OUTDOOR LIGHTING – What’s the Difference?

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The Difference in Outdoor Lighting Comes Down to a Few Simple (but important) Benefits

 

Flexibility.

When it comes to lighting your outdoor areas, there are SO MANY options. Trying to piece it together yourself from the big box selections can be an exercise in frustration. You finally decide which fixtures you want, only to find that they don’t have enough in stock, or they are not available in colors to match. Then you spend the time and money to install everything to your perfection, but your landscaping changes over the years and now you need something entirely different. Or some fixtures begin to malfunction!

Bentley Systems only offers the very best quality fixtures.

They are made of brass or stainless steel (NO PLASTIC!) – even down to the screws, nuts, bolts, and stakes! They will never rust! Multiple O-rings provide a barrier to stop water, debris, bugs, and other elements from getting inside the fixture. They are designed and constructed to defy the elements, so are safe in all types of weather. And they are forever serviceable! In short, they are built to last a lifetime!

Our Outdoor Lighting fixtures stand up to all types of weather!

All of our fixtures are simply, yet elegantly, designed. They feature proprietary, built-in adjustment that provides perfect control over the light. From a tight spot to a significantly wider spread, our outdoor lighting fixtures grow with the ever-changing natural palette of your landscape. These fixtures are capable of showcasing everything from a specimen tree or architectural detail to providing soft light to an overall area.

Visit the outdoor lighting section of this website for a full pictionary of lighting design choices

The final, and perhaps most important difference is that we come to YOU.

There is no need for you to travel to multiple showrooms. We will walk your property and discuss your ideas. We will then make recommendations based on our expertise, and can show you each product and how it fits into your unique landscape.

There is no comparison to seeing our outdoor lighting systems come to life at your own home!
Our Outdoor Lighting comes with a Lifetime Warranty

SEE THE DIFFERENCE!
Call us at 860-657-8558 or

Click Here to schedule your FREE outdoor lighting demo

and let us customize an outdoor living experience for your home.

Outdoor Lighting adds drama and curb appeal

Outdoor Lighting adds drama and curb appeal

Outdoor Lighting Highlights your Landscaping

Outdoor Lighting Highlights your Landscaping

Lighting Your Pathways improves safety and security

Lighting Your Pathways improves safety and security

Enjoy your backyard longer with Outdoor Lighting

Enjoy your backyard longer with Outdoor Lighting

Listen to the Music! Indoor & Outdoor Audio Tips

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When it comes to audio sound, there are several factors that need to be considered — beyond which speakers and amps you choose. The placement of your speakers greatly impacts the sound you hear. Here are a few quick tips to help you get the most out of your sound system:

Initial Placement: Consider where you will be listening. Are there multiple listening points for your space? Sketch out your area and designate key listening points. Create an equilateral triangle around each – see sketch below:

sound design sketch for optimal audio listening.        outdoor audio plan

Ideally, maintain about 4 feet between each speaker (8 feet for floorstanding speakers). Speakers placed too close together create muddy sounds as they blend together. If they are placed too far apart, there will be a gap in the sound. Position your speakers at least 2-3 feet away from the nearest wall to minimize sound reflection – bouncing off the walls, which reduces the sound’s clarity. There should be no physical obstruction between the speaker and your ears.

Speaker Height: For an indoor space or theater room, where will the listener be seated? In your outdoor areas, where will people be listening? Will they be seated or standing? For instance, to have background music while dining, people will be seated. When there is a gathering of many, most people will be standing and milling about – perhaps on a patio or deck. Position speaker height as close as possible to the listener’s ear height while listening.

Angle of Speakers: Angle the speakers so the sound is directed toward the listener – reaching a point just behind the listener’s head. When there are multiple listeners in the area, angle them outward to engage a larger area.

Headspace: The amount of sound needed will need adjustment depending on the headspace in your listening area. A room with high ceilings requires more sound than a room with 8 foot pr lower ceilings. Likewise, outdoor audio has its own headspace requirements.

Outdoor Considerations: In addition to multiple listening areas and headspace requirements that add complication to outdoor audio, consider the impact on your neighbors. Angle speakers in toward your property to prevent the sound from spilling into your neighbors’ yards.

For the very best outcome, reach out to Bentley Electronic Systems. We will come to your home, analyze your space and your specific needs, help you choose the right speakers and amps, and will position them to optimize your sound quality. Whether playing at background volume, full “life-of-party” listening levels — or anywhere in-between — our speakers and audio systems serve up sound that’s always clear, full, and balanced. You will be impressed with the difference!

REACH OUT TO DISCUSS HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR AUDIO QUALITY!

outdoor audio speakers near pool disguised as planters  entertainment area with hidden audio speakers  wall mounted outdoor audio speaker  audio speakers mounted on ceiling

Throwing Some Light on the Subject – Outdoor Lighting Benefits and Styling Tips

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When considering outdoor lighting for your home, there are many tantalizing options and it can become overwhelming. The ideal way to start is to simply take a walk around your property at dusk and early evening and make a list of areas you would like more lighted.

