This client hired us to remodel their kitchen virtually. They were out of the country and needed someone to design and handle the construction process on their behalf. The entire process was done via zoom calls, international texting apps and phone calls.

Hollub Homes | Interior design by Helene Hollub | Ken Hayden Photography
Example of a trendy girl carpeted kids' room design in Miami with white walls

This beautifully crafted Scandinavian kitchen remodel blends the warmth of white oak shaker cabinets with the sleek elegance of a quartzite island, creating a space that feels fresh yet timeless. Brass hardware, a farmhouse sink, and a custom range hood add character, while panel-ready appliances and a full-height backsplash keep the look seamless. The open plan layout offers a bright, airy atmosphere, enhanced by natural wood tones, pendant lighting, and light flooring. A central island with seating invites casual dining and conversation, making this kitchen as functional as it is welcoming—perfect for cooking, gathering, and everyday living.

Everyday dishes are displayed on three understated shelves, also crafted from Reclaimed Chestnut. Photo Credit: Crown Point Cabinetry
Kitchen - rustic kitchen idea in Burlington with recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Experience luxury in this grand suburban home, where intuitive Savant control seamlessly integrates lighting, shades, music, TVs, and even the garage door into a single app. The home features a spacious four-car garage topped with a versatile playroom. Inside the main home, enjoy balanced, even audio throughout, while automated shades on every window effortlessly blend classical elegance with modern technology.

Discover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight. Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement. During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down. The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact. Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer. A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density. Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays. Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening. Challenges of Front Door Installations Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed. The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar. How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night. We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut. To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door. Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project. Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.

Discover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight. Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement. During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down. The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact. Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer. A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density. Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays. Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening. Challenges of Front Door Installations Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed. The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar. How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night. We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut. To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door. Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project. Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.

Discover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight. Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement. During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down. The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact. Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer. A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density. Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays. Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening. Challenges of Front Door Installations Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed. The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar. How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night. We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut. To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door. Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project. Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.

