In the era of smart phones and smart cars shouldn’t the design of our homes also be “smart?” And what does smart mean when referring to our homes? Let’s explore how we can use technology in the design and function of our homes.
When homeowners look to update or renovate their homes they begin by searching for ideas on the Internet. Only five years ago clients approached me with a wish list from magazine clippings. Now the ideas are transmitted in the form of links to online magazines, furniture stores, and home design and building websites. When starting a project either on your own or with a design professional, putting together a collection of pictures or websites that you like will help build a strong vision and foundation for the design.
Once the design and renovation begin, technology offers many tools that can enhance the design and efficiency of your home. Lighting, heating, and cooling can be controlled from your smart phone so that you can turn off the lights you left on, close the garage door you left open, or adjust the heat, all from the comfort and convenience of your office or even your hotel room.
Conversely, you can turn on the heat and lights so your house is warm and welcoming when you get home at the end of the day or from a long trip. Smart thermostats can learn your family’s patterns and make adjustments to the heat setting based on your family’s actual needs and usage, thereby enhancing your comfort and maximizing your efficiency.
For a more upscale renovation, motorized window treatments are a nice addition. At the touch of a button, you can raise or lower your window treatments without getting off the sofa or out of bed. They can be very convenient in any room and very practical in a room with high windows or skylights.
The addition of a media room can feature the best advances in entertainment technology. Using your smart phone or a remote, you can control the lighting, window treatments, and media equipment–a great convenience and luxury. Today’s homes can be wired so you can enjoy music in all of your rooms with speakers that blend into your decor.
If you don’t have space for a media room, today’s flat-screen TVs can be hidden in motorized cabinetry, disguised by a mirror or painting, or simply made to disappear by raising and lowering a screen from the ceiling. This can afford homeowners the luxury of the new and large screens without compromising the formality of the living space.
The kitchen is the hub of the house and can take advantage of many advances in smart technology. A smart tablet can control lighting, HVAC, and security. In addition, new appliances with energy-saving features are popping up in many kitchens. Induction cooktops, motion-sensor faucets, and smart screens built into your refrigerator panel are some of the latest offerings you will find in the kitchen. Similar options can be installed in your bathroom for energy- and water-saving efficiencies.
In our ever-advancing and ever-changing world of technology, we are constantly offered a new array of “toys.” When it comes to updating and designing your home these advances can improve the design process, as well as the function of the home. Smart technology can save time and money in the day-to-day function of your home as well as provide some innovative and helpful tools.
In today’s day and age technology shapes almost every aspect of our lives, so why not your home?
By Shoshana Halpert
