A First for Dorset - Living Brand New Showroom & Golf Sim Update

The Living Home Tech team are hosting an exclusive event to celebrate the highly anticipated reopening of their newly renovated flagship Poole office, incorporating Living Golf Sims. The piece de resistance is the showcase of their brand new and unique, high end in-home golf sim, the likes of which is a first for Dorset.

Experience a Golf Sim with unrivalled technology, incorporated into an audio visuals design masterpiece. We just cannot wait to share this technological first for Dorset with you and first for golf sim demonstration hubs anywhere.

Register now to book your personal timeslot for the Grand Opening launch event: https://bit.ly/LivingLuxuryGolfSims

There are limited slots and applications will be granted upon discretion.

Any course, any specification. Your game is our priority!

Just you, our team of GC Quad and TrackMan experts and whoever you might like to bring with you.

We can guide your game and you can put the system through it's paces.

The Living Group’s ethos of first class detail, intuitive design vision and top-end finish are all evident in our redesigned showroom space, with the on-site simulator complete with Cinema Build Systems fabric walls, surround sound, TrackMan software, Orluna feature bespoke lighting and a fully stocked bar.

Living ensures the elegant solution you’ve been looking for to practice your swing from the comfort of your own home while simultaneously elevating not just your game, but the aesthetics of your space.

Whatever the weather, there's a sunshine course to choose from.

With the limited number of bespoke experiences available, pre-booking is essential - so register your interest to be first in line!

What's your favourite tipple? Tell us when you book!

From being greeted with your favourite drink to playing on the legendary green of your choosing, each private 30-minute booking will be individually tailored to the guest.

In the evening, the event will take a more social flavour, with the doors opening to allow people to drop in through the evening and meet with friends from local golf clubs to peruse all that the Living Group has to offer over a few drinks at a relaxed pace.

To see the golf sim in action register your interest by responding to this email or calling us on +44 (0) 1202 775 133.

Which global green will you go to?

Just imagine the feeling of teeing off at the Augusta National or staring off into the fairway at the Bluffs Grand Ho Tram Strip! Yes, anywhere in the world is now your weekly practise destination. Teeth of the Dog on Friday, shake it up and go to the Dunes at Shenzhou Peninsula on your Saturday morning!

And even when it's grim outside, the sanctuary of the sim awaits.

Don't forget that also onsite is our private demonstration reference cinema showroom, available for private cinema experiences. Book your showcase here! 😊

Got a project in mind? Call us:

Poole HQ - 01202 775 133
London - 020 7411 9849

#LoveLiving
#TheHomeCinemaBrothers

#TheGolfSimBrothers
#AreYouLiving

Living Design Private Cinema for the Families at Julia’s House

A happy Rowan enjoying the cinema therapy experience at a Together For Cinema private, immersive cinema.

Aiming to remove the hurdles from immersive cinema for families who would not otherwise get the experience, Living Home Tech has teamed up with Together For Cinema to design and install a bespoke, private cinema room for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice in Dorset.

Your first trip to the cinema should be a magical experience. The smell of the popcorn, the ultra-loud volume and bright lights, the crowds packed in to watch the latest blockbuster in tiered seating; a trip to the cinema tingles all your senses before the film even starts. But for some children it’s just not accessible, and Living Home Tech wanted to help change that.

Ian Morrish, founder of Together For Cinema, said: “When you’re experiencing troubles as these children and their families are, they can’t go to a normal cinema or restaurant. They need PEG feeding, complex wheelchairs, and then there’s the cost of carers and transport – it’s just not realistic.” So, he decided to bring the cinema to them.

Together For Cinema (TFC) is an AV industry good cause enterprise whose main focus is to design and install home cinema rooms in children’s hospices and other suitable locations across the UK for the provision of “Cinema Therapy”.

Inspired by an episode of Secret Millionaire set in a children’s hospice, Ian began work on TFC in 2009 in his free time while working at Integrated Systems Europe. In 2020 he committed to the project full time, and by the end of the same year hit their target to complete 25 cinema room installations.

With 30 years’ experience in the AV industry Ian has a wealth of contacts who share his passion to give back to the community, and their contributions of equipment, time and expertise meant that for the first 12 years of TFC no monies changed hands whatsoever. Ian said of Living Home Tech’s Director, Luke Crutcher: “He has been fabulously supportive in getting involved!”

The room at Julia’s House that we will transform into a private cinema!

For the Julia’s House project there had been an installer lined-up but it was a tricky job, which is when Living Home Tech entered the frame. Ian said: “Luke came on board, and we visited together. It was a challenging room, but Luke’s vision was great, we got on straight away. He was so keen to get involved.” Whilst talking about Julia’s House, the pair also decided on a solution for Dorset Children’s Foundation for later in the year.

Living’s Luke said “Working with Ian has been so motivating and inspirational. Living’s purpose is to bring joy to people in their environment, to appreciate entertainment in a comfortable space, designed for their needs. This is no different – and so rewarding. We are so happy to be making a difference and working with a fantastic local charity like Julia’s House”.

A previously installed private cinema for a hospice via TFC at White Lodge

This will be the 35th installation, taking TFC past the £800k mark to the value of installations since they started had there been normal charges. Ian said: “Once it’s completed in the summer, we will have a big party!”

 Becoming a registered charity later this year, CEDIA (the Global Association for the Home Technology Industry) has already given Ian a special recognition award, and TFC is on track to reach a value of £1m by 2024. Ian said: “Every second in a kids’ hospice has to be a sparkle rather than a tear. Quite simply, Together For Cinema is a pure and unquestionable good.” And the Living Home Tech team can’t help but agree!

How to Design your Perfect Home Media Room

A big screen, a cosy space and your favourites queued up…

We stream, we download, we binge. We invite friends, we host parties. The big screen and the big sound, colour, music, sport – it’s all popping in our modern homes. Gone are the days of waiting to go to the cinema for that immersive big screen experience and blow-your-socks-off surround sound. Even if space is at a premium you don’t have to miss out – we have plenty of tricks up our sleeve that will give you the media room of your dreams while keeping the whole family happy.

As one of the most respected home cinema, smart home and lighting companies in business, we’re passionate about delivering epic cinematic experiences and finding functionality in every space we create – tailored to you. So, sit back and enjoy our tips on designing your perfect multipurpose media room at home that is sure to get your corn popping.

An integrated screen for our client to comfortably watch in their Dorset family home

Considered Lighting 

Nothing kills the vibe of trying to get into a film more than glare bouncing across the screen like a sugar-fuelled toddler. Unless you’re setting up in a basement, then before anything else it’s time to block that sucker (aka, the sun) out. For the ultimate in luxury, opt for the world’s smoothest and quietest automated blinds.

You’ll want some light, of course, so amp up the ambience and fit out your home cinema with subtle, dimmable lighting that will set the scene and have you reaching for the remote.

