An Expert Collaboration of Smart Home Technology and Smart Design

Barrett’s Technology Solutions has always believed in form and function. As a smart home company in the Chicago area since 1966, we’ve seen a lot of forms and an equal amount of function come and go. But one thing remains constant: We believe great technology and design go together, and we strive to achieve the balance of each with every project.

This year, we’re very proud to have been chosen by ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Illinois chapter for a 2020 Design Excellence award. The home theater project was a collaboration between our company, CinemaTech (home theater design, seating, and acoustics), the client, the contractor, and some skilled local craftsmen.

Often in any successful endeavor, the devil is in the details. Keep reading to learn more about this award-winning project; we hope it inspires you to embark on yours!

Create a Superior Cinema Experience at Home

Recently, Regal Cinemas, one of the largest commercial movie theater companies in America, announced that they were temporarily closing over 500 theaters, including 9 in Illinois. This unprecedented move resulted from a decrease in business due to the ongoing concerns of the pandemic. Additionally, the health crisis also slowed down the production of new movies, resulting in fewer theatrical releases over the past several months.

It’s no surprise to anyone that we’ve had significant economic impacts from the pandemic, and much of that has meant spending much more time at home. While we hope commercial cinemas come back soon, you can still enjoy the cinematic experience at home – in many ways, better than at the cineplex.

If you haven’t yet taken the plunge into creating a private home theater system in your Naperville home, now is a perfect time. There is a plethora of options in equipment, seating, audio, and more to customize your cinema experience completely. What's more, there's a staggering array of content to enjoy in a home theater. Just recently, Disney announced a major reorganization to focus more on bringing its massive collection of content directly to consumers, meaning even more choices at home.

Keep reading below to see how to take an underutilized space and turn it into your personal movie and media entertainment zone!

Stay Connected with Family and Friends with Pro-level Videoconferencing at Home

The Coronavirus pandemic has yet to run its course, and right now, many of us are still doing the majority of our work and education from home. Chicago public schools reopened in September virtually, employing platforms like Google Classroom to facilitate remote learning. Major technology companies like Google, Facebook, and many others have announced plans to continue remote work for professionals well into 2021.

In this environment, connectivity, communication, and collaboration from home have become essential. But communication is not merely for work and school; it's important to keep up with family and friends and continue participating – however remotely – with your social groups.

Improving Your Overall Wellness Starts with a Smart, Healthy Home

Natural light makes you feel better. Why do you think people like going outside to enjoy the sun? It’s not just to get a tan. There’s something biological that’s happening. Natural light helps to regulate our wake and sleep cycles, as well as provide energy for the synthesis of vitamin D. When you get the right amount and hue of light throughout the day, you’ll discover that your mood, sleep, and overall wellness improve.

Technologically based wellness companies, such as Delos, integrate “healthy” lighting that promotes a healthy home indoors. Circadian lighting, as it’s called, is accomplished through tunable fixtures from Ketra that change in color temperature and intensity throughout the day to mimic the sun’s natural progression across the sky. The result? You’ll wake refreshed, enjoy more energy throughout the day, and go to bed peacefully. Read more to learn how installing circadian lighting in your Chicago, IL, home can help improve your overall wellbeing.