for tasks such as food prep in the kitchen, or movie night with the family. Scenes can be pre-set, and made available with a preset in the app. Caséta is best for a small home 2,500 sq ft or less, and is limited to 49 devices to connect to the smart bridge. This includes dimmers (in-wall and plug-in), each automated shade, and any 3rd party device you may want to use with Caséta such as Sonos wireless speakers. For homes larger than 2,500 sq ft, we recommend speaking with us about Lutron RadioRa2 or HomeworksQS. You’ll find endless ways to use your new Caséta smart home system.

Which Light Bulb should I Use?

Choosing the right light bulb is a balancing act between energy savings, comfort, durability, cost, and compatibility. Each area of a home or office will require different types of light and present different opportunities for savings. Use the chart and information on this page to pick the perfect light bulb for your lighting needs.

Incandescent Bulbs

Incandescent bulbs provide rich and warm light quality, excellent color rendering, and controllability, but are the least efficient.

Screw-in CFL Bulbs

Screw-in CFL bulbs are energy efficient and have the longest life of all light bulbs. However, they provide less pleasing light, start up slowly, may flicker, and are not disposable because of their mercury content.

Halogen Bulbs

Halogen bulbs, an efficient variety of incandescent lighting, are up to 30% more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. When dimmed by 30%, they offer many benefits of CFL and standard incandescent lights without the drawbacks.

General Rules

Use a halogen bulb with a dimmer where:

Light quality is important
You want energy savings with ambiance
You want to control the light with dimmers, timers, or sensors

Use a CFL bulb, possibly with a dimmer, where:

Light quality isn’t important
There is no risk of children or animals breaking the bulb
You want maximum light with minimum energy consumption
You don’t need sensors or timers

10 Tips to Light Up Your Home and Make it More Energy Efficient

According to ENERGY STAR®, if every American home replaced just five high-use light fixtures or the bulbs in them with LED or Fluorescent lights that have earned the ENERGY STAR label, each family would save more than $60 every year in energy costs, and together keep more than one trillion pounds of greenhouse gases out of the air, which roughly equals the emissions of eight million cars. By implementing any of the following tips you will be able to make your home more energy efficient and save not only money but the environment as well.

Tip #1 – Use LED lights and/or fluorescent bulbs By now, most of the American consumers are aware of the inefficiencies of the incandescent bulbs and the direct impact they have in heating your house and increasing your electric bill. By replacing your old incandescent lights with LEDs or fluorescent lights you’ll be saving about 20% in energy and will need to change your bulbs less often as these lights last much longer.

Tip #2 – Use solar landscape and solar architectural lights Solar landscape and other solar architectural lights are becoming very popular. Consumer demand and current technology has made them easy to use and implement as well as cost effective and affordable. Solar exterior lights are available in a wide selection of designs and colors to match any décor style and enhance the look of your garden and building.

Tip #3 – Replace your old appliances Contrary to popular belief, what consumes the most energy inside your home are not the lights but the various appliances and the AC, therefore, upgrading your home with ENERGY STAR® and/or SMART appliances is not an expense but an investment. Smart appliances can be connected to smart electric meters or home energy management systems to help you shift your electricity use to off-peak hours and avoid those high electrical rates.

Tip #4 – Buy a programmable or a learning thermostat Let’s face it, most of us leave home in a hurry when heading off to work and usually we don’t remember to change our thermostat’s temperature settings. To avoid wasting energy and money, buy a programmable or a learning thermostat. A Learning thermostat programs itself and turns itself down when homeowners are away and can be controlled from anywhere with free Web or Mobile apps.

Tip #5 – Install dimmers throughout your home Installing dimmers on at least the key rooms of your home can give you the ability to adjust the light levels to create a new atmosphere and save on your monthly billing. Every time you dim the lights you save energy and extend the life of your light bulbs. Dimming by 25%, for example, saves 20% energy.

Tip #6 – Control daylight and room temperature with automated motorized shades Shades are usually perceived only as a design element, but add automation to them and they become a functional energy savings element. Motorized shades can be programmed to block the glare or prevent the heat from escape based on the season and can save you between 10-30% on heating and cooling costs.

