IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Fall 2016

SPECIAL SECTION: HOME DESIGN TRENDS: INSPIRED UPGRADES INDOOR-OUTDOOR CONNECTIVITY Decked Out Your living space doesn’t have to be contained within the four corners of your home. Discover the flow of open-concept living that expands from beyond the kitchen and den and into the great outdoors. Creating an all-in-one space—where there is an indooroutdoor connectivity—is more on trend than ever. From a design perspective, you can start at the door with a grand entrance. If you don’t already have a suitable entryway, consider building French-style doors that lead onto your deck. You want the outdoor space in your home to transform into another living 5 HOME TECHNOLOGY TRENDS FOR TODAY’S INNOVATIVE LIVING Saving energy and money at home is a constant goal. From general conservation tips to tackling everything from overall sustainability to accessibility, categories for change include improving your home’s heating and cooling, water, waste, climate control and the outdoors. Here are a few more categories that can help elevate your home into the smartest house on the block. Integration Combine smaller audio, video, lighting and entertainment components into an integral system. Linking room with the addition of a few key pieces and accessories. Start from the floor up and begin sectioning off areas to create more interest and to give the illusion of more space. The easiest way to accomplish this is with area rugs. A natural jute rug is one of the most outdoor-friendly styles you can use. From here, you can position a decorative table and accessorize by placing lanterns and potted plants along its center. Grouping chairs and ottomans together to build cozy nesting spots is an easy way to add comfort to the outdoors. One of the most popular outdoor furniture materials is wicker, especially paired with chic cushions. Others include wood, resin, sling and metal. Each one is a great option in terms of durability and affordability. Beyond the design and texture you can create outdoors, you can build on bringing the inside out with lighting, entertainment and music. n subsystems can be accomplished gradually until the total integration is complete. Beyond the usual electronic devices, subsystems also include Wi-Fi set-up, heating and cooling, a security system and even a home theater for entertaining. A knowledgeable contractor who specializes in integration and electronic systems is a reputable source to turn to. There is an organization called the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA). It can answer questions you may have regarding installation, design and the overall integration of your home. Go to cedia.org to learn more about how a specialist can assist you with the proper design and execution of your integration. content online, watching TV and listening to music, including digital systems and speakers for the whole house that are discreetly hidden behind walls. Interactivity doesn’t end at just playing your favorite sounds; there are home networks that allow your family to engage with technology through music. Shades and lighting can be programmed to open and close to sync with your mood, event, activity and music choice. The music can be controlled by your smartphone or tablet and different playlists can be synched for different rooms in your house, including the pool and shower—the most musically inspired place in the house. Sustainability This is real-time information at your fingertips—the most basic of which is Wi-Fi network accessibility. You can enhance your digital accessibility and keep your devices streaming content and “full speed ahead” with access to the Internet. With videos, blogs, online forums and other informative and interactive media, the design of evolving technology gives you the ability to relate to universal design that’s usable by almost everyone. Reduce, reuse and conserve is the message of today’s sustainable design. A home’s energy conservation should meet your needs without having a major impact on the needs of the next generation. As a consumer you can choose to shop smarter. From biodegradable materials to recycled products, limiting the waste will maximize your carbon footprint in a positive way. Your purchasing power can go to energy-saving home appliances such as a washer or dishwasher—saving you money in the long run. With sustainability also being a large category for building a new home, design-build firms are a way to go. You can book a full-service design-and-build company to execute your entire vision of a sustainable home to completion. Interactivity Experience the fun and function of your home with interactive accommodations such as video games, streaming Accessibility Productivity There is nothing more important to the function of the home than productivity—or “getting it done” every day. The “it” can be a range of daily goals set within your home and work schedules. Having access to your smartphones and tablets allows you to be even more productive in a day. From remote systems that control everything from lighting and temperature to the security system, productivity is one of your home technology trends. n Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall | Fall 2016 | icmags.com 43

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