Does your business’ commercial audio video system tend to work against you at the worst possible times? Either a presentation won’t show up on the screen, participants can’t see what’s on it—or worst of all—you have to suffer through painful audio feedback. A lot of times, it’s just pure bad luck, but other times businesses are setting themselves up to fail.

Not only can be it that you're using the wrong equipment, but sometimes it's merely not appropriately installed. Other times, the problem is that you're using a solution that's not appropriate for your company needs. Even though many of these issues pertain to an office environment, businesses throughout Lake Oswego, OR including restaurants and retail stores could benefit from these upgrades.

Have you always longed for a completely custom home theater for your Portland home? Maybe the timing was never quite right because of competing priorities. Now your moment has come, and you’re ready to make your dream into a reality.

As you investigate it, all the options for a home theater space may seem a bit daunting. What kind of seating do I want? Do I need special lighting? What kind of speakers should I get? Should it look like an actual theater or go with the rest of my home’s décor?

There is no correct answer for any of these questions: The answers lie in what you want out of your home theater. You can do it yourself, but you are better off with a professional like Encore Audio Video. We are experts in home theater and media room design and installation, and we can guide you through every step of the process toward getting the theater of your dreams. With that in mind, let’s discuss four areas you’ll want to consider to help you make sense of the options.

We are blessed with a mild climate in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Our winters may be wet but they are not overly cold; our summers are gloriously sunny. As much as we love our summer sun, sometimes it feels overwhelming, quickly heating up our houses on the hottest days.

Is it warm enough for air conditioning? Air conditioning is a great convenience for some occasions, but we are fortunate in that it's not a dire necessity here, unlike other parts of the country. However, there is a smart way to control the heat -- by managing the amount of summer sunlight that enters your home. Motorized window treatments might seem like a luxury - they certainly are luxurious - but they’re also a great way to control light and its effects. Read on to learn more about how to be the master of light in Camas, Washington, by using motorized shades and window treatments.

If you read this blog, you know that we have discussed many features and aspects of smart home automation. One of the central ideas we regularly try to convey about the subject is that automation is about creating a coordinated system. Many choices exist in the market, with smart switches, locks, thermostats, lights, cameras, and more readily available, and more companies are getting into the sector almost every month.

We firmly believe that smart homes are about more than a collection of intelligent devices or merely the ability to use an app to control devices and functions. We think that the power of smart technology is its ultimate ability to provide total home integration. So what do we mean by total home integration?

For the most part, the systems and functions in homes were islands unto themselves. They did not communicate or work with the other. Heating and cooling is a subsystem, and electrical and lighting are another. The trades that work on them are different companies with different skill sets too. Think of water and plumbing, irrigation systems, and pool and spa equipment. They all have their various systems and controls.

These home functions still do what they have always done. But what is changing rapidly is how they can be controlled, how they can inform and report on their status, and most importantly, that this intelligence now enables them to work in tandem with other functions in the home.

Are you interested in preparing your Vancouver, WA home for the future of total home integration?