SONA

Technology in the home often gets treated like a utility. Like broadband. Like a boiler. Something that just needs to work. So it becomes a bit of an afterthought. Something to sort at 'some point'. Something that needs to be dealt with, but for most people, isn't really anything they can get excited about. This apathy for want of a better word towards technology now, has led to clients looking to get the cheapest quote - because it all does the same thing anyway. Right? But here's what over twenty years in the luxury integrated home automation industry has taught us. The homes that feel genuinely different when you walk in - the ones that stop people in their tracks, the ones guests can't quite explain - are the ones where someone asked a completely different set of questions at the beginning. Not "what technology do you want?" But "how do we want this home to feel at various moments throughout the day and night? "How can technology support the life this client is trying to build for themselves and their family?" "How does this person like to connect, when they are having restorative time alone, or celebrating with friends?" Lighting that shifts with your day ,and transforms the mood of any space. A room that takes an every day family space to cosy movie family movie night in seconds. Shades that move with the rhythm of your day. Sound that fills a space so naturally you forget it's there, whilst it elevates the moment. None of that is functional. It's all by design. All of it changes how you live. And that's why SONA are not your average 'AV Installer' We're designing a home that moves to support who you're becoming in every chapter of your life. Come into our studio and feel the difference for yourself. DM us to organise your appointment or go to the link in bio. Image of a recent project in Sheffield we completed with @wildingandwolfe with @peakarchitects and @a.deakindevelopmentsltd. Shot with @snookphotograph #luxuryhomes #mediaroom #cinemaroom #luxurydesign #hometechnology

Something we really want interior designers to know. We know you're not always comfortable having the technology conversation with your clients. We know clients sometimes push back on cost. We know that there may be other parties already on site who are onsite offering to deliver lighting control, so it feels awkward to recommend us. We know it's easier sometimes to just stay out of that conversation entirely and let the client decide. We get it. We really do. But here's what happens when that conversation doesn't happen with your client. Someone (whoever it may be) will end up installing the system anyway, having never sat down with you or the client and designed how it's going to be used. It's not how we work, but it IS how a lot of other people work. The lighting scenes never get programmed. The keypads never get engraved. The client gets handed an app and told to figure it out after. And you are left frustrated that your vision hasn't fully translated, due to other parties. And when it goes wrong - and we all know things do go wrong - it's not the trade who just installed something and left, who gets the call. It's you. We exist so that conversation never has to be awkward. Because you're not recommending a product or kit. You're not 'weighing in' on something you don't feel confident advising your client on. You're inviting your client to come and see what's possible, in a studio that makes their decision-making process easier and more empowering, with you by their side, and lighting and technology experts to answer any questions. Sometimes the hardest thing, is saying nothing. If you do want to invite your client in, please DM us and we can organise a branded invite from you to your client for that extra special personalised touch. 📍 Studio visits by appointment — link in bio. #lightinginspiration #lighting #hometechnology #cheshirehomes #interiordesigners

Here's something worth knowing before you specify lighting on your next project. There are five things we check on every single job that gets missed on projects:- 1. Colour temperature consistency across every source of light in every room. 2. Beam angles - is the light actually hitting what it's supposed to hit or is it landing six inches to the left of the artwork it was meant to illuminate. 3. Dimming compatibility - will every fitting on that circuit dim properly and are the decorative fittings compatible? 4. Cable positions and practical circuiting requirements - has everything been properly calculated, designed and documented in a drawing before the plaster goes on because moving them afterwards is expensive and disruptive. 5. Scene programming - is what's being specified with the keypad/control actually going to deliver or match the vision the designer had at the beginning of the project? We do this on every project. Without exception. These aren't complicated things. But they are often missed because it gets passed from interior designer to lighting designer to electrician to whoever is supplying the fittings to the AV company fitting the keypad. With SONA, you just deal us from start to finish and we take your vision, and deliver it. If you'd like to talk through a current project - just come in for a coffee 📍 Studio visits by appointment - link in bio. 🖤 Video of a recent project with @fionawdesign and @heatherington.newman #lighting #lightingdesign #lightingcheshire #luxurylighting #luxuryhomes