Tip #7 – Add occupancy/vacancy sensors and appliance controls How many times have you forgotten to turn off the garage lights or how often your children leave lights on? Occupancy and vacancy sensors turn lights on automatically when you walk into a room and off when you leave preventing those situations and saving up to 20% on lighting. Appliances standby power can amount to up to 10% of a home’s electricity use. Appliance controls turn off standby power and forbid that kind of energy waste.

Tip #8 – Adopt alternative energy sources Wind and/or solar energy can in some cases generate enough electricity for your entire home. Modern and efficient solar panels are designed to maximize the harvesting of the solar rays while keeping a modern profile that won’t interfere with your home’s architecture and will practically blend with most roofs to virtually eliminate your electric bill and increase your positive impact on the environment.

Tip #9 – Improve your HVAC with an air handling unit An air handler or air handling unit (AHU) is part of an air conditioning and forced air heating system. It is housed indoors and is designed to circulate and condition air through the system making your air conditioning unit more energy efficient. An air handler may be housed in your garage a closet or in your attic.

Tip #10 – Coordinate energy control with an integration system Use modern technology to manage your entire home energy consumption. An integration system will allow you to control and operate lights, shades, audio/video, appliances, HVAC, and even your home security system from a single “brain”, making your home more energy efficient. For example, a keypad button can be labeled “green” and programmed to automatically dim your lights by 5%, lower your shades, and set back your home’s temperature by 2%, all with a single touch, giving you a convenient way to save energy.

Remember, implementing any of the 10 tips mentioned above will allow you to light up your home while making it more energy efficient, and will help you lower your monthly electrical bill by at least 10%.

How to Put your Energy Under Control

Energy costs are rising up across the country and the trend will continue due to elevated world energy demands. In 2010, the median household income of U.S. families was $49,445 and they paid a record average of $1,419 for electricity alone. A more recent study concluded that a typical single-family home pays $2,800 in annual home energy costs. Owners of efficient new houses spend considerably less than the people living in old houses. It is clear we need to do something about our energy consumption in order to decrease and fight the growing price of power. But first, you need to identify how the energy is spent in your home to be able to make the necessary energy efficiency improvements. The following graphic shows you where your energy money goes.

Home Cooling and Heating In an average American home, 50%-60% of the energy bill used goes to warming up or cooling down your home, check out the following hints to try to greatly reduce that impact. Your home can easily lose a lot of heat as well as power if it is not correctly sealed and insulated. Make sure that air cannot get away or enter in to the plumbing, entrances, walls, wire openings, floor surfaces and ceilings. Use the right sealants on windows and doors and check on a regular basis. If your house was built before 1980, it may not have adequate insulation. While most owners focus on attic insulation, they should not ignore the basement ceiling. Fiber glass is not a good insulation material as air flows right through it. Use spray foam or cellulose materials for proper insulation. A properly insulated house helps you save approximately 10% of your energy bill. Give heaters a good clean, as well as radiators and any kind of heated air inlets on a regular basis, check they are operating smoothly and they are not being obscured by drapes, carpeting, or any other items. Make sure your air flow filters are cleaned out or changed on a frequent basis. An Energy Star qualified furnace will use about 15 percent less energy than a standard model. Become conservative with your thermostat. For each degree you lower your thermostat in winter, you can save up to 5 percent on the heating portion of your energy bill, depending on the climate where you live. If you have an old thermostat, replace it with a programmable or intelligent thermostat and you could save up to $150 per year on bills. If possible, install a combination of energy efficient double pane insulating windows and good quality drapes or shades. Such combination can provide more benefits than just energy savings; it can reduce condensation, block outside noise, improve fire safety, and cut back on ultraviolet light that can fade your carpets and furniture. Try to power down your exhaust fans after cooking or bathing. Keeping them on for a long time can affect the temperature of the area. Water Heating Water heating accounts for almost one third of the energy bill in most households, therefore, make sure water heaters and pipes are properly insulated to reduce energy consumption. You may also reduce your bill by conserving hot water, for instance you could wash your clothes in cold water, take shorter showers and use the dishwasher only when a full load is ready.

