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June/July 2003
Smart Home
People are looking for new technology when buying a home. Instead of moving out and moving up they are looking for the greatest value for the money they spend said Don Bowden, architect, interior designer and national president of the American Society of Interior Designers "We see clients that want homes that work for them now," he said. "They want homes that can adapt to the future, so that homeowners can ultimately age in place. Instead of space, they are looking for features." While there are lots of new gadgets out there, the most universally requested add-on is for structured wiring packages that combine computer networking, entertainment, home security and appliance control. According to a study by Dallas-based Parks Associates, 20 percent of new homes in the U.S. include these kinds of packages. The systems can also be installed in existing homes - with a lot of mess, of course. But enthusiasts assure us the mess is worth it. Homeowners are looking for "endless electronics," said Kassie Smith, president and owner of Design Center West, and ASID director of Las Vegas. They want big screen or projection TVs from the entry level through the custom home markets. Instead of a TV in a pretty cabinet, Smith said, buyers want central built-in systems with surround sound wired throughout - even outdoors - with all the equipment hidden behind clean, clutter free cabinets. Smith said her clients are asking for smart houses with everything from programmed heat and air to the ability to call the house from the other side of the country to see if you unplugged the iron. Smart homes can do everything from letting the dog out while you are in Europe to scheduling the annual furnace checkup. They make life easier, more efficient and dispel one of the oldest adages in the world - you actually can be in two places at the same time. Safe, secure and sweet Central alarm systems are nothing new, but what is new is cameras - lots and lots of cameras. In these less secure times, more families are adding unobtrusive cameras in every room so that with a touch of the screen, mom can keep an eye on a sleeping toddler or make sure that her teenage son is safely tucked into bed by curfew. Outdoor cameras also add a new realm of security, including a camera on the swimming pool. The new emphasis on lighting design is one of the nicer trends in upscale homes, allowing a more personal interpretation of an environment that can set a home apart. Outdoors, ambient lighting can gently light up the night, focus on a spectacular tree or outdoor art piece, or create a romantic backdrop for a tumbling waterfall or edgeless pool. Programmable lights let the homeowner create whimsical lighting designs or complement natural light changes. Inside, computerized lighting design can make a home appear lived in, while you're away, by allowing you to access your light and sound system through a coded system linked to the Internet. Turn on the TV, turn up the bedroom lights or flick the porch light on and off to fool potential intruders. Sophisticated communication systems - which can cost as much as $1 million - can make life easier, while saving time. These systems can tell your coffeepot to make a cup of coffee as you drive back from the gym; heat the Jacuzzi to your ideal temperature; and open the louvered blinds so you can watch a rainstorm approach. While bathing, watch a prerecorded program on the LCD screen with its automatic defogger, or pipe in you favorite tunes from your central computer deck. In the morning jump into a fabulous, new-age shower. The Electronic Shower System by ONDINE has an overhead showerhead that allows up to three personal shower experiences. Within each program you can set water temperatures and a variety of pulsating options that automatically flow from one temperature and option to another. No need to force yourself to turn on that brisk cold flow. The showerhead does it for you. Touch screens scattered throughout the kitchen, den, bedrooms and playrooms let everyone in the family choose their own environment. Thousands of digital CD and DVD files can be stored centrally and accessed individually. Dad can listen to Led Zepplin while barbecuing, while the sleeping baby dreams on into the night to the sounds of lullabies. Meanwhile, junior can watch the latest X-Men DVD while mom scans the financial section of the online Wall Street Journal. By using a central wiring system with a central computer, homeowners are finding that they can significantly reduce the clutter. Instead of multiple VCRs and DVDs scattered throughout the house, touch screens can be used everywhere. Dad can even add a touch screen monitor in the garage that lets him select the current sports channel or a favorite movie. While home theaters are all the rage, the real innovations may be much more practical. Some vacuum systems include slots in the floor that allow even the little ones to help clean up. Dirt is swept into a hole that whisks it to a central dirt bin that can be emptied later. Sophisticated vacuum systems also improve air quality as much as 61 percent. They pick up dust mites, dander and other allergens. While energy efficient homes are "tight," they can seal in poor air. Beam's Vent-I-Link system pulls in fresh air to counter the negative air pressure created when vacuuming. New water heaters increase heating efficiency from about 84 percent to over 95 percent. The new systems replace the coil in the bottom of the unit with a center coil that runs from top to bottom. With the hot desert sun, keeping furniture, carpeting and finishes in good shape means that windows are often hidden behind blinds or shutters. Automated retractable shutters may be a better alternative. Natural light can still filter in during the hottest part of the day and season and retract when evening comes. In today's high tech world almost anything is possible to make your home the safest, most comfortable place to be. |
