A home theater renovation almost always starts with the same question: turn an existing room into something purpose-built, or upgrade a space that still needs to work for everyday life? Both are genuinely good options, and the right answer depends entirely on the room you’re starting with and how you actually want to use it.
Smart homes have always promised intelligence, but until recently that intelligence was mostly an illusion — fixed schedules, simple triggers, and rules that had to be manually rewritten every time your routine changed. Artificial intelligence is changing that.
Most homeowners who built their smart homes five to ten years ago with Control4 or Savant face a similar frustration: the system works, but it feels dated. Migrating to Crestron Home doesn’t mean ripping out your infrastructure—your existing cabling, network, and wiring remain functional. What changes is the equipment: the controller, touchpanels, and keypads. This guide covers what stays, what changes, why you’d upgrade, and how to plan migration without disruption.
We’ve spent 25+ years designing and installing smart home systems — from single-room mood lighting through to whole-villa automation across multiple buildings and time zones. A properly designed smart home feels effortless: walk into a room, and the lights adjust themselves. Step into your cinema, and the lighting, temperature, window blinds and audio all respond to a single command. Leave for work, and your entire home enters “away” mode in sequence.
Outdoor Home Cinema: Display, Audio, and Installation Guide Projector vs Outdoor Displays — Building Reference-Quality Cinema on Your Terrace Updated July 2026 · Custom Controls · Outdoor cinema specialists Outdoor home cinema sits at the intersection of ambition and pragmatism. The appeal is visceral: a terrace or garden transformed into a cinema screen that rivals […]
A home cinema system integrates display, audio, acoustics, seating, and control to replicate theatrical performance. This guide covers room design, equipment selection, calibration, and real-world case studies.
A home cinema system is an integrated collection of components—projector, screen, processor, speakers, seating, lighting, and control—delivering a theatrical experience. This guide covers what defines a professional system, budget expectations, real installations, and why integration matters.
Crestron Digital Media and Sonnex deliver professional A/V distribution for luxury homes. Learn how networked video distribution, video processing, and Crestron Home control create seamless multi-room A/V with enterprise reliability—explained by 25+ year Crestron integrators.
Ascendo speakers represent the pinnacle of precision audio for home cinema. From modular systems to groundbreaking infrasonic subwoofers reaching single-digit frequencies, this guide explores German engineering that redefines immersive bass.
Complete technical comparison of Dolby Atmos, THX standards, and IMAX Enhanced. How to choose the right immersive audio format for your home cinema room, with speaker brand recommendations and advanced calibration approaches from Trinnov and Steinway Lyngdorf.
A complete luxury home cinema specification representing the pinnacle of residential cinema design. 16-seat private cinema with Christie Eclipse G3 projection, Meyer Sound Bluehorn reference audio, and Seymour-Screen Excellence 250″ CinemaScope screen. Circa £1.5M investment.
Comprehensive comparison of luxury cinema seating brands: Cineak, Ineva, Cineca, Fortress, and Moovia. Specifications, design philosophy, comfort, pricing, seating types (including B&B Italia Tufty Time, footstools, bean bags), control integration, and which is right for your dedicated cinema room.
Complete guide to professional smart lighting systems: scene-based control, colour tuning, automation, and how to design lighting that integrates with climate, security, and entertainment systems.
Complete guide to professional smart home installation in London: how the installation process works, timeline from design to commissioning, costs, and how to prepare your property.
Premium home cinema design for London’s luxury postcodes. Architectural acoustics, Cineak seating, Kaleidescape servers, Crestron integration. Design guide for Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Mayfair, Chelsea.
Premium home automation for London’s luxury postcodes. Crestron integration, Lutron lighting control, invisible technology infrastructure. Design for Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Mayfair, Chelsea.
A complete walkthrough of home cinema installation from initial consultation through final calibration. Covers timeline, cost, disruption, and what separates a properly installed cinema from an amateur one.
