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.

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.

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!

Detailed attention is given to every aspect of your décor- so why not your lighting? Customized lighting is important for overall design, enhancing star pieces and flattering other furniture. With the variety of customized lighting and shading options available today, lighting that complements your décor is easier than ever.

Relative Home Systems knows that custom lighting can be used to enhance the natural beauty of your home rather than detract. Great lighting is the icing on the cake of a well-designed interior and can be created for any and every room, not just one location.  Want to know how automated lighting can not only reduce energy costs but spotlight your interior design skills? You’re in the right place.

Enhance Your Décor

A professional integrator such as RHS can construct your scenes of light in “layers” allowing you to assemble the perfect atmosphere with the touch of a button.  A room of featured artwork can be put on display when a guest arrives, simply by engaging a “showcase” setting.   Lighting control can help create a consistent design style throughout a home, replacing clusters of switches in various locations with simple control panels, set to pre-programmed settings, such as “high and low.”  With dimmers and motorized shades throughout your home, natural light can also be included as a complementary layer to an overall lighting control system for the best possible results.

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