Bigger isn’t always better. Sometimes a smaller space feels cozier and more intimate than a large open area. The owners of this home with the help of professional home systems integrators from Tampa Bay Electronic Systems (TBES) came up with a clever way to separate a dining room from a dance area. Rather than build […]
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Google Smart Displays: New Competition for Amazon Echo
For some time, Amazon had the smart display category covered with a variety of form factors. Now Google has joined the pack with the introduction of its first Smart Display from Lenovo. Google Assistant is built in, so the display, which comes in 8- and 10-inch models, still listens for your voice commands. But now, […]
Get the GuideHome Builders Embrace Smart Home Technology; Home Buyers Reap the Benefits
According to Coldwell Banker’s Real Estate Smart Home Marketplace survey, half of consumers say smart home technology is important for their current home or their next home purchase, with the most desired smart home automation devices being thermostats, sensors, alarms and lighting. Homebuyers value existing smart home technology and consider it a major benefit when […]
Get the GuideShould You Install Home Automation Products Yourself?
By Justin Schwartz, Founder and CEO of SAGE AV Thanks to fairly low costs and easy installation, entry-level home automation products are now available to almost everyone. While these products are ideally suited for the DIYer, there are also a wide assortment of more advanced home automation systems that homeowners should have professionally installed. The […]
Get the GuideGet Your Zzzzs: 5 Sleep Trackers for a Better Night’s Rest
Are you getting the sleep you need? There’s one way to find out: use a sleep tracking device. According to sleep research from Parks Associates, nearly 29 million U.S. broadband households currently own a product that helps them track their sleep quality, representing less than half of the nearly 60 million consumers who report having […]
Get the GuideHome Automation System Sets the Tone for Luxurious Lakeside Living
Blessed with beautiful views of an inland lake, you better believe the owners of this home made sure to install massive windows — and lots of them. In fact, the majority of the lake-facing side of the house features wall-to-wall glass. As stunning as these sensational fenestrations might be, though, they do pose a few […]
Get the GuideRemodeling the Kitchen or Bath? Here’s How to Unite Design and Technology
There once was a time when technology and design rarely intersected. Electronic products evoked a high-tech feel that was often considered a complete departure from a home’s overall design scheme. Those times have changed, as home systems integrators and interior designers are no longer adversaries but partners on projects. Electronic systems and furnishings fuse together […]
Get the GuideTop Remodeling Projects for Your Smart Home
Data from the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) study shows homeowners spent $324 billion in Q2 2018 on remodeling projects. That represents an increase of $54 billion compared to two years ago, or a 20 percent growth rate. Smart home systems are driving part of the upswing, as homeowners look for ways to boost […]
Get the GuideNew GE Appliances Microwave Responds to Voice Commands
There’s no need to use your hands to set the microwave, unless you want to. The new GE Smart Countertop Microwave with Scan-to-Cook Technology microwave is compatible with Amazon Alexa. This means you can speak directly to Alexa to control cook settings from any Alexa-enabled device to achieve the ultimate in kitchen convenience. Hands covered […]
Get the GuideWould You Undress So Your Air Conditioner Works Less?
What would you do to save money on your summertime cooling bills? Reduce the time you run the AC? Run a fan? Strip down? According to the Lennox Home Energy Report Card, many homeowners are willing to endure higher temperatures at home during the summer months to decrease their monthly electric bill by $50. Thirty-seven […]
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