A HOUSE SMARTER THAN HOLLYWOOD - SAFETY FIRST Security is...total control - Control4
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A HOUSE SMARTER
THAN HOLLYWOOD
SAFETY FIRST
Security is...total control
HEAVENLY HELL
Automation cooks in
New York’s ‘Kitchen’
Spring 2016
CONTENTS EDITOR’S NOTE
6
UNLOCK THE GENIUS
18
EAT. STAY. SWOON.
WE DON’T NEED ROADS THE WORLD IS GETTING SMARTER.
Clearly, I don’t mean we’re all getting more intelligent (US presidential candidates,
case in point), but smart homes are increasing in number all over the globe. In this
issue we spotlight home automation at its most ingenious, from Colorado to New
What’s the key to a secure This stunning UK eatery shines
England, from England to South Africa, and from Canada to the south of France.
home? Let’s lock down the new light on what it means to
As an aficionado of smart home case studies, I’ve seen one motif again and again:
latest trends in residential drive a new trend in smart and
The homeowner calls in a Control4 Dealer for a kick-a home theater or “just smart
security for smart homes. sophisticated restaurant design.
lighting,” then realizes how amazing whole-home automation can be and decides
to outfit the rest of the house with all the bells and whistles. In this issue, you’ll
24
notice how the magic of lighting shines its beautiful benefits again and again.
You’ll see how a couple in the high desert has trained their smart home to light their house
LIGHTS, CAMERA, per their different preferences come morning, noon, and night, all completely hands-free.
AUTOMATION BORN THIS WAY You’ll experience the exquisitely designed lighting of the hottest new restaurant in the UK, the
Go inside a Canadian home that clean, white light of a house that is itself a celebrity in Ontario, and the sparkling-blue waters
boasts more on-screen credits of the Mediterranean reflecting sunshine as a smart yacht luxuriously rides the waves.
than your average SAG actor. And how about a little heaven in the center of “hell”? A church in New York’s Hell’s
Kitchen has become a smart home so decked out it practically sings “Hallelujah!”
8 32 45 Now, if I may quote those famous words…Let there be light!
Shanan M. Carney
editor@control4.com
MEGA YACHT SMARTS Founder and Editor,
Get on board with this ride.
Home Smart Home
BITS & PIECES
10
Titania is home to the most
extensive home automation
system ever installed on a yacht.
48
HEAR IT ROAR
At the corner of an African nature
38
preserve, this home seamlessly
blends inside with outside and
Smart Home
technology with terrain.
NOTHING TO TOUCH HOME
Living in this energy-
efficient abode high in
the Rocky Mountains, you
needn’t lift a finger.
58
SMART AS HELL
Life under control
12
Every prayer gets answered Editor Shanan M. Carney Control4 Corporation
in this magnificent home Corporate Offices
makeover in Manhattan’s Hell’s Design Jenny Duff 11734 S. Election Road Special thanks to the following contributors:
HOME SAFE HOME Kitchen neighborhood.
Draper, UT 84020 Steven Castle, John Foley, Reuben Maness, Kristian
This New England home keeps Andreev, David Seropian, Dustin Driver, Katie McDaniel,
Copyright ©2016, Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4, the Control4
its family connected no matter logo, the 4-ball logo, 4Store, 4Sight, Control4 My Home, and Everyday Easy are Crystal Watts, Mike Sawyer and Kevin Hole.
where in the world they might be. registered trademarks or trademarks of Control4 Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries. All other names and brands may be claimed as the property
of their respective owners. All specifications subject to change without notice.
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and automate hundreds of
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Smart Watch,
ATLANTIS AV SOLUTIONS, ALLAN INGWERSON
Smart Home STAY IN CONTROL
control4.com/blog
facebook.com/control4fans
The Control4 iOS app now includes
twitter.com/control4
a native Watch app. Quickly and
youtube.com/control4automation
easily access your home, right
from your wrist. Control the audio pinterest.com/control4
or video in a room, access custom
buttons, activate a lighting scene NEW! C4 ON IG.
or turn on only one light. @control4_smart_home
4 5
SMART. SAFE. SECURE.
turn, can then program against in feel to outsiders while the deterrent than a house that seems
it. Say the motion sensor is used family is away on vacation, the bustling with life and activity.