Top Real Estate App Development Companies Delivering Smart PropTech Solutions The real estate industry is experiencing a revolution in technology as there have been developments in the form of mobile applications, which have now become essential tools and prove to be an integral part for buyers and sellers as well as agents and developers in this industry. The application of technology in the form of virtual tours and property recommendations through artificial intelligence and other such technology has brought about a new way of doing real estate business. It has been found out through statistics that the PropTech industry will experience considerable growth in the next decade due to the increased use of smartphones, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. Why Real Estate Apps Are Transforming the PropTech Industry The introduction of digital platforms has revolutionized the way people search for, assess, and buy properties. Modern real estate software ensures easy access to property listings, neighborhood information, mortgage calculators, virtual tours, and direct contact with real estate agents, thus cutting out many of the obstacles that were part of the purchasing process. Real Estate App Development allows companies to manage properties efficiently, automatically generate leads, effectively handle customers, and make informed decisions. The inclusion of artificial intelligence and digital transactions makes the experience of using these apps even more efficient. List of Top Real Estate App Development Companies in the Global Market 1. Suffescom Solutions Suffescom Solutions is a mobile app development company specializing in Real Estate App Development for startups, real estate agencies, property management firms, and enterprises. The company develops scalable, feature-rich applications that simplify property discovery, virtual tours, lead management, and secure digital transactions. By integrating advanced technologies such as AI, AR/VR, cloud computing, and location intelligence, Suffescom Solutions helps businesses build intuitive PropTech platforms that enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency. The company also focuses on customization, security, and post-launch support to ensure long-term business success. Key Features Custom real estate application development AI-powered property recommendations Property listing management Interactive map integration Virtual property tours CRM integration Secure payment gateway Multi-platform development Cloud-native architecture Maintenance and support 2. RisingMax RisingMax develops innovative digital solutions for businesses seeking advanced PropTech platforms. Its expertise in Real Estate App Development enables companies to launch scalable property applications equipped with intelligent search capabilities, real-time property updates, and secure communication tools. RisingMax combines modern UI/UX practices with cloud technologies to deliver applications that improve customer engagement and simplify property management. Key Features Cross-platform app development AI-enabled property search Property management dashboard Cloud deployment Push notifications Digital payment integration Analytics and reporting API integration Secure authentication Ongoing technical support 3. Ascendix Technologies Ascendix Technologies is known for developing enterprise-grade PropTech software for commercial and residential real estate businesses. The company focuses on building customized applications that streamline property management, brokerage operations, customer engagement, and business workflows. Its expertise includes CRM development, cloud solutions, and data analytics, enabling businesses to manage property portfolios more efficiently. Key Features Enterprise real estate solutions CRM integration Commercial property management Cloud infrastructure Advanced analytics Workflow automation Custom software development Secure data management API connectivity Long-term support 4. WillowTree WillowTree develops premium mobile applications across various industries, including real estate and digital commerce. The company creates user-centric property applications that emphasize intuitive navigation, personalized property recommendations, and engaging digital experiences. Its development approach combines robust engineering with modern design principles to build scalable PropTech platforms for growing businesses. Key Features Mobile-first development Personalized user experience Property search optimization Cloud-native architecture Interactive UI/UX Analytics integration Secure user authentication Multi-device compatibility Third-party integrations Continuous optimization 5. Unico Connect Unico Connect specializes in delivering customized digital products for startups and enterprises, including Real Estate App Development solutions. The company builds scalable applications that simplify property listings, communication, lead management, and customer engagement while integrating cloud technologies for improved business performance. Key Features Custom property applications Cloud-based infrastructure Real-time messaging Lead management system Property listing platform API integration Digital documentation Performance analytics Secure payment integration Ongoing maintenance 6. Trango Tech Trango Tech develops intelligent mobile solutions that help real estate businesses digitize property management and customer interactions. Its applications support advanced search functionality, location-based services, secure transactions, and AI-powered recommendations. The company focuses on scalable software architecture that supports long-term business growth and operational efficiency. Key Features Property marketplace development AI-powered recommendations Interactive map integration GPS-enabled search Digital document management User analytics Cross-platform applications Secure backend systems CRM connectivity Cloud deployment 7. MindInventory MindInventory is a software development company delivering digital transformation solutions across multiple industries, including real estate. Its Real Estate App Development