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FEBRUARY 16 , 2024 COASTALREALESTATEGUIDE . COM

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COURTESY OF SAMSUNG

TVs like The Terrace by Samsung ( above ) offer great picture quality even in full sunlight due to a weather-resistant , anti-glare screen .

for an evening workspace . All of these can be controlled through an app .

“ All the lights , for example , come programmable in your phone in any color , so you can change the theme of your backyard ,” Laughton explains . “… You can have it preprogrammed so you just push a button and don ’ t need to adjust a dimmer switch on the wall .”

Outdoor technology is also typically waterproof and wireless for both safety and convenience .

OUTDOOR OFFICES AND ALFRESCO KITCHENS With more people working from home than ever , opting for an outdoor office has become an increasingly popular exterior design trend . A weatherproof table and chairs make for the ideal place to set up a laptop and , with the right connection , homeowners can tap into their Wi-Fi network from anywhere on their property .

“[ Most properties include ] a central location in the house where everything is hard-wired . Then a wireless box in that central location is used to communicate with every device in the house — [ and outside ]— including TVs ,” Laughton says , noting this may require the installation of Wi-Fi boosters depending on the size of one ’ s property . “… The days of the cable wires being run to every room are over .”

Not only are homeowners working outdoors , they ’ re also cooking in the open air . For these types of kitchens , Laughton says the most important piece of technology is proper lighting that ’ s placed strategically . She recommends smart LED light bulbs , which make great accent lighting and can be controlled with an app on your cellphone . Lighted barbecue tongs may also be helpful .

When it comes to outdoor appliances , these may include everything from smart dishwashers to stoves , grills , electric pizza ovens and more .

Laughton also notes that the home-tech industry is dramatically shifting to include artificial intelligence . One example that fascinates her is a refrigerator that tracks your food and drink supply to alert you when something runs out , or even add it to a virtual grocery list .

OPEN-AIR ENTERTAINMENT Homeowners would be remiss not to incorporate technology in their outdoor play . One must-have item that Laughton suggests is a smart TV , which is wireless and powered by the internet instead of traditional cable .

When it comes to smart TVs , Samsung is the leading vendor worldwide with the electronics brand accounting for more than 25 % of the global smart TV market .

The Terrace is one of Samsung ’ s TVs that ’ s designed specifically for outdoor spaces , according to a Samsung spokesperson . This premium outdoor home theater experience uses a quantum dot lightemitting diode ( QLED ) display for better picture quality . The Terrace allows for high-quality images even in full sunlight , which is possible because of a

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