Take a look at your front entrance, decks and patios. You want to consider the look as someone approaches your home, as well as your view from inside the home. For instance, adding lighting to create a focal point at the back end of your property can extend your view and make your property appear more spacious.

    backyard landscape lighting    ambient lighting

CURB APPEAL:
Lighting the front of your home and the path leading to the front door can increase curb appeal and even increase the value of your home.

SAFETY:
Keep in mind safety, using light to differentiate changes in ground level or surface (grass vs stone areas), as well as illuminating steps and pathways.

DRAMA:
Adding ground-level swaths of light across an open area, paired with decorative lighting around trees and plants that cast interesting shadows, and highlighting stonework and water features can create depth and layers and be used to dramatic effect.

 

Just remember, too many competing lights can result in discord and possibly even a blinding glare.

Bentley Electronic Systems will come to your home and consult with you, pairing your ideas with their expert advice to create an impressive look that is bound to bring you years of joy and delight your friends and neighbors.

Call 860-657-8557

OR

Click here to get your free in-home consultation started!

 

The Perfect Gift?

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gift certificates available

Want the PERFECT gift this year? With an e-gift certificate from Bentley Electronic Systems, you can gift:

– SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR THEIR HOME

Install security cameras to viewed and control from inside the home, or remotely using a mobile phone or laptop. Additionally, program outdoor and indoor lights to turn on and off automatically. There is never a need to enter a dark home again.

– CONVENIENCE AND EASE OF USE FOR AUTOMATING ALL OF THEIR SMART HOME DEVICES

With this e-gift certificate, they can choose to:

  • automate or create a home theater or sound system
  • connect lighting
  • control shades and blinds
  • manage any smart device in the home.

All with a single touch – or programmed to react automatically.

You will find our gift certificates are:

– FLEXIBLE

Your gift certificate can be for any dollar amount you choose. Or you can specify a particular service.
Once received, the recipient can reach out to make the first discovery appointment to determine which benefits they are most interested in pursuing.
Appointments can be scheduled for any time in the coming year.

– FAST

Order today to have your e-gift certificate emailed within 48 hours – faster if requested.

– APPRECIATED!

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED!

 

What Makes a Shade Smart?

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Transparent Smart shades

Motorized, Elegant, Smart Shades

Smart shades and blinds allow you to have complete control of your shades at any time of the day – while you are in-home, or remotely. Motorized shades or blinds can be operated by an in-home touch screen, an ipad or cell phone, or using voice controls. Bentley Electronic Systems offers several smart shade brands to provide you with a variety of innovative options, for both indoor and outdoor spaces. There are different fabric options, transparency options, mounting options, and control device options. Smart shades offer:

Wireless remote

  • Simple or Advanced Programming
  • Shades can be managed individually or in groups

Automation system

  • Seamless
  • Integration possibilities to most smart home systems on the market, including Lutron, Control 4, Crestron, and many others, even Alexa!

Cost Saving

  • These blinds can help regulate the temperature in your home by blocking the sun at certain times of the day, or letting it in at other times, helping cut down on the amount of air conditioning or heating you might need. Smart blinds can also be set to an automated schedule.

Design Considerations

  • Mounting: Do you prefer the hardware mounted inside the window, or outisde the window?
  • Transparency: Shades typically come in blackout, transparent, and sheer varieties, depending on how much privacy and light blocking you want for a particular room or space.
  • Color: Chose the shade you prefer and what works best for your interior design.
  • Finish: Smooth or textured, select the fabric that best complements your living space

TRY OUR SMART SHADE SIMULATOR
to see some of the options available to you!

Call Bob Bentley at 860-657-8558 or use our Contact Form to reach out, to discuss what will work best for you!

Sometimes the little things ARE the big things – a discussion about Smart Homes

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Hand-held control for smart home automation  Smart Home Automation controls - Control4  smart home uatomation outdoors

First of all – what IS a Smart home?

A ring doorbell? A Nest thermostat? A Phillips Hue lightbulb? Remote-controlled blinds? Even a smart washing machine/dryer? A lot of appliances now are touting smart features available on their own solo apps. But do these make a smart home? The short answer is NO. What makes a smart home is the ability to have all of your home appliances and technology work through a single portal. And the ability to automate these features so they work together to AUTOMATICALLY respond to your life, working for you without you needing to touch anything at all:

AN EFFORTLESS DEPARTURE
A press of a button turns off every light and television, then arms the alarm.

A HELPING HAND
A voice command brings up the kitchen lights and turns on Food Network.

MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE FAMILY
Set the scene automatically with lights that dim as the movie starts.

A WARM WELCOME
Arrive home to a well-lit house, shades drawn, and the perfect temperature.