House Lighting Reduce your lighting power demand up to 75 percent by replacing your old incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFLs) or LED bulbs, not only they give off adequate illumination but use much less power. Utilize the benefits of sunlight and natural illumination as much as you can and look for the Energy Star label when buying lighting products. Shut off all the lights as well as kitchen appliances when not in use. Unplug unnecessary appliances like microwaves, TVs, stereos, laptops, and video recorders or DVD players. Furthermore, disconnect chargers and gadgets with bloc-shaped transformer on the plug. All of them take power when plugged in. Never leave something on the stand by setting. Install a lighting control system or dimmers on at least the key rooms of your home to save on your monthly billing. Every time you dim the lights you save energy and extend the life of your light bulbs. Dimming your lights by 25% can save 20% energy.

Refrigeration, Appliances and Electronics Refrigeration – Your refrigerator is one of the major power spenders in your house. It takes lots of energy to run the compressor of a refrigeration unit. Fortunately, government regulations that stimulated innovation have made refrigerators much more efficient. Nonetheless, it often makes good environmental and economic sense to replace a refrigerator older than 10 years with a new one. Refrigerators with the yellow Energy Star label and the freezer on the top are more efficient than side-by-side models. To control energy, keep the appropriate temperature for your freezer and refrigerator. Do not hold the doors open as the power consumption increases when the electric motor operates continually simply to maintain the temperature of the refrigerator and freezer. Always check all the seals around the door to guarantee they are airtight. Appliances and Electronics – The average American home is filled up with all kinds of appliances and electronic gizmos like microwaves, toasters, TVs, stereos, laptops, and video recorders or DVD players. Replacing 6 of these items with energy efficient models, could probably save more than 25 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of taking 3 million cars off the road for a year. Most electronic devices drain power even when not in use. In stand-by mode these power suckers can raise your electric bill up to 10% a year. A quick and easy solution is to plug your devices into a power strip and shut them off completely. Dishwashers, according to several sources, can use up to 3,600 watts and clothes dryers up to 4,400 watts of energy.

Financial burden due to increased energy expenses can be reduced by controlling and conserving energy wisely. Lower power consumption on a daily basis is actually something we all should target. By putting your energy under control, you are helping to reduce energy demand. Reducing demand means fewer natural resources are needed to produce energy. In turn, this means less greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air for all of us and cost savings for you.

Use Interior Finishes to Enhance Your Lifestyle

What are interior finishes and how can they reflect your true personality and personal taste? Interior finishes encompass all the natural and synthetic materials and devices used to cover the interior and exterior of a building’s framing structure to enhance its service and aesthetic qualities. Finishing work is the concluding stage of a construction. However, finishing work is very labor-intensive, and it accounts for up to 35 percent of all labor expenditures and assembly operations in residential constructions. Even though the house is nearly complete, be prepared to be patient. The detail items are what get noticed and what you end up living with, so make sure they get done correctly. The main types of finishing work include facing, plastering, woodworking, flooring, painting, wallpapering and glazing. In most cases; you’ll have the ability to select the finishing items and materials early in the planning stage of your new construction, remodeling or renovation project. Use this opportunity to make a bold statement of who you really are by choosing finishing materials that reflect your personality and lifestyle. These are some of the wide selection of interior finishing materials available to you.

Facing & Plastering Materials

Woodworking & Flooring Materials

Painting & Wallpaper Materials

Glass Materials & Finish Systems

Interior finishing truly gives you the ability to express yourself, gives you the opportunity to make a personal statement and reflect who you really are. If you are planning to build or remodel your house soon, take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your lifestyle with a very personal touch.

