Kim Jeffery Photographer www.kimjeffery.com
Example of a large trendy master beige tile and porcelain tile light wood floor freestanding bathtub design in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, tile countertops, a wall-mount toilet and white walls

Jeffrey S Grant
Minimalist bedroom photo in Miami

Home design - transitional home design idea in Detroit

The "BUBBLES" pendant lighting by Galilee lighting are made of artistic hand blown glass in a unique texture of bubbled colored glass, formed by heat. The exotic textures and colors create a beautiful light transparency and a warm atmosphere in the space. Colors available: Bubbled Amber, bubbled flames, coral, amber. Pendant size: 4", 5", 6", 7" Chandelier size: any size with any number of pendants, in ay length. Design: We advise our customers about the right size of chandelier for each space. Shipping: We deliver worldwide. To receive our catalog by email, contact Sales@GalileeLighting.com visit www.GalileeLighting.com

Example of a large classic carpeted and gray floor basement design in DC Metro with gray walls and no fireplace

Render Studio Lazzarini Pickering Architetti
Staircase - contemporary staircase idea in Rome

Home design - modern home design idea in Los Angeles

Designed and installed by Mauk Cabinets by Design in Tipp City, OH. Kitchen Designer: Aaron Mauk. Photos by Shelley Schilperoot.
Inspiration for a small timeless single-wall dark wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, brown backsplash and a peninsula

9 Grape LED Sonneman staircase light
Minimalist home design photo in Dallas

Powder room floor tile with custom tile vent
Inspiration for a small contemporary bathroom remodel in Toronto

Staircase - small modern wooden u-shaped dark wood floor staircase idea in Santa Barbara with gray walls and wooden risers

The purpose of this room is for adult lounging, relaxing and enjoying music and beverages. Our client wanted a unique abstract style canvas to be the focal point of this room. We were happy to complete this stunning abstract wall finish. Copyright © 2016 The Artists Hands

