If you’ve ever walked into an art gallery and wondered why their art looks more vibrant… why sculpted marble appears deeper and richer… or why the room simply feels better than anything you thought you could re-create at home — the answer is almost always the lighting.

In Episode 5 of Uniqueness… “Built-In”, Mike sits down with Brandon Trimble of Bravas and David of Bell & McCoy, two experts who spend their days designing lighting systems that shape how luxury estates look, feel, and function. Their focus today: Ketra intelligent lighting paired with Lutron HomeWorks controls, the same system used in world-renowned galleries, luxury retail spaces, and some of the most exclusive homes in the country.

This is lighting that adapts to you automatically — this is lighting that understands.

Why Luxury Estates Use Ketra (and Why Generic Bulbs Aren’t Even in the Same Conversation)

Most LED lights give you a fixed color and a fixed look. Ketra is different — it’s engineered to mimic the natural changes of daylight throughout the day.

David calls it human-centric lighting:

• Cooler, brighter tones when you need to be alert

• Warm, soothing tones as your day winds down

• Automatic adjustments based on your home’s geographic location

The goal is:

Match indoor light to the rhythms your body already lives by.

This is more than convenience — it directly affects energy, mood, and comfort.

What Makes Ketra “Intelligent”? The Specs Behind the Experience

Ketra’s reputation comes from performance metrics that other LEDs can’t reach:

90+ Color Rendering Index (CRI)

A high CRI means colors look natural — like they do outdoors.

Most store-bought LEDs fall well below this threshold.

Dimming Down to 0.01% With No Flicker

David explained it perfectly:

“At night, you don’t want a bright grocery-store white light at 2 a.m. — you want candlelight. Only Ketra can dim that low without flickering.”

Color Lock Technology

LEDs usually degrade over time, turning mismatched or discolored.

Ketra solves this with a built-in “color lock” system that keeps every fixture matching for up to 50,000 hours (roughly 17 years).

If you’ve ever had a can light turn strange blue-green or flicker after a few months, you understand why this matters.

Seeing Your Home Differently

One of Ketra’s most dramatic features is vibrancy mode, which alters the light in subtle ways that make artwork, textiles, and architectural materials appear more dimensional.

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Mike describes seeing a demonstration where the art didn’t move — but the colors did.

This is why prestigious institutions like:

• The Art Institute of Chicago

• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

• Oceanside Museum of California

Trust Ketra to illuminate their collections.

When Owners invest in meaningful artwork or unique materials, lighting becomes part of the home's architecture.

Control Meets Intelligence: Why Lutron HomeWorks Matters

Ketra is the light source.

Lutron HomeWorks is the system that makes it effortless.

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With Lutron, homeowners can program scenes for:

• Entertaining

• Cooking

• Movie nights

• Bedtime

• Quiet mornings

These scenes happen with one button — or automatically.

Automation That Matches Your Life

Lights adjust based on:

• Time of day

• Motion sensors

• Events (sunset, sunrise)

• Security triggers

For example:

1. Walk into the kitchen at night and your lights may rise to 1% warm amber, not a blinding white burst.

2. During the day, those same fixtures ramp up to bright, crisp daylight tones.

Vacation Mode

Lutron can simulate occupancy while you’re away — adjusting lights and automated shades to make the home appear lived-in.

It’s the simplest security feature most homeowners don’t use.

New Build or Renovation: You Can Still Use Ketra

A major misconception is that Ketra requires a complete gut or new construction.

Not anymore.  

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David explains that Ketra now offers screw-in retrofit bulbs that fit existing can lights — giving Owners museum-grade lighting without opening ceilings.

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For new custom homes, though, the real magic comes from fully integrated fixtures and centralized Lutron control panels.

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Why Designers & Builders Love Ketra (Besides the Performance)

Re-aiming and Re-zoning Without Drywall Work

Furniture layouts change. Art moves. Rooms evolve.

Ketra fixtures can be:

• Re-zoned in software

• Beam-spread adjusted

• Individually controlled

Without touching sheetrock. That flexibility is a game changer.

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Interference-Free Performance

Ketra communicates on Lutron’s dedicated Clear Connect Type-X frequency — meaning no interference from Wi-Fi, TVs, or home networks.

How Owners Use This in Their Homes

Brandon broke it down:

• Entertaining? Hit one button — the kitchen, bar, and living room adjust instantly.

• Movie night? The first row of cans turns off, backlighting dims, and glare disappears.

• Art display? Vibrancy mode shifts the scene to highlight texture and color.

• Nighttime routines? Low warm light guides the way without waking the whole house.

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All of it feels intuitive — because it adapts to the way our Owners live.

Where to See Ketra in Person

Ketra is best understood through experience.

Many clients visit Lutron’s Austin Experience Center, where full rooms demonstrate how lighting shifts throughout the day.

Seeing the technology firsthand helps Owners decide where to splurge (main living areas, kitchens, artwork walls) and where to use standard lighting.

Final Thoughts

We love smart lighting not because it’s “technology,” but because it supports what we care about most:

Beautiful spaces that feel effortless to live in.

With Ketra + Lutron, luxury lighting isn’t about brightness — it’s about mood, energy, clarity, security, and the subtle details that make a home feel exceptional.

If you’re designing or renovating a custom home and want lighting that grows with you, protects your investment, and elevates every space, we’re here to guide you.

📲 Call Us Anytime At: 817.748.2669

📧 Email Us At: Info@GarabedianProperties.com

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