How to Select the Right Coverings for your Windows

Many factors and variables play a role when selecting the right coverings for your windows. The main reasons as to why you should install window coverings are privacy and light control. Factors like durability, life expectancy, ease of cleaning, formality, versatility, and of course safety as well as price, should be taking into consideration. Privacy Factor Privacy can be achieved with almost any type of window covering. The window treatment simply needs to be semi-translucent to diffuse images or opaque to prevent visibility to the interior. Frosted glass or glass block can also compliment window coverings to give adequate levels of privacy. Light Control Factor The most difficult factor to control is light, with most window coverings falling into one of five categories:

Transparent – Clear, without obstruction

Translucent – Diffused light to prevent the perception of distinct images

Filtered – Muted or dim light in bright conditions

Semi-Opaque – Impenetrable by light, yet it allows some light through the gaps

Opaque – This is where all light is totally blocked

Durability Factor A window opening subject to direct sunlight, humidity, dust, and odd temperatures is by nature a harsh environment. Add to these the frequent use factor and its simple to understand why window treatments need to be constructed well. The life expectancy is normally less for fabric treatments that can fade with time. Other coverings, such as shutters, and window shades have a longer life span. Ease of Cleaning Factor Each and every window covering will collect dust and dirt. Fabric coverings are the most difficult to clean, and are subject to stains. The furniture quality window coverings will normally wipe clean with a light solution. Others may require dry cleaning to prevent damage to the fabric and shrinkage. Shutters, blinds and shades are usually easier to clean.

Versatility Factor Some coverings will work well in formal settings; others will work in casual settings, while others will work great in modern living settings. Alternate styles are versatile and blend well with almost any style of room. Safety Factor Small children in the home will usually come in contact with windows and their coverings. Some coverings will have cords to raise or lower for better visibility. Although they are handy to have, they can be dangerous if they come within reach of a child. Toxins released by some materials, collection of dust and other allergens, as well as flammability, should also be taking into consideration when selecting window coverings.

Price Factor Window coverings on the low end of the price spectrum will normally have a short life expectancy and low durability. The slightly higher priced coverings, such as shutters and shades are designed to last longer – all while retaining the original character. Price of window coverings is dependent of many variables such as size of window, material selection, manual or motorized options, and so on. While there is usually a discrepancy in the costs of window coverings from vendor to vendor, it’s very important to weigh the overall value involved. The term “value” is often overused, therefore, when purchasing drapes, blinds, shades or any other window covering, it is necessary to consider the return on the investment and the quality of the service received not only at the time of the purchase but also when maintenance or service is needed.

Creative Ways To Illuminate Your Home

As we mentioned in our Lighting Systems page; light is an absolutely necessary element for human beings. Light does more than just allow us to see, light has the potential to influence the way we feel, think, and act. Light can also affect our mood, our health, and our productivity, therefore deserves attention when illuminating our environment and surroundings. Fortunately there are a plethora of modern light fixtures available in the market to help us achieve any desired effect in our home’s atmosphere.

Art lovers can showcase their favorite artwork or collection with a spotlight or a light fixture designed to offer direct illumination. Picture Lights are a great way to highlight your paint collection and make it stand without obstructing the art piece. Direct lights can be easily customized according to your taste and requirements of personal space.

Dimmable recessed lights could be used everywhere in your home to control the ambience light and create different moods according with the occasion. Though some LED Recessed lights are still on a bit expensive side, once installed, they won’t disappoint and will save energy in the long run.

Ceilings fans and wall sconces have become an important part of the architectural lighting design and decoration statement. They are available in a wide selection of materials and finishes to match any décor style and some feature magnificent designs, capable to beautify the appearance of any room. Wrought iron, stainless steel, and brushed aluminum light fixtures and chandeliers can give an artistic touch to your dinning, ballroom, lobby, kitchen and many other rooms in your home. These fixtures combine creative design with beautiful aesthetics and are available in various styles like gothic, Victorian, modern, classical and others.

As you can see, there are plenty of products available in the market to creatively illuminate your home, just remember; light is an element of design which should be used not only for visual comfort, but also to achieve positive emotional responses. Skillful application of lighting can, more than any other element, affect the experience of the guest or viewer.

