There’s something remarkable about smart home technology. Or, to describe it more accurately, I’d venture to call it magical. Thermostats, speakers, TVs, and the like can completely disappear from sight when they’re installed, with deference to a home’s architectural and interior integrity. Just take a look at the stunning photography in this issue. You’ll be hard pressed to find even a hint of technology in some of the amazing smart homes featured inside our special Design & Technology edition. As you’ll discover by reading the profiles of the people who installed the gear and live in these beautiful environments, concealment of the technology was the objective from the start. And isn’t that what we all want for our homes—to create a living environment that’s smart on the inside but beautiful on the outside?
Unlike a magician’s trick, the eye-pleasing results in these homes didn’t happen by sleight of hand. Manufacturers that engineer smart home products and the professionals who install these electronic components into homes take great care to design and implement technology that is able to blend in, if not disappear, from the home decor. Just check out some of the newest products to hit the smart home market. Brains and beauty co-mingle and make living with technology easy for even the most design conscious of homeowners—and by this, we mean interior designers. Go to our Smart Home Gallery, where you’ll tour visually stunning abodes owned and lived in by professional designers who embrace technology not only for its ability to simplify their lives, but as a solution that can help accentuate decorative elements of the home environment.
Need more proof of the positive impact technology can have on your home’s design? Nothing does it better than a smart, controllable lighting system. With the right bulbs and intensity levels, ordinary rooms can suddenly look out of this world. Textures and colors come to life; architectural elements are accentuated; mood is evoked, and artwork is appreciated. How to use lighting as a design feature is the focus in Smart Lighting: 5 Trends that are Shaping Stunning and Innovative Home Designs. You’ll also see its eye-catching effects in High-Tech Home Improvements: How technology can enhance the look of any room, where we showcase examples of how other technologies, such as motorized window treatments, motion sensors, and big-screen TVs, can also enhance the form and function of your home.
So let your creativity flourish. Create inspired home environments. Render a room with mood and attitude. There’s no need to worry about the electronics interfering with your design goals. Thanks to the innovative products and installation craftsmanship, you can have a home that’s just as beautiful as it is brainy.
—Lisa Montgomery
lmontgomery@ehpub.com
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