Even better, why not utilise our own control app and lighting design. We incorporate patented technologies into our lighting designs. So that every inch of your space shines in it’ most favourable light, we love using suppliers like Orluna and Lighting of London.

Having all lighting controls in one simple app means you can easily change between cinema mode and family room at the touch of a button, saving your energy for important things, like deciding what to watch!

Illuminate with clarity - Orluna LED natural colour technology

Divide and conquer 

If your cinema shares a room permanently and you have the space to delineate the two, why not consider some screening? Creating a room divider can give both areas a sense of separation. A shelving unit featuring plants will divide without encroaching on light or the feeling of space, whereas a pull out, fitted room divider complete with acoustic panels will further elevate the cinema experience - and not distract others in the home as much if they’re not part of movie night.

Experience studio-quality sound with Artcoustic speakers

And so, to acoustics

It’s a fine balancing act. Too little attenuation and the echoes from your speakers will bounce off the walls and ceiling, muddying the sound landscape. Equally, too little and you’ll sap all the energy out of your sound, at once dulling your efforts and sound in the process. No, great acoustics are the goldilocks of this story, and nothing but ‘just right’ will do.

To reach this utopian soundscape, aim to have sound absorption on around 60% of your room’s surfaces. While this could take the form of acoustic panelling, if the room is multipurpose this could also include books and soft furnishings such as carpeting, rugs, cushions, throws, and window drapes.

And where would talk of acoustics be without the main event: the speakers themselves. Nothing beats the hair-raising tension of watching a horror film with speakers so well set up that the villain could have just literally crept into your room, snapping a twig behind your shoulder.

Watching Hamilton tear up the hill away from Monoco’s Sainte Devote with Max hot on his tail, and you want to hear those engines roar. The perfect speakers create a detailed soundscape, but it’s important to be sympathetic to the architecture of your space.

Not keen on the look of speakers jutting out at various angles? Well, hidden speakers could be just the thing for your clean-lines environment!

Top of the range kit is only as good as its configuration. If you’d like to hear what we can do, book a demonstration, and experience the latest Dolby Atmos Home Cinema system, as well as testing all associated technologies such as those from our tried and tested partners, Artcoustic, Amina, Steinway Lyngdorf, Sony, Samsung, JVC, Control4, Clipsal C-Bus, and our own, unique self-designed control systems - to name but a few!

Positioning is everything in acoustics and surround sound

The big reveal

You might yearn for a wall-filling screen and beautiful display speakers that stand to attention, but to be boringly practical, they may be too precious to leave to the elements once your kids, friend’s children, or worse - drunk adults - come into the mix. Fortunately, there are countless options for protecting and disguising your kit.

Perhaps your screen becomes a work of art by day, TV by night. Or a mirror when not in use. Alternatively, your TV and speakers could be housed in bespoke storage, or you could opt for a projector screen - that way, can take an entire wall and no one will know it’s there until it’s showtime.

Our creative customer agreed that screens can be art too!

Sumptuous fabrics aligned to your room for added cosiness

Furnishing your marathon

Any marathon requires adequate preparation and sustenance, even if it’s the kind of marathon that means bingeing a box set rather than running 26 miles!

In planning the cinema room of your dreams, don’t overlook the simple side table to keep your food and drink conveniently to hand. A nest of tables provides an elegant solution that caters for when you’ve lots of people over, that can tuck away neatly when not needed. If watching movies is a marathon, then your seating is akin to the runner’s trainer.

It needs to fit perfectly and provide comfort throughout. And what could be more multifunctional than a sofa that doubles as a daybed. Heck, it could even be a golf room or kid’s playroom the rest of the time - all you need is a little creativity, and anything is possible.

Where do you start with fabric? Durability, finish, colour? Seat design? If choosing fabrics or cinema seating makes your mind boggle, we have access to quite simply the widest range. Personal choice leads to some pretty vibrant designs! It’s your space, picking a cream velvet might not be great with tiny paws and children around, but many luxurious fabrics can be stain resistant and withstand even the darkest or merlots… choose what suits your lifestyle and more importantly - brings you joy!

Recline in bespoke fabrics to match your personality just like our local client!

 Put the theatre back into movies

When we watch films, or our favourite programme, we buy into a fantasy. Even with the big game, we want to immerse ourselves in and feel as though we are a part of that world.

Production teams have taken hundreds, nay thousands of hours crafting their art for our enjoyment and we owe it to them, to ourselves, to consume it in the right setting. We need a home setup that puts the theatre back into movies, that delivers a great cinematic experience from the comfort of your own home. To enjoy with friends, with family, or even (dare I say it) to get away from all the above and just totally unwind with a drink in front of a great big screen.

It can all be achieved with a little ingenuity and imagination 😉

Ferrari fine tuning - for every little detail

With exceptional craftsmanship and design in every home cinema we create, let us look after you in the design of your perfect media room and leave the drama for the movies.

Client confidentiality assured. Call to arrange a consultation, NDAs available. https://www.livinghometech.co.uk/

A client’s unique gamer’s setup in a rural hideaway

#thehomecinemabrothers #livinghometech #immersivecinema #cinematicexperience #multipurposemediaroom #craftsmanship #luxurydesign

Cinema, Golf, Automated Blinds - we are Living Home Tech ®️

A Family Business for Almost Two Decades

For the last 17 years, Living Home Tech ®  have striven as a tightknit, hugely ambitious and focused family to forge our way as leaders in the world of home cinema and smart home technologies internationally, across the UK and in places like St. Lucia, Portugal, Marbella and Girona.  

Having been nominated for often winning awards, the business has steadily grown. As we head towards two decades in business, we felt now was a good time to shout from the rooftop about what we’ve achieved as a family. Our leadership team brings into play 3 harmonised brothers. Wes as our “visionary”, Wayne, our technical guru, and Luke the gregarious one! The puzzle is completed by our long-term associate Paul.

Living has triumphed over and again with dedication to ensuring every client is heard and is left feeling like they’ve won a kind of jackpot. Every customer feels special, our aftercare is renowned, and this is demonstrated by a returning client base and the respect of industry peers.

We maintain our education game, even working with the industry to write and deliver CPDs, and we consistently innovate our practices to enable the very best designs and project results.

The three Crutcher brothers, director and innovators behind the Living Group.

What is behind the success of Living?

Living was started as a family, and almost 20 years on, it is just as solid, and not least because of our backbone family structure. No one can recreate or emulate that! Our client and associate network are rightly reassured by it, and we are told about the difference it makes by our customers.

Living Home Tech are fully design-led and we were born from a desire to build superior systems for the discerning client. We each have a passion for quality in home cinemas, the very best lighting systems and #smarthome technologies. When we worked as Engineers for other employers, we noticed that others didn’t apply the exacting standards that we expected to see form the design and install processes, and we noticed that products were chosen for reasons regardless of client need. We looked at the marketplace and decided to join forces creating end-to-end design, supply, installation and aftercare provision - something that people could trust and rely on which delivered excellent results.

