It’s easy to dream up lounging on the patio to watch the latest Eagles game or enjoying a playlist while splashing in the pool. But once it’s time to actually install an outdoor entertainment system, the doubts creep in. We’ve all had bad experiences, and it’s hard not to harp on them. 

Some clients are worried neighbors will complain about the volume of their speakers. They 

worry about the TV looking washed out during those afternoon game times. For others, the investment doesn’t seem worth it when Philadelphia’s winters and summers make everyone want to bunker down inside. 

These are all genuine concerns. But they’re also all addressable when you work with a professional outdoor entertainment installer. Your technology doesn’t have to be a headache, and your outdoor spaces don’t have to go to waste. 

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.