as an alarm trigger at night in the new method is to tie in that smart
downstairs part of the house, but ONE TAP AWAY
not in the upstairs. If the owner gets
up in the middle of the night and There’s no better The advent of wireless security
The FBI reports that in 2014 we goes downstairs to grab a snack, naturally led to full mobile control,
had 1,121,416 residential burglaries the alarm would be tripped. But theft deterrent as well. Security panels no longer
nationwide. Spacing those out the History tab allows sequential need to be hard-wired into the wall
evenly across the entire year gives “If/Then” programming, such as if than a house that by the front door—now they’ve
us one burglary every 28 seconds. motion is detected in the upstairs been re-imagined for touch screens,
But here’s the good news: that part of the house just before it seems bustling with tablets, and mobile phones.
number is down 10% from 2013. In is detected downstairs, then it If one wakes up in the middle
fact, that statistic has been steadily knows not to trigger the alarm. life and activity. of the night to an alarm going off
dropping each year since 2011. Not in another part of the house, he
coincidentally, by 2011, more than ALWAYS OCCUPIED or she can now reach over to the
75% of U.S. homes were connected lighting with media and any other nightstand, grab their mobile device,
to the Internet. Wireless home The Control4 Mockupancy™ automated features. TVs can go and with one tap, the home security
monitoring was the new trend. capability makes even more practical on and off, music can play in the system is dialing the authorities.
Now, in 2016, that trend is hotter use of smart home event indexing. back yard, blinds open and close With more technical capabilities,
than ever. Industry advancements It remembers patterns and can be and more. It can all be programmed more versatility, and the holistic
and enhancements have taken programmed to repeat them. Think to mimic the homeowner’s actual connectivity of whole-home
residential security to a whole new of it as a “whole-home” DVR. patterns, and the schedule can automation, the resources are there
level, specifically when it comes to If the old method was setting be randomized plus or minus a for anyone to make their castle
smart homes. Creating a “burglar- lights on timers to give that lived- half hour. There’s no better theft into a well-defended fortress. ■
unfriendly” environment has never
been simpler. (Or more ingenious!)
SMART SURVEILLANCE
Lilin has introduced an intelligent
video solution—a camera that allows
Keeping the water So you can enjoy
the user to define an area within the
field of view for motion detection.
out of here... the water here.
For instance, one could train the
camera on the front face of a house
and specify the area directly in front notifications are sent to the owner tailored security procedures.
of a window for motion detection. and anyone else on the call list. If the owner receives an alert
If there is movement within those that motion was detected inside
specified coordinates, it will trigger SECRET HISTORY the home, he or she can quickly
an alarm. But if the bushes below check the History tab to see if any
the window blow in the breeze, it Security systems grow more doors had been opened, window
will raise no alarm, even though intelligent each year. In the most glass broken, or any other sensor
they, too, are on camera. recent operating system from triggered before the motion was
And with smart homes, everything Control4, all smart home “events” detected. If they see no previous
works together. The camera’s —motion in an area in the house, events, they can chalk it up to the
function can be tied in with doors opening, alarms tripped, dog moving around the house.
other security tactics. It can be etc.—can be indexed and kept If, however, they see a more
programmed so that once motion in sequence as a searchable conspicuous sequence, they know
ALLAN INGWERSON
is detected in front of the window, history. Seeing all the daily activity to immediately alert the authorities.
the lights inside that very room turn in context like this allows the At a glance, the History tab
on at full brightness, an audible homeowner to better identify false shows the homeowner his or her
Our water damage prevention system will give you the peace of
alarm begins to blare, and push alarms and to create more custom- own patterns. The homeowner, in mind that your home is protected even when you’re away.
6 damitwatercontrol.com (248) 481-7632 7
LIGHTS, CAMERA, AUTOMATION! We’ve Got Your Back ...
We’ve got the cables to optimize your audio and video—to help make
music, comedies and dramas, horror films and sports, and even
If there’s one town where the home automation What was once possible only in the fevered
craze caught on early, it’s Hollywood. For imaginings of Hollywood screenwriters can now political debates—as compelling as possible.
more than 60 years, movies and TV have been be an everyday reality with automation. With that
showing us home automation at its best (and in mind, we thought it would be fun to take a look
worst). Most of these depictions are portrayals back at home technology in film and television, and
of what were, at the time, only imaginary see how the representations of yesteryear compare
technologies. My, how times have changed! with today’s realities.