Reasons for our also growth include Luke writing industry training specifications for the trade associations RIBA and CEDIA, developing our very own Control App and associated software, and being featured more than once on TV’s Grand Designs and Basement Wars!

It is our focus on these areas and consistent ambitious motivations as a crew of brothers that have built Living Home Tech ® to where we are today.

Just one of our Living Home Tech ® bespoke home cinemas.

 Why do our customers value us?

Our precise attention to detail shows through and through, and our clients trust our repeat results. We are 100% bespoke. If a client wants something, we make it happen. We may guide and showcase our experience and knowledge to explain why certain products and finishes might be better in the long term for our customers, because we value their investment as much as they do. People come back to us time and time again, over many years. Word of mouth has led to most of our growth, because clients trust us as a family of workers and because of our industry credibility via our Continued Professional Development courses, (CPDs).written with industry bodies CEDIA and RIBA.

Living have been featured on Grand Designs, the Crown estate and the BBC numerous times and are renowned for our bespoke control systems, using proprietary software control for lighting installations, designed and invented by us.

Everything we install is simple to use, and our aftercare service is unrivalled. Other people just don’t work like we do!

Another unique home cinema room project.

 A collaborative approach:

We have a squad of children between us, making us hyperaware of how difficult it can be when times are difficult with a family member or child being unwell or experiencing other difficulties in life.  This has led us to do a lot of charity work including sponsoring food banks.

Taking a child with a disability to a commercial cinema is normally not an option. Access challenges or simply the fact that bright lights, loud noises and other audience members can interfere with everyone’s viewing enjoyment. We want to make the full cinema experience available and stress-free to families who might not normally get the chance. This realisation led us to working with Julia’s house in Bournemouth and we are supporting them by installing a private cinema via a fantastic organisation called “Together for Cinema”.

We run annual golf days, and 2021’s golf day at Ashley Wood Golf Course raised over £5,000 for Southampton’s Piam Brown Ward which supports families and children with cancer. In addition to the golf day, our charity for the same year would also have benefited from us running up some fairly hefty mountains! But, unfortunately the OMM fundraiser got flooded and one of us got Covid, so the event is rebooked for October 2022!

2022’s Golf day fundraiser is booked for this September, Thursday the 15th at Dudsbury Golf Club and Spa, where the offering is even better as we have overnight facilities and can make a real event of it after the game. A charity awards auction will be held on the night of the 15th and all proceeds will this year be for Breast Cancer Support, another charity close to our hearts.

More community and yet more family; we even have a fourth brother locally who runs an expert carpentry business. His complimentary exacting standards are incorporated into as many jobs as suitable alongside a host of local architects that we have partnerships with. Strong collaborations are key to ongoing success and this mindset is motivational for us all.

Happy golfers at last year’s golf fundraiser event!

Approaching 20 years, you overcome some challenges.

Running a small business always has its peaks and flows, but we have been both determined and fortuitous along the way! However, nothing could prepare any small business for the pandemic. The initial lockdowns had a drastic effect on our business. Suddenly, we could no longer visit people in their homes to either design or install their home cinemas, their lighting or audio-visual systems… it made us stop in our tracks and rethink how we could maintain our hands-on and detail-orientated service to our clientele.

Being the techies we are, we decided to start Virtual Reality design services, and enable both our prospective and current clients’ access their design processes starting and progressing. We now host virtual cinema experiences and cinema demonstrations in addition to our in-person cinema showroom demos, and we additionally offer our designers CPDs online for architects and design professionals to boost their continued professional development points and upskill during the year.

This has led to a better range of service offering, allowing us to assist a wider variety of people more flexibly than ever before.

Here’s to more decades in business

Living Home tech are here to stay and proud of our growing empire. Building on the success of the last 17 years and learning and evolving as we have, 2022 saw the launch of not one extra company, but two!

We are driven by excellence, and we all love our jobs. Listening to our clients and sharing interests with many of them, such as golfing… it made us realise there was a gap in our service offering and we launched Living Golf Sims in  March 2022.

We have designed and built a state-of-the-art studio and demo spaces in our group head office in Poole, Dorset. Look at our CGI representation on our social media

Read more about our latest innovations below…

Living Golf Sims

With the British weather being what it is… having an entire world of golf courses in your home and available at the switch of a button can only be a good thing…

Living Golf Sims is all about custom designed golf simulators, providing the ultimate in accuracy, finish, materials and overall design.

A Living Golf Sim provides more than a simple swing room. The entire build and every single piece of technology is tailored to your game, your environment and your play objectives. We incorporate bespoke fabric walls, 20mm luxury grass flooring, double-skin hitting screens and HD graphics to build the basis of golf entertainment rooms and we are the South Coast specialist for GCQuad™ golf simulator technology.

#LivingGolfSims take care of every single element of the build, from design to project managing building works and through to cabling and bespoke carpentry. The entire project is controlled and managed by us, giving you a single point of contact, reassurance and a professionally polished result – #tailormade to you.

Come and visit our state of the art showroom – we can’t wait to see you demo the top drawer in Golf Sim technology to transform your game!

Living Blinds

And then there was just no stopping us! In April came the launch of Living Blinds. We have been installing blinds for some years now as a part of our home automation and smart home designs around the south coast and further afield across Europe. Window treatments are a key element to any the smart lighting and home automation control function in residences and with the growing demand for more of these installs, so, it made sense to offer this specialism as a dedicated offering, as an add-on or in isolation.

In keeping with our values, this brand-new automated blinds offering comes with the reassurance that every blind we install is designed with the accuracy and quality you would expect. Durability, ease of use and longevity, whilst suiting the demands of your home, lifestyle and routine are all considered and interweaved into your finished home blinds installation.

Window treatments are as important as any other finishing touches to your home. They are a necessary function, and yet need to blend into the background and perform upon instant request. Once you’ve had an automated blind, manual just does not cut it!  Living Blinds meets this ever-increasing demand.

Trust in our world-leading product selection using brands like QMotion who helped to steer advancements across the USA in leading manufacturers of garage doors and openers pinch resistant sectional joints as well as a revolutionary torsion spring counterbalance system. We choose our providers for their ingenuity, reliability and their ability to be automated through these control systems. We were one of the first partners for QMotion on this side of the pond and bring their products to a new audience.

We offer a full design and specification for your automated blinds, and you can select from almost any fabric or material for your blinds or curtains. We use the world’s smoothest and quietest motor technologies. And we now supply and fit ‘wire free’ automated blinds that use the exact same super quiet motors and that have batteries that last approximately 5 years. Every single #livingblinds installation is backed by our full service and on-site warranty.

