Whole Home Automation & Control

Wellness

The most extraordinary homes are not defined by any single element. They are defined by how everything works together.
With over 20 years of experience delivering whole home automation and integration for luxury homes across Cheshire and the North West, SONA bring the planning, expertise and coordination to make that possible.

A Home That Works as One

Most homes contain technology. Unfortunately many contain technology that doesn't really work together. Lighting systems that do not talk to shading. Heating that operates independently of occupancy. Audio that requires a separate app, a different remote, a different set of instructions for every room.

The result is a home that feels fragmented, where the technology that was supposed to simplify life has quietly added complexity instead.

A SONA whole home system is designed from the outset to work as a single, unified experience. Every system connected, every interaction considered, every scene and moment designed around how you actually live. The light, shade, sound, connectivity, communication, all of it responding to you, your routines and your preferences, simply, intuitively, or even without your intervention.

This is what whole home automation should feel like. Not a collection of smart devices. A home that is genuinely, effortlessly intelligent.

The SONA Difference: Design & Coordination

Anyone can install technology. What sets SONA apart is what happens before a single cable is pulled or a single device is powered on.

We design and coordinate the entire technology infrastructure from the earliest stage of a project, working alongside architects, interior designers, electricians and specialist trades to ensure every system is planned to work together from the ground up. Lighting control, shading, audio visual, networking, heating and cooling, access control, security and any other system in the home is considered as part of a single, coherent design rather than specified and installed in isolation.

When we are involved early, decisions are made with complete information. Cable routes are planned before walls are closed. Control systems are specified before electricians begin first fix. Integration points are agreed before trades arrive on site. The result is a home where everything works exactly as it should, because everything was designed to.

Without that level of planning and coordination, even the most expensive technology can underperform. Systems that were never designed to communicate with each other rarely do so gracefully. Keypads that were never programmed to suit the client feel unfamiliar and unintuitive. Automation that was specified as an afterthought feels like exactly that.

Early involvement is not a luxury. For a home that truly works as one, it is essential.

New Build Projects

A new build is the purest opportunity in home technology. With no existing infrastructure to work around and no decisions already made, every system can be designed from the ground up to perform exactly as it should, integrated from the very first conversation.

We work alongside architects, interior designers and project managers from the earliest stage, contributing to the design process rather than arriving after it. That means infrastructure can be planned before groundworks begin, cabling is routed before walls are built, and every technology decision is made with complete knowledge of what came before it and what will come after.

The homes we are involved in from the start perform at a fundamentally different level to those where technology was considered late. Not because the equipment is different, but because the thinking behind it is.

Renovations & Retrofit

Not every project begins with a blank canvas, and some of the most rewarding work we do is bringing modern, integrated technology into existing homes without compromising what makes them special.

Renovation and retrofit projects require a different kind of expertise. Working within existing structures, around completed finishes, and alongside other trades on a live project demands careful planning, creative problem solving and a depth of experience that only comes from having done it many times before.

We know where the compromises are likely to arise and how to avoid them. We know which systems lend themselves to retrofit and which require a different approach. And we know how to deliver a result that feels considered and complete rather than added on.

Whether you are upgrading a single room or retrofitting technology across an entire property, the same level of care, planning and coordination applies. The canvas is different. The standard is not.

Networking & Connectivity

Every modern home depends on a network that works. Seamless wireless coverage across every room, every floor and every corner of the property is no longer a luxury, it is the foundation on which everything else is built.

Lighting control, audio, cinema, security, climate control and smart home systems all depend on a network that is fast, reliable and intelligently designed.

We design and install enterprise grade networking infrastructure for luxury homes, specifying access points, switches and cabling to ensure coverage and performance that matches the demands of a fully integrated home. No dead spots, no dropouts, no compromise.

For new builds we design the network infrastructure alongside every other system from the outset. For existing homes we assess the current infrastructure and specify the upgrades required to support the systems the home needs.
Either way, the network is treated as the foundation it is, not an afterthought.

Working with Interior Designers & Architects

Whole home technology is most successful when it is part of the design conversation from the beginning, not a layer added once the interior decisions have already been made. We work closely with interior designers and architects across Cheshire and the wider North West, contributing technical expertise that supports and protects the design intent rather than competing with it.

That means providing clear specifications and technical drawings at the right stage of the project, coordinating with electricians and specialist trades, advising on how technology decisions interact with material choices, ceiling heights, joinery details and structural elements, and ensuring that every visible element of the system, from keypads to speakers to control panels, is specified to sit naturally within the interior.

