The Shields Collective / Lighting control for Cincinnati homes
Lighting control for Cincinnati homes
We design, program and commission Lutron lighting control as a certified RadioRA 3 installer, for existing homes, renovations and new construction in Indian Hill, Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout, Mariemont, Madeira and Mason. The lighting is planned after the design, so keypads, dimmers and scenes fit how each room is used.
- Switch and keypad strategyWhere controls go, what each button does, and engraving that guests can read.
- Retrofit or whole-homeA simpler wireless retrofit when the walls are closed, or RadioRA 3 for a whole floor or house.
- Fixtures that dim wellSelections checked for compatible dimming before anything is ordered.
- Commissioned and documentedScenes programmed, devices labeled, and a record of what is installed.
Lighting control: how the options compare
There is usually a simpler option and a planned one. We will tell you when the simpler one is enough.
| Lighting control | A mix of parts | Retrofit system | Lutron RadioRA 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you end up with | Smart bulbs, plugs and switches from several brands, each with its own app or hub. | Smart dimmers that replace your existing switches, plus wireless remotes, on one small hub and app. | One system: switches, dimmers, keypads and shades on one processor and one app. |
| At the wall | Ordinary switches can cut power to smart bulbs. Guests guess. | Real dimmers at the wall, and remotes that mount anywhere with no new wiring. | Engraved keypads and dimmers that work like switches, so anyone can use them. |
| Reliability | Depends on Wi-Fi, several clouds and updates from different makers. | Its own wireless signal, separate from Wi-Fi. | Its own wireless network, separate from Wi-Fi. Scenes run in the house. |
| Changing it later | Replace parts brand by brand. | Add rooms as you go. Larger homes can outgrow it. | Add a keypad, remote or room to the same system. |
| Up front | Lower, bought a piece at a time. | Moderate. Installed in existing switch boxes, no walls opened. | Higher, designed and programmed once. |
| Right for | A lamp or a room to try out. | Existing homes with the walls closed: a few rooms or a floor now. | A whole floor or house you want to feel finished. |
Common questions
Can you add lighting control without opening walls?
Usually, yes. Wireless lighting control, including Lutron RadioRA 3 and simpler retrofit systems, replaces existing switches in the same wall boxes. We help you choose which fits your house and how far you want to go.
Do you work on older homes in Hyde Park, Mt. Lookout and Mariemont?
Yes. Most of our work is in existing homes, many of them older Tudor, Colonial Revival and early twentieth-century houses. We measure and photograph on site because older homes rarely match their drawings, and we plan around plaster walls, original trim and existing wiring.
Do you work on new construction in Indian Hill, Madeira and Mason?
Yes. We join at design or pre-wire, place lighting control, access points, speakers and screens around the furniture plan, and give the builder and electrician clear handoffs before the walls close.
Do I have to buy everything through you?
No. We start with what you already own, and when something is cheaper to buy on your own, we tell you where to get it.