Smart Home Automation in Orange County
One system that runs your lighting, climate, audio, video, shades, cameras, and entertainment, controlled from a touch panel, a keypad, your phone, or your voice, from anywhere in the world.
One app that runs the whole house.
Lighting, shades, climate, music, TVs, cameras, and doors, all managed and controlled in one place. True home automation means not having to use eleven different apps. With us, you get one system built around how your family actually lives.
Available options
- On site consultation and system design
- Device and keypad plan, coordinated with your designer and builder
- Structured low voltage wiring and equipment rack build
- Control processor, keypad, and touch panel installation
- Full programming of scenes, schedules, and automations
- Integration of lighting, climate, shades, audio, video, cameras, and door access
- In person training for the whole household
- Documentation and ongoing remote support
What automation scenes should look like
A scene is an event that moves many things at once, with the press of a button or triggered by time of day. These are a few almost every home ends up using every day.
On a schedule, or the first tap of the day
- Shades Bedroom and kitchen shades open
- Lights Hallways and kitchen come up soft
- Climate The house moves to its daytime temperature
- Music A playlist or the news starts in the kitchen
From your phone as you pull up
- Gate Opens as you pull in
- Lights Entry, kitchen, and family room come on
- Climate The house goes back to your "home" temperature
- Music Your playlist picks up in the kitchen
- TVs Selected TVs turn on
From the keypad by the door, or your phone as you drive off
- Lights Every light in the house turns off
- Locks Every door locks, and the gate closes
- Climate The house goes to away mode
- Music Every room goes quiet
- TVs Selected TVs turn off
From the remote or keypad in the media room
- Lights Dim down to a low glow
- Shades Close for a dark room
- TV The TV or projector turns on to the right input
- Sound The surround sound switches to movie mode
When guests are on the way
- Lights Living room, kitchen, and patio set to party levels
- Music One playlist in every common room and outside
- Outdoor Landscape lights come on
- Gate A guest code turns on for the evening
From the keypad by the bed
- Locks Every door locks, and the gate closes
- Lights Everything turns off, with low path lights to the bedrooms
- Shades Close throughout the house
- Cameras Alert you to motion outside overnight
Every aspect of the house, on one app
Lighting
Engraved keypads instead of rows of switches, with scenes for every room and every time of day.
More on lightingClimate
Thermostats on schedules that adjust when you leave home and can be adjusted from anywhere.
Music and TV
Music in any room, and every TV on one remote or the app. No more cluster of remotes.
More on music and tvCameras
Live video on the app and the touch panels, with alerts that actually matter.
More on camerasGates and locks
See who's at the gate, open it from your phone, and lock every door with one press.
More on gates and locksOutdoor
Backyard music, landscape lighting, and the outdoor TV on the same system as the house.
More on outdoorNetworking & Wi-Fi
The foundation the technology in your home depends on.
More on networking & Wi-FiWhat happens when
Internet goes down?
Everything in the house will keep working. The processor runs locally, so lights, keypads, shades, and climate don't need the internet. You lose remote access and streaming until service comes back.
Power goes out?
With battery backup on the equipment rack, the network and control system will stay live through short outages and come back on their own when the power returns.
A guest or house sitter has to use it?
Engraved keypads say exactly what they do. Nobody needs an app or a lesson to turn on the lights.
You want to change something?
Some systems give you the ability to make lighting and timing schedules. Otherwise call us. Most changes, like a new scene or a new schedule, are done remotely without a visit.
You sell the house?
A professional system with documentation goes with the house and transfers to the next owner. We also offer system handover and training for a small fee.
You stop paying a subscription?
It depends on the platform. Some continue to operate locally and only lose remote features. We'll show you exactly what each one requires before you choose.
Control4, Savant, Crestron, or RTI
The four we build on. All four will dim your lights and play music in every room. The differences show up years later.
| Control4 | Savant | Crestron | RTI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongest at | Working with the widest range of other brands' equipment | Lighting and energy, including solar and home battery backup | Large or complicated homes with custom needs | Value, with solid everyday control |
| Best fit | Homes with a mix of equipment, or that want flexibility later | Lighting focused projects and Apple households | Estates and one of a kind projects | Budget conscious projects that still want real control |
| Servicing it later | Easiest. It's the most widely installed, so many companies can support it. | Supported through Savant integrators. | Depends heavily on who programmed it. | Fewer companies in the area service it. |
| Yearly fees | An optional plan, about $249 a year. Without it the house still runs locally, but remote access, alerts, and voice control stop. | A yearly plan through your integrator covers cloud backup and some features, like the intercom. | Usually no required yearly license for the homeowner. | Remote monitoring is handled by your integrator. |
Subscriptions change. Get the yearly cost of any platform in writing before you choose. We'll lay all four out side by side for you. For the full breakdown, read our guide, Control4 vs Savant vs Crestron vs RTI.
