Discover the best televisions for sports viewing with our expert guide. Explore top features like high refresh rates, 4K and 8K resolution, and OLED vs. QLED technology for the ultimate game-day experience.

A Deep Dive into the Best Television for Sports Viewing

Discover how video wall panels are transforming commercial and home displays with stunning visuals, seamless integration, and scalable solutions. Learn about their benefits, applications, and key considerations for installation.

How Video Wall Panels Are Revolutionizing Commercial and Home Displays

Explore the different speaker types to build your perfect home audio system. Learn about floor-standing, bookshelf, in-wall, and outdoor speakers, and find tips for creating the ultimate listening experience!

Speaker Types: Building Your Home Audio System

Discover the home theater design process in Winston-Salem, NC. Learn how experts turn your vision into a custom entertainment space with tailored audio, video, and smart control solutions.

The Home Theater Design Process in Winston-Salem NC

Get expert tips for perfect outdoor TV mounting, from ideal placement and weather protection to professional installation. Learn how to create a safe, high-quality outdoor viewing experience.

Pro Tips for Perfect Outdoor TV Mounting

Find out how motorized shades let you decide when to let sunshine in and when to enjoy more privacy.

<p><img src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_electronics/ci-motorized-shades-header.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<p>While it&rsquo;s probably safe to say that most of us enjoy spending time in the backyard when the weather is nice, that can quickly turn miserable if you end up just baking in the sun. Motorized shades not only add shade to your outdoor environment, but also give you the flexibility to control when, where, and how much shade you want. No more messing around with trying to get the umbrellas in just the right spot. No more turning cranks until you can&rsquo;t feel your arms. Just flip a switch, grab a remote, or open an app on your smart device and <em>voil&aacute;</em>!</p>
<p>Motorized outdoor shades have several convenient options, such as different levels of opaqueness for controlling how much light you want to come through, or a centralized control panel for home automation integration. They can be controlled via a remote or direct wall control, and you can even set a schedule for them to automatically transition at different times of day. Some motorized wall shades are Bluetooth-enabled and can be controlled from your smartphone or another device.</p>
<p>As well as the obvious shade in your outdoor environment, many people enjoy the extra layer of privacy that a shade affords &mdash; especially if neighbors or other people are visible from your yard or patio. Some motorized shades feature automatic sensors that can detect harsh weather conditions such as wind and rain and adjust their position accordingly. They can also keep out insects and other pests.</p>
<p>In addition to these practical benefits, motorized shades are visually pleasing. There are no hanging chains or cords in the way, and there are options to style them to match your home&rsquo;s aesthetic.</p>
<p>There are two (2) main options for motorized outdoor shades:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Battery-powered:</strong> These are simple and affordable as they don&rsquo;t require extra wiring. They&rsquo;re also the least disruptive to existing home infrastructure and are great for areas that may not be close to an outlet. Battery-powered shades are reliable and can last up to three years before needing a battery replacement.</li>
<li><strong>Hard-wired:</strong> These require a bit more effort to install depending on whether the shade location has been prewired for power. If not, a wire needs to be run to your home&rsquo;s electrical supply. Once connected, you&rsquo;ve eliminated the need to ever change batteries.</li>
</ol>
<p>You can also install motorized outdoor shades on the exterior of your home to prevent the sun from entering your house through the windows, which helps to keep your house cool. It&rsquo;s nice to have the convenience of a motorized shade you can operate from indoors, and that doesn&rsquo;t take up any interior space.</p>
<p><img src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_electronics/ci-motorized-shades-outdoor-space.jpg" width="700" /></p>
<h2>Call or Visit Us</h2>
<p>If you&rsquo;re thinking of extending your smart home technology to encompass the ease and comfort of motorized outdoor shades, or just to learn more about them, <a href="https://www.carolinacustomsound.com/contacts/" target="_blank">contact us</a> at Carolina Custom Sound to hear about the various options and benefits.</p>

Adding Comfort to Outdoor Spaces with Motorized Shades

Smart shades are one of the most exciting new areas of smart home technology, and can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home.

