KNX Smart Home Design & Installation
KNX Accredited System Designers. Open-protocol building automation integrated with AV and entertainment
Intro
KNX is the international open standard for intelligent building automation — lighting, heating, blinds, climate and energy management. Unlike proprietary platforms such as Control4 and Crestron, KNX is not owned by a single manufacturer. It’s an open protocol supported by over 500 manufacturers worldwide, and it’s the platform most commonly specified by architects, electrical consultants and M&E engineers for the building services layer of high-specification residential projects.
As KNX Accredited System Designers, we design, programme and commission KNX systems — and critically, we integrate them with AV, entertainment and whole-home control platforms where the project calls for both. That combination of KNX building services expertise and AV integration is what most KNX-only installers and most AV-only integrators cannot offer.
What KNX Does
KNX manages the building services — the infrastructure systems that make a home function:
Lighting — dimming, switching and scene control across every circuit, with astronomical clock programming for dawn/dusk automation and occupancy-based responses.
Heating and climate — zone-by-zone temperature control, underfloor heating management, HVAC integration and intelligent scheduling based on occupancy and time of day.
Blinds and shading — automated blinds, curtains and louvres responding to sunlight, time of day or manual scene selection, integrated with the lighting scheme.
Energy management — monitoring and optimising energy consumption across the property, with reporting and intelligent load management.
Security and access — integration with alarm systems, door entry and access control at the building services level.
KNX does not natively handle entertainment, multi-room audio or home cinema — those are the domain of AV control platforms. This is where we bridge the gap.
KNX + AV integration — why both matter
Most high-specification homes need two layers of technology: building services (lighting, heating, blinds, climate) and entertainment (audio, video, cinema, streaming). KNX handles the first layer brilliantly. Control4 or Crestron handles the second.
The problem most homeowners, architects and consultants face is finding an installer who can do both. A KNX-only installer can programme the lighting and heating but can’t integrate multi-room audio, cinema or AV distribution. An AV-only integrator can build a cinema room but can’t programme KNX.
We do both. On a typical KNX + AV project, we:
- Design and programme the KNX system for lighting, heating, blinds and climate
- Design and install the AV system — home cinema, multi-room audio, video distribution — on Control4 or Crestron
- Integrate both systems so they communicate — a “cinema” scene on your KNX keypad dims the Lutron lighting, lowers the blinds, powers the projector and starts the source
- Provide a single interface that controls building services and entertainment together
- Remain the single point of contact for both systems long-term
This is the genuine differentiator. You don’t need two separate companies and two separate support contracts.
Who specifies KNX
KNX is typically specified by:
Architects — who want an open, non-proprietary platform for the building services that isn’t tied to a single manufacturer or installer.
Electrical consultants and M&E engineers — who specify KNX as part of the building services design and need a qualified system designer to programme and commission it.
Interior designers — who want reliable lighting and blind control with a wide choice of keypad finishes, faceplates and interfaces from multiple KNX manufacturers.
Homeowners building or renovating to a high specification — particularly those with experience of KNX in commercial buildings or European properties, where KNX is the dominant standard.
If your architect or consultant has specified KNX and you need an integrator who can deliver both the KNX programming and the AV system, get in touch.
What we design and install
KNX system design We design the KNX system from the project drawings — defining group addresses, logic, scenes and automation rules. We produce a full KNX project specification and coordinate with your electrical contractor on device locations, bus topology and power supply requirements.
KNX programming and commissioning We programme the KNX system using ETS (Engineering Tool Software) — the standard KNX commissioning platform. Every function is tested, every scene is programmed, and the system is handed over with full documentation.
KNX keypads and interfaces KNX’s open standard means keypads, touchscreens and interfaces are available from dozens of manufacturers — Gira, Jung, Basalte, Zennio, ABB, Schneider and many others. We specify the interface that matches your interior, not the only one our platform supports.
Lighting integration KNX integrates with Lutron for dedicated lighting control — combining KNX’s building automation logic with Lutron’s superior dimming performance. We also design KNX-native lighting circuits where the project calls for a single-platform approach.