Peace of mind with Living Blinds!

Come and visit our state of the art showroom – we are ready and waiting to show you the ultimate in automated blinds technology to transform your rooms.

The right window dressing can really transform a room and make it an easier space to live in.

Do you have questions? Are you planning a development at home?

Ask us about your project today and your your personal demo or consultation: https://www.livinghometech.co.uk/home-cinema-demo-booking

Award-winning cinema - the #HomeCinemaBrothers

Spring News for Living Home Tech ®️

As we welcome the start of Spring this month, we also welcome two pieces of epic news to brighten your “hole” year! (Okay... maybe just some of it 😉)

Our number one revelation is, that after 17 years of hard graft, providing expert design and installation expertise, and maintaining an unrivalled level of customer service; Living can now announce to the world our BRAND-NEW and hugely anticipated Golf Simulators offering!

In true Living Home Tech ® style, these simulators for the home, office and garden will be far from your average – packed full of bespoke design, technology and our trademark attention to detail.

Come and see the full demonstration facility at our Poole HQ very soon! Wherever you hang out online, keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages for more details to be shared soon!

Now we’re not just the #HomeCinemaBrothers - you can also call us the #GolfSimBrothers✌️

Take a look: https://www.livinggolfsims.com/

Announcement 2 is.....

It's that time of year again! We can now announce that the #Living2022GolfEvent details have been released!

It is always an oversubscribed event, and we just know we are set to have another corker of a day. Please get your entries in early to avoid disappointment, and note that we will operate a waiting list for teams who enter once we are full.

All proceeds to Breast Cancer Support, playing at Dudsbury Golf Club and Spa, with a £15,000.00 Golf Simulator or Home Cinema as the "Hole-in-One" Competition prize. Book now!

Book via the entry form

The tournament happens at Dorset’s Dudsbury Golf Club and this year we are proud to be fundraising for Breast Cancer Support as our 2022 charity, to whom all proceeds of the day will be sent.

An INCREDIBLE prize is on offer for the winner of our ‘Hole-in-One’ comp – a £15,000.00 Golf Simulator or Home Cinema!

⛳ September 15th 2022, 10:00am Tee-time
⛳ Teams of 4, Fourball, Better Ball (2 scores)
⛳ Pre-golf bacon bap, coffee/tea, post round, post golf meal and awesome charity auction and prize-giving celebration. 🔨

2022 is shaping up nicely 🙌

Before you try the golf sim, have you tried the home cinema demonstration room at our HQ?
Book your private experience here.

PLUS: We are always booking up for Designer's CPDs - get your points and book yours here.

CGI representation for part of our new state-of-the-art showroom and demo facility in Poole.

Great News, and Golf News!

As we welcome the start of Spring this month, we also welcome two pieces of epic news to brighten your hole year! (Okay... maybe just some of it 😉)

Our number one revelation is, that after 17 years of hard graft, providing expert design and installation expertise, and maintaining an unrivalled level of customer service; Living can now announce to the world our BRAND-NEW and hugely anticipated Golf Simulators offering!

In true Living Home Tech ® style, these simulators for the home, office and garden will be far from your average – packed full of bespoke design, technology and our trademark attention to detail.

Come and see the full demonstration facility at our Poole HQ very soon! Wherever you hang out online, keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn pages for more details to be shared soon!

Now we’re not just the #HomeCinemaBrothers - you can also call us the #GolfSimBrothers✌️

Take a look: https://www.livinggolfsims.com/

Announcement 2 is.....

It's that time of year again! We can now announce that the #Living2022GolfEvent details have been released!

It is always an oversubscribed event, and we just know we are set to have another corker of a day. Please get your entries in early to avoid disappointment, and note that we will operate a waiting list for teams who enter once we are full.

All proceeds to Breast Cancer Support, playing at Dudsbury Golf Club and Spa, with a £15,000.00 Golf Simulator or Home Cinema as the "Hole-in-One" Competition prize. Book now!

Book via the entry form

The tournament happens at Dorset’s Dudsbury Golf Club and this year we are proud to be fundraising for Breast Cancer Support as our 2022 charity, to whom all proceeds of the day will be sent.

An INCREDIBLE prize is on offer for the winner of our ‘Hole-in-One’ comp – a £15,000.00 Golf Simulator or Home Cinema!

⛳ September 15th 2022, 10:00am Tee-time
⛳ Teams of 4, Fourball, Better Ball (2 scores)
⛳ Pre-golf bacon bap, coffee/tea, post round, post golf meal and awesome charity auction and prize-giving celebration. 🔨

Travelling to the event? If you’d like to stay at the Dudsbury Golf & Spa either pre or post event, we’ve negotiated a special rate, please let us know via the entry form if this is of interest.

2022 is shaping up nicely. 🙌

Before you try the golf sim, have you tried the home cinema demonstration room at our HQ?
Book your private experience here.

PLUS: We are still booking up for Designer's CPDs - check yours here.

Continual Professional Development (CPD) for Architects and Designers (RIBA & CEDIA certified)

Which CPD courses should my architectural practice take in 2022?

If you are responsible for deciding which CPD courses your architects and designers attend this year, which audio visual or Smart Home design courses should be on your agenda?

Most architectural designers and interior designers are looking ahead for 2022 CPD courses, certified by RIBA and CEDIA, and our areas of coverage are growing in popularity as consumer awareness increases.

Hidden Speakers is the most popular course by far, and bespoke CPD in smart home, home cinema or lighting technologies run closely behind. If your clients are looking at residential AV for their plans and to accentuate their homes - you need to know the latest industry specifications. And top up your CPD points whilst you’re at it!

We work alongside practices who support high-end residential developments. We work with designers and architecture firms, complementing design skills to develop an environment which exceeds all client expectations and delivers a phenomenal place to live, optimising the use of smart technology. We of course understand that designers need to lead way with fixtures, fitting and finishes, and we dovetail with these aspirations without interrupting the design project or aesthetics of a building.

We are accredited to provide these CPD lunch sessions and have co-written Lighting and Design for stage two with CEDIA and RIBA and also offer Hidden Speakers, Home Cinema and bespoke CPD lunchtime sessions.

Please read a little more here: https://www.livinghometech.co.uk/cpd-training-slots

What live projects do you have coming up that we could discuss over a structured CPD or Active Learning CPD?

We can facilitate these sessions over over a lunch hour. Face-to-face is preferred and we can visit your offices. We have locations in London and Essex, with our main showroom in Poole.

We are always eager to explore potential partnership relationships with practices and designers who match our ideals and those of our discerning clients. These things work both ways, and it is best discussed over a call or meeting.

Book your meeting to discuss partnering here: https://www.livinghometech.co.uk/contact-us

#TheHomeCinemaBrothers Best Home Cinema under £50k Award & CPD for Designers

How was the step into Autumn for you?