<p>Vacation is over, back to school is getting closer and closer, and for some reason the world seems to expect a lot out of people come fall, even though most of us are still recovering from the long, fun-filled summer months.</p>
<p>There&rsquo;s one new thing everybody should put on their fall to-do lists, though &ndash; and that&rsquo;s smart shading.</p>
<p>Smart shades are one of the most exciting new areas of smart home technology, and can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your home. Check out how smart shades can instantly uplift your home and have it ready for the fall months that lie ahead. &nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>And ... Scene</strong></h2>
<p>Life isn&rsquo;t so much one big moment as it is a tapestry of little moments, strung together by our human memories. And if we can improve upon all of those little moments, we can make life just that much better.</p>
<p>Enter smart shading.</p>
<p>With smart shading solutions from Savant (say that ten times fast!) you can easily set your home&rsquo;s shading for the seasons or the weather. Your shades can be scheduled to move with the time of day or the position of the sun. It&rsquo;s pitch-perfect control over life&rsquo;s little moments, but on a grand scale.</p>
<p><img alt="Man controlling blinds with app on his phone." src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_promotions/ci-smart-shades-1.jpg" title="nullplus" width="700" /></p>
<h2><strong>Cultured Convenience</strong></h2>
<p>After a long day of cleaning, working, chasing the kids around, and all of the other &ldquo;super fun&rdquo; things that make up being an adult that our parents never warned us about, adding another task to the chore list can sound like, well, a chore.</p>
<p>Take this, for example: You sit down after a long, hard day and sit down to watch the TV. The setting sun is behind you, and the glare from it is coming through the WINDOWS AND RUINING YOUR TV OH MY WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?</p>

<p>Get up and close the shades yourself? Psh. That&rsquo;s like making your own caviar &ndash; sure, you could do it, but why would you? Instead, grab your Lutron remote and use it to adjust the shades, all without getting up off your seat. Now that&rsquo;s the power -- and luxury -- of smart home automation.</p>
<h2><strong>Hi-Roller</strong></h2>
<p>With all the tossing out and cleaning that happens throughout the year, that also means there&rsquo;s a lot of room for new housing upgrades, as well. If you&rsquo;ve been a follower of our blog for some time, you probably have a lot of the smart home basics already equipped, which means you might be looking for something to really up your game.</p>
<p>Smart shades are a great way to do that. For example, if you go with Crestron smart shades and their exclusive Quiet Motor Technology, you can have shades move at your whim with silent operation. They also have a longer life than other motors, which means that you won&rsquo;t have to worry about anything happening to these shades for seasons and seasons to come.</p>
<p><img alt="Smart shading blinds controlled with remote." src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/media/avb-socialmedia-images/2021-August/Blog%20Social-CI-week1.jpg" title="U.J Alexander" width="700" /></p>
<p>Don&rsquo;t feel like you need to set up your home&rsquo;s smart shadings all on your own. <avb-link data-href="https://www.carolinacustomsound.com/contacts" target="_blank">Give us a call today</avb-link> and we&rsquo;ll be glad to discuss all of the smart shading options we have available, and help you find the best ones for your home and your needs.&nbsp;</p>


How Smart Shading is Handy for Fall

Get ready for summer with smart shading solutions! These options will look great in any home!