We have long standing relationships with many of the North West's most respected interior designers, including Fiona Watkins Design, Lewis Knox, Hunter and Belle, Design by UBER and others. Those relationships are built on a shared commitment to delivering homes that are as beautiful to live in as they are to look at.

Why Choose SONA for Whole Home Automation

With over 20 years of experience and hundreds of whole home projects completed across Cheshire, the UK and further afield, SONA bring a depth of knowledge and a track record that very few companies in our field can match. We have delivered integrated technology for luxury new builds, complex renovations, listed buildings, country estates and everything in between.

We hold CEDIA Member of Excellence status, one of only 16 companies worldwide to do so and the highest recognition from the industry's global governing body. At the CEDIA Awards 2020 we won Best Integrated Home globally, the most prestigious recognition in our industry for whole home integration delivered at the very highest level.
We are also independently HTA Certified, having passed a rigorous 60 point vetting process covering technical proficiency, aftercare and client satisfaction.

But the credential that matters most to us is simpler than any award. It is the fact that the homes we deliver continue to work, continue to delight, and continue to be supported long after the project is complete. Our relationship with every client does not end at installation. It is just the beginning.

Experience it at the SONA Studio

The SONA Studio in Cheshire is the only dedicated home technology experience space in the North West, and the best place to understand what whole home automation actually feels and looks like before any decisions are made.

Every element of the Studio has been designed to demonstrate how individual systems, light, shade, sound, cinema and control, work together as a single experience. You do not just see the technology. You feel what it is like to live with it. The difference between a home where systems work in isolation and one where everything responds together is something that is immediately and viscerally apparent the moment you experience it.

Visits are by appointment and are always led by one of our senior team.

Typical Project Guidance

Whole home automation projects vary significantly depending on scope, property size and specification. As a general guide:

Single room or system upgrades: from £2,000
Whole home systems: from £25,000
Large luxury homes & complex integrations: from £100,000

Every project begins with a conversation. We would love to help you understand what is possible for your home and your budget.

Areas We Cover

SONA designs and installs whole home automation systems across Cheshire and the wider North West, regularly working in Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Hale, Altrincham, Prestbury, Bowdon, Manchester, Liverpool, Formby and Chester.

We also work nationally, with projects across Yorkshire, London, Scotland and the Cotswolds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is whole home automation?
Whole home automation is the integration of all the technology systems in a home, lighting, shading, audio, cinema, heating, security and networking, into a single, unified experience. Rather than operating each system independently, everything works together and responds to how you live, through scenes, schedules, keypads and apps.

Do you need to be involved from the start of a project?
For new builds and major renovations, early involvement makes a significant difference to the end result. Decisions made at the design stage affect the performance of the entire system, and changes made on site are always more costly and more limiting than decisions made on paper. That said, we work at every stage of a project and are experienced in finding the best solution whatever the circumstances.

Can whole home automation be added to an existing home?
Yes. Retrofit and renovation projects form a significant part of our work. Modern wireless and hybrid systems mean that meaningful integration is possible in most existing homes without major structural disruption. We will always advise on the most appropriate approach for your property.

How do you differ from an electrician who offers smart home installation?
The difference is in design, coordination and integration. Electricians are highly skilled at installation, and we work alongside them on every project. What SONA brings is the specialist knowledge to design systems that work together from the outset, coordinate every element of the technology infrastructure across the whole project, and deliver an end result that performs as a single unified experience rather than a collection of separate products.

What control systems do you use?
We specify control systems based on the needs of each project rather than favouring a single platform. Our experience spans Lutron, Crestron, KNX, RTI, Savant and others, and we believe in being as brand agnostic as possible, recommending the system that best suits the home, the brief and the budget rather than the one that suits us. It is an approach that is relatively rare in our industry and one that we believe consistently delivers better outcomes for our clients.

How do I get started?
The best first step is a conversation, initially by phone, and then a visit to the SONA Studio where you can experience whole home integration firsthand.

Start Your Project

A home that works as one is not a distant aspiration. It is something we have been delivering for over 20 years, for clients across Cheshire and beyond who wanted more from their home than a collection of separate systems.

If you are ready to explore what is possible, we would love to talk.

Contact us to discuss your project or arrange a visit to the SONA Studio, where the experience of a truly integrated home speaks for itself.