We’ve all been there: you’re hosting a summer cookout in the backyard, and want to change the song playing on your portable speaker. But your phone is charging in the bedroom, and after an hour or so, the portable speaker needs charging, too. 

In a home, outdoor living shouldn't mean leaving your smart technology at the back door. When the weather’s nice in Greater Boston and New England, you want to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Ideally, your outdoor spaces should be just as easy to manage as your living room. 

Integrated outdoor living spaces mean your landscape lighting, audio, video, and outdoor cameras function as one cohesive ecosystem, controlled through a single remote, app, or even a sleek wall keypad mounted by the grill. Here’s how it works. 

Step into any well-designed public space at night, and you’ll notice the lighting there feels intentional. It guides you. It creates an atmosphere. And the same layered approach to outdoor lighting can transform your own front and backyard. 

If you’re planning a renovation or new build, your backyard lighting deserves the same level of design as your kitchen or living room. When done correctly, you’ll find yourself spending more time outdoors and taking greater pride in your home. 

Let’s break down how it works.

In New England, we know the drill: we spend months hunkered down against the Nor’easters, dreaming of the first weekend in May when we can finally fire up the grill and head to the patio. And we dream of having our favorite music playing in the background. As we daydream, we imagine calling experts to install brand-new outdoor audio systems. 

But for many Boston homeowners, there’s a recurring frustration. By the time the weather is warm enough to enjoy the outdoors, every high-end AV integrator and landscaper in the Greater Boston area is booked through the Fourth of July.

If you want your backyard to be the premier destination for entertaining this spring and summer, the secret is to start the design process now, while the last of the snow is still on the ground. Here is why March is the strategic "sweet spot" for planning your outdoor audio system.  

As the new year begins, homeowners are looking for ways to elevate their home’s aesthetics, functionality, and entertainment. For some, this means creating seamless indoor-outdoor living. Others are exploring the ultimate home media experience. 

And then there are those embracing the artificial intelligence movement and wondering how AI can help them live a better life. 

No matter your path, smart home upgrades are on the rise in the Boston area. Here, we’ll explore what that looks like and the adaptable systems that can integrate with emerging technologies, ensuring an automated home that delivers the best lifestyle now and well into the future.