<p>Summer is exciting for many reasons: No distance or in-person school, beach vacations, poolside staycations, and of course, the warm weather. But what about when you are inside and want to keep some of that sunlight out?</p>
<p>That&rsquo;s what smart shades are for!</p>
<p><img alt="Hand holding smart phone controls blinds with an app"  src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_electronics/ci-smart-blind-app.jpg" title="iStock Credit: nullplus" width="724" /></p>
<p>We love talking about smart shading, and it&rsquo;s because we love smart shading solutions! And there&rsquo;s a good reason for it &ndash; it adds a whole other layer of control to your smart home. You&rsquo;ll never have to sacrifice your taste for fabulous design for smart shades either &ndash; here are different styles of smart shades that will help make your summer and your house as cool as can be.</p>
<h2>Roller Shades</h2>
<p>Somehow even cooler than roller blades, roller shades are cool, they&rsquo;re <em>cool. </em>They&rsquo;ll help keep your house cooler, all with the attractive roller look that can fit in anywhere. &nbsp;</p>
<h2>Horizontal Sheer Blinds</h2>
<p>For homeowners with nosy neighbors or privacy concerns, you can get more control over seeing in and out of your windows with sheer smart blinds. Even if you&rsquo;re the nosy neighbor, no one outside will be able to tell you&rsquo;re peeking! Combine that freedom with the familiar functionality of blinds, and you have a winning &ndash; and sun blocking &ndash; combination.</p>
<p><img alt="Bedroom deck with sheer horizontal blinds. One side up. One side down."  src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_electronics/ci-sheer-blinds.jpg" title="iStock Credit: Solidago" width="700" /></p>
<h2>Pleated Shades</h2>
<p>The Z-shaped pleats of pleated shades spruce up any room in your home. Who would say no to smart window treatments that add oomph to your adventurous and bold expressions of self? We sure wouldn&rsquo;t.</p>
<h2>Wood/Venetian Blinds</h2>
<p>The best of both worlds, made better &ndash; with wood Venetian shades, you get privacy and a trickle of sunlight in your room. Some manufacturers even give you independent precision controls over the tilt angle and the vertical lift!</p>
<h2>Drapery Track System, or Electric Curtains</h2>
<p>Fashion meets function, finally. No more manually opening the drapes for you! With a smart shading drapery track system, you can easily control your draperies from wherever you want.</p>
<p><img alt="Modern villa interior, large sofa and armchairs, coffee table and lot of sunlight" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_electronics/ci-automatic-drapery.jpg" title="iStock Credit: ExperienceInteriors" width="724" /></p>
<h2>Honeycomb Shades</h2>
<p>Hungry for honeycomb? Of course you are, but you should probably save your sweet tooth for something besides these shades. Honeycomb shades provide fantastic insulation, and depending on the unique look you decide on, they can be as subtle or as eye-catching as you desire. &nbsp;</p>
<h2>Roman Shades</h2>
<p>Rome wasn&rsquo;t built in a day, and neither was your house. Roman shades are for those of you who enjoy quiet &ndash; these shades are practically silent in their movement.</p>
<p><img alt="Interior of the room, workplace near window, light furniture, desk, blue roman blind, wall shelves. " src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_electronics/ci-smart-roman-blind.jpg" title="iStock Credit: Valeriy_G" width="724" /></p>
<p>As the temperature rises and the sun shines for longer each day, it&rsquo;s time to get shades that go down easily. And who wants to make the daily rounds to adjust shades every morning and night as the sun and temperature change? We don&rsquo;t &ndash; and we bet you don&rsquo;t either.</p>
  <avb-designer-block data-id="26" class="avb-typography dsg-block-26 dsg-block-26-a">
	<div class="avb-grid avb-grid--container">
	  <div class="avb-grid__column avb-grid__column--small-12 avb-grid__column--marginBottom">
		<div class="avb-wrapper dsg-block-26__content">
		  <p class="avb-typography__paragraph dsg-block-26__paragraph">
<avb-link data-href="https://www.carolinacustomsound.com/contacts" target="_blank" class="dsg-block-1-link">Contact us</avb-link> today at <avb-link data-href="tel:"></avb-link> and we’ll walk you through all of the possible smart shading options for your home. Our teams at Carolina Custom Sound are happy to look into any further custom integration needs you have, as well. Let us help you make sure your smart home feels like a home! 
		  </p>
		</div>
	  </div>
	</div>
  </avb-designer-block>


Get ready for summer with smart shading solutions. These options will look great in any home!

Open Up to Smart Shade Options

With smart shades at home, you get more control than ever over your shading and lighting. 

