Welcome! What's On Your Mind?

INTERNET OVERLOAD

It won't be long before children and college students will be back in school, although, unlike last year, they'll likely be able to attend in-person throughout the entire school year. Still, most students will need almost daily access to the internet for school-related activities.

College Students — Students who attend local community colleges are online almost every day, whether they enrolled in an online course or two (or more), or if they need to do research for a homework assignment. Even in-person classes require fast internet speeds to keep up with emails, postings from instructors, etc.

High School, Middle School, etc. — Children at every level, including elementary school, are likely to have assignments that require access to high-speed internet on a fairly regular basis. 

Adults — In the past year, many adults have switched from their corporate environment to working part-time or even full-time from home. Quite a few of the companies they work for are deciding to make these changes permanent. Of course, remote-working adults will still be expected to deliver high-quality results, even though their children may be using the same internet access this fall. 

Leisure Time — In addition to education-related internet access and work-related access, families still want to have plenty of leisure time online access as well. Now more than ever, many households are switching to streaming TV and movies, and they still want to have plenty of bandwidth available to access their favorite social media sites, check email, etc. 

SECURITY PITFALLS 

Many vacation homes reside alongside other vacation homes, making the overall neighborhood an attractive target for thieves and home squatters. By targeting vacation homes, both of these groups know their unlawful actions are likely to go undetected for months. If a break-in should occur, the thieves will have long since gone on to other neighborhoods, leaving the homeowners to spend their time replacing essential household components, as well mourning the loss of irreplaceable sentimental items. 

Other problems that could arise over a long span of time are issues resulting from storm damage or property damage from wildlife. A shattered window or skylight as a result of a broken tree limb could cause major damage to both a home's exterior and interior. Even something as seemingly benign as a squirrel can find its way into a home and cause major damage in their desperate attempt to find their way out of the home.

PLANNING FOR SECURITY ISSUES

Here at Echo Workshop, we take pride in working with our clients to develop a comprehensive security package to protect their valuable vacation homes. We know that peace of mind for homeowners and protection of personal property are the utmost priorities for any security system. Our security packages are designed to encompass a home's exterior as well as the interior. They include critical features such as strategically-placed security cameras, a comprehensive alarm system, and other thoughtful features such as lighting and window shades that can be programmed to make it appear as if residents are home. 

START AT THE BEGINNING - THE ENTRYWAY

One of the foundational components found within our comprehensive security package is the DoorBird entry system. The DoorBird is a video door intercom and video doorbell system. Its usefulness quickly becomes evident whether homeowners are away, or simply in their backyard enjoying relaxation time with family and friends. The DoorBird works with both the Android and iOS operating systems, allowing homeowners to answer the doorbell of their vacation home whether they are halfway across the globe, or spending some downtime in the backyard pool. 

YOUR WALLS CAN CAMOUFLAGE POWER OUTLETS

Your home has stunning stone countertops, gorgeous accent walls, and smooth marble surfaces. It's time to stop letting power outlets ruin carefully crafted designs. Trufig is like a chameleon that can change its skin color to hide in plain sight. Whatever pattern, design, color, material, or texture your wall has, your power outlets will now be able to replicate its surroundings and blend right into the wall. This design solution is also trimless and flush with the wall, so your power outlets won't stick out or stand out. Now, you can put invisible power outlets anywhere you need them, instead of having to worry about what they will look like in that location. You can now keep your living room and kitchen walls clean and clutter-free.

YOUR WALLS CAN SEAMLESSLY HIDE YOUR ELECTRONICS

Instead of mounting smart home devices on your wall, put the devices in your wall. Your lighting and smart home controls will be exactly where you need them, without ruining the aesthetic appeal of your space. Control your lights with the touch of a discrete button, and mount an iPad inside your wall for easy, yet unobtrusive, smart home control. The electrical components and wires will stay safely hidden inside your walls. Trufig's mounting system is compatible with many touch screen devices to fit your preferences.

YOUR WALLS CAN KEEP YOU COOL

Stay cool and refreshed, without bulky vents and units. With Trufig's mounting technology, even your HVAC grilles and linear diffusers will be fully integrated in your home. The vents and grilles become so hidden that it's almost like your walls can breathe on their own. Imagine HVAC grilles and wall or ceiling linear diffusers that are flush with the wall, match their surroundings, and still function perfectly. Trufig's mounting system for linear diffusers offers a seamless transition between the air opening and wall or ceiling surface. This integrated system helps you breathe clean air, while also keeping your walls clean and streamlined.

YOUR WALLS CAN PLAY MUSIC

If your walls could talk, they would tell great stories about your family and home. You also wouldn't have to look at bulky sound systems and tangled cords. With Trufig's integrated Sonance speaker system, your walls will do more than talk. They will play music. Relax on your couch while peaceful ambient music gently plays, or enjoy a get-together with friends and family with lively music in the background. Enjoy the benefits of background music, without having to look at the obtrusive speaker system that takes up space. Let the speakers blend into your walls with Trufig.

YOUR HOUSTON TRUFIG DEALER CAN HELP

You don't have to compromise anymore. With Trufig's integrated mounting system and design solutions, you can enjoy your home with all of its features, without any bulky electrical outlets or devices.

1. ENERGY EFFICIENT

Although most home automation systems focus mainly on the convenience of smart technology, you can do more to reduce your overall carbon footprint and monthly energy bills with Lutron motorized shades. With a touch of a button, they can control the amount of sunlight coming into a room for a more energy-efficient surrounding.

Do you know that your AC works twice as hard to create a comfortable indoor climate during the summer's heat? You can create a weather-specific schedule such that your windows remain unobstructed when it's too hot, as your Lutron motorized shades or drapes draw to conserve the energy used for heating and cooling. By so doing, you reduce the amount of heat and temperature in your home while reducing the amount of energy your air conditioning will need to use to create a comfortable atmosphere.

Additionally, you can also create an eco-friendly and perfect ambiance by integrating your home's lighting and Lutron motorized shade system. The lights adjust accordingly to provide electricity, as will the shades when it's time to close at sunset.

2. CONVENIENT AND EASILY MANAGED

Unlike non-motorized blinds that you have to manually operate, anyone can use a remote to open and shut Lutron motorized shades. Additionally, manual blinds and shades might be versatile and fit any window; however, the panels or slats are expensive to repair and replace once they are heavily damaged. 

Because Lutron motorized shades are not manually operated, plus they are made to fit your window perfectly, they do not get tangled up, thus creating a clean-looking space.