A few rooms, the whole house, or built in from day one
Most people start with the rooms they live in most and add from there. The system is designed so nothing you buy now has to be torn out later.
The essentials
- Best for
- Homes that want a few key upgrades first, usually lighting, music, and TV control in the main living areas.
- What's included
- The control processor and network foundation, the rooms you use most, and scenes programmed for them.
- Keep in mind
- Only part of the house is automated at first. Adding rooms later is easy because the foundation is already in place.
The whole house
- Best for
- Finished homes ready for full control of lighting, shades, climate, audio, video, cameras, and gates.
- What's included
- Full system design, keypads and touch panels throughout, wired devices wherever cable can run, professional wireless lighting and shades where it can't, and complete programming.
- Keep in mind
- More labor than starting small. Cable paths are planned to avoid opening finished walls, but some drywall repair may be necessary.
New build or remodel
- Best for
- New construction or a remodel with open walls.
- What's included
- Every keypad, shade, speaker, camera, and touch panel location planned with your builder and electrician, prewired before drywall, and programmed at trim out.
- Keep in mind
- The best result and the lowest cost per device, but it has to be planned before the electrician's rough in.
What separates a good system from a frustrating one
- Keypads before apps. Anyone should be able to walk up to a wall and know what to press. The app is a bonus, not the only way in.
- The network comes first. Every part of the system talks over the network. If it's weak, everything feels unreliable.
- Hardwire what matters. The processor, keypads, and touch panels are wired wherever the house allows.
- Program around your routines. Scenes should match when you wake up, leave, entertain, and go to bed.
- One company accountable. The team that designs it installs it and supports it.
- Get your programming files. Ask for a copy of your system's project files in writing. It protects you if you ever change companies.
What sets the price
- Number of rooms and devices. Every keypad, shade, speaker, TV, and camera adds equipment, installation, and programming.
- Lighting. Lighting touches every room, so it's often the largest part of a project.
- Retrofit or new build. Running cable in finished walls takes more labor than prewiring open walls.
- Platform. Each platform has different equipment costs and different yearly fees.
- Keypads and touch panels. How many you want, and finishes like custom colors and engraving.
- Programming. Simple scenes take less time than detailed automations built around your routines.
- What do you do every day that you wish were simpler?
- How many apps do you use to run your house today?
- Which rooms do you spend the most time in?
- Is anything unreliable right now: Wi-Fi, cameras, TVs?
- Is a remodel or new build coming up?
- Who else uses the house: kids, guests, house staff, a property manager?
Smart Home Automation we've installed
Real projects, photographed on site. Tap any photo to see it larger.
How we do it
Every project starts with a walkthrough and a conversation about how your household lives. We design the system around that, build the network and equipment rack first, install everything cleanly, and program scenes that match your routines. Then we train everyone in the house and stay available when you want to change something.
One interface, not eleven
Everything on a single app and matching keypads. Guests can figure it out without a tutorial, and so can a house sitter.
Built on a wired backbone
Critical devices are hardwired wherever the structure allows. Wireless is used where it makes sense, not as a shortcut.
Scenes that match your day
Good Morning, Home, Away, Movie, Entertain, Good Night. One press moves lights, shades, climate, audio, and security together.
Secure remote access
Control and check on the house from anywhere, on a network that keeps your smart home separate from guest Wi-Fi.
Designed to expand
Start with lighting and audio, then add a theater, shades, or cameras later without tearing out what you already paid for.
Support after the install
Remote monitoring and updates. Most issues get resolved before you notice them.
From first walkthrough to a system you actually use
High-ticket work goes wrong when nobody explains what happens next. Here is exactly how a project runs, start to finish.
- 01
Consultation
Whether you have an existing home or are building a new space, our unique line of questioning draws out your lifestyle and how you'll actually live in the space. From there, we establish how we can enhance your home and optimize the living experience.
- 02
Design & proposal
You get a designed system with a written proposal: what goes where, what it does, and what it looks like. Theaters include a 3D model, so you see the finished room before anything is built.
- 03
Installation
We work with your builder, electrician, and designer to ensure a smooth, cohesive execution. Cables are run neatly and properly, speakers are placed precisely in relation to lights and other fixtures, everything is straight and level, and racks are built to be serviced. The job site is left better than we found it.