Blade Runner (1982)
Ridley Scott’s greatest film depicts a grim and gritty future of never-ending rain, where a burnt-out cop
must track down a band of renegade replicants—genetically engineered androids who are all too human.
Moody and atmospheric, the movie showcases several memorable examples of home automation, including Technically competent design, superior materials, noise prevention
dimming windows, motion-sensitive lights and, of course, the Voight-Kampff machine. (Okay, that last one and dissipation—all contribute to better preserving audio and
wasn’t automated, but it was still awesome.) video than any other premium cables. Analog or digital,
WARNER BROTHERS
With a Control4 system, you can automate your windows and lights, link them to motion sensors, and real-time or packetized, AudioQuest cables won’t
program them based on your own remembered usage patterns. But are they really your memories—or corrupt the signal or compromise your pleasure.
somebody else’s?
AQ Cinnamon HDMI cables, shown here, and many more
models and applications, are available through your
Control4 dealer.
8 9
BITS & PIECES For big laughs and
little-did-you-knows
1959
70 percent of Instagram users That’s the year Marvin Minsky, along with the computer scientist
come fromoutside of the U.S.
John McCarthy, founded the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT.
Neurosurgeon Phil Kennedy, An ingestible sensor,
a pioneer in brain-machine developed by researchers from MIT, could
interfaces that enable patients
to control computers with their
allow doctors to monitor vital signs by
minds, is trying to build a system listening to the body’s gastrointestinal
that will translate imagined tract. The device could help treat “chronic
speech into computer speech so
illnesses, monitor soldiers in battle, or even
Instagram that severely paralyzed people
could “talk” just by thinking. help athletes train more effectively.
users
share over
70 million The Artificial Intelligence
(AI) system developed by
photos
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, INSTAGRAM.COM, BLOGS.WSJ.COM, SCIENCEALERT.COM, TRENDHUNTER.COM
Japan’s National Institute
a day! of Informatics is now
smart enough to pass the Microsoft
country’s college entrance HoloLens
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: TECHNOLOGYREVIEW.COM, NEWS.MIT.EDU, POPSCI.COM, TECHNEWSWORLD.COM,
exam, scoring 511 out of devices are
950 possible points. (The expected
national average is 416.) to begin
shipping in the
Photos with first quarter
faces get of 2016.
38 percent
more likes Get a Li-Fi Nothing “complicated”
After testing Li-Fi in offices about this...
and industrial environments
in Tallinn, Estonia, scientists Now, when Facebook
report that they can achieve users update their
data transmission at 1 GB relationship status after a
Designed by DFRobot, Vortex per second—that’s 100 breakup, they’ll be asked
times faster than current if they’d like to see less of
is a new programmable robot that
average Wi-Fi speeds.
functions as an interactive toy and their ex without having to
an educational tool. Yes, it plays with unfriend or block them.
Microsoft HoloLens and Volvo are developing a new
children, but better yet, teaches them holographic technology that would let potential car buyers view
the basics of programming, too. safety feature demonstrations, see car customization options, and
NEWS.MICROSOFT.COM
even take part in virtual test drives without leaving the showroom.
10 11
SAFE AND SOUND
A New England family uses
automation to add security
Project installation by
Complete AV and comfort to their home
F
or any family, the best feeling in the
world is of being protected protected
at home, and today, homeowners
are using smart home technology to
make their homes safer than ever. In a
picturesque neighborhood outside Manchester
in southern New Hampshire, one busy family of
four is just beginning to enjoy the added layers
of security their home automation system gives
them—as well as more than a few unexpected
upgrades in comfort and convenience.
Both parents in this family are fairly tech-
savvy, so when they were building their new
home, they knew they wanted to incorporate
home automation. Their architect called
in Complete AV for the install. Above all
else, the owners wanted to make the home
secure. Beyond that, they weren’t sure what
an automation system could deliver. So the
Every regular visitor
has their own entry
code, so the owners
can keep tabs on
who comes and goes
on a daily basis.
12 13
We’ve created a very secure home.
