Just Video Walls

From Movie Nights to Art, Modern Display Technology Brings Professional-Grade Experiences Home

Friday night arguments over who gets the best spot on the couch are a thing of the past. So are necks craned at awkward angles to catch the action during the big game. Video walls bring that theater-quality experience right into your living room, where everyone actually has a great view. Technology that used to cost a fortune and require a large, strong team to deliver now fits naturally into homes, changing how families watch, play, and spend time together.

Norman Sizemore

Creating Differentiated Experiences That Keep Customers Coming Back

Guests walk into a restaurant, and something immediately captures their attention—a stunning visual display that shifts the entire energy of the space. Conversations pause, heads turn, and suddenly the venue feels different. More engaging. More memorable. That's exactly what happened at Alter Brewing + Kitchen in Oak Brook. With the help of Barrett's Technology Solutions, they transformed their space with a dynamic video wall, turning a business challenge into a competitive advantage that now draws loyal sports fans and corporate clients alike.

The Experience Factor

Post-COVID, Alter Brewing enjoyed increased patronage, leading to the opening of a new location in Oak Brook. However, inflationary pressures cut into both customers' pocketbooks and operating margins, creating a more challenging business environment. Alter Brewing + Kitchen realized that outstanding beer and food were no longer enough. Customers had become more selective about where they spent their time and money. They already had TV screens for sports and entertainment, but they wanted to create a differentiated experience that would make people want to stay longer and return more often.

Their video wall installation behind the bar became a focal point visible throughout the restaurant, transforming standard TV placement into a destination-worthy viewing experience. The result speaks for itself: Alter Brewing + Kitchen now boasts a loyal Bears following and has successfully attracted corporate events. They've moved beyond simply serving customers to creating an environment where people genuinely want to spend their evenings, over and over again.

Practical Business Applications

The success at Alter Brewing + Kitchen illustrates how video walls serve different business needs throughout the day. During lunch, they might display menu specials and tap lists, news highlights, and sports recaps all on one video wall. Afternoons bring sports programming that keeps the bar busy between meal rushes. Evenings transform the space into an entertainment destination where friends gather for games and events.

Photo Courtesy of CE Pro, Mila Samokhina. 

Making Automated Shades an Integral Part of a Home

When most people think about automated shading, they picture motorized blinds that go up and down at the press of a button. Of course, this is what shades do. But walk through any Barrett's Technology Solutions installation, and you'll discover something more sophisticated. The shades are integrated so seamlessly into the architecture that guests often don't realize they're looking at something technology-related at all. This level of integration doesn't happen by accident—it's the result of our Design & Engineering Department, where specialists like Cody Cannon and Santiago Espinoza spend their days solving the complex puzzle of fitting complex technology smoothly into a home. 

Reliable Home Comfort that Works Even When the Teenagers Are in Charge

Ah, the long-awaited summer finally arrives in Chicago. Kids can ride their bikes to the Lincoln Park Zoo, teenagers meet friends at North Avenue Beach, and parents juggle work schedules that might include Monday morning Zoom calls from the home office or Friday afternoon flexibility. But when your family's lakefront lifestyle has everyone scattered across the city's 18-mile trail system, who's managing the house? Those elegant windows in your brownstone flood spaces with afternoon heat while you're downtown and the kids perfect their volleyball serves at the beach. Automated shading works like having a responsible adult at home—handling comfort and energy efficiency so you can focus on what matters most during Chicago's brief but glorious summer season.