Beyond the Blueprint
Smart Home Technology, Thoughtfully Integrated
Case Study: Luxury is Simplicity – Lighting, Audio, & Control Solutions for Spec to Custom Home
Where performance meets effortless control with integrated systems tailored to how the homeowner truly lives.
At first glance, the Boston project appeared straightforward: integrate a large new-build home with lighting, shading, audio, and automation. In reality, it was a technically ambitious build requiring strategic design, long-distance coordination, and close collaboration with trade professionals.
The 12,000-square-foot residence began as a spec build but was purchased early in construction and quickly transitioned into a fully customized smart home. The client wanted the benefits of modern technology without the complexity often associated with automation systems.
Home Technology Experts was brought in to create the system designs and integration. Jhojan Delgado, HTE’s Senior Design Engineer, designed the entire system—from fixture spec to network infrastructure and AV solutions. Brendan Dolan led the project management, installation, and client coordination, ensuring the design intent was executed with precision.
Rather than layering on unnecessary features or flashy tech, the team focused on clean, reliable solutions that would support the family’s lifestyle and evolve over time. The result is a smart home that feels purposeful, intuitive, and quietly luxurious.
Scope of Work
This was a whole-home integration that touched nearly every room, combining lighting control, motorized shading, distributed audio, entertainment systems, and full automation. Each solution was thoughtfully designed around how the homeowners actually live.
The entire system was engineered with Control4 as the backbone, enabling all technologies to work together through one centralized interface. Whether from a keypad, remote, or app, the client can easily adjust systems room by room or manage the entire home with one command.
Equipment was chosen not only for performance, but for simplicity and longevity. The infrastructure is scalable, with pathways already in place for future devices or room expansions.
Instead of overwhelming the space, the technology complements it, quietly enhancing the home’s architecture and interior design. That alignment between form and function was a cornerstone of the user-first philosophy that guided the project from the start.
Building Redundancy Into Luxury
While Control4 unified the home’s systems, HTE made the deliberate decision to keep Sonos, Lutron, and other systems operable outside of the automation platform. Jhojan’s design ensured that each subsystem could function independently through its native app—giving the clients full control even if they chose not to engage with the main control interface.
This redundancy was built not just for convenience, but to give the client confidence and freedom in their daily use. They aren’t dependent on an integrator for basic changes, and they don’t need support just to make routine adjustments.
The system was also engineered for future flexibility. Should the family wish to add more technology or expand into other rooms, the groundwork has already been laid, no invasive rewiring or reprogramming required. This is a smart home that adapts as needs evolve.
Lighting Done Right
With Lutron Intelligent Lighting
Lighting was the most technically significant part of the project—and the one that required the most foresight. After reviewing the original lighting plans from the builder, Jhojan redesigned the lighting plan into a fully digital Lutron HomeWorks system, anchored by over 300 Lutron Finiré Digital fixtures.
Because this “intelligent” lighting is relatively new, Jhojan worked directly with the builder and his team to explain the design, wiring efficiencies, and long-term benefits. Once the advantages became clear, the team aligned on the digital approach.
With Lutron’s Intelligent Lighting each fixture is software-addressable, meaning zones can be reassigned without changing any wiring, giving the homeowner maximum flexibility to reconfigure as they live in the home. Traditional analog lighting would have locked them into static zones. This system is built to evolve.
The infrastructure was also designed to streamline the build. Just one circuit could power up to 64 fixtures, significantly reducing copper runs, panel loads, and labor. The result was a lighting system that simplified rough-in, saved time for the electrician, and reduced overall materials.
Pinpoint dimming: 0.1% flicker-free dimming for smooth, stable transitions
Reliable color performance: Consistent, balanced illumination across all spaces
Software-driven flexibility: Fixtures can be re-zoned digitally—no rewiring required
Fixtures were installed with mud-in trims to create a clean, unobtrusive ceiling. Scenes were programmed at elegant Palladiom keypads and fine-tuned onsite to match the family’s real routines—not just a theoretical use case.
“This lighting system was one of the most robust we’ve delivered,” Jhojan said. “It was important to us that it not only look beautiful but be ready to grow with the home without locking the client into complexity.”
Shades That Disappear
Lutron Palladiom shades were used throughout the home—fitted with satin nickel brackets and hem bars to match the minimalist architecture and complemented the lighting system. Blackout fabrics were selected for bedrooms, while sheer fabrics softened natural light in living spaces.