This article is posted here with the consent of the author. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, view, or opinion of Crestron Electronics, Inc., or of any of its employees. Crestron Electronics is not responsible for, and does not verify the accuracy of, any of the information contained in this article. By Jeff Singer The “smart” revolution began several years ago with smartphones (a.k.a phones) and has extended in recent years to thermostats, doorbells, alarm systems, and kitchen appliances. Smart devices are so ubiquitous that the term “smart” is overused to the point that it is almost meaningless. Companies are eager to jump on the bandwagon and claim their products are “smart,” and consumers proudly claim they have a smart home because they have lighting control. Misconceptions about smart homes are prevalent and create confusion in the marketplace. This can have deleterious effects on businesses and underserve consumers. Here are seven of the most popular misconceptions about smart homes: 1. Apps are smart Apps are convenient and easy to use. Yes, it seems there’s an app for everything. People expect to be able to download an app and do just about anything. App developers and many companies do not disavow consumers of this myth. On the contrary, they promote this idea with carefully worded descriptions. The promise of having the world at your fingertips for $1.99 is very enticing. Although it sounds too good to be true, it is also too good to pass up for many people. This leads to undervaluing home control and disappointment when the apps don’t work, which undermines confidence in our industry. The fact is that apps are not smart. They do not control anything. They must connect to and communicate with a control system or cloud service that processes, prioritizes, and executes commands. That’s the real magic and what most people do not understand. 2. Smart devices work together With so many smart appliances and devices on the market today, it’s understandable that the average consumer might think that they actually communicate and work together. This is simply not the case. Smart devices are not that smart. They are designed and manufactured by different, often competing, companies. There are no national or industry standards governing these products. Even if they all operate using Wi-Fi® communications, that doesn’t mean they work together. Some companies promote a home control platform, which unites different devices from different companies – in theory. The platform is yet another third-party software totally dependent on other companies developing APIs and writing control modules for their hardware to run on that piece of software. The devices are not independently compatible. Also, when updates are made to either the hardware or the software, functionality may be affected for some period. That’s a nice way of saying the device or system won’t work and there’s no way of knowing for how long. 3. It’s a DIY project Which brings us to the next myth, which is that the average person can do it themselves. Unless you are a skilled professional, I would not advise taking on a smart home project. You want to make a light turn on and off with your Alexa® or Google Assistant™ virtual assistant software, go for it. A smart home takes much more planning and expertise. I have no problem changing a light bulb or hanging a light fixture in my dining room; however, I am not going to rewire my house. I may change the flush valve in my toilet, but I’m not going to replace the pipes in my house. You get it. Integrating devices and systems, establishing different zones, creating scenes, designing the UI with a balance between control, feedback, and simplicity – all takes experience and skill. 4. Need a programmer to make changes Early adopters may have experienced the pain of trying to make a simple change or update to their home control system. Years ago, if the cable provider changed the channel line-up, the homeowner would have to call the dealer or programmer to make an appointment for them to come out to the house to reprogram the system. The system wouldn’t work as expected until it was updated, which often took several days and beaucoup bucks. Not anymore. Technology has evolved so now it’s easy for system owners to change favorite channels, create scenes, rename buttons, update images, and more. While a professional is needed for the initial installation and setup, the system is easy to manage once it’s up and running. This makes life so much easier for both dealer and customer. 5. Tech becomes obsolete quickly Similar to updating the UI, updating firmware or hardware used to be a stressful process. A smart home should be intelligent enough to update itself. Apps don’t become obsolete. Updates are constantly pushed out from the cloud, making them better all the time. The same is true for a good smart home system. New features, functions, and device support gets added in the background consistently, so the system you installed (or purchased) yesterday gets better over time. Swapping out decorative elements, such as keypads, dimmers, and touch screens is also seamless. When a new device is added, all the settings are pulled down from the cloud and it just works. No system interruptions. No sunk costs. No imposing house calls. No surprise bills. 6. Lighting control saves energy and money Lighting control is one of the most popular smart systems, but it takes more than just one system to make a home smart. On the surface, it makes sense that if you dim the lights ten percent, then you save ten percent of energy costs. If the shades are raised during the day to take advantage of sunlight so the lights don’t need to be on (or at least not 100%), but that causes the room temperature to rise a few degrees, which triggers the air conditioner to run longer and more often, was energy usage (or cost) reduced? A smart home integrates all the various systems and technology to optimize comfort, convenience, safety, and sometimes energy. 7. Home technology is easy to hack Security is at the forefront of people’s minds these days. Personal identities are stolen; email accounts hacked; private photos publicized; and more. A smart home must outsmart those who don’t respect privacy. Crestron control systems adhere to the strictest security standards. The same Crestron control system that goes into a home is also installed in secure government and military facilities, global banking institutions, hospitals, and other mission critical applications. When installed correctly by a trained professional, a Crestron smart home is the gold standard for security, comfort, and convenience.

The clients, and older quiet couple, wanted a Modern Eclectic look that incorporate their bold modern, yet transitional style. The home redesign features a neutral palette with luscious custom window treatments, vibrant colors and flowers in wall art, and multiple custom H Studio sculptures, coffee table, and side tables. Also highlighted are elegant and modern crystal light fixtures, mirrors, and abstract art.

Ornamental Iron Handrail System
Inspiration for a timeless home design remodel in Atlanta

Detail of mesh screen.
Example of an eclectic closet design in Sacramento

Example of a small country master brown tile and stone tile ceramic tile tub/shower combo design in DC Metro with beige cabinets, a two-piece toilet and beige walls

This growing family needed more living space in their 1926 St. Paul, MN Bungalow, and had great potential in their unfinished attic for a new master suite. Castle began working with the city to grandfather some existing conditions in, like the steeper stairs and lower ceiling height to comply with building codes. New insulation, interior walls, electrical, heating, and a full interior finish was planned. The finished space incorporates traditional millwork matching the lower level of the home, a custom built-in bookshelf, new white doors, and pre-finished white oak hardwood floors in a rich Licorice stain. The dark floors and oil-bronze accents throughout the space really anchors the room and completes an overall bright color pallet with high contrast. In the new bathroom, a cement tile floor was selected to tie in the homeowner’s classy flair. Switching the finishes to polished brass inside the bathroom really brings a lux and regal feel to the space. Paired with traditional subway tile, white vanity, refurbished vintage medicine cabinet, and neutral walls, the new bathroom is elegant, yet understated. One of our favorite features is the use of the two existing dormers. One dormer was converted into a new walk-in closet with custom glass closet doors, so the light can still shine into the bedroom. The 2nd dormer, we left open for a quaint sitting and reading nook. See full details (including before photos) at http://www.castlebri.com/attics/project-3299-1/ Designed by: Emily Blonigen