The Living Home Tech ® team had a fantastically memorable Autumn, that's for sure!

Most excitingly - WE WON AN AWARD! 💥

Yes, we won the Smart Building Awards winning project “Best Home Cinema under £50k”

Luke was invited onto the Steve Harris breakfast show on BBC Radio Solent about why we won and what made it such a complex and special project.

The cinema room was designed for a home in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire using Virtual Reality and was built with Artcoustic Loudspeakers, fabric sound-treatments and a native 4k projector. With the projector only a short distance to the custom screen as the room was designed for a loft space. It was a challenging project, but our team of expert designers produced the tools to turn this room into a very impressive home cinema space.

We competed against some hugely respected and well-known names in the industry and overcame design challenges with the room size and shape to complete such a polished installation, which not only caught the eye of the judges, but delivered a Cinema room beyond the client’s expectations, which we are very grateful to have received amazing feedback for.

It goes to show that we truly can transform any space into a Cinema!

You can view more pictures and the Living Home Tech home cinemas, lighting and smart home portfolio here.

Our winning project had to have carefully selected equipment, and placement was key. It made a perfect space for our client and their family to enjoy their time together watching the latest Netflix episodes and films alike with their family.

It was so much fun at the SBA awards - talking to industry professionals in person again!

In other news, as if 4K wasn’t sharp enough, September also saw the release of 8K projectors into the marketplace from our suppliers JVC. Yes, that’s right – double 4K!!!

JVC announced a new series of 8K D-ILA home theatre projectors. While the units still use native 4K DiLA panels, they also employ an upgraded version of JVC's pixel-shifting technology called 8K e-shiftX to deliver 8K onscreen resolution.

We incorporate the very latest in cinematic technology into every single one of our bespoke home cinema systems.

Just ask us how we could do this for you! 👋

Another thank you - this time to you!

We all know how important the digital sphere is for growing family businesses, and The Living Home Tech ® Instagram reached and surpassed 1000 followers last month.

If you aren't at the party yet, go and follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/livinghometech/

Follow for new projects, design and technology updates and more!

Ask us about our latest 8k Projectors

Thanks to all who attended our luxury design event in September with Ocean Bathrooms and experienced our new 4k Dolby Atmos Reference Cinema and its impressive lockdown updates!

Did you miss out? You can book your private showing here.

Calling Architects and those working in a design capacity!!!

Book your CPD sessions, certified by RIBA and CEDIA with us.

We co-wrote Lighting and Design for stage two, and additionally offer Home Cinema and bespoke CPD courses.

Structured CPD or Active Learning CPD - earn 3 Official Credits on each course.

Book yours here: https://www.livinghometech.co.uk/cpd-training-slots

Enhancing the Experience. What is Apple Spatial Audio all about?

Yes, we know why having a home cinema setup in your residence is the best way to experience your favourite music, films, Netflix series’, sport, games and more… but have you heard of Spatial Audio? It’s the 2021 format from Apple with 360-degree sound that creates a “3D effect”, just like being at the movies! Essentially, this is Apple’s version of Dolby Atmos, but specifically for music. You will have experienced Dolby Atmos in commercial cinemas, now you can do this in your private cinema system!

But is Spatial Audio worth it?

We think so.

The immersive nature of cinema and the renowned surround sound it offers, puts those who tune in into an immersive sound envelope, giving the feeling of varying senses of height and the crystal-clear sensation of hearing every part of the space and imagery depicted on screen.

Spatial Audio can’t really offer “true” surround sound which is normally presented by speakers at ear-level, but it’s a close second and suits certain situations.

3D-style audio means you get to hear what the film maker, soundtrack composer or game developer wanted you to hear, it allows you to pay attention to every detail and be taken exactly where the writers wanted you to be transported.

The audio technology.

Spatial Audio (SA) channels signals from 5:1, 7:1, Dolby Atmos, and virtualised sound. Gaming in 3D audio is on the rise, with market disruptors like Sony’s 360 Reality Audio and PS5 games on the Platinum Wireless Headsets for the latest 360 degree audio releases from Sony booming too, Apple joins in with its unique SA.

Apple has broken design ground, as usual, and fuses a unique combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes that track head movements and can see devices repositioned or even concurrent sound transmitted from a screen.

Standard home cinema and media room configuration is referred to as the 5:1 setup. Without making a complicated system setup (reference our favourite design genius, Albert Einstein – there’s just no need!), incorporating 6 channels, the standard for HD and 4k BluRay and DVD media is 5:1, with 5 speakers and a bass unit, or sub-woofer.

So, why would you use Spatial Audio?

In my home cinema room

If you already have a Dolby Atmos setup and an Apple TV streamer, then the ability to playback Spatial Audio is given. In any media room installation or home cinema setup you can enjoy the 3D-style sound experience. Some cinema rooms don’t have Dolby channels with overhead speakers pointed downwards to the position of the viewer, but of course, all of our home cinemas have this straight out of the box! If your room isn’t configured, the capability can be retrofitted.

New room?

If your room is freshly decorated, now might not be the right time for you to look at having a bespoke cinema room installed. For whatever reason, inviting designers to create a bespoke space for you might just not be what you’re looking for at this point in time. Make accessing cinema sound easy with Apple Audio.

 We’re not staying!

Maybe you’re moving house? Investing in media room design and AV technology for your home might be further down your roadmap, so what better way to fill that crossover period than treating yourself to the 3D-style audio and surround sound experience whilst you wait to design your dream space. In the meantime, experiencing it in our showroom is always an option – to know what you’re waiting for!

On the road, in the air. Travel, travel, travel.

You can’t take your home theatre with you! But you can take a slice of it and recreate the cinema with sound from all angles… having spatial audio in your headphones gives you the ability to take the style of 5:1, 7:1 and Dolby Atmos sound on the move. (Read the easy how-to process below!)

Multi-purpose rooms

Having a space with multiple uses can include frequently entertaining, look after various members of the family throughout the day or week, and having visitors and the people living in your home wandering around. The desire to enjoy the seclusion of a cinema-sound encounter in the comfort of your own headphones can almost be achieved with this.

But I’m Android!

If you aren’t sitting in the Apple Camp, you can still experience Spatial Audio – but only if your phone is compatible with Dolby Atmos or you have Apple Music or Apple TV as your streamer.

Test it out! How-to:

Our clients can have this added to their cinema setups, so please ask us how. Or, in your apple device, you can test the Spatial Audio demo. Whilst the full concept requires the Dolby Atmos setup, this demo in your headphones will still allow you to road-test the concept.

What devices support spatial audio?

