In most outdoor entertainment spaces, rain showers bring the party inside, but in this exterior A/V paradise, which was recently earned the Electronic House Home of the Year award for Best Outdoor Space, the family can enjoy music and movies no matter the weather. Should Mother Nature throw a monkey wrench into their plans, they […]
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Home Technology Takeover
Photography by Chris Lo When the owners purchased this 9,000-square-foot home 18 months ago, the only electronic components that had been used were four TVs and two loudspeakers. Sparse in smarts, yet an open canvas, the owners dove in to create a home environment that nearly runs itself. It helped that the owner came into […]
Get the GuideAmazon Echo Dot and In-Wall Amplifier Combine to Power Speakers and Voice Control
Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home started off as a standalone solutions. Integrated into smart speakers, they listened for your verbal commands and responded by broadcasting music, information, and relaying signals to compatible smart devices. They’ve become a must-have device for many homeowners. In fact, a report from Juniper Research states that voice […]
Get the GuideNASCAR Champion Bobby Labonte on Cruise Control with Home’s New Automation System
After winning the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Championship in 2000, veteran race car driver Bobby Labonte has been investing in some well-deserved relaxation far from the frenzy of the track. In late 2017, Labonte purchased a 4,000-square foot cabin on over 15 acres of land within a mile of High Point, North Carolina, with the […]
Get the GuideHGTV House Hunters Gem: 1980s House Ready to be Automated
The location, the view, the layout—all three checked off the must-have list when a recent HGTV House Hunter was introduced to this 1,360-square-foot home in San Clemente, Calif. Situated within walking distance to the ocean, the 3 bedroom house also had “good bones.” The only thing missing was smart home technology. But this didn’t prevent […]
Get the Guide10 Smart Home Solutions to Buy with Your Tax Return
Adding smarts to a home, like any renovation, takes time and money. If you were fortunate enough to get some cash back on your tax returns, now is a great time to put that money to good use. There are a bevy of smart home products widely available from brick-and-mortar establishments like Wal-Mart, Target, and […]
Get the GuideMotorized Kitchen Cabinets Lift to Reveal Appliances in New Smart Home
When you’re willing to get creative with the smart systems in your house, some really great things can happen. The owners of this 4,000+ square foot penthouse apartment in Sarasota, Fla., were ready to think outside of the box when they hired local home systems integration firm Wicked Smart Homes to rig their digs with […]
Get the GuideCan Your AC Adapter Do All This and Z Wave?
Great things often come in small packages. A new AC adapter introduced by Fibaro proves this point by bundling several key features into a device that’s smaller youre your fist. And unlike most AC adapters the Fibaro Wall Plug is actually fun to look at, thanks to a color changing LEDs that glow based on […]
Get the GuideIt’s Time to Fool with Mother Nature: Use the Weather Forecast to Automate Your Home
by Jay Basen We all know how to get a weather report by asking Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for the information … or checking an app … or programming a home-automation system to present the Web-based data on a touchscreen. We can even install a weather station at the premises to glean super-local data […]
Get the GuideSmart Home Skeptics Become Fans of Elan Home Automation System
It’s a familiar story among many homeowners: past experiences with expensive, complicated home automation systems have left a bad taste in their mouths. Consequently, when they move into a new home, they are reluctant to try the capabilities of newer, simpler, more reliable systems. As Mark van den Broek, owner of Sarasota, Fla.-based SmartHouse Integration […]
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