Are you tired of the look and feel of your family room, kitchen, or bathroom? You didn’t need to redo the entire space to get a refreshed environment. Small lighting changes shift color, mood, and scale without needing new furniture or paint. At Eighteen Group, we integrate lighting fixtures and lighting control that add a spark to your Portland, OR, home. Read on to see quick lighting wins you can use now.

Do you remember when offices were static in nature? Employees came to work, sat in the same chair, performed their tasks, and returned home. 

Times have changed. 

Now offices are dynamic hubs of collaboration and changing environments. From hot desking to open floor plans and video conferencing that’s lifelike in its realism, our workspaces have been reimagined. 

Natural light boosts productivity and enhances well-being. Biophilic design and private spaces for quiet reflection foster sustainability, balance, and wellness. Music plays through high-fidelity distributed audio systems. 

Although the hybrid workforce is here to stay, these kinds of environments are attracting staff back to the workplace. And, at the core of this transformation is office technology. 

Are you ready to be recognized for your innovative atmosphere and a work environment and company culture that fosters team dynamics and individual well-being? Read on to discover how. 

There was a time when someone mentioned a smart home, and they were talking about a few lights and some shades that could be controlled from their couch. They may have added a smart doorbell and a smart speaker to the mix, but each device had its own app and was managed independently. 

Today’s smart home solutions in Portland, OR, are so much more. 

Aristotle’s famous quote, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” accurately defines home automation. While a smart light and a smart speaker are convenient, when you connect these elements, along with many others, to a home automation platform, your home transforms. 

From morning until evening, your home creates the ideal setting for the moment. When you press a button on a custom-engraved keypad, it prompts the perfect music, stunning lighting, and ideal climate for your chosen activity. When you tell your smart home, “Good Night,” it turns off all the devices, locks the doors, and goes to sleep with you. 

It’s an incredible lifestyle and one that just keeps getting better. 

Let’s explore what living in a smart home really means.

Luxury living thrives in the details: the quiet confidence of design, the convenience of technology, the subtle layers that elevate everyday moments. Whole-home audio embodies that principle. It turns space into atmosphere, turning morning routines into rituals and quiet evenings into immersive experiences.

In homes across Portland’s most refined neighborhoods, these audio setups have become an essential layer of elevated living. High-fidelity sound, beautifully distributed across every room and outdoor space, creates a flow of ambiance that feels curated, intentional, and deeply personal. 

Learn more below!

You want smart home technology to make life easier, more comfortable, and more fun. But you also want your Portland home to look like a home, not a Best Buy showroom.

The challenge becomes even trickier when you've invested in high-end interior design. Why would you let technology mess up spaces you've worked hard to perfect?

The answer lies in what we call "invisible integration." When done right, you get all the convenience without any visual noise. Your home stays beautiful while becoming significantly more functional.

Your Portland-area backyard is more than a part of your property. It's where memories happen, celebrations unfold, and relaxation becomes second nature.

Portland homeowners love outdoor living, but here's the thing: Most beautiful outdoor spaces never reach their entertainment potential. They're missing the professional lighting, audio, video, and smart controls that turn a nice patio into something extraordinary.

The gap between basic and brilliant comes down to the details, and outdoor automation creates a sophisticated extension of your home's interior, where every element works together to deliver unforgettable experiences. 

When friends and family gather, they notice the effortless ambiance, crystal-clear sound, and intuitive controls that make hosting feel natural. Want to learn more? Keep reading below.

As the artist and writer Aaron Rose said, “In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.”

Nothing is truer when it comes to outdoor lighting design. 

In the right light, your outdoor areas take on a whole new dimension. Textures and colors stand out in contrast after the evening falls. Your favorite landscape and architectural features reveal a different type of beauty, while shadows interplay with light, creating a sense of magic and mystery. 

This same lighting increases the safety and the value of your home in Portland, OR.

Are you ready to transform your outdoor spaces after dark? Let’s see how it’s done.

Backyards have come a long way from being just open space behind the house. For many homeowners, they’ve become an extension of the living room, a space for relaxing, entertaining, and enjoying time with friends and family. And while comfy seating and a grill can be great, there’s one upgrade that can tie it all together: an outdoor TV.

But simply dragging your living room TV outside for the weekend won’t cut it. Outdoor TVs are purpose-built to thrive in unpredictable conditions, deliver a clear picture in full sun, and bring your favorite shows, sports, and movies to the place you actually want to be.

Let’s dive into today’s blog to explore a few reasons why these TVs can be a game-changer for your outdoor lifestyle in Portland, OR. 

Turning your patio and outdoor living spaces into a personal haven for relaxation and fun starts with a great backyard sound system. Homeowners in the Portland area are realizing the value of upgrading their technology systems to deliver year-round entertainment, and Eighteen Group is here to help bring those dreams to reality!

Get ready to amplify the enjoyment of your next gathering while adding a touch of elegance, whether by the pool during summer or around the fire pit in fall.

Summer in the Pacific Northwest gives us those perfect evenings we wait for all year. The skies clear, temperatures warm up, and suddenly, your backyard becomes the most valuable real estate you own. But why limit your entertainment to indoors when the weather's finally beautiful?

More Portland homeowners are discovering the joy of extending their living space outdoors with high-performance patio AV systems designed specifically for our climate. At Eighteen Group, we've helped many clients turn ordinary outdoor spaces into extraordinary entertainment areas.

Each of your outdoor spaces deserves as much TLC as your indoor ones. You’ll want to manage your decor with the right landscaping and furniture, but comfort and fun are just as important. Outdoor audio is a great tool for making your pool, patio, and backyard more fun for family and friends. Unfortunately, wind, traffic, and the sounds of daily life sometimes get in the way. 

Thankfully, outdoor audio tech has come a long way, allowing folks to fill their spaces with rich sound, no matter what’s happening around them. This post dives into how to create that magical audio experience in your yard, featuring insights and ideas from the team at Eighteen Group.

Upgrading your home with integrated technology can unlock comfort, control, and energy savings. But not every smart home integrator delivers the same value—or the same results. A well-planned system depends on more than the latest gadgets. It requires deep expertise, attention to detail, and the foresight to match your lifestyle with the right design.

Before you sign a contract or commit to a quote, ask the questions that reveal the provider’s true capability. Below is a checklist to help you avoid missteps and uncover the best fit for your Portland, OR, home.

Even though they may not sound like the flashiest product for your home, automated lighting solutions are one of the top upgrades we recommend. They make everyday life a little easier, more energy-efficient, and—let’s face it—a lot more stylish. Remember the days of fumbling for light switches or juggling dimmers? Those are behind us. Today’s luxury home automation puts everything right at your fingertips for a smooth shift in lighting to match any moment or mood. Get lighting solutions tailored to your Portland, OR, home.

When most people think of powered window shades, they picture the classic roller shade smoothly gliding up and down at the touch of a button. And while roller shades are fantastic (and the most popular option), they're just the beginning of what's possible with today's motorized window treatments. From elegant Roman shades to innovative drapery systems, the world of motorized window solutions has expanded dramatically. As Portland homeowners increasingly embrace smart home technology, we're seeing growing interest in these lesser-known but equally impressive options. Let's explore five sophisticated alternatives that might be perfect for your Oregon home.

Picture this: you're settling into your favorite chair, the lights dim, and you’re about to experience a cinematic adventure from the comfort of your own home. A thoughtful home theater design does more than just enhance your movie nights; it can truly elevate your everyday living experience at home. Creating a customized home theater can turn an ordinary room into a place where memories are made, and stories come to life. Let’s dive into the crucial steps for planning and installing your ideal home theater in your Lake Oswego, OR, home.