Check What Hifi’s list on 6.1 - https://www.whathifi.com/advice/what-is-apple-spatial-audio

 To test it:

1.      Launch the Settings app on your device.

2.      Go to Bluetooth

3.      Find your ‌AirPods in the list

4.      Tap the info button next to your ‌AirPods‌.

5.      Toggle the switch next to Spatial Audio to the green “On” position

6.      Locate Spatial-Audio-enabled (such as typing in New Music in Spatial Audio to the search function)

7.      Swipe down from the right-hand-corner command centre

8.      Press and hold the volume icon.

9.      This will show you the Spatial Audio icon - and when it’s bright blue, Spatial Audio is enabled.

Why not switch between the stereo audio to spatial audio positions and experience the difference it makes?

Or make like Steven Spielberg, sit back and relax – get enveloped in the best audio-visual experience there is, either in person at our Poole showroom, or via our VR experience.

Why not book a demonstration with us and compare? https://www.livinghometech.co.uk/home-cinema-demo-booking

If you’re looking for an audio-visual setup that rivals a commercial cinema, but tailored to your viewing requirements, and created for use in the comfort of your own home, talk to us. Let us design a media room you can relax in and be proud of.

Speak to us, always with discretion, via our:

London Office:  +44 (0) 20 7411 9849

Poole Office:  +44 (0) 1202 775133

Charity Golf Day Success!

Drum rolls please! Our Golf Day was a total success in July! We are sooo happy to say that we raised just over £6,000 for the Southampton Hospitals Charity UK and Piam Brown Ward.

We cannot thank enough everyone who was involved and helped to made this happen. It was great to catch up with clients and partners, a special thank you to Artcoustic, B&O, Control4 & Habitech for sponsoring the event. We will be returning for 2022 and will be back even bigger!

You can listen to our Director, Wes Crutcher talk about the inspiration for us supporting this cause on the video below as he was interviewed on Monday on BBC Radio Solent !

Congratulations to all the winners! here are the results from the day:

Winners = Lma Architects

Longest drive = Mike Collings-Carter

Longest, straightest drive = Steve Bacon

No one managed to get a hole-in-one!

Nearest in 2 = Bespoke 4 Business

Nearest Pin = Gary Weldon

And huge thanks to all of our sponsors once again:

Gold Sponsors - Artcoustic Loudspeakers

Silver Sponsors - Control4 Habitech B&O PLAY

Hole Sponsors - LMA Architects Ltd KSG Painting & Decorating Ltd Ookkee Fire-Consulting Dave Rogers Ocean Bathrooms

Charlew Developments Limited Perry Fry flooring #krashtechnicltd

And, of course Ashley Wood Golf !

Stay tuned for the 3 peaks challenge!

TO DONATE - https://bit.ly/2Wad5hb

#ThankYou

Swapping out a Crestron system for a state of the art Control4 replacement

This particular journey started when one of our teams received a booking to investigate what could be done to help a couple in Kensington, London when they reported multiple faults on their Crestron system. After assessing the faults, we came to the conclusion that a system swap-out was the best, least expensive solution we could pursue. This was in part due to the fact the client had lost faith in their original system over the past 10 tumultuous years. In those 10 years they had seen several installers go out of business on them, taking their entire program in the process (meaning they had to engage a new company and then pay them to essentially re-program their system as they didn’t have the master file). Fed up with “paying over the odds” for what they described as a “clunky out-of-date controller”, it’s an understatement to say they desired a change.

After taking a full inventory of the system and any connected equipment, we re-designed how their system would work, removing unnecessary complications and streamlining each element of control. Within this task, we re-designed, cooled (AV kit runs hot) and re-cabled the central rack system, we knew we would then have the efficient and reliable system they craved. Our teams then looked to add a brand new home cinema experience, again fully integrated with their new Control4 system.

All-in-all, our teams have now overhauled, replaced and improved their A/V and controls experience beyond measure. We also provided them with our superb platinum service package, meaning they have online and in-person access to service technicians if they ever need it.

If you would like to talk to us about alternatives to Crestron and why we believe there are multiple options for less money, greater reliability and more features, please get in touch with us today, or book to visit one of our showrooms.

Living partner with Bang & Olufsen

In more news…. We’ve partnered with B&O to bring our clients the very best in sound and vision with that now customary Danish design flare. Is it us, or do the Danes absolutely rock this?

To celebrate this new collaboration, here’s a B&O article celebrating another British/Danish partnership that turned out rather well…

Designer, David Lewis

How did a Brit end up in Denmark leading the design on one of the country's most esteemed companies?

Read below and find out how David Lewis built upon the Bang & Olufsen legacy.

A Design Classic

Music and poetry

“Form is nothing more than an extension of content,” David Lewis told Beolink Magazine in 2003. “Who says that loudspeakers should hide away in corners, if the closer they get to you, the better they sound?” It's quite telling that Bang & Olufsen's chief designer's words almost exactly paraphrase those of the American writer and poet Charles Olson, writing in his manifesto, Projective Verse – music and poetry are, after all, both vibrating air.

From London to Denmark

Lewis was born in Britain in 1939 and graduated from London's Central School of Art in 1960. Moving to Denmark a year later, he began working for Bang & Olufsen under the legendary designers Jacob Jensen and Henning Moldenhawer. His very first product was the Beovision 400 television set. His other early work included the Beolab 5000 system – as he assisted Jensen with its classic wood and aluminium design that won them the iF Design award in 1967.

David Lewis Designers

He founded his own practice, David Lewis Designers, in 1982 and throughout the rest of that decade, their designs were the core of Band & Olufsen's output, especially as the company moved beyond stereo equipment and into the booming television market.

New frontiers

Innovations included the MX series, the first television sets designed by Bang & Olufsen. As ever, Lewis had a unique perspective. “As he sees it,” wrote Lewis’ right hand man at his studio in Copenhagen, Torsten Valeur, “when it's off, a TV is a cross between an aquarium and an eye peering into people's living rooms. Once the set is turned off, the design becomes paramount. Designing and creating a TV which also has a ‘life’ when turned off is the closest you can get today to giving consumers a good alternative to the empty aquarium.”

An evolution of elemental form

Design that holds

Lewis was steeped in the idea that any product should have a long life, both in desirability and endurance. He believed in slow evolution, only producing new products when the customer really needed them, rather than tinkering with existing items and then relaunching with unnecessary fanfare. “Today there’s too much pressure, not just for designers. It’s disappointing in a way. You can miss cool things – afterthoughts, great little ideas – in the design process because it goes so fast,” he said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. “We wouldn’t dream of doing something that wouldn’t hold. This is part of the culture.”

We wouldn't dream of making something that wouldn't hold. This is part of the culture. 

David Lewis

Designer

This is reflected in the approach used by the Bang & Olufsen designers that Lewis led. Rather than shutting themselves away with humming computers in laboratory conditions, his team of six would only meet for a few days a month, before dispersing to develop ideas independently. His inspiration would often come from intensive thinking about the problems of any given object, as well as regular visits to art galleries, museums and Danish antique dealers specialising in mid-century furniture and architectural design.

