Smart Homes: A Vision For the Future

One of the challenges of creating a truly smart home is that many of the products and systems don’t talk to one another. Tech companies are racing to find a solution. One firm, Intel Corp., is developing a platform to help make that connection. It has created an experimental “living lab” to test smart-home technologies and showcase what might be possible. The Santa Clara, California, company brought its “smart tiny home,” as it has dubbed the house, to San Francisco on November 2 to show it to the media and talk about what the firm is doing.

 

 

 

 

The tech company’s new platform is designed to link smart-home devices and sensors — along with older products that weren’t designed to be smart — so things such as security, lighting, appliances and HVAC could be controlled by a single interface.

“For the emerging smart-home market to succeed, it needs to conquer a lot of issues: connectivity, interoperability, user interaction, killer apps and security,” said Eric Free, vice president of Smart Homes and Buildings, in a statement. “Intel has the advantage of being able to work across this new connected universe, providing hardware, software and the power of the cloud to help transition our homes from ‘connected’ to ‘smart.’”

Intel’s Smart Home Development Acceleration Platform is due to be available to app developers in early 2016. New products would integrate the platform — which utilizes open standards such as the Open Interconnect Consortium — into their technology.

Above, Intel’s smart tiny home was temporarily displayed on a San Francisco property to demonstrate how some of the products might work.

 

Intel’s smart-tiny-home experience started at the front door, where a security camera tricked out with the company’s RealSense technology and True Key facial recognition software monitored comings and goings. Intel’s app was programmed to unlock the door for certain people and lock the door for everyone else. In your home, a smart-home app would send you an alert on your device when someone new was at the door; you could manually approve the person remotely.

Doors also could be locked and unlocked with voice commands. Martin Despain, director of Smart Home at Intel, demonstrated this at the San Francisco event, using the command, “Hey, computer, I’m leaving.” After a few seconds to allow for exiting the house, the deadbolt moved to secure the door.

Other security needs could be addressed with sound recognition technology as well. Intel’s demo app responded to the sound of breaking window glass with an alert.

 

 

 

On November 2, Intel also released the results of a survey it commissioned to study Americans’ attitudes about smart homes. It found that seven in 10 people expect smart homes to be as commonplace as smartphones in the next decade. Eight in 10 say integrated security is a priority and want a single sign-on portal where they can manage their home. A majority expect smart-home devices to be packaged with other services, such as cable and Internet (83 percent), and to be as easy to set up as cable TV (74 percent).

 

At Intel’s San Francisco demo, this tablet ran key features of Intel’s smart house. Using the app, Intel’s Despain controlled door locks, lighting, security and more.

 

 

 

Despain demonstrated how a smart home could detect water leaks in the home using this off-the-shelf moisture sensor. He placed the sensor in a plate of water, and an alert popped up on his tablet. The app provided a list of recommended plumbers, which could be let into the house remotely using the smart home’s camera and security system.

 

 

 

He also used voice recognition software to turn on and off smart lightbulbs from three makers — Philips Hue, Cree and Osram — which work together with the help of Intel’s software development kit. He showed how they also could be controlled with an app on the tablet.

 

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Intel’s smart house also showcased some ideas for tiny-home design. Kyle Schuneman, who specializes in small-space design, put together the interiors. To make the most of the 210-square-foot space, he included versatile features that do double duty. Above, the dining table could work as both a kitchen island and a dining table, and the area under the banquette seat stores a water heater. In the previous photo, a home office sits on a platform that houses a queen-size trundle bed.

 

 

Would you like to build or remodel your dream home?  Wolford Building and Remodeling has an in-house design team to help make your interior design decisions at no additional cost to you!

Visit:

HTTP://WWW.WOLFORDBUILTHOMES.COM/

Organized From the Start: 8 Smart Systems for Your New House

When it comes to clutter and organizing, so often we start looking for solutions only once things have gotten completely out of hand. But if you’re moving into a new place, why not take this as an opportunity to do things right from the get-go? By putting these eight organizing systems in place at the beginning, it’ll be easier to keep things organized for the long term.

Gilmans Kitchens and Baths

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1. Labels. The truth is, much of the labeling you see in beautifully styled home photos isn’t really necessary. However, there are times when it can be a real game changer. For instance, if you store your spices in a drawer, having labels on the lids means that you can find what you need at a glance instead of hunting through the jars. A simple roll of masking tape and a Sharpie can make quick labels in a pinch, and they’re ideal for labeling leftovers in the fridge or freezer with the name and date.

