Design & Technology Gallery: Revitalized Ranch

Coming home, at its best, should be simple, rejuvenating, and exciting. “How do you live beautifully, but also simply and authentically at the same time,” asks designer Christopher Kennedy. “How do you live really well but without a lot of ostentation, without a lot of pretense?”

Kennedy, an internationally renowned interior designer based in California, brought this sensibility to a showcase home he created for Palm Springs Modernism Week earlier this year. Kennedy’s showhome highlights world-class designers and Crestron home control technologies to create a space that embodies his philosophy of beautiful simplicity. In this 1964 ranch-style home, form and function come together to provide an environment that fosters relaxation and entertainment. The Crestron Pyng automation system adjusts the home’s lights, motorized shades, thermostats, audio and video components, and security system all from the touch of an iPad or iPhone button, regardless of whether a user is inside or outside the house. “It’s fantastic to be able to hop on a plane in Seattle, adjust the thermostat from your seat, and have the house comfortable by the time you touch down in Palm Springs,” Kennedy enthuses. The lights wait to set themselves until the front door opens. As soon as a Yale electronic door lock is unlocked, it signals the Pyng system, which responds by adjusting the home’s lights to a preset Welcome Home setting.

While these features evoke the right kind of environment, Kennedy notes several facets of the Pyng system that enhance the home’s mid-century modern design. First, the commands and settings for the lights, shades, and other electronic components can be programmed into the system directly from his iPad. Using a simple step-by-step process, he can set lighting levels and save presets to maximize the dramatic impact of the design. These presets can be modified on a whim. Should furniture be rearranged or a new item added to the decor, the lighting levels can be adjusted to suit the newly redesigned space.

Second, the Pyng mobile app can control the technology wirelessly, so there was no need for extensive rewiring in this home, which could have compromised its original architecture. Plus, the wireless control platform saved installation time.

Beautifully choreographed lighting is a natural complement to a home’s aesthetic; a Pyng-controlled gas fireplace and motorized shading enhances the effect. Kennedy is particularly fond of the window shades. “Historically, motorized shades were synthetic and utilitarian, although companies have tried to make them more visually appealing in recent years,” he says.

By embracing the benefits of smart home technology, both to the aesthetic value and the functionality of a dwelling, Kennedy’s showhome demonstrates the continuity and harmony that can exist between design and technology. The cutting-edge systems integrated into this mid-century modern house create an environment that’s simple, tasteful, and beautiful. EH
— Article courtesy of Crestron

Back to Smart Home Gallery