Renovations have rapidly evolved to become more than just a visual facelift over the previous few years. With the widespread use of Google Homes and Amazon Alexas, interconnected “smart” homes are the next step in upgrading your home. Linking aspects of your home, from everything to timing lights to turn on to controlling the stove has brought a level of customization and control to our homes in ways we never would have thought of, even just ten years ago.
Let’s take a look at some of the most in-demand ways to incorporate smart devices, smart appliances and other smart ways your home can function.
Smart Fridges
Gone are the days where a magnetic whiteboard did all the heavy lifting of the kitchen. Smart fridges, with large, touch-screen displays, are capable of maintaining grocery lists that you can sync to your phone, and setting expiration dates on food within the fridge - in which you’ll receive reminders to use up before it expires. Several smart fridges also feature interior cameras, which you can view while shopping to ensure there’s never anything you forgot to pick up. Able to cast videos from your phone, view recipes, and leave notes for the family, a smart fridge is the epicentre of the kitchen.
Smart Lights
It’s 7:30am. Your alarm goes off, just as it does every morning. As it’s beeping, the lights slowly begin to light up over the course of a minute. Just turning on the lights is a harsh, rude awakening. So, instead, you set the lights to turn themselves on, slowly lighting up your room. With smart lighting systems you can set timing and intensity, syncing up a completely customizable calendar. Being able to remotely turn on and off your lights also acts as an additional security benefit, as having the lights on and off periodically can detract possible burglaries while you’re out of town for work or on a vacation.
Smart Washers and Dryers
Your clothes are important, and how you wash them is crucial to keeping them looking their best. These app-connected appliances are capable of giving you full control over custom wash and dry options. Setting up timers is a breeze, and most even respond to voice commands through their respective apps. There’s never a need to try and listen for the beeps when a cycle is finished, as a notification will be sent your way on your phone.
These are just a few of the ways smart devices are turning our homes into fully connected smart-homes, giving us complete control over every single aspect of our living spaces. Are you ready to start renovating your home to better suit your changing needs? George Martin of Well Balanced Designs is one of Vancouver’s leading Design-Build experts, with over 46 years of experience in construction and renovations. He is familiar with Vancouver’s building types and materials, from basement suites to laneway homes and Yaletown condos to Westside single-family homes and larger homes on the North Shore. Schedule a call with George today to discuss your smart-home needs.