<p>It&rsquo;s time to stop living in the dark.</p>
<p>Indoor dwellings have long given us the power to control how light enters our lives. And now, with the advent of smart shades, homeowners have more control over their shading and lighting than ever.</p>
<avb-designer-block data-id="26" class="avb-typography dsg-block-26 dsg-block-26-a">
  <div class="avb-grid avb-grid--container">
    <div class="avb-grid__column avb-grid__column--small-12 avb-grid__column--marginBottom">
      <div class="avb-wrapper dsg-block-26__content">
        <p class="avb-typography__paragraph dsg-block-26__paragraph">All of us at Carolina Custom Sound are really excited about how popular smart shades are getting, and there’s a reason why smart shading is becoming one of the hottest new trends for smart homes. Smart shading takes many areas of your home life and makes them easier than ever. This week, we are going to start by looking at a few pretty cool applications for smart shading and how it can work with the rest of your smart home for a brighter and better controlled atmosphere.</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</avb-designer-block>
<p><img alt="Sunny, modern living room with fireplace, TV, and smart shading solution" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_electronics/psm-smart-shading.jpg" title="iStock Credit: sl-f" width="700" /></p>
<h2>First Impressions Are Everything</h2>
<p>Let&rsquo;s get down to brass tacks &ndash; shading can make the difference between feeling like you are being welcomed home after a long day of work, or stumbling through a dark hallway when you first get home.</p>
<p>Let&rsquo;s see how much better we can make that sound. From the comfort of your car in the garage, you hit a button to have your shades raise. As you walk in the door, the light from outside is now bathing the entryway. Your first step into your house is now filled with light, all with a simple little click. You didn&rsquo;t have to leave the blinds open all day or manually go around and open them one by one once you got home. Instead, the natural light of the evening sun welcomes you home, and you can leave the troubles of the outside world at the darkness of your doorstep.</p>
<h2>Rise and Shine</h2>
<p><img alt="Woman wakes up in smart bedroom and hits touchscreen to open shades" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_electronics/psm-wakeup-shading.jpg" title="iStock Credit: yipengge" width="700" /></p>
<p>Getting up in the morning can be tough. We get it. It can be downright impossible sometimes. And one misstep in the morning can throw your whole day off, right from the get-go. But what if it didn&rsquo;t have to be that way? What if you had more control over those first few precious moments of the day?</p>
<p>With smart shades, now you do. Wake up, hit the morning button, and your blinds will raise and adjust themselves to the correct position, giving you perfect morning lighting without you putting forth any effort. Or you could set your smart shades on a schedule with the rest of your automation system and have them set to automatically open every morning as your lights start to slowly turn on. It&rsquo;s your house &ndash; it should wake you up how you want to be woken up.</p>
<avb-designer-block data-id="26" class="avb-typography dsg-block-26 dsg-block-26-a">
  <div class="avb-grid avb-grid--container">
    <div class="avb-grid__column avb-grid__column--small-12 avb-grid__column--marginBottom">
      <div class="avb-wrapper dsg-block-26__content">
        <p class="avb-typography__paragraph dsg-block-26__paragraph">Installing and setting up these shades isn’t something you should try yourself, however. Give us a call <avb-link data-href="tel:> at  </avb-link> and we’ll be glad to walk you through all of the shading solutions available for you, and even help you figure out which ones will work best for your home! It’s a bright idea, trust us.</p>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</avb-designer-block>
<h2>Protect Your Protectables</h2>
<p><img alt="Sunny interior of bright LA condo with art on the wall and smart shading in windows " src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/blog_electronics/psm-protect-art-shades.jpg" title="iStock Credit: lechatnoir" width="700" /></p>
<p>Maybe it&rsquo;s art. Maybe it&rsquo;s your hardwood floors. Maybe it&rsquo;s light sensitive furniture. Or maybe it&rsquo;s your kids&rsquo; LEGO sets. Either way, we all have precious belongings we&rsquo;d like to protect from the sun, and moving them away from windows isn&rsquo;t always an option.</p>
<p>Well, that problem is in the past now. With smart shading, you can set your shades to lower themselves every day at noon, blocking out light just when it needs to be blocked out. Your items are now protected, and your rooms are still lit. It&rsquo;s perfect lighting made for your modern living needs, and can make sure that all of your valuable art and furniture isn&rsquo;t faded by the harsh rays of the sun.</p>
<h2>Tub Troubles</h2>
<p>We&rsquo;ve all had it happen &ndash; you prepare to sit and read in the bath, just dip your toes in, and then realize you forgot to close the blinds. This used to be a problem, but it&rsquo;s another one that motorized shades have solved. With the press of a button, the blinds will close, and you&rsquo;ll be back to your book in no time. That&rsquo;s bath time made easy, all thanks to the simplicity and convenience of smart shading.</p>
<p>Smart shades may seem like a simple upgrade, but these are just a few of the ways that this advanced technology can improve your entire home life. Want more examples? Ready to add them to your smart home? Head over to our <a href="https://www.carolinacustomsound.com/contacts/" target="_blank">contact page</a> and we&rsquo;ll be glad to get you started on your way to a brighter tomorrow!</p>