services include modern property applications that combine intuitive interfaces with advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and cloud computing. The company focuses on creating engaging user experiences while ensuring scalability, security, and seamless business operations. Key Features AI-enabled property applications Cloud-native development Property management tools Interactive dashboards IoT integration User engagement features Third-party API integration Business intelligence reporting Secure infrastructure Continuous technical support Essential Features Every Modern Real Estate App Should Include Successful Real Estate App Development requires more than attractive property listings. Modern applications must provide seamless experiences for buyers, sellers, agents, and property managers while simplifying transactions and communication. • User Registration and Profile Management Allow buyers, sellers, agents, and administrators to create personalized accounts with secure authentication and profile customization. • Advanced Property Search Provide powerful filters based on location, property type, price range, amenities, size, and availability to improve property discovery. • Interactive Maps Integrate GPS-enabled maps that display nearby schools, hospitals, transportation hubs, restaurants, and neighborhood information. • High-Quality Property Listings Support multiple images, HD videos, floor plans, property specifications, and detailed descriptions for each listing. • Virtual Tours Enable immersive 360-degree property walkthroughs using AR/VR technology to improve buyer confidence before physical visits. • AI-Powered Property Recommendations Use artificial intelligence to recommend properties based on user preferences, browsing behavior, and previous searches. • Real-Time Chat and Messaging Facilitate instant communication between buyers, sellers, and agents for faster inquiry resolution. • Mortgage Calculator Help users estimate monthly payments, loan eligibility, and financing options directly within the application. • Appointment Scheduling Allow users to schedule property visits, virtual meetings, or consultations with agents through integrated calendars. • Secure Digital Payments Support booking fees, deposits, subscription payments, and service charges through encrypted payment gateways. • Document Management Store contracts, agreements, ownership documents, inspection reports, and legal paperwork securely within the application. • Push Notifications Notify users about new listings, price changes, scheduled visits, document approvals, and promotional offers. • Admin Dashboard Provide centralized control over users, listings, transactions, content moderation, analytics, and platform management. • Analytics and Reporting Offer detailed insights into customer behavior, listing performance, lead generation, conversions, and revenue growth. • Strong Security Implement encrypted communications, secure authentication, role-based access control, data privacy measures, and regulatory compliance. Emerging Trends Shaping the Future of Real Estate App Development The future of Real Estate App Development is being driven by intelligent technologies that improve decision-making, customer experiences, and operational efficiency throughout the property lifecycle. Artificial intelligence is transforming property discovery by delivering personalized recommendations, predictive pricing models, and automated customer support. Machine learning algorithms analyze user preferences and market trends to recommend relevant properties while helping businesses generate qualified leads more effectively. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are becoming essential components of digital property experiences. Virtual property tours allow buyers to explore homes remotely, reducing travel time and accelerating purchasing decisions. Another significant trend is IoT integration within smart properties. Connected devices enable users to monitor energy consumption, security systems, lighting, and climate control directly through mobile applications, enhancing property value and user convenience. Finally, sustainability is becoming an important focus. Modern real estate platforms increasingly highlight green-certified buildings, energy-efficient homes, and environmentally friendly construction projects to meet changing buyer preferences. Conclusion The rapid evolution of the PropTech sector has made Real Estate App Development an essential investment for businesses aiming to deliver seamless, technology-driven property experiences. From AI-powered property recommendations and immersive virtual tours to secure digital transactions and cloud-based management systems, modern applications are transforming every stage of the real estate journey. Selecting an experienced development company with expertise in emerging technologies, scalable architecture, and user-centric design is crucial for building a competitive digital platform. As customer expectations continue to evolve, organizations that invest in innovative real estate applications will be better positioned to improve operational efficiency, strengthen customer relationships, and achieve long-term growth in the digital property marketplace. FAQs 1. What is Real Estate App Development? Real Estate App Development involves building mobile or web applications that help users buy, sell, rent, and manage properties through digital platforms. 2. How much does Real Estate App Development cost? Development costs vary based on features, platforms, integrations, UI/UX complexity, and technology requirements, ranging from basic to enterprise-grade solutions. 3. Which features are essential in a real estate app? Core features include property listings, advanced search, virtual tours, GPS maps, messaging, appointment scheduling, payment integration, and analytics dashboards. 4. Why should businesses invest in Real Estate App Development? It enhances customer engagement, streamlines property management, increases lead generation, supports digital transactions, and helps businesses stay competitive in the evolving PropTech market.

