Is smart home technology the future of home remodeling

Smart Home Technology and Remodeling

If you're planning a remodeling project, have you been keeping up with the trend in new technology for the home? The smart home has arrived, and there are some innovative technological products that you can incorporate into your remodeling project to make your life safer and more comfortable, plus, you can add value to your home.

Today, 30 million homes have at least one smart device - nearly doubling since 2015. From voice controlled faucets to refrigerators with built-in WiFi that can keep track of your groceries and send your shopping list to your smartphone, smart technology and devices are becoming a requested addition to more remodeling project every day!.

Let's look at some significant trends and devices in smart home design that homeowners are integrating into their home remodeling projects.

The Mainstreaming of Smart Home Technology

Smart Home Technology Madison WI — Lighting Controls

This storybook lake house was outfitted with Control-4 lighting controls, in a way that is inconspicuous and unobtrusive.

Home automation used to be reserved for high-end homes and early adopters who needed to have the latest technology. Today, as price points have come down, homeowners are flocking to the technology in droves. As products like Amazons Alexis and Echo Dot gain traction, voice control is becoming the reality of the smart home. While individual smart appliances like smart light fixtures and voice-controlled faucets are available, today, remodelers need to be well versed in one or more smart home platforms to meet increasing homeowner demands. Technology from Samsung, Amazon, Google, and Apple can function as voice-controlled smart home hubs and integrate with home systems like heating/cooling, media, and security.

While Millennials have been the early adopters of this technology, homeowners who are choosing to age in place are a natural and growing market for this technology. In fact, the Living in Place Institute offers a comprehensive training and certification program for remodeling professionals.

Technology is becoming a major factor in the aging-in-place strategy and homeowners planning on remodeling to better prepare their home for their future needs are turning to smart security systems, lighting, and smoke alarms to ease their future living.

Remodeling Your Kitchen or Bath? Smart Technology is Here!

Along with smart lighting, security and HVAC controls, smart technology has made its way into the two most frequently remodeled rooms in the house; the kitchen and bath.

Connected appliances like voice-activated shower controls and smart appliances that make cooking a breeze are here and were heavily featured at the annual Kitchen, and Bath Industry Show held on February. Another star of the show was Smart Toilets which feature automated cleaning and motion-activated lights that reduce the risk of nighttime falls.

At the Consumer Electronics Show, the smart appliances made the most substantial impact. New connected devices like Samsung's Family Hub smart refrigerator, and the Whirlpool Cabrio washing machine which can be controlled using a smartphone app, are showing up on more homeowner's wish lists. Taking this to another level, appliances are becoming more integrated with each other, for example, Bosch Home Connect ovens can be connected to the Nest Protect smoke detector. In the event the Protect smoke detector goes off, the oven is automatically shut off.

As the technology continues to mature, more design-build contractors are becoming knowledgeable about the technology and options available and integrating them into remodeling projects as homeowners demand increases.

On a Budget? A Smart Home Is Still Attainable

Yes, all of these smart options come with a price tag. There are other automated options which can be included for less money. A few easy ideas are motion sensor lighting in walk-in closets and pantries. Timers or humidity sensors on bathroom vent fans. Constant operation bathroom vent fans that operate at a slow, constant rate and ramp up to full speed when necessary. Do-it-yourself options are also available from the brands mentioned earlier.

Here at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel, we are up to date on the latest technologies, and we can offer our clients smart home services as a part of our design process. Our design team can help to educate you and offer you options for your remodeling project. If your goal is to age in place, integrating smart technology into your kitchen remodel, bathroom update and throughout your home can keep you safer and improve your living standards as you age.

Additional Articles on Home Remodeling

If you're planning a home remodeling project and live in the Madison, Wisconsin area, give the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call. We're always happy to answer your questions! Let us help you to create your dream home, including new smart technology!

This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 7/25/2018.

An Above the Garage Master Suite Addition Remodeling Project

We recently completed an addition for our clients, John and Amy, a professional couple with young children living in the Blooming Meadows neighborhood in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

Their home featured three bedrooms on the second floor. The existing master bedroom was outdated and impractical for modern living, and with three young children, two needed to share one of the two remaining bedrooms, and all three kids shared the second-floor bathroom. Another problem the family needed addressed was that John needed a private home office, and the one they currently had was a shared space that did not work well for his job.

Let's take a look at our creative solution for this young family!

A New Private Bathroom for the Adults!

One of the major elements on John and Amy's wish list was a private bathroom space just for them. They wanted plenty of space to get ready in the morning, away from the kids, and we delivered! The bathroom features a handcrafted Amish custom double vanity with a tower cabinet in alder wood, stained Carbon Gray. The contrasting Linnstone Quartz Calcutta pattern countertop brightens the space and ties in visually with the elegant tile work in the spacious walk-in shower. We added custom alder wood framed mirrors stained in the same Carbon Gray as the cabinets to complete the vanity. Over each of the mirrors, we installed Quoizel 2 light vanity fixtures to provide plenty of warm light.

In the shower, the 21st Century Tile 12x24 floor-to-ceiling tiles in Tivoli Silver give the room a bright and modern feel, and the low entry shower makes entering the shower safe and easy for the couple. We included a helpful niche in the shower for shampoo and other toiletries and, for contrast, used a beautiful hexagon mosaic accent tile. The glass doors give the space an open feel, making it bright and inviting. The Arbor Hills luxury vinyl plank flooring in timber adds a warm feel, giving the room a natural look with the benefit of waterproof LVP.

The Result

The final result of this second-floor master suite addition is a home that fits John, Amy, and the kid's needs and lifestyle perfectly. John now has the perfect private office space. Since John and Amy now have their private master suite, and each of the kids has their own bedroom giving them their own space to grow as they grow, their home is more comfortable and functional. And on the exterior, you can't even tell there's been an addition!

Are you considering an addition or other home improvement project? Let us help you design the perfect finished space! If you live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Ready to learn more? We're always happy to answer your questions.