What Is Control4? The Complete Guide to Smart Home Automation Everything you need to know about the platform — from how it actually works to what it costs, explained by a certified Control4 dealer Updated June 2026 · Custom Controls · Certified Control4 dealers since the platform’s early UK adoption, alongside Crestron and Lutron If […]
How Much Does a Home Cinema Room Cost in the UK? A Clear Answer, Backed by Real Project Costs — Not Generic Estimates Updated June 2026 · Custom Controls · 25+ years designing and installing home cinema rooms across the UK and internationally Search for this question online and you’ll find a genuinely confusing range […]
Crestron for Accessibility, Voice Control and EV Charging Two of the Most Underrated Things a Properly Specified Crestron System Can Do Published June 2026 · Custom Controls · Certified Crestron dealers since 1998 Most conversations about Crestron focus on lighting, AV and the touchpanel interface. Two genuinely significant capabilities get discussed far less often, despite […]
Upgrading a Legacy Lutron System Homeworks Interactive, Illumination and GRAFIK Eye — What to Do When an Old System Fails or Can’t Run LED Published June 2026 · Custom Controls · Certified Lutron installers since 1998 We regularly receive calls from owners of homes with an existing Lutron lighting system installed a decade or more […]
Lighting Dimming Protocols Explained DALI, 0-10V, Leading and Trailing Edge — and Why Your LEDs Flicker, Buzz or Won’t Dim Below 20% Published June 2026 · Custom Controls · Certified Lutron and Crestron lighting installers since 1998 Almost every client who has had LED lighting fitted by a general electrician, rather than specified by a […]
A dedicated Magico S5 Mk II and Soulution two-channel hi-fi system within a major Dubai private estate — streaming from the same Crestron-controlled whole-home audio sources as the rest of this award-winning installation.
A complete guide to Sonus Faber loudspeakers — Suprema, Il Cremonese Ex3me, and the full range from Heritage to Reference. The engineering behind the brand and how to specify a Sonus Faber system. Authorised Sonus Faber dealers Custom Controls.
A complete guide to Magico loudspeakers — M Series, S Series and A Series. The engineering behind the brand, why Magico builds sealed aluminium enclosures, and how to specify a Magico system. From authorised Magico dealers Custom Controls.
Inherited a Crestron or Lutron system that has never worked properly, or one that used to and has stopped? We rebuild racks, reprogram systems, fix faults at their actual cause, upgrade audio and video formats, recalibrate cinema rooms, replace consumer networking with enterprise infrastructure — and provide ongoing remote monitoring so it stays right.
Professional calibration is the single highest-return intervention available for any home cinema system. Here is what it actually changes — audio and video — why expensive hardware needs it most, and how to tell if your system is underperforming.
Listed building consent typically rules out conventional wired lighting control systems. Lutron RadioRA 3’s fully wireless installation — no new cables, no penetrations, no structural alteration — makes professional lighting control achievable in period properties where rewiring is not possible.
Trinnov Altitude and Anthem are both used on Custom Controls installations. The right choice depends on the room, the channel count, the budget and whether WaveForming is in scope. Here is the honest comparison.
Steinway Lyngdorf and Trinnov are both exceptional — but they are fundamentally different things. One is a complete integrated system; the other is a component within a system you assemble. This comparison explains the difference, and which is right for your room.
Lutron Homeworks QSX vs RadioRA 3 — an honest comparison of cost, features and which system is right for your home. Based on 25 years of Lutron installation experience. New builds, retrofits, listed buildings and period properties all covered.
Trinnov WaveForming explained — what it is, how planar wave propagation eliminates room modes, what your cinema room needs for it to work correctly, and what a properly implemented installation actually sounds like. From experienced UK Trinnov Altitude installers.
A complete guide to the Steinway Lyngdorf range — Model S, Model S Soundbar, Model C, Model LS and Model D. Which system suits your room and brief? From RoomPerfect Certified Professional installers with direct experience across the full range.
Everything you need to know about home cinema room dimensions, shapes and acoustics — THX volume tiers converted to metric, why square rooms fail, the golden ratio and how Custom Controls designs rooms that perform.