Why a Tidy Rack Matters More Than You Think⁠ ⁠ Behind every seamless smart home is something most people never see—a well-organised rack.⁠ ⁠ It might not be the most glamorous part of a project, but it’s one of the most important.⁠ ⁠ 💡 Simplifies servicing⁠ A clean, clearly labelled rack means issues can be identified and resolved quickly—saving time, disruption, and cost.⁠ ⁠ 📂 Proper documentation⁠ Every cable, connection, and component is mapped and recorded, ensuring nothing is left to guesswork.⁠ ⁠ 🔧 Future-proofed for upgrades⁠ Want to add new features or expand your system? A tidy rack makes changes straightforward, not stressful.⁠ ⁠ 🙌 Empowers the client⁠ Even if you never touch it yourself, knowing your system is organised and understandable gives confidence and control.⁠ ⁠ At SONA, we believe the best systems don’t just perform beautifully—they’re built with clarity, care, and longevity in mind.⁠ ⁠ #SmartHome #HomeAutomation #LuxuryLiving #BehindTheScenes #SONAExperience

His or Hers? ⁠ ⁠ Lighting design to inspire you in every corner of the SONA Studio - even if you do need to make a quick bathroom stop!⁠ ⁠ With @ribblevalleybathrooms⁠ ⁠ #lightingdesign #bathroominspo #wcinspo #lighting ⁠ ⁠

Just taking a moment to appreciate this stunning boys bedroom created by @wildingandwolfe on a project we completed last year in Sheffield, where we did the lighting design and installation as well as the rest of the home technology throughout.⁠ ⁠ Scroll right to the end to see it transform in the evening💫⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #lighting #hometechnology #intergratedtechnology #lightingcontrol #lightingdesign

💪 Your environment shapes your performance. The right home technology can do more than just function—it can uplift, energise, and motivate when you need it most. 🎵 Music that pushes you further 💡 Lighting that adapts to your pace ❄️ Climate that keeps you cool under pressure 🧘 Atmospheres that help you reset and recover From high energy to total calm, your space should move with you. Because a home gym isn’t just about training— it’s about how you feel while you do it. #HomeGym #SmartHome #WellnessDesign #LuxuryLiving #Motivation #SONAExperience

In luxury builds, every detail matters. A missed opportunity—whether it’s a lighting scene, a 'good morning' sequence, an automated Velux window or colour matched (or invisible) speakers - is a lifetime of living with something that 'could have been better'. And that hurts. At SONA, we catch these opportunities early by asking lots of questions - not just to you as the homeowner, but to all of your design and build team. At SONA, we believe the real value of a luxury system lies in the moments it creates—not just its price. #LuxuryLiving #SmartHome #HomeDesign #EffortlessLiving #SONAExperience

There’s something undeniably luxurious about a home that flows effortlessly. Automated doors and windows aren’t just a convenience—they transform how a space feels. We love it when a simple decision to automate something becomes a major life upgrade! Does it make that much difference? Imagine this... When it comes to busy homes, entertaining, weather changes or hands full of groceries, at the touch of a button or voice command, seamless glide and flow from room to room. Talk about effortless. On a more practical note, they offer enhanced accessibility – ideal for all ages and abilities, making every space inclusive and easy to navigate. Hidden mechanisms, smooth finishes, and silent operation just seem to elevate the design another notch somehow! We can't explain it, but it really does feel way more luxurious. Finally there comes greater peace of mind – for example, imagine a warm summer evening and your upstairs in bed with the doors open enjoying the breeze. Before you drop off, you press the 'Goodnight' button at the side of your bed, rest assured that the system is automatically closing all windows and doors, and activating the alarm. A simple upgrade, yet it changes the way you live in your home—making daily routines feel smoother, spaces more elegant, and every entrance feel like a welcome. SONA makes it effortless: Just talk to us as early as possible (ideally during the design phase) so we can ensure the proper accommodations are made before build commences. #LuxuryLiving #SmartHome #HomeAutomation #InteriorDesign #EffortlessLiving #SONAExperience

✨ Your lighting vision, our full-service expertise. ✨ From initial lighting design concepts to installation to final scene setting and programming, we make sure your space looks and feels exactly as you imagined—effortless, beautiful, and perfectly lit. However how it often goes in this industry is:- Interior designer creates lighting layouts Lighting designer produces lighting design Electrician wires for it Technology company installs the contols The client is given an app to program the scenes themselves! THIS IS NOT WHAT WE DO. We offer a full managed solution so there are no gaps in the process, no stress of trying to communicate between parties, and no frustration at the end when the vision hasn't been brought to life - just the lighting experience you deserve. With @wildingandwolfe #EffortlessLighting #LuxuryLiving #HomeDesign #SmartLighting #InteriorDesign #SONAExperience