The system provides a compete
secure barrier around the house.
Images from the
security camera
on the front
porch can be
viewed on any
Touch Screen
or television
in the house.
Complete AV team knew a flexible for us to go with Control4,” Jason sometimes left open accidentally, home, having remote access to the
Control4 system was the way to adds. “They’re all certified partner which is an obvious security issue, house is key. “They both live a fairly
go. “These customers didn’t know Control4 products, so we know leaving the home open to theft. But busy lifestyle,” Jason notes. The
100 percent what they wanted, they’re going to work seamlessly.” here, during a harsh New England owners can operate the security
so we used Control4 to build a And, as promised, the house is winter, leaving a garage door open cameras, arm or disarm the house
system that could be added upon now super-safe. “We’ve created can also be a costly mistake, as or open doors, all from their offices.
easily as the family settles into a very secure home,” notes Rick outside cold air can cause pipes The system features unique entrance
the home and realizes the full Hartley, Complete AV owner. The to freeze and make a mountain of codes for anyone who needs access
potential of their system,” notes owners can control the house damage. Fortunately, here there’s to the house: grandparents, the nanny,
Complete AV owner Jason Hillard. alarm system from any phone, TV an automated fix: LED indicators on contractors, and landscapers—even
Today, the robust system features or interface in the house. They can the Touch Screens show the owners the Complete AV team have their
five video zones, 10 audio zones, trigger the alarm from upstairs if if garage doors are open (red light) own code. When someone enters a
60 zones of security, eight security they see something suspicious on or closed (green light). “They can door, the owners are alerted by text.
cameras, a full Centralized Lighting a security camera image, which just look at a keypad and see the Cameras take pictures of the entrance
system with 60 lighting loads, some they can view from any TV in the status of their doors,” Rick notes. “In and email a still picture of the visitor,
40 window blinds and four door house. Within the home, certain a large house like this, that’s a great as well. If someone is coming or going,
locks. Despite the variety of branded lights go on when those areas of the time saver.” And at night, the system these owners will know as it happens.
products (TruAudio speakers, Yale house are occupied. “The system automatically checks the status of And when the entire family goes
PHOTOS JIM STONE
door locks and SurgeX power provides a completely secure barrier the garage doors at regular intervals on vacation, the system stays home
protectors), everything works around the house,” Rick adds. and closes them if they are open. and works. If the heat drops below
harmoniously on the Control4 Like any home with a garage In a family like this one, in which a specified temperature in chilly
system. “It just made good sense (and kids), the garage doors are both parents work away from the New Hampshire, the owners get a
14 15
they thought they’d never use have
become great conveniences, like being
able to open the third garage door
from the kitchen for the frequently
visiting grandparents. Even with the
constant stream of visitors, everyone
can use the system. “Nannies,
parents, babysitters, everyone can
turn on a TV,” the owner continues.
The owners also love the ability
to customize the system as they
learn it and grow with it. “They can
make simple changes themselves,
or if we need to get involved, 90
percent of the time we can make
the changes remotely,” Jason says.
And so, what started as a basic
security system has become much
more, but the original goal—and
result—remains the same: to increase
safety and security for this New
Hampshire family, whether they’re
home or not. “It totally provides
peace of mind,” the owner adds.
“I love everything about it.” ■
The alarm
text at their beachside vacation parts and subsystems, all system covers
in Florida, and they can send humming smoothly within every door and
window in the
a repair person to handle it. the Control4 system. “On this 4,600-square-
But not every feature of project, we got to show off foot home,
upstairs and
this fine system is focused on what Control4 can do in a downstairs.
security—some features just make medium to larger-sized home.”
life easier. One family favorite So, the installers are happy.
lets mom and dad get a little What about the owners? “They
extra shut-eye after the wee ones love the system,” says Jason.
wake up early. At certain times “It’s really awesome,” one of the
in the morning, the kids can fire owners remarks. “I love having
up their favorite TV channels absolutely no wires anywhere.”
like Disney Jr. or Nickelodeon, They particularly love being
with one button press on the able to control everything no
Touch Screen in the living room. matter where they might be,
With the system complete, and the support and availability
Jason and his team are proud of the install team throughout
of the large number of moving the process. Some features
16 17
Project installation by
GB Integrated Systems Ltd
ILLUMINATING
THE SECRETS OF
TATTU
A new Manchester eatery lights up the town.
