Ever requested quotes from similar companies for the same work, only to receive wildly different responses? It’s true of every industry, just as it’s human nature to gravitate toward the seemingly least expensive estimate. But that “savings” often proves to cost more, right? Here at Relative Home Systems, we work a bit differently. 

When it comes to crafting a dedicated home theater, we use the discussion of budget to help discover what our clients need and educate them on how to get there. We have 5 major considerations when determining potential costs for the entirety of the project. We’re using the opportunity of this blog edition to help you understand the process, but also so you know what to look for when requesting a quote for this type of home retrofit project…

1)      Design & Engineering – Without proper engineering and design, every subsequent dollar you spend is practically a gamble. While often not included in preliminary budgets, you cannot expect acceptable results, let alone something extraordinary, unless this process is accounted for. Don’t be left trying to figure how the budget suddenly expands due to needs for which you were not previously informed.

2)      Preliminary Construction – Whether you’re remodeling a particular room or building a new home from scratch, you have to determine your space requirements. Contrary to common practice, most of this cost should not be included in the “theater” budget. Framing, electrical, mechanical and other structural elements should be part of a separate construction budget. Specialty materials and additional labor are common requirements when constructing a quiet room, modifying ventilation, theater-quality lighting and other space changes.

Amid the excitement over the New iPad was the barely mentioned Apple TV.
No this isn’t the iTV or Apple smart TV many thought was coming. It’s just an updated version of the earlier Apple TV, but it comes with some welcome updates.

The most important upgrade for home theater fans is the new support for 1080p video. You can get 1080p video from iTunes and other services and enjoy them in all their pixels on a 1080p display.

Apple TV is also integrated with iTunes in the Cloud. Any content you have in iCloud can be played over your Apple TV. With AirPlay users can stream from another iDevice to their Apple TV.

Photos: Apple’s Innovations Throughout the Years

With the constant evolution of 3D technology, there is no need to only enjoy 3D movies at the cinema. The awesome technology of 3D viewing is now within your reach for your home with Epson’s PowerLite Pro Cinema 6010. This HD video projector has the capability to play back 2D and 3D content in full 1080p HD resolution and is certified by THX. And if that’s not enough, this projector offers an astounding contrast ratio of up to 200,000:1 and 2400 lumens color/white light output.

We just installed this awesome projector in our Champions Experience Center. The picture is amazing! Shooting crystal clear, coming at you images on our Star Glas screen for a 3D movie experience you never thought possible in a home theater setting.

Visit our Facebook Page for a special offer when you purchase a new Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 6010 3D Projector from Relative Home Systems.

MainStreet America® is a year-round showcase of homes where people will be inspired, informed and empowered to build or remodel their home. Positioned as a truly innovative concept in shopping for new homes and related services, MainStreet America® premiers this Fall as the only venue of its kind in the country with dining, retail, entertainment and educational opportunities added to the blend of activities. Opening at a time of national economic uncertainty, MainStreet America® is located in Houston, Texas, one of the nation’s healthiest housing markets, a leader in job growth and rising consumer confidence. That makes Houston perhaps the perfect locale for unveiling a new beacon of hope symbolic of the promise that the American dream is alive and well.

There is a new destination on the horizon for consumers in the greater Houston area who are eager to experience a new and unique way of shopping for new homes, home products, and home services. Situated on a 14-acre site just south of The Woodlands on Interstate 45 is MainStreet America® (MSA), a multi-million dollar home product theme park. This innovative shopping venue can best be described as an inspiring world of discovery built around empowering educational technology and the home. MainStreet America® will be a powerful influence on consumer spending and will soon redefine how people shop for home products and services.

MSA is the culmination of years of study and research by owners Michael and Barbara Feigin. “MainStreet America® will be open year-round, seven days a week – the only perpetual showcase of homes of its kind in the country,” says founder/CEO, Michael Feigin. “But it’s more than a showcase of new homes … it’s an educational, shopping and entertainment destination centered on the home.” Twelve dynamic model homes, along with a two-story, 45,000 square foot Guest Center have been under construction for the past 15 months and are now slated for opening early November. From Old World Mediterranean to Contemporary Modern, the Park will feature a wide range of architectural styles, interior décor and square footages. In addition, each home is designed to operate as a retail furniture showroom. For the first time, consumers will be able shop for home furnishings within the full context of a completely decorated and functional home.

Visitors to MainStreet America® will begin their experience at the Guest Center where they can engage in a number of activities. From there they can embark on a self-guided tour of each showcase home, participate in a how-to workshop, or enjoy one of the many planned family and seasonal events. While in the Park, visitors can also access a complete list of home services — all under one roof. On site is a custom home builder, a full-service remodeling company, a mortgage company, interior design studio and a residential architectural firm. “One of the unique highlights of the park is that guests can access instant information on desired products in each showcase home through their use of our specially designed, hand-held Technological Education Device we call TED,” states Feigin. “The TED experience can best be described as online browsing combined with in-store shopping – taken to a whole new level.” Utilizing the latest in scanning technology, the TED device will allow users to wave over a programmed product tag to initiate audio and/or visual feedback. If you’re interested in a specific brick exterior, swimming pool accessory, surround sound system component, kitchen appliance, or even the radiant barrier found inside an attic – TED will access its brand name, list of features, provide buying information and create a virtual shopping list.

