By Henry Clifford The plan was simple: Hand over the old gift certificate to the manager, try to pay with it, and tell the origin story if we got pushback. Worst case, I figured we’d hand a local business a great story to tell. Best case, we’d walk out as raving fans. Instead, the owner told us that he couldn’t honor it and take a $50 loss. That's when it went sideways…

Kaleidescape gives Residential Systems readers a sneak peek at what the company is planning for its CEDIA Expo exhibit.

It’s back for 2026 — the Best of Show awards program that celebrates the best custom installation and home entertainment technology launches at CEDIA Expo! Residential Systems, TWICE, and What Hi-Fi? will once again have judges on-site to examine each of the entries and bestow honors on the most deserving.

Epson Q-Series demonstrations to highlight new possibilities for dedicated theaters and modern living spaces.

The 25-year-old San Diego trailblazer brings both deep expertise and new energy to the national alliance.

David Moore has joined the company as president of new ventures, and Danielle Karr has joined as EVP of Marketing.

The most visited stories on residentialsystems.com from August 14–20, 2026.

By Veselina Lezginov Power over Ethernet (PoE) has made it easier than ever to deploy modern security systems. With a single cable handling both power and data, installations are cleaner, faster, and more efficient, especially for cameras, access control, and other connected devices. But that simplicity can create a false sense of confidence.

When the owner of a roughly 7800-square-foot Miami residence decided to fully renovate her home — seven years after its original construction — the shading scope was significant. The project included 23 roller shades and 11 motorized drapery tracks serving bedrooms, social spaces, and large architectural openings, including windows rising 28 feet high and another stretching 15 feet wide. Quiet operation, total blackout in bedrooms, refined aesthetics, and a high degree of automation were high on the homeowner’s checklist.