Kitchen - eclectic kitchen idea in New York

Dedicated laundry room - mid-sized transitional single-wall travertine floor dedicated laundry room idea in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, beige walls and a stacked washer/dryer

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.

Example of a trendy rooftop rooftop deck design in Seattle

The importance of having multiple seating areas, both indoors and outdoors, is often undervalued, yet always appreciated by visitors. This floating bench is made out of knotty alder and is the perfect spot to view a competitive game of bocce ball.

Description of Waterfront Home Design Challenge: The task was to fill a vast space with 14-foot walls soaring to a peak of 30 feet, using cabinetry that would not appear undervalued or insubstantial. The main question was determining the appropriate height for the cabinetry, considering the scale and proportion of the space, the walk-through to adjoining rooms, window heights, and the height of the refrigerator. Solution: By carefully analyzing these factors, we were able to create cabinetry that perfectly scaled to the grand dimensions of the room. The floor plan featured two islands that effectively filled the space. Key elements included #TheGalley workstations, drop-down televisions, #MouserCabinetry, and secret doors leading to a hidden scullery, all contributing to an extraordinary project.

Busybee Design staged a spacious and elegant home in Queen Village last week and while the view from the rooftop deck is amazing, the real view is within the house! Busybee staging makes this home a place where you want to admire the interior. From multiple living room spaces to a dining room area that flows nicely into the kitchen, this staging feels like walking into a resort where every room is a pleasure. And never undervalue the bedroom, it is the place where we spend 30% of our lives. Only Busybee staging can make a bedroom look this warm and inviting…Photos by the amazing Drew Callaghan.

Douglas Fir - The undervalued exceptional wood flooring option.
Mountain style galley dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Description of Waterfront Home Design Challenge: The task was to fill a vast space with 14-foot walls soaring to a peak of 30 feet, using cabinetry that would not appear undervalued or insubstantial. The main question was determining the appropriate height for the cabinetry, considering the scale and proportion of the space, the walk-through to adjoining rooms, window heights, and the height of the refrigerator. Solution: By carefully analyzing these factors, we were able to create cabinetry that perfectly scaled to the grand dimensions of the room. The floor plan featured two islands that effectively filled the space. Key elements included #TheGalley workstations, drop-down televisions, #MouserCabinetry, and secret doors leading to a hidden scullery, all contributing to an extraordinary project.

Busybee Design staged a spacious and elegant home in Queen Village last week and while the view from the rooftop deck is amazing, the real view is within the house! Busybee staging makes this home a place where you want to admire the interior. From multiple living room spaces to a dining room area that flows nicely into the kitchen, this staging feels like walking into a resort where every room is a pleasure. And never undervalue the bedroom, it is the place where we spend 30% of our lives. Only Busybee staging can make a bedroom look this warm and inviting…Photos by the amazing Drew Callaghan.

Description of Waterfront Home Design Challenge: The task was to fill a vast space with 14-foot walls soaring to a peak of 30 feet, using cabinetry that would not appear undervalued or insubstantial. The main question was determining the appropriate height for the cabinetry, considering the scale and proportion of the space, the walk-through to adjoining rooms, window heights, and the height of the refrigerator. Solution: By carefully analyzing these factors, we were able to create cabinetry that perfectly scaled to the grand dimensions of the room. The floor plan featured two islands that effectively filled the space. Key elements included #TheGalley workstations, drop-down televisions, #MouserCabinetry, and secret doors leading to a hidden scullery, all contributing to an extraordinary project.

Description of Waterfront Home Design Challenge: The task was to fill a vast space with 14-foot walls soaring to a peak of 30 feet, using cabinetry that would not appear undervalued or insubstantial. The main question was determining the appropriate height for the cabinetry, considering the scale and proportion of the space, the walk-through to adjoining rooms, window heights, and the height of the refrigerator. Solution: By carefully analyzing these factors, we were able to create cabinetry that perfectly scaled to the grand dimensions of the room. The floor plan featured two islands that effectively filled the space. Key elements included #TheGalley workstations, drop-down televisions, #MouserCabinetry, and secret doors leading to a hidden scullery, all contributing to an extraordinary project.

Description of Waterfront Home Design Challenge: The task was to fill a vast space with 14-foot walls soaring to a peak of 30 feet, using cabinetry that would not appear undervalued or insubstantial. The main question was determining the appropriate height for the cabinetry, considering the scale and proportion of the space, the walk-through to adjoining rooms, window heights, and the height of the refrigerator. Solution: By carefully analyzing these factors, we were able to create cabinetry that perfectly scaled to the grand dimensions of the room. The floor plan featured two islands that effectively filled the space. Key elements included #TheGalley workstations, drop-down televisions, #MouserCabinetry, and secret doors leading to a hidden scullery, all contributing to an extraordinary project.

Considering the fact that an entryway offers the first glimpse inside a home, it’s a seriously overlooked and undervalued area.The entryway might was too small, sparse, dark, or narrow, but we toned it with a major style and storage potential

Laura Collins
Example of an eclectic home design design in Toronto

Rhiannon Slatter
Open concept kitchen - mid-sized contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen idea in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, solid surface countertops, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, gray cabinets, multicolored backsplash and gray countertops

This is an example of an asian backyard landscaping in Bengaluru.

Winner of the RIBA Downland Award 2012. A beachfront property on the south coast of England enjoying stunning views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. Photographer: Martin Gardner

Oscar Kornyei
Example of an eclectic kitchen design in London