AV and entertainment integration KNX controls the building. Control4 or Crestron controls the entertainment. We integrate both so one keypad or one app controls everything — building services and AV together.
KNX system support
If you have an existing KNX system that needs attention — whether it was designed by us or another integrator — we can help.
What we see most often:
- KNX systems with incomplete or unreliable programming
- Systems where the original programmer is no longer available
- Homeowners who’ve moved into a property with a KNX system and don’t understand how to use it
- KNX installations that need expanding — adding new rooms, zones or devices
- Integration requests — adding AV, multi-room audio or cinema to an existing KNX system
What we do: We audit the existing KNX project file (ETS database), assess the hardware and bus configuration, test every function and give you a clear report with options. We can reprogramme, expand or integrate — and we maintain a backup of your KNX project file so the system can be restored in the event of a device failure.
Why choose us for KNX
KNX Accredited System Designers — formally trained and certified in KNX system design, not self-taught.
We also install Control4 and Crestron — which means we deliver the AV integration that KNX-only installers can’t. One company, one relationship, both systems.
Award-winning integrators — winners of Control4’s global Best Whole-Home Project (2019) and MVP Award (2015), demonstrating our depth across multiple platforms.
Architect and consultant friendly — we’re used to working within a design team, providing drawings, coordinating with M&E consultants and delivering to a specification rather than imposing our own.
Yorkshire, Cheshire and London — based at Thorp Arch near Wetherby with a dedicated London team.
KNX vs Control4 vs Crestron
KNX
- Open protocol — 500+ manufacturers
- Best for: lighting, heating, blinds, climate
- Specified by: architects, electrical consultants
- Does not natively handle: AV, cinema, multi-room audio
- Requires ETS programming (specialist tool)
- Longevity: devices available for 20+ years
Control4
- Proprietary platform
- Best for: whole-home control including AV
- Strong at: entertainment, multi-room audio, cinema
- Good lighting integration via Lutron
- User-friendly programming tools
- Wide price range
Crestron
- Proprietary platform
- Best for: largest, most complex installations
- Strongest at: AV distribution, custom programming
- Full building services integration possible
- Requires specialist programmer
- Premium price point
Our recommendation: for most high-specification new builds where an architect or consultant is involved, a KNX + Control4 or KNX + Crestron hybrid delivers the best of both worlds — KNX for rock-solid building automation, Control4 or Crestron for seamless entertainment. We design and programme both sides.
Whether you need a new KNX system designed, help with an existing installation, or AV integration for a KNX-controlled home — we’d like to hear from you.
KNX FAQ
What is KNX?
KNX is the international open standard for building automation — lighting, heating, blinds and climate control. Unlike proprietary platforms, it is supported by over 500 manufacturers and is the most widely specified building automation protocol in Europe.
Do I need KNX, or would Control4 or Crestron be better?
It depends on the project. If your architect or electrical consultant has specified KNX for the building services, we design and programme it. If you want a single platform covering both building services and entertainment, Control4 or Crestron may be simpler. We install all three and will recommend the right approach honestly.
Can KNX control my home cinema and multi-room audio?
Not natively. KNX manages building services — lighting, heating, blinds. For entertainment, we integrate KNX with Control4 or Crestron so one keypad or app controls everything together.
Can you add AV to my existing KNX system?
Yes — this is one of our most common KNX enquiries. We integrate Control4 or Crestron entertainment alongside your existing KNX building automation so both systems work together under one interface.
Can you take over a KNX system from another installer?
Yes. We audit the existing ETS project file, assess the hardware and programming, and give you clear options for repair, expansion or integration.
Which keypad brands work with KNX?
KNX supports keypads and interfaces from dozens of manufacturers including Gira, Jung, Basalte, Zennio, ABB and Schneider. We specify the interface that matches your interior design.
Call Us
0330 4303490 or 0203 1515075
Email Us
inspireme@inspire-av.com