Experience luxury in this grand suburban home, where intuitive Savant control seamlessly integrates lighting, shades, music, TVs, and even the garage door into a single app. The home features a spacious four-car garage topped with a versatile playroom. Inside the main home, enjoy balanced, even audio throughout, while automated shades on every window effortlessly blend classical elegance with modern technology.

A modern floating tread staircase was designed to provide an open view from the moment you enter the residence. The final statement of this home is the apollo digital fine art system which ascends the stairs. The client enjoys using his proprietary mobile app to seamlessly change the artwork at will for a different mood in the home.

Step into this warm and cozy laundry area that seamlessly merges functionality with a warm atmosphere. This palette combines a mix of blended warm and cool grays, complemented by soft dove gray tones, creating a harmonious and beautiful blend. If you're working on a renovation project, don't hesitate to reach out to us for assistance. We'd love to help! https://mayflowerva.com/15-minute-phone-consultation/ info@mayflowerva.com (703) 388.9088 #bathroom #bathroomremodel #bathroomrenovation #bathroomideas #bathroominspiration #Rotonda #Vienna #VA #dmv #bathroom #bathroomdesign #interiordesign #laundry #laundryrooommakeover #laundryroomdecor

Mid-century modern home design photo in Houston

Welcome home to this luxe, modern, and inviting townhome in the heart of downtown Jersey City! We are ecstatic to see this project completed. This 4-story multifamily underwent a major renovation and was transformed into a spacious and functional family home for our clients. Careful consideration of our client’s lifestyle and plans for the future dictated every design decision. They needed a space that would function well now that they are a young professional couple and a space that would nicely accommodate a growing family in the future. Greater emphasis was placed on common family spaces and bedrooms were designed exclusively for sleep with minimal room for work or study and without TV connections to discourage those activities from taking place in these spaces. Instead, common places such as the family room and the kitchen are inviting and foster those activities. Due to sagging floors in need of extensive repair, it made more financial sense to replace them entirely. We took this historic house and by re-pitching the roof in an inverted form we were able to gain an overall 36” which we used for raising the floors. This, in turn, allowed us to bring the ground level up to code and be suitable for living space and gave us additional ceiling room on the upper floors. The ground floor was designed to be used as a rental unit and can be reincorporated into the home later when more space is needed. Both front and back facades were replaced with timeless brick and vertical wood siding and all windows and front doors were replaced. The ground floor features a one-bedroom suite, living room, and open kitchen-dining area. On the first floor, we achieved a more effective entry sequence to the living room, an open-concept design leading to the kitchen. The interior is bright and airy, and the kitchen opens up to the deck in the back and the patio, making entertaining indoors and outdoors seamless. The design works in a way to accommodate the addition of a stair leading to the ground level when the rental unit is incorporated back into the house. Up on the second floor, a suite with a bathroom was designed with grandparents or guests in mind. Also, two additional bedrooms are now being used as an exercise room and a zoom-worthy office but can later be used as kids’ rooms. Last but not least, the third floor features the master suite with his and hers walk-in closets, a master bath, and a library.

A modern floating tread staircase was designed to provide an open view from the moment you enter the residence. The final statement of this home is the apollo digital fine art system which ascends the stairs. The client enjoys using his proprietary mobile app to seamlessly change the artwork at will for a different mood in the home.

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.

Welcome home to this luxe, modern, and inviting townhome in the heart of downtown Jersey City! We are ecstatic to see this project completed. This 4-story multifamily underwent a major renovation and was transformed into a spacious and functional family home for our clients. Careful consideration of our client’s lifestyle and plans for the future dictated every design decision. They needed a space that would function well now that they are a young professional couple and a space that would nicely accommodate a growing family in the future. Greater emphasis was placed on common family spaces and bedrooms were designed exclusively for sleep with minimal room for work or study and without TV connections to discourage those activities from taking place in these spaces. Instead, common places such as the family room and the kitchen are inviting and foster those activities. Due to sagging floors in need of extensive repair, it made more financial sense to replace them entirely. We took this historic house and by re-pitching the roof in an inverted form we were able to gain an overall 36” which we used for raising the floors. This, in turn, allowed us to bring the ground level up to code and be suitable for living space and gave us additional ceiling room on the upper floors. The ground floor was designed to be used as a rental unit and can be reincorporated into the home later when more space is needed. Both front and back facades were replaced with timeless brick and vertical wood siding and all windows and front doors were replaced. The ground floor features a one-bedroom suite, living room, and open kitchen-dining area. On the first floor, we achieved a more effective entry sequence to the living room, an open-concept design leading to the kitchen. The interior is bright and airy, and the kitchen opens up to the deck in the back and the patio, making entertaining indoors and outdoors seamless. The design works in a way to accommodate the addition of a stair leading to the ground level when the rental unit is incorporated back into the house. Up on the second floor, a suite with a bathroom was designed with grandparents or guests in mind. Also, two additional bedrooms are now being used as an exercise room and a zoom-worthy office but can later be used as kids’ rooms. Last but not least, the third floor features the master suite with his and hers walk-in closets, a master bath, and a library.

Experience luxury in this grand suburban home, where intuitive Savant control seamlessly integrates lighting, shades, music, TVs, and even the garage door into a single app. The home features a spacious four-car garage topped with a versatile playroom. Inside the main home, enjoy balanced, even audio throughout, while automated shades on every window effortlessly blend classical elegance with modern technology.

Experience luxury in this grand suburban home, where intuitive Savant control seamlessly integrates lighting, shades, music, TVs, and even the garage door into a single app. The home features a spacious four-car garage topped with a versatile playroom. Inside the main home, enjoy balanced, even audio throughout, while automated shades on every window effortlessly blend classical elegance with modern technology.