THE ULTIMATE PARTY
Tap an app and send your house music to the patio and pool.

Why would I WANT a smart home?

  1. Obviously, having one system that can control all of the technology in your home reduces the clutter of multiple remotes, and you never have the problem of not being able to find the ONE remote or app you need. You can have one app for the entire house – accessible by a wall terminal and/or cell phone and/or ipad.
  2. Missing from a DIY, or box-store system will be the customization and scalability you get from a professionally installed home automation system. A professionally installed smart home system is tailored to perform precisely the way YOU want it to. Then after the initial install, personalization gives you the power to change or modify your system as desired. You can adjust and fine-tune many of the features of your system to match exactly what you need.

Why use a professional, like Bentley Electronic Systems, to install your smart home?

  1. FLEXIBILITY
    Bentley Electronic Systems prides itself on the ability to work with many of your pre-purchased smart features. When you ask for a consultation, we will review your current systems to determine which can be incorporated into the full smart home automation you would like.
  2. SCALE
    You can start with a single unit, but with an eye toward future automation. Bentley can advise which system will be the best for your needs, and that can work within a future structure. So you can start with a security system, then add entertainments features, then add lighting, then thermostat, then automated blinds – whichever features mean the most to you, and in whichever order makes the most sense for your life.
    Or start with a single room, expand to outdoors and then commit to the full house.
  3.  RELIABILITY GUARANTEED
    Even though your home automation system is built to last, from time to time, technology needs a little extra TLC or updating to stay fresh and always work reliably. The wireless network in your home might need to be tweaked or a wire may need to be routed to an area that’s difficult to reach. Bentley Electronic Systems has the tools, knowledge, and training to guarantee that your home automation system will perform optimally. And should you ever run into a glitch—even months or years after the system has been installed—we are there to help!

How do I get started?

Simply reach out to Bentley Electronic Systems using the email contact us form below, or call us at 860-657-8558. Let’s have a conversation about the vision for your home. We are happy to make the recommendations that work for you. There is no charge for a consultation!

EMAIL BENTLEY ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS!

or call:

860-657-8558

Which home security system is best for my family?

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home security installation

There are many home security systems available on the market today, from do-it-yourself hobbyist “toys” to professionally monitored systems. How do you know which solution will be best for your family? Understandably, many towns in Connecticut are rated very safe. The biggest threat comes from crimes of opportunity. The following are all open invitations for thieves:

  • Open garage doors
  • unlocked exterior doors
  • unlocked car or
  • a car left running in the driveway

The first method of prevention is to always lock your home and your car, and to keep valuables out of sight. The second method is to install a home security system.

Below is an overview of some of the more popular home security systems:

  • Ring-type and other DIY installations typically are wireless and rely on a continuous wifi connection. Anyone who has had their favorite streaming program cut off during a storm will realize that a wireless system is not constant. And that opens the user up to unwanted security risks.
  • Professionally monitored services are expensive to have installed, and the monthly fees can really add up. In addition, you typically are only renting the hardware.
  • Bentley Electronic Systems installed security systems are hard wired for gap-free protection, and are installed by professionals. Bentley only recommends the very best hardware systems, and he can review the benefits and drawbacks of all of your options. Once purchased, the system is yours to keep. There are no monthly leasing fees.

In addition, while there to install the home security system needed to keep you family and your possessions safe, Bentley Electronic Systems can also install smart home automation features. These features can control your lighting, heating/cooling and blinds. They help a home look occupied while you are away, adding another layer of security. AND…by having all of the wiring done at the same time, homeowners can realize a healthy savings.

You can learn more about our security systems at: https://bentleysystems.us/smart-home-automation/#cameras

Outdoor Audio: Entertaining with family is just a bit nicer outdoors.

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Entertaining outdoors

There’s no time like now to be outside. Our customers are investing more than ever before into their outdoor entertainment areas. TV, music, WiFi – even outdoor theaters… it’s all great fun.

With the wide range of products we offer, placing the video screen is a matter of picking the spot you’d like to sit and calculating shadows and light.

When it comes to music in the yard, there are a few considerations. That’s because, when you have a large outdoor entertaining space with more than one seating area, there is not much for the sound to reflect. There are no walls or ceilings to place speakers and there is nothing to contain the sound; so there is nothing stopping it from being dissipated over the size of the area. if you want to achieve sound in all areas of the backyard, there are mainly two choices. Add a pair of large speakers that you play loud, or choose an option that provides an even level of sound across your outdoor living space using specially designer and inconspicuous in-ground or on the ground speakers. Although the first option may peek the interest of some, keep in mind that your neighbors will not be thrilled and your friends sitting closest to the speakers will not be able to hold a conversation. There are a new generation of in-ground speakers that perform wonderfully and for most yards, two speakers and a subwoofer are all that you’ll ever need. Want more? We’ll bring the speakers and do a demo for you right in your own backyard!