- 04
Programming & calibration
Scenes are built around your routine and customized for the time of day. Video is calibrated to show what the director intended you to see. Audio is measured and tuned for peak performance. It's a step many rush through; we take our time.
- 05
Training & support
We sit down with you and everyone in the household to make sure everyone knows how to drive it. Then we stay reachable with remote monitoring and support, because sometimes things get forgotten.
Smart Home Automation, answered
Straight answers to what people actually ask before starting a project like this.
Can you automate a house that's already built?
Yes. Many of our projects are in finished homes. Professional wireless lighting and shades, plus wired access points, let us do a lot without opening finished walls. We walk the house first and tell you honestly where we can run wire cleanly and where we'd recommend a wireless approach instead.
How long does an automation project take?
A focused project, such as lighting control plus a couple of rooms of audio, is typically a few days on site. A full new construction project runs alongside the build, starting at rough in and finishing at trim out, so the timeline follows your general contractor's schedule.
What happens if my internet goes down?
A properly designed system keeps working. Lighting, climate, shades, and keypads run locally on the processor. You lose remote access from outside the home until service returns, but nothing inside the house stops working.
Do I have to replace what I already own?
Usually not. Good TVs, speakers, thermostats, and cameras can often be brought into the new system. We check what's there before quoting anything, and we'll tell you when keeping a device costs more in integration work than replacing it.
Can I control the system by voice?
Yes. Voice control works alongside keypads and the app rather than replacing them. You still want a physical button that works when the network is down or a guest's phone isn't on the Wi-Fi.
Do I have to pay a monthly subscription?
It depends on the platform. Some now offer a yearly service plan for remote access and updates, and some don't require one. We'll show you what each option costs over time before you choose.
Can my whole family actually use it?
Yes. We design it so anyone can walk up to a keypad and know what to press. Engraved buttons say exactly what they do, and the app looks the same on every phone in the house.
Who do I call when something stops working?
Us. One company designed it, installed it, and supports it. With remote monitoring, we can often fix the problem without a visit.
What clients say
“I had the pleasure of working with Ashkan on multiple AV installations in the past 10+ years. His team performed a complete update of the media room which includes a multi-screen projection home theater, music server, whole house audio, dedicated 2Ch HiFi system, as well as Crestron automation for AV, lighting & shades. The most recent project is a second HT AV system for the family room/kitchen remodel. It's a complex installation & we're very happy with the job. Ashkan is always professional, responsive & reliable with excellent after sales/installation supports. Highly recommended.”David NgOrange County · Home theater & whole-house audioVerified Google review
“I have worked with Ashkan Baghaee for over seven years. He and his team installed and since have maintained the AV, WiFi, and camera systems at our house. They at all times have been effective, professional, and responsive. I have recommended Ashkan to numerous neighbors, friends, and relatives, and those who have worked with him have provided very positive reports. I will continue to recommend Ashkan to anyone in need of his services.”Don DickersonOrange County · AV, WiFi & camerasVerified Google review
“I have worked with Ashkan for 3-4 years. He did a extensive AV job on our Newport Beach home. He did a great job. In addition, as with any extensive AV job/project they'll be a need for follow up. Ashkan has always made himself available and been quick to help with any AV issues. A Pro from start to finish and he will stay with you to make sure your happy. Highly recommend”Mike MNewport Beach · Whole-home AVVerified Google review
Get a real proposal for your smart home automation project
Three quick questions and we'll come back to you within one business day. No obligation, and no pressure if the timing isn't right.
- On-site walkthrough of your space
- Written proposal you can compare line by line
- Honest scope, including what to skip
Smart Home Automation across Orange County
Every city on this list has its own installation realities: coastal corrosion, canyon access, estate-lot distances. Find yours.
Systems that belong together
Lighting Control
Centralized lighting that replaces banks of switches with a single elegant keypad. Scenes are designed room by room and by time of day, so every space is lit with purpose.
Learn moreSystem Rescue & Takeover
Maybe you bought a beautiful house with a system nobody wants to support, and the original dealer isn't returning your calls. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We take these systems over and give them a fresh lease on life, and we always try to fix before we replace.
Learn moreNetworking & Wi-Fi
Wall to wall, perimeter coverage with full bars everywhere. The network is the backbone of your home's system, the layer every smart home depends on, engineered properly so nothing else in your house has an excuse to fail.
Learn moreLet's design something worth living with.
Free consultation, no obligation, and a written proposal you can actually compare. We'll walk your space and tell you honestly what's worth doing.