At the time, they would almost entirely ignore digital design – Lewis once dismissed computers as being “Too inhibiting, too complicated to work with.” He preferred to let problems work themselves out as he sat with pieces of cardboard, paper and plastic, designing via model-making or, as he put it, following a more sculptural practice.

Stand your ground

Lewis was always ready to stand his ground to ensure that Bang & Olufsen's products were never aesthetically compromised but it was never about self-importance. In 2003, for instance, Bang & Olufsen CEO Torben Ballegaard Sorensen asked Lewis to add a few centimetres to the depth of the Beovision MX 8000 TV. The designer refused, and the CEO backed down. “If I had prevailed – if I could have easily forced a decision – I would have violated the very design integrity that gives us an advantage,” Sorensen told Fast Company magazine in 2003. This steadfastness of opinion had its advantages too, often forcing radical new developments in materials and engineering, such as pioneering the use of diamonds to cut aluminium. 

Back to the original

Like his mentor Jacob Jensen, Lewis’ products have been selected for inclusion in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In his case, the selected designs were the video recorder, Beovox 5000, the Beovox Cona booster and the active speakers Beolab 6000.

Back in that 2003 interview, Lewis spoke about the core of the philosophy that had led to such a long and successful collaboration with the company. “I believe that the less you complicate things, the more interesting people will find them,” he said. “Let's clean up and simplify the technological mess. Let's go back to original ideas. Let's do it the Bang & Olufsen way.”

David Lewis: 1939-2011

David Lewis

We're almost there, please let this be the last lockdown ever!

Well, that wasn’t the start to 2021 we were all looking for!  Just like the Godfather Trilogy, this 3rd Lockdown is maybe an instalment too far?  Ooooo, contentious…. You say you love GFIII, you’re not alone! Regardless of your view on III, we’re definitely at the end of our tether with the restrictions and awful news cycles, so let’s talk about some positives that have come out of the past year.   

Any space, any shape, our designers have you.

We’ve seen huge changes in the home cinema industry as the Covid impact has run its course.  Not least because home cinemas were the ONLY cinemas open for most of 2020 and so far in 21, but also due to the trend of major film studios releasing blockbuster movies via an ever-growing raft of streaming channels, such as Disney, Amazon and Netflix.  Our prediction is this won’t change anytime soon, Disney are doubling down on their streaming catalogue, MGM are looking to move away from blockbuster movies and Netflix have been releasing homegrown blockbusters all of their own.  It feels like we’re at the beginning of something rather momentous and exciting.  What all of this does, is reinforce the need for your very own cinema at home, whether that’s a multi-use area such as a family room or lounge, or a purpose built room with a projector and fabric walls.  The events of the past year have also changed things for our developer clients, where we’ve seen the cinema room go from a ‘nice to have’, to an absolute necessity, helping to sell homes faster than ever before. Without sounding too '“salesy”, this is where our expert designers add the most value to you, helping to maximise your specific space for the very best performance and enjoyment. If you haven’t watched your favourite film on a 4K big screen and Dolby Atmos sound, you’re missing out!

For a bit of fun (remember that?) we’ve put our top 20 home cinema movies/shows to watch now (in no particular order).  These are movies or shows that we have used on a regular basis in our showrooms across the UK, once a client hears A Star Is Born or Bohemian Rhapsody in Dolby Atmos, or lays eyes on Apocalypse Now in 4K, any doubt as to whether a home cinema can better the multiplex experience simply melts away.  

1. Pulp Fiction:  In our opinion Tarantino's finest work, you likely have, but if you haven't do it today, you own't regret it (even if you have, do it again, why not?)

2. Interstellar 4K: An amazing soundtrack and mind bending plot, an epic.

3. Bohemian Rhapsody:  The story of Freddie and Queen, the ultimate film soundtrack?

4. A Star Is Born:  The latest incarnation of the story is bang up to date and beautifully acted.

5. Blade Runner 2049:  What a soundtrack!

6. Rogue One - A Star Wars Story:  Tough decision this, but Rogue was the down and dirty Star Wars we were hoping Disney would deliver...

7. Apocalypse Now 4K:  What an amazing remastering in 4K!

8. James Bond: Skyfall:  The moodiest of Bond movies, perfected with a Scottish backdrop.

9. Tenet:  Another film from Nolan in our list? You bet.  One of the only cinema releases of 2020, and another mind bending journey with an awesome soundtrack.

10. John Wick:  Without doubt one of the best violent movies ever!  Who wouldn't chase down 150 Russian mafia chaps for killing their puppy?

11. Monsters Inc. and Monsters University:  To us, the Pixar animation of Sully is pure perfection, add in the amazing comedy writing and you have a winner.

12. BBC’s ‘Dynasties’:  Shot in 4K, this is a new take on the wildlife documentary.  Each of the 5 episodes follows a single animal with an in-depth and moving look into their world.  The Chimpanzee and Painted Wolves are truly epic stories.

13. Avengers Infinity War and Endgame:  Whatever you think about Marvel and their monopoly on blockbuster movies over the past few years, these Avenger movies are a masterclass in the genre.

14. Godfather I & II (Not III!).  Francis Ford-Coppola at his best, I is amazing for it’s authentic sets and Michael’s rise to power, II goes into the families journey from Sicily, with all it’s beautiful backdrops and deep routed vendettas.  

15. 1917.  We’re a massive fan of Sam Mendes here, this film and it’s “single shot” style looks and sounds amazing on our 4K Atmos cinemas, just wow! 

16. Joker: Joaquin Phoenix has received many plaudits for his amazing, dark and emotional portrayal of the Joker character (previously we couldn’t imagine anyone bettering Heath Ledgers Joker, but hey, never say never!).  There’s a lot to love about the 4K Blu-Ray as well.

17.  Queens Gambit: A beautifully shot mini-series that takes chess and makes it fun and sexy.  Magic pills anyone? 

18.  Free Solo:  Nat Geo’s 4K documentary on Alex Honnold’s attempt to climb the formidable El Capitan (3000ft, Yosemite, CA) without any safety ropes…. Scary and inspiring, but also beautifully shot. 

19. Old Guard:  A Netflix original and to us their best effort at a Blockbuster so far.  Zombie Special Forces?  We’re in!  

20. Jaws:  A classic and now remastered in 4K.  The music in this movie is a masterclass in creating tension.  For added fun, try watching with the sound off, it’s just not that scary!  

21.  PS5, Call Of Duty:  Okay, so not strictly a movie or show (also this is 21, not 20…). But it’s worth mentioning that the latest Playstation from Sony produces superb visuals, COD is a great example of what we can expect over the coming years.  The sound isn’t too shabby either.  Playing this in our showroom is truly extraordinary.