Every shade is integrated into Lutron and Control4 scenes but also operates independently via the Lutron app. This flexibility allows the client to automate daily routines or make instant adjustments without losing control to the system. The result is silent, responsive shading that blends into the design and moves exactly how the homeowner wants, whenever they need it.
A Theater Experience, Without the Fuss
The clients wanted a dedicated entertainment space and that felt immersive but never overwhelming. The lower level of the home offered the perfect setting. Its naturally dark environment and strong acoustics provided an ideal foundation for high-performance audio and vibrant video, allowing the technology to elevate the space without overpowering it.
HTE designed and integrated a complete media system featuring a Sony OLED display, Anthem surround sound, Leon Speakers, and an Artisan in-wall subwoofer, all tied into Control4 for unified control. It’s an immersive home theater experience without the usual complexity: one button, and the entire system springs to life. Brendan worked closely with the homeowner to ensure the space felt cinematic and effortless.
The family room called for something more casual but still performance-driven. HTE installed a Sony OLED TV paired with a Sonos Arc soundbar, elegantly housed in a custom Leon Tonecase to give the system a built-in look that blends seamlessly with the room’s design.
Additional displays were installed in the bedrooms and on the outdoor patio, all routed through a centralized rack for clean cable management and consistency across rooms. Whether watching a movie downstairs or streaming a game outdoors, the experience is streamlined through Control4 giving the homeowner complete control from any room.
These spaces show how AV systems can be elevated, user-friendly, and architecturally discreet all at once.
Expert Care: 24/7 Monitoring & Smart Surge Protection
Reliability didn’t end at commissioning. Every device—from networking gear and amplifiers to lighting processors—is powered through intelligent, IP-addressable surge protection. These smart PDUs give HTE real-time insight into voltage, current draw, and temperature while enabling hard reboots remotely whenever a device misbehaves.
Layered on top is HTE’s Expert Care 24/7 monitoring service. A dedicated support team keeps watch over the entire system day and night, receiving automated alerts the moment a component drops offline or drifts outside safe operating parameters. Potential issues are often identified and resolved before the homeowner is even aware, ensuring uninterrupted comfort and peace of mind.
Why It Mattered for This Project
Full visibility from afar – With the residence more than 200 miles from HTE’s New York headquarters, remote dashboards provided instant insight into network health, device status, and automation logs.
Proactive maintenance – Data-driven alerts allowed the team to schedule on-site visits only when necessary, reducing downtime and travel costs.
Rapid recovery – One-click reboots via smart surge protection restored functionality in seconds, eliminating the need for most service calls.
This always-on safety net was crucial to the success of the build, delivering enterprise-grade uptime to a private residence and reinforcing the project’s guiding principle: luxury should feel effortless.
The Final Layer: Design, Distance, and Doing It Right
With the residence located just outside of Boston and the HTE team located in New York, this project demanded more than just technical skill. It required trust, foresight, and seamless collaboration between every trade involved. From early design documentation to the last keypad engraving, execution had to be near perfect, even when handled across state lines.
Despite manufacturing delays, layered communication, and the logistics of managing a project from hundreds of miles away, the job was completed on time and delivered exactly what the client wanted: a smart home that feels intentional, not overengineered.
This project is a study in thoughtful integration. HTE designed and delivered systems that prioritize the homeowner’s real lifestyle, not just technology for technology’s sake. From redundant control paths to future-ready lighting infrastructure, every decision was made with purpose.
It’s also a case study in what’s possible when the integrator is truly part of the team. From initial lighting plans to final rack layout, every system in this home reflects a commitment to clarity, collaboration, and doing things the right way.
Smart home technology doesn’t have to be showy or intimidating. When thoughtfully designed and well-executed, it becomes invisible support for daily living, elegant, responsive, and enduring.
Featured Manufacturers:
Control4
Sonos
Leon Speakers
Anthem
Dynaudio
Sonance
Sony
AVPro Edge
Lutron
Access Networks
Pakedge
OvrC
Wattbox
Liberty Cable
Strong
Future Automation
Middle Atlantic
Parasol - 24/7 Support
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Home Technology Experts Project Team
Brendan Dolan, Project Manager
With more than 20 years of hands-on experience in technology integration, Brendan blends technical precision with a deep commitment to client satisfaction. His management brought everything together to deliver an elegant, discreet, and personalized smart home for the client.
Jhojan Delgado, Design Engineer
Jhojan brings over a decade of experience designing advanced smart home systems across lighting, AV, networking, and automation platforms. For this project, he led the system design from the ground up, translating complex goals into a clean, scalable solution that feels effortless to use.
