Philadelphia is defined by the red-brick Federal rowhomes of Society Hill and the expansive stone estates along the Main Line. For many local homeowners, the desire for convenience often creates a difficult dilemma between adding new technology and protecting irreplaceable lath-and-plaster walls. You want the benefits of a smart home, but the fear of damaging hand-carved crown moldings or original masonry is a significant hurdle.

Whitaker Technologies is a whole-home lighting company specializing in invisible retrofits that respect your home’s original craftsmanship while introducing 21st-century control. We use advanced wireless technology to provide the modern functionality you want without the need for invasive rewiring or a major, dusty renovation.

It’s that time of year when we look ahead to the possibilities—a new year with a new slate. If you’ve delved into smart home living, you know the extreme convenience it provides. Lighting, shades, climate, and home entertainment are all managed from a user-friendly touchscreen. Press a button, and the lights align for the occasion, the shades rise, and your favorite playlist streams through your home. 

And all because you pressed, “Entertain.” 

So, how can automated living get any better? 

This year, three smart home upgrades are taking center stage. At Whitaker Technologies, we partner with Control4, a world leader in home automation. In 2025, they released a new operating system that people are rushing to adopt. 

Homeowners are also looking to elevate their home entertainment while keeping it smart and ensuring the backbone for their smart home is robust and sustainable. 

Let’s take a look at these three awe-inspiring upgrades for 2026 and how homeowners in Philadelphia, PA, and the surrounding areas are putting them to use.

Lighting has a powerful effect on homes and the humans that inhabit them. It transforms moods, alters sleep patterns, and creates a space that feels cozy and warm or sleek and spacious. Few other elements in a home carry the same depth of functionality and design. 

And yet, how often do we take our lighting for granted? 

We may go to great detail to select the fixtures, but if we’re still flipping switches to control them, our Philadelphia, PA, home’s lighting will never reach its full potential.

And that’s where a whole home lighting specifier comes in. 

Have you been thinking about taking the plunge and building a home theater? Do you start researching the possibilities only to find yourself putting it off another year? And have those years turned into a decade? 

It’s not an uncommon scenario, and one we often hear from our clients in the greater Philadelphia, PA, area. Called decision paralysis, it occurs when the choices are too many and the fear of regretting your final choice puts you in a state of overload. And so, another year goes by with your dream theater undone.

That’s where Whitaker Technologies comes in. Our AV and automation experts guide you step-by-step through the process, from design and seating to audio-video equipment, lighting, acoustics, and automation. When we’re done, your indecision has turned to excitement, and the plans are ready to be implemented. 

Now you can relax during the home theater construction phase while we build the ultimate entertainment space.