Important Facts You Need To Know Before Buying a Home Control System

Modern technology is amazing and has allowed considerable growing sophistication in terms of home control and automation systems. Gone are the days where home control consisted mainly of light dimmers and switches. Today’s Home Automation Systems can give you the capability to easily control your lights and shades. Advanced integration to control audio and video is possible and incorporating your thermostats, security and surveillance system, pool temperature, and outdoor lights is most of the time a seamless operation as long as is performed by a well qualified professional. Yes, home control is great; however there are some questions you need to answer to identify important decision-making facts before buying or choosing a home control system.

Q1 – How much control do you really need or want? Again, as mentioned above home control can be started with a single room or can be expanded into an advanced home brain capable to control nearly all your electric appliances, gizmos and gadgets. Therefore you need to be clear in regards of how much control you want to start with. Do you want in fact to control only a single room? If all you want is being able to dim your lights and lower the shades in your living room or nursery to watch a movie or feed your baby then an inexpensive dimmer and/or a battery operated motorized shade may be all you need. But if your goal is to control a few rooms or a whole house then you’ll need a mini-system or a more robust setting depending of what you are trying to accomplish. Either way it will be beneficial if you define beforehand how much control you really need or want.

Q2 – Should you choose a wired system or a wireless option is best for you? Most home automation systems communicate with the control module either by sending wireless radio wave commands or by using the electrical and phone wires in your home. More sophisticated, reliable and elaborate systems require the use of Ethernet or proprietary cable and some of them can even use a hybrid communication system (wireless and wired) capable to control a whole house of 30,000 Sq. Ft. or more. So, which one should you choose, wired or wireless? Well, that will depend on your specific situation. Is your home being built from the ground up or are you building an addition? Then structured wiring should be your choice as this is the most reliable way for a control system to communicate. In the other hand if you are only remodeling or retrofitting an existing house or a room and don’t want to pay for the extra expense and hassle of adding wires, then the wireless option is best for you. However If you live in an older house try to avoid the over-the-counter inexpensive wireless systems as these tend to fail in homes with thick plaster walls, instead try to obtain a brand name system that will perform better under these circumstances.

Q3 – Is system scalability and ease of use important to you? The first part of this question is directly related to the question above about how much control you want to start with. If you are starting with a single room there are some inexpensive systems that can perform basic tasks very well but most of them don’t offer any advanced features or expansion options. If scalability is important to you you’ll want to select a system that allows you to perform more than just basic controls. You want a reliable system capable to manage complex video and audio commands as well as other data-intensive tasks and offer the option to expand in a room by room or zone by zone basis. Most basic systems use push-button remote controls that are easy to program and can be used by almost any member of your family, unfortunately some of these remote controls may interfere with other wireless devices in your house. More reliable control systems use in-wall keypads or proprietary custom remote controls that can be programmed by you, others even allow you to use your iPad or iPhone, and some systems will require professional programming by a qualified technician. Regrettably, sometimes the user interface of such systems might not be as intuitively as you wish, therefore, when choosing a system try to think of all the members in your family. Small children and elderly persons could not be as technical and savvy as you are and may not be able to operate the system properly on their own. If ease of use is important to you try to visualize your home system being operated by the household member with the least technical skills and then decide.

Q4 – What about system compatibility to integrate with other brands and devices? If system scalability was important for you then system compatibility should be too. Some systems are only compatible with components of the same brand. Others may be compatible with only a limited number of specific external devices. Yet, other systems use standardized and exchangeable protocols that allow them to communicate properly with almost every device made by other brands. When selecting your system, take into consideration all the different devices you want to control now and in the future, try to identify how compatible the system is (and will be) with your current devices and if it conforms with your specific plans and desires of technology control as well as aesthetics and colors.

