Crestron · Lutron · SeeLess Authorized Partner(215) 631-2229
Case Study — Philadelphia

Reliable Smart Home Upgrade for a Main Line Estate

Lutron HomeWorks QSX · Crestron Control · Distributed Audio · Motorized Shading

Location
Main Line, PA
Property
6,500 SF Stone Colonial
Systems
Lutron · Crestron · Audio
Timeline
3 Weeks

The Challenge

A homeowner on Philadelphia's Main Line had a beautifully maintained 6,500 SF stone colonial that was showing its age in one critical area: technology. The house was wired with a mix of legacy dimmers, basic toggle switches, and a 15-year-old whole-home audio system that had become unreliable. Half the zones didn't work. The shades were manual. And controlling anything required walking to the specific room.

The family wanted a modern, integrated smart home — but the house presented real constraints. Stone exterior walls made new cable runs difficult. The homeowners didn't want visible construction disruption or a months-long renovation. And they needed the system to be intuitive enough that every family member could use it without a manual.

Before vs. After

BEFORE
  • Legacy dimmers buzzing and flickering
  • Audio dead zones — 4 of 8 speakers silent
  • Manual shades pulled by hand
  • No scenes, no schedules, no remote control
  • 12 different switch styles across the house
  • Every adjustment required a trip to the room
AFTER
  • Lutron HomeWorks QSX — smooth, silent dimming
  • 8-zone Sonance distributed audio — every room
  • Motorized shading on schedule + one-touch
  • Pre-set scenes: Morning, Day, Entertain, Night
  • Matching Palladiom keypads throughout
  • Full control from keypads, iPad, or phone

Insert your before/after project photos here

Project Gallery

Lutron Palladiom keypad in Main Line estate living room
Lutron lighting control panels in MDF equipment room
Motorized shades and Lutron lighting scene in living area
Legacy switches before smart home upgrade
Main Line estate exterior at dusk with automated lighting
Crestron control interface on wall-mounted iPad

Our Solution

We designed a phased upgrade that replaced every legacy switch and dimmer with a unified Lutron HomeWorks QSX platform — without opening a single stone wall. By reusing existing conductor paths and strategically placing new wireless components, we delivered a complete smart home with minimal construction impact.

Lutron HomeWorks QSX Lighting

Motorized Shading

Distributed Audio

Crestron Control

Project Timeline

Week 1 — Pre-Construction

Site survey, system design, equipment ordering. Shop drawings delivered to homeowner for approval. Existing wiring paths mapped and tested.

Week 2 — Equipment & Rough-In

Lutron panels installed in basement MDF. New speaker wire and shade motor cables pulled through existing pathways. Keypads and backboxes mounted.

Week 3 — Trim, Programming & Commissioning

Keypads installed, shades mounted, speakers trimmed. Complete system programming — scenes, schedules, dimming calibration. Client walkthrough and training.

Post-Install — Support

30-day follow-up to fine-tune scenes based on actual living patterns. Remote monitoring activated. Documentation delivered.

The Results

100%
Audio zones restored and working
3 wks
Concept to completion
Zero
Stone walls opened
4
Family members using it daily
★★★★★
"We thought upgrading the whole house would mean months of construction. TBD did it in three weeks without opening a single wall. The system is rock-solid and every member of the family actually uses it — that's the real test."
— Homeowner, Main Line Estate, Philadelphia

Planning a Smart Home Upgrade?

Whether you're upgrading a Main Line estate, modernizing a Rittenhouse condo, or wiring new construction — we start with engineering and finish with a system that just works.

(215) 631-2229

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