D
ining out has never been as trendy. unmentioned. It’s a foodies-eat-food world out there,
Restaurants have stepped up their game in and a successful venture absolutely has to stand out.
foodie society world. The likes of Yelp and Tattu Restaurant and Bar opened in Manchester,
Trip Advisor have given them no choice, England in September 2015, and it stands out. Owned by
really. The competition is thick and the eyes of the brothers Adam and Drew Jones, and featuring Chinese
Internet are everywhere. No establishment goes un- fusion cuisine, the new establishment prides itself on the
reviewed and no blemish on the silverware goes exquisite presentation of its dishes, the extensive array
18 19Diners are The bar area
of cocktails, and, more than anything, like all successful restaurant gurus treated to unique became an type lamps you see in 1930s films.” day to a red wash by late evening.
the unique sensory journey the today, understand that ambiance lighting and immediate Lighting is the first step to creating “All of the elements within the
striking artwork favorite amongst
restaurant delivers to diners. Here are is as key a draw as the menu itself. along with the the Manchester ambiance, and Tattu’s stylish placement space have been designed to engage
some reviews culled from social media: To bring in the high-end clients, the fine food and dating set. of cold whites, warm yellows, and sight, sound, touch and, of course,
custom cocktails.
Favorite restaurant in the UK. Jones brothers went with a high-end wide, mellow reds goes a long way to taste,” says owner Adam Jones.
So individual, food is on point and décor—rich brown padded leather, setting the scene. It’s artwork in itself. “The design details are as such
the atmosphere is like no other. dark mahogany wood paneling, gold- The biggest piece of “light art” that with each visit, a customer will
The interior design makes it a truly framed portraits, and 480 light fittings. in the restaurant is the 20-foot real notice something different—there
magical dining experience. Whether Scott Earing, Director at GB indoor blossom tree. It’s lit up with will be different aromas, lighting
it be for food or drinks, make sure Integrated Systems Ltd, oversaw the RGB color and changes throughout the combinations, music, and other
you experience Manchester’s finest. Control4 installation in the restaurant. day, as well as through the seasons. aesthetic qualities day in and day out.
PHOTOS COURTESY TATTU
Stunning décor, great staff, and the “Originally this job came to us as a It can be adjusted to complement “Control4 has supported our
nicest meal we have had in a long time! lighting control job. Every single light or contrast the weather outside and ambitions to create a completely
Now my fave restaurant! We’ve eaten in fitting in that place is custom. There can be custom-colored for specific unique venue. We can instantly change
top places and this place beats them all! are 108 control circuits and over evening events. Its normal routine is the mood to suit the transition from
Notice that every review mentions 5,000 lamps, mostly incandescent to start off cold white in the morning day to evening to late night. As a result,
atmosphere and décor. Tattu’s owners, LED—a recreation of those filament- and gradually change through the our customers enjoy the experience
20 21HOPPER 3
TM
The new definition of whole-home entertainment.
Watch and record 16 programs at once
4K Ultra HD Resolution
6 Customized mosaic with 6 channels on one screen
YouTube and NETFLIX integrated into universal search
Watch on the go with DISH Anywhere
Control4: IP Integration, SDDP Support
in surroundings that are tailor-made that no other venue has,” Adam
A thick, woven
during the time they spend with us.” explains. “The automation system ceiling gives
While the Control4 automation in allows us to transform the room from texture to the
artful lighting,
use at Tattu is 99% lighting control, exquisite dining parlour to seductive adding to the
several other functions are utilized performance space, changing the sensual ambiance.
in the restaurant’s most exclusive lighting and opening the performance
space, a private room with its own booth in one seamless transition.”
entrance called The Parlour. Indeed, with the tap of a button
Already, Manchester’s most notable on the Control4 Touch Screen, a red
and noteworthy have spent time in spotlight beams on, all the lights fade
this elite room, from pro footballers down in a dramatic 10-second dimming,
to entertainers. The Parlour can host the curtains open, and another spot
a private party for up to 70 people. light illumes the performer in the booth.