Q5 – How do you get started and how much can it cost? You want to get started by researching the different systems and identify those that meet your needs and criteria. Most of them have websites that offer an overview, downloadable brochures and technical information papers. Once you made your choices try to read reviews and current user feedback to narrow your selections. You can also visit local dealer showrooms or request an in house demonstration, just make sure that the dealer you select has good reputation, excellent customer service and plenty of experience in the system you selected. You will need to know that advanced control systems are not sold or available in lighting stores or home improvement centers, they are only available from independent dealers. Top dealers usually receive industry awards on a yearly basis and maintain a high dealership status. System cost will depend entirely on your selections made above, how much control you want to start with, wired or wireless, initial components of scalable system and so forth. A couple of non-system light dimmers and a 3’ x 5’ battery operated cellular shade to control a single room can cost anywhere from $450 to $1,500 U.S. depending on the brand you select. The initial set up of an advanced wireless and scalable system can cost between $1,600 and $3,500 U.S. again, depending of the brand. Your best bet will be to request a free custom quote from an authorized dealer to find out how much your desired system will cost. As you can see home control systems are more than just technology, convenience and aesthetics. By analyzing these questions one by one, you’ll know the facts and you’ll have the tools to make a better informed decision in selecting the right home control system and the best integrator that meets your needs and your budget.

Improving Daily Life with Ketra Natural Light

Improving Life with Ketra Lighting Products:

Can My Family Benefit from Ketra’s Natural Light?

Circadian Rhythm 101

Choosing the Right Drapery for your Automated Window Coverings

DRAPERY

ROMAN SHADES

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Powerfull Systems Wants to Help

Powerfull wins Lutron Excellence Award for work on Villa Sarbonne residence

Powerfull Systems is honored to win the Lutron Excellence Award in the “Best Use of All Lutron Products” catagory, presented at CEDIA in San Diego in September, for our work on the Villa Sarbonne residence.

Villa Sarbonne & Arya Group

HomeWorks QS

Powerfull Systems Wants to Help

Josh A.I. : Complete Voice-Activated Smart Home Control

A Better Voice Controlled System

Meet the Josh Micro

More than Voice control

Josh.ai and Lutron Electronics

Some of the many devices Josh A.I. will work with:

Powerfull Systems Wants to Help

Ketra + Lutron – Re-imagining Natural Light

The Science Behind Living with Circadian Lighting Technology

The Building Blocks to a Smart Home

The Building Blocks to a Fully Custom Smart Home

Foundation: Lighting Control

Welcome Home!

A Nighttime Pathway

Good Morning

Food Prep

Foundation Level 2: Automated Shades

Daylight Harvesting

The Mortar to Hold All the Bricks in Place

Time Clocks

Never Enter a Dark Home Again

Alexa, Turn On Good Morning

Accessories to Enhance your Smart Home

Automate the Temperature

A Safer Home

Your Home, Your Way

Reach out to Powerfull

Shade Systems: What Are Your Window Covering Goals?

General Needs

Automation

Shade Systems: What Type of Window Covering?

Interior Solutions

Exterior Solutions

Shade Systems: Choosing the Right Fabric

Openness factor

Latitude and Orientation

Color

Battery Operated vs. Wired Shades

Control

Daylight Sensors

In Conclusion

About Powerfull Systems

SeeLess Solutions: Aesthetic Architectural Fixture Housings

Choosing the Right Shading System for Your Home

Visit Actor/Environmentalist Ed Begley Jr.’s LEED-Certified Smart Home

Can my Smart Home System do that?

Upgrade to HomeWorks QS

Don’t leave your home automation in the dark!

What can you expect with an upgrade?

Los Angeles Design Community Loves Minimalist Design of Palladiom®

Introducing Lutron’s Palladiom Shading System

Palladiom Thermostat Performs As Good As It Looks

Lutron Introduces RA2 Select at CEDIA 2017

Powerfull Systems CEO, Shalom Illouz Featured in CEPro Magazine

Top 5 Advantages Of Home Automation

7 Ways To Keep Your House Cool This Summer

4 Things To Consider When Buying Shades

Wireless Home Controls for Beginners

Which Light Bulb should I Use?

Incandescent Bulbs

Screw-in CFL Bulbs

Halogen Bulbs

General Rules

Use a halogen bulb with a dimmer where:

Use a CFL bulb, possibly with a dimmer, where:

10 Tips to Light Up Your Home and Make it More Energy Efficient

DRAPERY TERMINOLOGY 101