Management

We recently landed the biggest project in our company’s 18 year history – both in physical size of the home and in financial scope...

Danis Fuelling, CEO of Phoenix Unequaled Home Entertainment, has worked relentlessly to prove to her peers in the industry that she belongs and deserves...

App integration has become a fundamental requirement for any home integration client with a smartphone and/or tablet.

When custom integrator Dallas Extreme approached PanTech Design to handle programming for a large Crestron system in a 15,000-square-foot home in Dallas, Morgan took...

“Sometimes when things are free, people are less likely to appreciate the value when they have something invested in the results,” said industry consultant...

A little over a year ago, Residential Systems embarked on a partnership with respected industry consultants Ryan Brown, from Media Environment Design, and Leslie...

For years, innovative AV products have drawn integrators and their customers to the custom installation channel like proverbial moths to a flame.

The backyard party is an American tradition. Sit back on the patio with a few friends, a couple of burgers, and the Beatles on...

Rachelle Friedman’s life changed forever in 2010 when a prank at her bachelorette party caused her to hit her head on the bottom of...

Jason Williams, general manager for Yale Locks & Hardware’s residential group, acknowledges that integrators at all levels are being forced to grapple with the...

Change is rarely easy.

Mobile apps are a big deal.

Like it or not, if we’re lucky we’ll all get older.

“Teaching continuing education is the lynch pin of my business.

Sometimes it really pays to take that final cruise around the exhibition floor.

Located in one of the most vibrant neighborhoods of Seattle, the Station at Othello Park is a large 420,000-square-foot, mixed-use facility offering 351 luxury...

The days when simply turning your lights off when you’re not at home to save energy are long gone.

Drew Balsman has recognized two key differences between residential and commercial AV integration.

From Manhattan to Memphis, Kansas City to California, designer show houses, meant to impress potential clients with the skills of interior designers as well...

I’ve been guilty in the past of saying that explosions and carnage do little to show off a speaker system’s fidelity, but let’s face...

In my experience teaching system integrators how to structure and realize the benefits of service contracts for CEDIA University, one topic that typically receives...

It’s not quite Extreme Makeover Home Edition, and there probably won’t be a dramatic “move-that-truck reveal” moment like on that ABC reality show, but...

“I used a lot of solder when I was kid,” said Brian McAuliff, in describing himself as a longtime electrical hobbyist.

Great integrated AV designs rarely happen by chance.

There’s more than a little confusion about CEC, the “Consumer Electronics Control” standard, built into most residential HDMI devices.

When Kevin Kelly and Mark Wilkins look to one side, they see an AV integration business in flux as residential dealers look for new...

There’s always been a bit of crossover from residential AV integration into light commercial, but as the housing market dried up and economy sputtered,...

We have all witnessed the phenomenal success of Apple iOS and Google Android devices in our clients’ homes over the last several years.

The number-one complaint from integrators who are successfully selling service contracts has been that they waited too long to start selling them.

If a home is only as good as the foundation it’s built upon, Sacramento, California’s Casa Bella Verde underscores the truth of this adage...

What if you turned in a customer service review to the integration company that installed your home media center, and in return, you received...

One or two of you may have recognized that “The Demo Scene” was born from the ashes of my regular column at another—nowdefunct— publication.

What kind of home does a retired engineer and CEO with a love of sports and entertaining build for himself?

General aviation continues to grow in the U.S. and pilots are just as eager as terrestrial drivers to make the homes for their...

Brian Rockett is not the kind of guy who throws tantrums when things don’t go as planned. Seemingly impossible challenges don’t appear to rattle...

To quote a recent blog post from my friend John Sciacca, “Few things in life have the power to trigger memories and instantly transport...

Over the years, savvy custom integrators have realized that the “lifestyle” or “experience” presentation is essential to a successful integrated home system sale.

As the economy continues to struggle to find a path to recovery, the specialty CE and CI markets also have experienced significant challenges and...

Jim Ares is quite surprised that other AV contractors aren’t as successful as his firm.

For a retired couple with homes in Colorado and north of Dallas, a new residence in Austin is a wonderful retreat.

It takes a lot of effort to make an AV installation a success without letting the client see you sweat.