Home Cinema & Theatre Room Renovation: The Complete Upgrade Guide Everything you can do to transform an existing cinema room — from a single component upgrade to a complete reinvention Published June 2026 · Custom Controls · 25+ years designing and installing home cinema rooms One of the most common enquiries we receive is from […]
Kaleidescape Explained: Hardware, Movie Store and How to Choose Your System A complete guide to the world’s only high-fidelity movie platform — from an installer who uses it on every serious cinema project Published June 2026 · Updated June 2026 (Strato K) · Custom Controls · 25+ years installing home cinema systems Most of the […]
Every client who asks about a home cinema is really asking two questions at once, whether they realise it or not: what do I want this room to do, and what am I prepared to give up to get it? A dedicated cinema and a movie or media room solve the same basic desire — a serious film and TV experience at home — but they start from opposite design briefs.
We do a deep dive in to the differences between a Media Room and a dedicated Home Cinema Room.
Crestron Home: The Complete Guide (2026) Published May 2026 · By Custom Controls · 25+ years as a certified Crestron dealer Everything there is to know about Crestron Home If you are researching smart home systems, you have almost certainly encountered Crestron Home. It appears on premium AV company websites, in luxury home specification documents […]
A complete guide to Bluesound & NAD whole house audio systems — audiophile nodes, rack-efficient multiroom amps, BluOS software, Roon & networks.
Elevate your smart home’s resilience. Custom Controls delivers proactive remote monitoring and seamless upgrades for super-prime properties worldwide.
Tired of Wi-Fi dead zones and buffering? Discover why standard ISP routers and Mesh systems fail in modern homes and how enterprise-grade WAPs, PoE technology, and professional hub optimization can unlock the full potential of your high-speed fibre connection.
Wired or Wireless – high end Wifi and Security for your Alpine Chalet!
Lutron wireless blinds – easily add motorised blinds to any home with no cabling required!
A High End Home Cinema Room Design for a High End Villa in Dubai’s Emirates Hills. A Luxury Cinema Room with Seating for 11 in Absolute Comfort.
A luxury home cinema room design for a client in Knutsford, Cheshire. A very special cinema room with seating for 6 people in a cozy space.
A Fantastic Private Home Cinema Room in Chatel, The French Alps. The Ultimate Home Cinema for the Ultimate Outdoor Playground!
A Blog article showing every detail of the Ultimate TV Sound System. We cover the TV, Speakers and Room Aesthetics to create the perfect viewing experience!
A High End Cinema Room for a home in St Georges Hill, Weybridge. A huge 5m projector screen, Trinnov Surround Sound and Seating for 6 in absolute comfort!
This unused double garage, measuring 18ft x 20ft (roughly 5.5m x 6m), has been transformed from an unloved space in to a luxury home cinema room capable of hosting friends and family in style.
One of our Best Home Theater Designs for a Portugese Client. A Bespoke Theater Room with Seating for 11 and High End Theater Sound & Vision.
The benefits of integrating HVAC in to a Crestron Home Automation System. Increase Efficiency & Convenience, Lower Energy Use!
A Stunning Living Room Home Cinema in North London. The full cinema experience, discreetly installed in a Living Room!
Use local engineers to deliver a Custom Controls designed smart home system. All the benefits delivered in the most cost effective way possible.
Absolutely everything there is to know about Home Cinema Seating from options when choosing through to different styles and distance from the screen.
One of our smallest Home Cinema designs delivering one of the BIGGEST Home Cinema Experiences! A stunning room!
Everything you need to design a home cinema that performs as well as it looks — from room acoustics and screen size to seating, lighting and control.
A stunning home cinema room designed for a very challenging lounge conversion! Thinking differently to deliver stunning cinema!
This stunning home cinema room design is for a Midlands based client. The room house eight people in absolute comfort, the home cinema system delivers an absolutely awesome experience!
Home Cinema Rooms do not come more luxurious than this! A spacious 8.5m x 7m cinema room which is equipped with the very best technology and interior possible.
An article looking in to the various control surfaces from Crestron – from in-wall and table top touchpanels through to remote controls.
A fun filled Family Home Cinema Room for a client in Dubai! Perfect for Family movie nights.
A Stylish & Modern Home Cinema Room installed in Prestbury, Cheshire. A very high end cinematic experienced enhanced by a stunning lighting design!
This high end, 18 seater, home cinema in London features the very best Krix Speaker System!