Sofas, easy chairs, a private bar, and And the sensory journey continues.
a performance booth all conspire In the history of creative restaurants
to create an almost-speakeasy feel, that feed guests not just wonderful
albeit a very high-class one. food but wonderful experiences, Tattu
“We needed something really special is sure to leave a permanent mark. ■
22 dish.com/cedia 23AS SEEN ON TV
A smart Canadian dwelling gains celebrity status.
D
Nearly every inch of this 10,000-square-foot
home has been automated, including riving up to this sleek, modern home outside several television shows (including some you might
the room closest to the pool, which of Toronto is sort of like approaching a movie have even heard of!) And, like many a famous face,
PHOTOS PETER A. SELLAR
opens to the outdoors in the summer.
star—your heartbeat quickens, you feel a bit this looker made the big time with a combination
of nervous excitement, and you are simply of beauty, solid confidence….and serious smarts.
AND JIM STONE
Project installation by Evolve struck with how good looking something can be Oakville, Ontario is about 37 km south of Toronto.
in person. The crazy thing is, this house is actually It’s a pretty, little burg nestled on the shores of Lake
something of a celebrity, having already starred in Ontario, and it’s the perfect spot for a big name to keep
24 25It’s nearly impossible to detect
the elements of automation,
which work behind the scenes,
allowing the home’s sleek and
modern decor to set the tone.
a low profile. It’s also where was so minimal, there was
one family decided to build very little real estate to add
a new house about five years technology. With wide spans
ago. Their vision? Open, clean, of windows and very few walls,
and minimal—an architect’s installing a network of wires,
dream…and an automation televisions, and speakers was a
installer’s nightmare. Originally, major challenge. Manuel used
the owner wanted just the Control4 solutions to load the
bare basics of automation— system with functionality, while
lighting and some audio/ preserving the ultra-modern
video. He hired Manuel look that the owners desired.
Furtado with Ontario-based During the design process, the
Evolve to do the install. owner learned more about the
Manuel then collaborated possibilities of automation,
with the architect, designer, and added several hi-tech
and home builder to see the goodies to the plan. Today,
owner’s vision through—a the house boasts a robust
truly modern marvel of glass, automation system, featuring
metal, concrete and steel. 12 zones of video, 10 zones
“It’s a very modern design,” of audio, a dedicated home
Manuel notes. (The house theater, lighting, HVAC, and
was designed by Guido shades. The owners can watch
Constantino, the firm behind any video source on any TV,
several stylish Canadian or listen to their personalized
restaurants.) In fact, the design music in any room—the system
26 27“follows” the owners as they
move around the house. As
Motorized blinds
far as smart systems go, this on the home’s
one packs quite the punch. bevy of windows
automatically
But, aside from an occasional rise and lower to
touch screen here or TV maintain interior
temperatures.
screen there, you wouldn’t
know the home was anything
but museum-quality stylish.
It was those top-notch looks
that drew the attention of
television producers, who have
made the house something of
a celebrity by featuring it in
several series. It first starred
on “Four Houses Canada,”
an HGTV series where four
homeowners battle for a
$1000 cash prize and bragging
rights (yes, it won). That burst
of fame caught the eyes of the
creators of “Hemlock Grove,” a
horror thriller series on Netflix,
who then “hired” the house
to appear in that show. Not
a bad acting career, and one
that is certainly not over yet.
While this superstar’s look is
very sleek and clean, touches
of cozy comfort are in every
room. Take the cabana, for
instance. In the summertime,
this wing of the house opens
to become an indoor/outdoor
extension of the back yard,
where the owners can turn on
a TV or listen to music while
enjoying the pool or hosting
a barbecue. But when the
weather changes, so does the
room. “We have some harsh,
cold winters here. We don’t
live in Miami,” Manuel laughs.
When the cold sets in, the
cabana can be sealed up and
transformed into a comfy
den, perfect for gathering
under blankets and lounging
as the snow falls outside.
Meanwhile, hi-tech touches
highlight other spaces. Water
fountains, heated floors,
and other snazzy bits are all
28 29We never go out to real movie theaters anymore…
we’ve got it all here in our basement!
