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 […]
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10 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 Guide10 Ways a Smart Lighting System can Enhance the Kitchen and Bath
So much happens in the kitchen and bath that it’s often difficult to have the lights at the right intensity levels at all times. When you’re cooking, you need the lights brighter; lower when you sit down to eat. As you apply makeup or shave, you’ll want the lights bright, but when you’re unwinding in […]
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 GuideLutron HomeWorks QS System Sheds Light on Elegant Home Design
Home technology: it’s a common battleground for many families. There are those who want nothing more than a home that’s brimming with cool gadgets, then there are others who would rather keep all the pieces and parts hidden away. The owners of this nearly 8,000-square-foot-home were no exception. The lady of the house wanted the […]
Get the Guide3 Valentines Day Smart Homes
Celebrating Valentines Day is all about setting the mood. You want wherever you’re spending time with your sweetie to look at feel romantic and alluring. That might mean dimming the lights or choosing a color like light pink to shine from a smart Philips Hue bulb. Music is another effective mood-setter, and these days you […]
Get the GuideAutomated Shading From Lutron Preserves Privacy and Panoramic Views
When your penthouse apartment boasts an uninterrupted river view from St. Paul’s Cathedral on one side to Big Ben on the other side, maintaining that magnificent vista is of upmost importance. But when people living in neighboring apartment buildings can see inside to, these same scene-stealing windows can be a huge compromise of your privacy. […]
Get the GuideLutron and Alexa Join Forces to Create a Voice Controllable Home
One of the best ways to experience what it’s like to live in a smart home is to see one in action. It’s one thing to read about innovative new technologies like automated lighting, whole-house music, and voice control of home devices; it’s another thing altogether when these electronic marvels can be demonstrated to you […]
Get the GuideComplete Amazon Alexa Control in California Home Cinema
When a homeowner in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., hired Custom LA to replace the existing home theater in their 6,500-square-foot home, only the absolute pinnacle in audio and video equipment would do — calibrated to perfection to deliver a jaw-dropping experience. Of course, the world’s most advanced A/V components would be rendered useless if the […]
Get the GuideBest Smart Home Gadgets to Control With Amazon Alexa
Voice control in the home has evolved from a novel concept to a legitimate method of operating various devices that can add real value to your lifestyle. Instead of tripping over the dog as you reach for a light switch in the hallway you can activate the fixtures by uttering a simple voice command. As […]
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