How Smart Shades Can Brighten Your Life

Default Dev Script Validation

<avb-header-after>  <avb-designer-block data-id="27" class="avb-grid avb-typography dsg-block-27-header-after"> <div class="avb-grid__column avb-grid__column--small-12 dsg-block-27-no-padding"> <avb-link class="avb-wrapper dsg-block-27-header-after__content" data-href="https://www.carolinacustomsound.com/contacts#zoom">  <span class="dsg-block-27-header-after__headline"> Click here to schedule your virtual consultation&nbsp;today! <span class="dsg-block-27-header-after--cta"> <avb-link class="avb-button avb-button--primary dsg-block-27-header-after--button" data-href="https://www.carolinacustomsound.com/contacts#zoom">Schedule Now</avb-link></span> </span> </avb-link> </div> </avb-designer-block> </avb-header-after> <style> /* ==================== Header-after (block-27-header-after) ==================== */ .dsg-block-27-header-after{ z-index:998; } .dsg-block-27-header-after-home{ z-index:999; } .dsg-block-27-no-padding{ padding:0; } .dsg-block-27-header-after__content, .dsg-block-27-header-after__content:visited, .dsg-block-27-header-after__content:focus { display: block; background-color: #1f3060; color: #fff; text-align: center; padding: 1rem 0.55rem; } .dsg-block-27-header-after__content:hover { color:rgba(255,255,255,0.5); } .dsg-block-27-header-after__headline { display:inline-block; font-family: 'Roboto Condensed', sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.3; transition: .3s; } .dsg-block-27-header-after--cta { display:inline-block; margin-left:1rem; margin-top:0.55rem; margin-bottom:0.55rem; } .dsg-block-27-header-after--button, .dsg-block-27-header-after--button:visited, .dsg-block-27-header-after--button:focus { display:inline; padding:0.5rem; font-size: 0.85rem; font-weight: 700; font-family: 'Roboto Condensed', sans-serif; color: #FFF; border-color:#fff; transition: background-color 300ms ease-out; border-radius: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; } .dsg-block-27-header-after--button:hover { color: #fff; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.2); } @media screen and (min-width: 600px) { .dsg-block-27-header-after--cta { margin-left:1rem; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; } } @media screen and (min-width: 960px) {} @media screen and (min-width: 1280px) {} @media screen and (min-width: 1600px) {} </style>

Default Header After Global Promotions

<avb-header-before>  <avb-designer-block data-id="27" class="avb-grid avb-typography dsg-block-27-header-before"> <div class="avb-grid__column avb-grid__column--small-12 dsg-block-27-no-padding"> <avb-link class="avb-wrapper dsg-block-27-header-before__content" data-href="tel:3336-837-8341">  <span class="dsg-block-27-header-before__headline"> Due to high call volume we have opened up a secondary line. If you can’t get through, please call our office at 336&#8209;837&#8209;8341. </span> </avb-link> </div> </avb-designer-block> </avb-header-before> <style> /* ==================== header-before (block-27-header-before) ==================== */ .dsg-block-27-header-before{ z-index:998; } .dsg-block-27-header-before-home{ z-index:999; } .dsg-block-27-no-padding{ padding:0; } .dsg-block-27-header-before__content, .dsg-block-27-header-before__content:visited, .dsg-block-27-header-before__content:focus { display: block; background-color: #951515; color: #fff; text-align: center; padding: 1rem 0.55rem; } .dsg-block-27-header-before__content:hover { color:rgba(255,255,255,0.5); } .dsg-block-27-header-before__headline { display:inline-block; font-family: 'Roboto Condensed', sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.3; transition: .3s; } .dsg-block-27-header-before--cta { display:inline-block; margin-left:1rem; margin-top:0.55rem; margin-bottom:0.55rem; } .dsg-block-27-header-before--button, .dsg-block-27-header-before--button:visited, .dsg-block-27-header-before--button:focus { display:inline; padding:0.5rem; font-size: 0.85rem; font-weight: 700; font-family: 'Roboto Condensed', sans-serif; color: #FFF; border-color:#fff; transition: background-color 300ms ease-out; border-radius: 10px; text-transform: uppercase; } .dsg-block-27-header-before--button:hover { color: #fff; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.2); } @media screen and (min-width: 600px) { .dsg-block-27-header-before--cta { margin-left:1rem; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; } } @media screen and (min-width: 960px) {} @media screen and (min-width: 1280px) {} @media screen and (min-width: 1600px) {} </style>

Blog

Adding Comfort to Outdoor Spaces with Motorized Shades

How Smart Shading is Handy for Fall

Open Up to Smart Shade Options

How Smart Shades Can Brighten Your Life

Contact Us

SOLUTIONS

INFO

FOLLOW US

LICENSE #