The home
theater sports a
133-inch screen
and 11 oversize
viewing seats.
included on the system. The gym, for below a certain point, the shades will tier 11-seat layout, a 133-inch screen, And so, a stylish home has become
instance, sports two separate AV zones, automatically rise to allow sunlight and 9.2 surround sound audio. It’s a celebrity sensation, and the former
so that the owners can watch two to naturally heat certain rooms. the perfect room to watch a movie, automation-averse owners have
sources on opposite ends of the room Conversely, when indoor temperatures a music video….or, of course, the become full-fledged fans. “They are
while they work out. When the owners rise beyond a certain point, the shades latest episode of Hemlock Grove. very happy with the system,” notes
travel out of town, they can let workers will lower to cool rooms down. “We use the home theater all the Manuel. So happy, in fact, that when the
or cleaners into the house remotely Plenty of particulars give this time,” the owner notes. “The look owners bought a subsequent house,
using the electronic deadbolt locks. residence star appeal, but the biggest and the sound just keep blowing they went full-force with automation.
Additionally, several features billing (and installer Manuel’s proudest us away. We never go out to real In the meantime, we’ll have to wait to
increase the energy efficiency of achievement) is the home theater—a movie theaters anymore…we’ve see what’s next for the star house—a
the house. If the temperature drops cavernous beauty featuring a three- got it all here in our basement!” feature length film? Dare to dream! ■
30 31FAIRY QUEEN OF
THE HIGH SEAS Titania is home to the
largest Control4 system
ever installed on a yacht.
Step into a dream on the motor yacht Titania.
Project installation by
Veritais, United Kingdom
32 33Up to twelve
guests can dine in
style while ocean
breezes kiss their
skin and dolphins
frolic in the
waters nearby.
Titania boasts a
veritable fleet of
tenders, jet skis,
waverunners,
kayaks, paddle
boards, and
aquatic toys of
every description.
I
If you were one of the luckiest With a length of 239’ (73m) and British entrepreneur David Milner. the project undertaken on Titania.
people in the world, you might a beam of 42’ (12.8m), capable of Milner is the founder and general “My team put in over a thousand
find yourself on a small boat housing twelve guests and a full-time manager of Veritais, the high-end man-hours of labor,” says Milner
just off the southern coast of crew of twenty-two, Titania is one of audiovisual and home automation proudly. And as he reels off the
France, racing across the deep the largest privately owned pleasure company commissioned by Titania’s numbers, you can see why. The
blue waters of the Mediterranean crafts in the world. She belongs to owner to design and install “the Control4 system on the Titania
with the wind in your hair and a a well-known British media mogul ultimate automation solution” during uses a 64 x 64 audiovisual matrix
smile on your face. Looking back and philanthropist, who named a recent refit of the superyacht. to deliver video and audio from
over your shoulder, you can see her after the proud fairy queen of “I knew right away it had to be scores of inputs to over two dozen
the morning sun reflecting off the Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Control4,” says Milner. The yacht’s Ultra HD televisions and surround
landmark hotels of Marseille. Facing Dream. The name suits her—not only owner, however, was unconvinced— sound systems throughout the ship.
forward again, your eyes drink in due to her regal appearance, but also until Veritais installed a Control4 There are 16 audio zones and 26
the graceful lines and curves of a because there’s something magical system in his home by way of video zones, each of them outfitted
massive yacht directly ahead. She’s about this ship: Titania is home to demonstration. The billionaire with a Kaleidescape HD movie
anchored less than a mile off shore, one of the most extensive home was immediately won over by player, AppleTV, satellite receiver,
glittering white and silver on the automation system ever installed Control4’s amazing feature set Yamaha amplifier, and a 7" Control4
restive waves, like a luminous pearl on a yacht, a system powered and ease of use, so he gave Milner Touch Screen, which delivers one-
PHOTOS COURTESY VERITAIS LTD.
in a sea of shimmering sapphires. exclusively by Control4 technology. the go-ahead to tackle the task touch control not only of the AV
This magnificent vessel is your And that’s why you are here: to of bringing home automation to system, but also of the more than
destination, and as you get close tour this incredible vessel and see the Titania. Milner admits that it 380 automated lights, curtains, and
enough to truly appreciate her its Control4 system in action. As was a daunting project: though his shades on board, along with six
staggering scale, you begin to you step onto the aft deck, you company has installed Control4 thermostats and ten CCTV cameras.
