LUXETRENDS™
LUXURY HOME TECHNOLOGY
It's official - high-tech gadgetry has infiltrated every facet of modern living. Most homes are filled with desktop and laptop computers, home theater systems, gaming consoles, media players and numerous televisions. The vast selection in the home electronic and communications market can be overwhelming. For those with a modern luxury home the decisions can take on greater significance: LCD TV or plasma? What components best fit the home theater space? Which speakers should be used for the surround sound audio system?
Companies like Bang & Olufsen have built their success upon helping home owners find answers to their technology questions, with the philosophy that "technology should work for people, not the other way around." Other companies also are seeing the importance of streamlining technology solutions and creating products that satisfy the needs of the luxury homeowner.
While the above questions can be debated and answered a number of ways, one thing that cannot be disputed is the desire of today's luxury homeowner to integrate all of their components into an all inclusive home technology system. One company that offers the freedom of complete home automation is Crestron. Continually recognized for their excellence in the home technology field, Crestron offers systems that simplify the mélange of devices in the luxury home, allowing the user to control audio/video equipment, adjust lighting, close and open window treatments, change the temperature and check security systems - all from one touch panel or remote keypad. They also offer several touch panel options, including wall-mounted, tabletop and wireless devices that put total home control in the palm of your hand. For example, if it is movie time, the touch of a button can bring the lights down, open the projection screen and start the movie of your choice.
Before deciding on how to automate your home theater, the actual space may need to be constructed. The home theater room is now a staple in luxury homes, with elaborate setups that rival or even surpass what is found at the local multiplex. Enormous screens revealed by a plush curtain, multiple rows of stadium seating lined with reclining leather chairs, ornate moldings and decorative light sconces are not uncommon in today's luxury home theater.
For over a decade, Design Cinema Privée has utilized a highly skilled team to design and build dream home theaters for the ultimate luxury experience. Their elegant theaters are present throughout homes across North America and Europe, and they are accredited by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the Audio Engineering Society and THX. Design Cinema takes pride in the meticulous construction of the theater from the ground up, combining the aesthetic desires of the client with the technology necessary to create the optimal sound and picture quality for the room.
The interior features of the home aren't the only systems being automated, as evidenced by the weatherTRAK Smart Irrigation System. This innovative system uses local weather information and the unique layout of your landscape to determine when and how much water to use when irrigating. In contrast to other traditional irrigation systems, weatherTRAK makes adjustments based on local weather data, soil and plant type and the degree of yard slope. In addition, the Internet-based control allows you to manage the data and water output remotely. This smart system reduces water usage, which makes the system not only easy to use, but also environmentally friendly.
Not long ago we had to carry CDs for portable music players, unfold a paper map for directions and make all phone calls from a landline. Now iPods hold thousands of songs, portable GPS devices help guide the way and cell phones with a multitude of features keep us constantly connected. Similarly, innovation is rapidly changing the way luxury homeowners experience and control the gadgetry in their extraordinary dwellings.