A Stunning design for a Loft Home Cinema for a new barn conversion in Hertfordshire.
One of the best Home Cinema Rooms in the world! An IMAX Home Cinema Room with a HUGE specification. A must read!
A very high end Home Cinema Room Design for a Client in Hampstead, London. Seating for 10 people in a beautiful classical room. A Must See!
A Simply Stunning Bowers & Wilkins Custom Theater 800 Home Cinema Room. Very high end with bespoke seating for up to 18 people! A Must See Case Study!
A Stunning design for a Home Entertainment Complex in Prestbury, Cheshire. A huge room featuring a Home Cinema, Pool Table, Lounge Area and Kitchen!
One of our smaller Home Cinema Rooms – yet it delivers a stunning and immersive audio video experience! Seating for up to 9 people in comfort!
A beautiful Home Cinema Room Design for a Villa in District One, Dubai. Seating for 9 people in a stunning home cinema room!
A full write up for this extremely high end home cinema room design for a basement in the Al Barari estate, Dubai. Seating for 12 people in absolute luxury!
Our Top 5 Solutions for integrating TVs in to Living Spaces – the options are many. A must read if researching how to install your TV in the living Room!
A Home Cinema Garage Conversion in Cheshire, Hale. A stunning Home Cinema Room with HUGE projection screen and Sony laser projector!
When a client based in Abuja, Nigeria asked us to design a Home Cinema Room for his home he had one brief – quality. As experts in cinema design we are used to maximising return for a clients budget –
In recent years biometric finger print access has been used to replace security codes and security alarm fobs for convenience and heightened security. However we always been slightly
In the modern home WiFi should be treated as a utility – everyone needs it and it should be fast, reliable and always available. Unfortunately the ISP provided routers are generally low quality and built to very tight budgets. This can result in a
A Crestron Home Automation system can make life a lot easier for clients with a disability such as reduced mobility, vision or hearing. A well installed system can increase independence and reduce the need for careers.
Our Home Cinema Rooms aren’t solely for movie nights with the family – they also perform stunningly well as gaming rooms. High end surround systems fully immerse the player with audio coming from all sides, behind and even the ceiling! The
OK, You are in the market for a Home Cinema to be installed in your home by a home cinema installation company. Why would you choose a Trinnov system? What does it offer over a high end AVR from the likes of Anthem or Denon? It costs a
We regularly work with Architects and Interior Designers to deliver their vision of a client space. We are Home Technology specialists which means we can simply the process of integrating home technology in to a home and crucially
What do you think of when you think about home lighting? Perhaps it’s the bulb hanging from the pendulum fitting in your living room. Maybe it’s the standard lamp in the corner. There are a few variations on the theme, but that pretty much covers
Everything these days is “smart”, from your smartphone through to smart TVs. You might be able to remember when all this technology began to be introduced – it wasn’t that long ago. Like every new
Double Garages can be the perfect space to transform in to a stunning, bespoke home cinema room. Very few people actually park cars in their garages nowadays as cars get bigger and the
A Stunning Bespoke Home Cinema Room Design for a London based Client
We love designing home cinema rooms and this client came to us with the perfect brief – “Please convert this unused room in my home in to a bespoke home cinema room.” The client pointed us in the
Movie aspect ratios seem very confusing! What do they mean and how do you decode them?
In the good old days with 14″ portable TVs which were as deep as they were wide we used to watch TV on a 4:3 (or 1.33:1)
The new Samsung “The Frame” TV is one of the best products we have seen for some time. Normally we balance TV picture quality with aesthetics – normally choosing Samsung TVs to go in our home entertainment systems due to the great
As Custom Installers we design and install high end lighting and audio video distribution systems. We fully appreciate that our high end systems are not suitable for every home being built and for every client, however we do feel every new build
We regularly install audio solutions in to swimming pools, terraces and gardens but they can be very tricky places to make audio sound good – particularly if the area is also a video zone with the need to hear voices clearly. Our usual audio distribution
Outdoor cinema makes perfect sense in climates warmer than most of the UK. Our Clients in Dubai and Africa spend huge amounts of time outdoors – hosting dinner parties and enjoying time in their swimming pools. The logical extension to
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