Organize Don’t Agonize

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2. Small stuff sorters. Medications, first aid supplies, craft items, spare lightbulbs — every household has its share of little stuff. These kinds of items, which tend to come in all sorts of odd shapes and sizes, can quickly cause chaos in closets and drawers. Prevent toppling piles by stowing little things inside labeled boxes, which can be stacked on shelves.

Schmidt Kitchens Palmers Green

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Drawers are another place where small items tend to cause problems. Start things off on the right note by putting simple drawer organizers in place wherever small items are stored: Kitchen drawers, junk drawers, desk drawers and entryway drawers can benefit from organizers. If you’re purchasing organizers, be sure to measure your drawers carefully before shopping to be sure you get the right fit.

Normandy Remodeling

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3. Entryway landing zone. A neat spot to stash your belongings when you arrive home is essential. Without it, those coats, shoes, bags and papers will spread throughout the house in a heartbeat. A bench, shelving, wall hooks and shoe storage will keep everything contained and out of the way.

Organized Living

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The most important thing when it comes to setting up your entryway is to decide on a specific spot to store each item you typically come home with — mail in a tray, keys in a basket, shoes on a shelf and so forth. If you’re extra vigilant about putting items where they belong right from the start, soon it will become a habit, and you won’t have to think about it at all.

Andrea McLean Design Office

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4. Giveaway collection basket. A sturdy basket, bin or tote bag is useful for collecting stuff bound for the charity shop. So often, we hold on to clutter simply because there’s no clear route to getting it out of the house. Having a dedicated spot to gather items we no longer want or need makes the clutter-clearing process more straightforward. When it’s full, just grab it and go.

Organised Chaos Ireland

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5. Simple filing system. With the option to get paperless bills and statements, the amount of paperwork you have to file at home may not be much, but don’t let this lull you into thinking that you don’t need a filing system. Folders labeled in broad categories that make sense to you (car, home repairs, taxes) will help ensure that you have what you need at your fingertips. If you feel that you don’t have enough paper storage to justify purchasing a traditional filing cabinet, file boxes are just as functional, and you can use more or fewer as needed. Whatever filing system you choose, be sure to keep it in an easily accessible spot. If it’s too hard to use it, you probably won’t.

Grieve Gillett Andersen

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6. Laundry system. Simple is usually best when it comes to laundry, but there are a few small additions to your laundry area that can really help: a small basket to temporarily hold socks without mates, a dish to collect items emptied out of pockets, and a few extra baskets or bags to separate delicate and dry-clean-only items. If you have a lot of hand-wash items, you may also want to invest in a collapsible drying rack that can slide away when not in use.

CLOSET ENVY INC.

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7. Wall-mounted tool storage. In any storage area — whether it’s a garage, broom closet or basement — storing items off the floor is key for two reasons: It keeps things neat, and it protects your belongings from dampness. Long-handled tools can snap into wall-mounted holders, while other items rest on shelves.

Design by KETI

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8. Home maintenance schedule. If you’re a new homeowner, take the time early on to find the pros you want to work with and put regular home maintenance tasks (clean gutters in spring and late fall, check heating and cooling systems) on your calendar. Being organized about home maintenance will help the systems of your house run more smoothly and can prevent major problems down the road.

11 Reasons to paint your Ceiling Black

Mask flaws, trick the eye, create drama … a black ceiling solves a host of design dilemmas while looking smashing

I grew up believing that ceilings had to be white — or, at the very least, a paler version of the wall color. Black ceilings? It sounded like something only a rebellious teenager would do.

But after perusing some of the ebony-colored ceilings on Houzz, I gotta confess that I’m a convert. Black ceilings can hide a multitude of sins, call attention to something you want to emphasize or instill a touch of drama. (Let’s see ol’ Navajo White try to pull off some of those tricks.)

If the little black dress is the ne plus ultra of fashion, then the little black ceiling is the enfant terrible of decor — a mischievous little devil that provokes instead of placates, and makes any room a little bit special.

Here are 11 reasons to consider painting your ceiling black.

Fiddlehead Design Group, LLC

1. To echo other elements in the room. If there’s a lot of black elsewhere in the room, a black ceiling can tie things together and create a unified look.

Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

2. To emphasize trim. Got some awesome mill work? Make it pop by painting the surrounding surfaces black.

McGill Design Group Inc.

3. To make a ceiling look lower.High ceilings always sound good. But in reality, they can make a space feel cold and imposing. Black paint will make the ceiling feel lower without sacrificing space.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

4. To make a ceiling look taller. Sounds like a contradiction, right? But when you can’t see the boundaries of a room, it can appear bigger. This is especially true if you paint the tops of the walls black as well.

Jamie Laubhan-Oliver

5. To add drama. Take away the furnishings and finishes in this room, and you’ve got a pretty humble plasterboard box. The black ceiling adds architectural interest where none existed and makes the space feel far more interesting.

Martha O’Hara Interiors

6. Because the rest of the room is black and white. Chaplin, houndstooth, The New Yorker — some things just look better in black and white. In this case the black ceiling is a nice echo of the black floor, and the stringent motif makes the few touches of color pop.

Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC

7. To conceal a mess. It can be tough to hide all the ductwork in a basement ceiling. Covering it with drywall can rob you of precious headroom (not to mention money). An inexpensive solution is to paint the whole thing black. It won’t eliminate the problem entirely, but it’ll make the mechanics far less prominent without lowering the ceiling’s height.

Philip Nimmo Design

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Philip Nimmo Design

8. Because the walls are black. If you’re going to take the plunge and paint your walls black, do you really want to wimp out on the ceiling? The bedroom here is dramatic and supremely sexy, but it wouldn’t have worked half as well without the black ceiling.

The same holds true for this bath. Since bathrooms are self-contained spaces, and people don’t usually spend a great deal of time in them, they’re an excellent place to try something a little bit daring.

Griffin Enright Architects

9. To define an area. It can be hard distinguishing one space from another within an open floor plan. A black ceiling can do the trick, without the hassle of room dividers or area rugs.

Bagnato Architects

10. To draw attention to a view. Sure, this view would be beautiful even if the ceiling were white. But notice how the black surface draws your eyes toward the vista, kind of like a red carpet unfurling in front of you?

michelle williams interiors

11. Because you’re a rebellious teenager. I know — I said that black ceilings are not just something a rebellious teenager would do. But that doesn’t mean a rebellious teenager couldn’t do it.

Whether your adolescent craves Dr. Dre or Richard Avedon, black ceilings are a great complement to posters and photographs, elevating them to gallery-worthy status.

Special thanks to Fred Albert Houzz Contributor for this fab article. Love you Fred!

So You Want to Build a New Home…..

Whether building new or renovating an existing structure, creating a new home is a journey of discovering who you are, what you want, how you want to live and where you want to be. It’s a chance for you to define your relationship to the world, to your family and to yourself. Creating a home is more than building “3 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms.” It is so much more than the sum of a few parts.

As with any journey, you’ll want to do some research and plan your trip. You’ll want to have a sense of what the end result should be and how much it’ll cost. And while you’ll no doubt be able to go it alone, having a seasoned and experienced guide show you the way will likely mean a more enjoyable, more enriching and overall better journey.

Let’s look at the steps, in chronological order, involved in creating a home.

Keep in mind what architect Charles Moore once said: “If you care enough you just do it. You bind the goods and trappings of your life together with your dreams to make a place that is uniquely your own. The crucial ingredient is concern, care for the way that a house is built and the shape it gives to your life.”

Set goals. Creating a new home for yourself is all about setting goals and taking the steps to achieve those goals.You’ll want to establish the answers to a whole host of questions so that you can set these goals.

Goal setting requires satisfying both left- and right-brain activities. So your list of goals will include two sides: a practical, meat-and-potatoes side and an emotional, ice-cream-and-pie side. Each is important, and each needs to be recognized so that the end result will reflect a totality.

Questions to ask:
• What do you want to achieve?
• Where do you want to be?
• What will this cost?
• Can it really be achieved?
• Does plan A make sense?
• What’s plan B?

By the way, a goals statement is what architects refer to as a program. So when your architect says “program,” just think “goals.”

Establish a budget. While a budget should be in any goal statement, it’s such an important piece that it’s included here as a separate task. When making your budget, of course you’ll begin with what you can afford, and how the cost of your house fits in with your overall plans for the future. When you’re ready to get down to details, include everything that will go into the project: the cost of the land, local fees and taxes, design and engineering fees, construction of not just the home but the landscape, plus furniture and decorating.