No matter which room of your home you choose to enhance, a typical media room consists of a large viewing area and a high quality audio package. And don’t forget seating for all your guests to enjoy while watching this summer’s blockbusters. Want to integrate a media room in your home but aren’t sure if you have enough space? Relative has a few suggestions for making the most of any space or any media design setup.

Multipurpose Room
In today’s modern age, a media room can be integrated into a traditional living room, creating a cozy and enchanting space for your guests. A variety of large flat 4K televisions are available for big screen viewing in a small space. Do your kids always have friends over to play video games? Accompanied by a strong integrated network, your modern theater space can have multiple screens for a multiple player game room that everyone in the neighborhood will love. A media room that doubles as a playroom can incorporate a big screen that is only seen when in use. Relative can even install a large projector screen that retreat back into the ceiling. There are really very few limitations to designing whatever you imagine!

After-Hours (and Under-the-Covers) Cinema
For some, watching a movie before bedtime is the ultimate escape. Turning your bedroom into a sci-fi command bridge or a romantic comedy love nest is possible no matter the size of your space. Televisions can be mounted to various locations in a bedroom with limited space or installed using motorized lifts that return the screen into a closet or under the bed when not in use. Custom cabinets can also be built to hide televisions when not in use, while speakers can be hidden in walls or ceilings to blend in with your interior décor.

Small Home Theater
A short room, such as an unused portion of a basement, can be converted to a home theater as well – outfitted with a projector designed for a shorter viewing distance, and a dedicated screen wall. Relative can help you choose the right screen size for the dimensions of your space that won’t overwhelm your guests, yet still provides a cinematic feel. These dimensions will also be taken into account when designing a multi-channel surround sound system, as well as an integrated lighting system.

Relative works with Crestron Electronics to design and program a system that connects your media room to your overall home automation. Whether you live in The Woodlands, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Memorial, Bellaire, Conroe, or anywhere in the greater Houston area, and if you have any questions about smart technology for entertainment, security, green solutions and more, give Relative Home Systems a call!

We go inside Fortress Seating for a behind-the-scenes look at how home theater seats are made.

I’ve always wondered about home theater seating: What makes it so different from regular everyday seating? How are they built? What types of materials are used?

I recently stopped by Fortress Seating in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. for an look at the art of designing, constructing and customizing home theaterseats. Every seat at the 25,000-square-foot Fortress warehouse is built from scratch. Integrators send in their specs and the Fortress team creates one-of-a-kind seating.

Gabi Wolper, vice president of sales, walked me through the entire chair-building process. There’s a lot that can affect the quality of a home theater seat. For example, Fortress uses solid wood and metal-to-metal connections to make the seats durable.

This tougher-than-nails approach is part of the company’s lineage. In the 1930s, Fortress built only metal desks and filing cabinets. It wasn’t until 1970 that it added office furniture to its lineup, and later seats for healthcare industry.

Amid the excitement over the New iPad was the barely mentioned Apple TV.
No this isn’t the iTV or Apple smart TV many thought was coming. It’s just an updated version of the earlier Apple TV, but it comes with some welcome updates.

The most important upgrade for home theater fans is the new support for 1080p video. You can get 1080p video from iTunes and other services and enjoy them in all their pixels on a 1080p display.

Apple TV is also integrated with iTunes in the Cloud. Any content you have in iCloud can be played over your Apple TV. With AirPlay users can stream from another iDevice to their Apple TV.

Photos: Apple’s Innovations Throughout the Years

Ever requested quotes from similar companies for the same work, only to receive wildly different responses? It’s true of every industry, just as it’s human nature to gravitate toward the seemingly least expensive estimate. But that “savings” often proves to cost more, right? Here at Relative Home Systems, we work a bit differently. 

When it comes to crafting a dedicated home theater, we use the discussion of budget to help discover what our clients need and educate them on how to get there. We have 5 major considerations when determining potential costs for the entirety of the project. We’re using the opportunity of this blog edition to help you understand the process, but also so you know what to look for when requesting a quote for this type of home retrofit project…

1)      Design & Engineering – Without proper engineering and design, every subsequent dollar you spend is practically a gamble. While often not included in preliminary budgets, you cannot expect acceptable results, let alone something extraordinary, unless this process is accounted for. Don’t be left trying to figure how the budget suddenly expands due to needs for which you were not previously informed.

2)      Preliminary Construction – Whether you’re remodeling a particular room or building a new home from scratch, you have to determine your space requirements. Contrary to common practice, most of this cost should not be included in the “theater” budget. Framing, electrical, mechanical and other structural elements should be part of a separate construction budget. Specialty materials and additional labor are common requirements when constructing a quiet room, modifying ventilation, theater-quality lighting and other space changes.

With the constant evolution of 3D technology, there is no need to only enjoy 3D movies at the cinema. The awesome technology of 3D viewing is now within your reach for your home with Epson’s PowerLite Pro Cinema 6010. This HD video projector has the capability to play back 2D and 3D content in full 1080p HD resolution and is certified by THX. And if that’s not enough, this projector offers an astounding contrast ratio of up to 200,000:1 and 2400 lumens color/white light output.

We just installed this awesome projector in our Champions Experience Center. The picture is amazing! Shooting crystal clear, coming at you images on our Star Glas screen for a 3D movie experience you never thought possible in a home theater setting.

Visit our Facebook Page for a special offer when you purchase a new Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema 6010 3D Projector from Relative Home Systems.