So there it is, our top 20 (21..?) movie/shows to watch on your home cinema.  If you would like to experience real home cinema for yourself or enquire about our 3D design service, feel free to drop us a line.

Smart tech for home: how it helps declutter your home

Lost your keys? Did your hand immediately reach for your pocket to make sure that slippery lock opener is still in there? We would too. There’s a reason why losing your keys has become an international symbol of forgetfulness we can all relate to. Keys get lost a lot, even when it’s inside the house. 

That’s because, for many people, home is where your mess is (No? Just us?). 

Regardless of how many times your partner, your subconscious, your friends or your family plead with you to clear up after yourself, you’ve found that despite your aversion to living in your clutter, you simply don’t know where to put all the stuff you’ve accumulated over the years. 

Five different phone chargers entangled together mingle with an assortment of batteries for appliances that you may or may not own. 

It can feel a lot like the technology that was supposed to make our lives easier is actually just adding to the anxiety of having to purge more things out of our homes, including our phones, laptops, and tablets.

Decluttering your devices is easier; all it takes is a few app removals and heartbreaking camera roll revamps. Decluttering your home is a whole other ball game. 

What’s the best way to get rid of the unnecessary bits and bobs you have lying around your home without accidentally chucking your keys away and losing control of your appliances? 

Smart tech for the home has all the answers you need.

A home automation system is an all-in-one smart-tech-for-the-home integrator with a sleek interface that will inspire you to become the homeowner you always imagined yourself to be (if only running a home wasn’t so much work). 

Stop and smell the roses

Do you know what these roses are called? Convenience, and it sure smells sweet.

With smart tech for the home, there’s no mad dash through the house to make sure you’ve switched off your appliances and lights every time you need to leave. All you need is a smart home app on your phone and you can remotely control most of your electrical appliances. 

Make sure your lights, television, sprinklers, and security system are exactly how you want them to be before you exit the premises. 

Smart tech for the home makes sure you have the time you need to organise yourself and your home, even if you’ve already left the house. That’s the beauty of home automation. 

Where is the remote, really?

We’ve all been there. You’ve finally decided that three seasons of a show in one night really is enough. 

You’re buried in the couch and want to switch the TV off and head to bed. The problem is that your remote has (probably) followed suit and has been swallowed by the couch folds. 

Ordinarily, the whole household would need to join forces and go on a hunt for that elusive piece of plastic. With smart tech for the home; however, there’s no need to panic.

You can simply roll yourself off the couch, in your blanket burrito, and pull up the easy interface of your home automation system to switch the television off, no problem.

Home automation systems make remotes obsolete. Even if you lose one, you can pick up right where you left off. 

Smart tech for the home makes everything just right

Goldilocks wouldn’t have had the struggle she had if she had smart tech for the home at her disposal.

With smart tech for the home, you can exercise greater control over the temperature no matter what weather or season is in full swing outside. 

Don’t feel like playing god? That’s fine too; you can stay up-to-date on the weather with the display screen of your smart tech for the home.

You’ll always be cosy when you can change the temperature in any room of the house, wherever you are, with the tap of a (virtual) button. 

Get all the smart tech for the home with Living Home Tech 

You never need to apologise for the clutter when guests come over or lie to them when you swear that it’s not usually this messy. 

Decluttering your home with a home automation system makes you realise just how simple taking care of a home truly is. 

Getting your home outfitted with the best smart tech for the home is just as simple when you get in touch with the experts at Living Home Tech. 

What features do you need for the best home cinema experience?

With COVID-19 all but obliterating the movie-going experience, the home cinema has become a must-have entertainment sanctuary - the place where you can catch new thrillers like the latest James Bond release, intense sports encounters or even just the latest public health update.

To truly enjoy each of these experiences the way you’re supposed to, though - shrouded in semi-darkness, kicking back in plush theatre-style seating, and gorging on buttered popcorn - your home cinema has to be decked with the right features.

From the right placement of your A/V equipment to enjoying the right type of seating and other smart home features, let’s explore a few must-have features in your very own entertainment sanctuary.

Nailing the science of sound

The truth is that no matter how sophisticated your TV is or how fancy your home cinema looks, everything means nothing if I ain’t...we mean, if you haven’t mastered what we like to call the science of sound.

Here at Living Tech Home, our team takes this aspect of home cinema installation very seriously. 

We compare the size and number of your speakers against the square-foot area of your space and calculate the best way to position your speakers, so you’re able to hear every top note and whisper coming from your screen.

In this process, we also prescribe sound treatment that will convert whatever room you’ve designated as your home cinema into a space that’s primed for a top-notch entertainment experience.

Unravelling the art of your video technology

Another key element you need to get right in your home cinema is your video technology. 

Whether you’ve got yourself the industry’s latest cutting-edge OLED panel or a sophisticated projector, figuring out the perfect viewing distance is crucial. 

Too close and you’re not going to be comfortable, too far and you won’t enjoy the perfect, at-home cinema experience.

If you’re not confident about what type of technology would work best in your home, speak to our team. 

We work with industry-leading partners, including companies like Screen Excellence that specialise in high-end, transparent projection screens for home cinemas, and can shed some light on the best options for you.

The layout of your home cinema makes or breaks the experience

You could have all the fancy tech and even the latest blockbuster ready to go, but if you’ve arranged your furniture in a way that detracts from the overall theatre-style effect, your home cinema will be more of a glorified TV room than an entertainment sanctuary.

Having your snack counter on the side of your room, close to your screen, for example, is a bad idea because your eyes will constantly be darting to the side, contemplating your next bowl of peanuts. 

It also means there’ll be plenty of activity in that corner as your friends or family keep getting up to fetch themselves food.

Whatever your stylistic preferences are, make sure your home cinema is designed in a way to exude plush comfort, simplicity, and understated elegance. Here are a few layout ideas for some inspiration.

Deck it with the right smart home tech for a more luxurious experience

For a home cinema that is in-sync with your lifestyle values and goals, home automation is a necessity. 

Imagine the movie’s done and it’s time to bring the lights back on. Getting up from your seat to switch on a light seems pretty archaic for a high-end home cinema. 

Here, smart home lighting systems that can be remotely controlled or even programmed to switch on at a certain time can be very useful. 

This is the same for your HVAC systems as well. Why engage in a cold war, when your systems can be programmed to maintain the perfect temperature (especially if you want to maintain a cuddle-friendly ambience?).

Speak to the Living Home Tech team if you’re keen on enjoying other nifty automation tricks that make life that much easier.

Enjoy the best home cinema experience with Living Home Tech

Enjoying another viewing of Forrest Gump, catching the latest Six Nations game or settling down for your weekly smorgasbord of Netflix titles is something you need to be able to do in comfort and style.

That’s exactly what we help you do at Living Home Tech. We don’t compromise - and neither should you.