And don’t forget a healthy contingency. As with any complex project, things will happen, and the road from point A to point B will have a detour or two. Make sure that these little side trips won’t send you over the edge.

A spreadsheet program such as Excel is a good tool to use for developing a budget, as you can continuously update and modify it as you work your way through the project.

Find some land — or a neglected older house. Where do you want to be? How do you want to live? What are you looking for? Maybe you want that house in the mountains or with the ocean view, but it’s not in the cards right now, for economic or other reasons. No matter; you’ll likely be able to reinvent yourself later. For now, it’s the burbs with the good schools or some other place. The point is, find a spot on the globe that you can claim as your own and build what will be a home.

And maybe that land isn’t a few acres that’s never been trampled on. Maybe it’s an existing house that’s just old and tired and has suffered some neglect. The house whispers to you that it really does want to shed those avocado-colored appliances, that shag carpeting and those single-pane windows, and you know you’re the person to do that.

So take heart if you decide to transform that sow’s ear into a silk purse. You’ll be amazed at the transformation that can take place.

Assemble a team. While you might think you can go it alone, assembling a team of tried and true professionals is the better approach. After all, you wouldn’t represent yourself in court. So why wouldn’t you entrust your single largest investment to an experienced team that won’t be learning on your dime?

An architect and a builder (if not one and the same) are going to be your most important team members. These people will act as guide, therapist, advocate and counselor throughout the journey that creating your home is. And, as with all good professionals, the right guide can ensure that the journey is all the more enjoyable.

As you embark on this journey, you will likely want to add team members. A kitchen and bath designer, perhaps; maybe an interior designer, too. Certainly a landscape architect, who shouldn’t be the last person hired when all the money is gone; you want to create a beautiful yard that will complement the house.

Plan, plan and plan some more. Every large project I’ve ever worked on has had this one thing in common. The owner, whether a private developer, government agency or corporate entity, knew the importance of planning the project in detail before starting to build.

These owners knew that moving walls on paper is a whole lot cheaper than moving walls after they’re built. So embark on a robust planning and design phase.

• Play the “what if?” game. Sometimes the first answer is the right answer, sometimes it’s the 31st. Just remember not to settle until you’ve explored all the possibilities; you don’t want to say after the project has been built, “We should have done …”
• Go big or go home. And I don’t mean big as in size (that’s a whole separate discussion), but big as in big ideas. Building a home, be it from scratch or a renovation, is an exercise in making something that’s yours. So dream big and have grand plans. There will be time enough to deal with the realities of budget, zoning and codes. Don’t sweat the small stuff for now.
• Sweat the small stuff. Decisions, decisions, decisions. You’ll be asked to make many — more than you can imagine. Just remember that God is in the details, so make sure that the details are there so that your home will be uniquely your own and speak to who you are.

Accept the inevitable. You’ve made the plans, gotten the permits and secured the money; now the only thing left to do is build your house. You’ve accounted for everything, so it should all come together as smooth as silk. Easy, right?

Oddly enough, stuff happens. That’s a given. How you and your team react to these hiccups will be important. My advice is to stay calm, keep your sense of humor and work with your team to address the issue. This is where having the right team in place can pay dividends. An architect, a builder and others who can work together and share ideas without criticizing one another will go a long way to helping you keep your sanity.

Some tips for staying sane during construction:

• Don’t change your mind. Early on make all of the decisions you have to, select all of your finishes and don’t change your mind. Yes, you’ll be enticed by that new thing that comes along. Just remember that once construction starts, it’ll cost you time, money and perhaps a trip or two to a therapist if you change your mind.
• Turn a deaf ear to the goings-on. Every construction site is filled with workers complaining. After all, who doesn’t complain about his or her job? Who hasn’t wanted to vent about the boss? The best thing you can do is ignore it. Don’t worry; if it really is an issue, you’ll be told about it.

Enjoy your new home. You’ve worked hard and spent more than a few dollars to create your new home, so enjoy it to the max. Revel in the way the light falls across a room and how it changes with the seasons. Find unexpected places to talk with family members. Discover how this place gives shape to your life and allows you to become the person you want to be.

In the end you’ll be amazed that your new house is so much more than the sum of just its three bedrooms, living room and so on. It’s the place you get to call home and make uniquely yours.

Special thanks to Bud Dietrich, AIA Houzz Contributor