understand why the Motor Yacht are warmly greeted by the man systems on numerous yachts, none “To my knowledge,” says Milner, “this
Titania is classified as a “superyacht.” you’ve crossed an ocean to meet: of them comes close to the scope of is the largest Control4 automation
34 35The staterooms on Titania feature
disappearing 65” UltraHD TVs, surround
sound audio systems, and fully
automated lights, curtains, and climate
control—all courtesy of Control4.
system ever installed on a yacht.” and his face lights up. “It has appointed staterooms and salons,
And what a yacht it is! Built by exceeded all our expectations!” their sumptuous interiors designed
renowned German shipwrights
Lürssen Yachts, and designed
“What was it like working
with Veritais?” you ask.
by the legendary Francois Zuretti,
your senses reel. Opulent beyond
Lighting and Shading Integration
to embody the very pinnacle of
luxury, Titania has a top speed
“I found Veritais to be a highly
professional and adaptable
imagining, the tasteful decor is
dazzling, dizzying. You feel as if Has Never Been Easier!
of 16 knots and a range of 5000 company,” says Bagshaw. “During you’ve been dosed with a love
nautical miles. Her amenities our time together on this project, potion like the one that bewitched
include two master staterooms, a their ability to problem solve, work the fairy queen in Shakespeare’s Imagine your window interiors in a whole new light. QMotion offers the only
VIP stateroom, an elevator, a gym within our team environment, and play. Your knees grow weak and automated window treatments that can be operated by hand, remote or
with panoramic views, a massage think outside the box allowed us you collapse into the nearest smart device. With the addition of QMotion’s intelligent interface you can
parlor, a beauty salon, a nightclub, to achieve a huge amount of work chair, which turns out to be the communicate with Control4 systems now with Zigbee. By delivering two way
a bridge-deck saloon, a jacuzzi, a in a very short time. It would be a stool before a grand piano. communication through a Zigbee network QMotion and Control4 deliver the
sauna, a pool with a swim-up bar, pleasure to work with them again.” Milner smiles. “Do you ultimate in convenience and flexibility.
and an indoor/outdoor 75" Sony Which just might happen: later, play?” he asks.
4K HDTV (installed by Veritais), Milner confides that after the “No,” you say. “Do you?”
PHOTOS COURTESY TITANIA MANAGEMENT
success of last year’s Control4 “No need.” His hand brushes a
Automation makes life easier. Change your view with QMotion Advanced
plus the services of a master
chef, masseuse, and beautician. installation, there’s been talk of Control4 touchpad, and the piano Shading Systems.
On the superyacht’s bridge— the owner commissioning Veritais begins to play itself, the keys
which is so high-tech it looks like to install a full-size movie theater dropping as if caressed by invisible
the bridge of a starship—Milner on Titania during her next refit. fingers. You listen, entranced,
introduces you to the captain of “That would be brilliant,” says as the strains of Mendelssohn’s
the Titania, Will Bagshaw. You Milner, his eyes shining eagerly. A Midsummer Night’s Dream
ask him what he thinks of the As he leads you through a fill the air like a magic spell.
Control4 automation system, bewildering array of gorgeously Queen of the fairies, indeed! ■
877.849.6070 l QMotionShades.com
Made in the USA
ROLLER SHADES l HONEYCOMB SHADES l DRAPERY RODS l CONTROLS l ACCESSORIES
36 37A LEVEL
ABOVE
Home control and automation
are true no-brainers in this
“high-desert modern” haven.
Hands aren’t required, either.
W
hen Gordon and Lay Chin Nicholson roam
their 3,000-square-foot home overlooking
the mesas near Grand Junction, Colorado,
they have their choice of 24 in-wall lighting
keypads with six buttons each. But, because the house is
automated to the hilt, they rarely touch the keypads.
As they stroll through the house, lights automatically turn
on in the areas they enter, and to their preferences. If it’s
the middle of the night, lights illuminate only to dimmed
levels, so the couple can find their way around without being
blinded—and without touching a thing. “We sometimes
go days without touching a switch,” says Gordon.
Heating and cooling also turn on automatically and
to their preferences, depending on where they are in
the house, and set back to energy-saving levels when
they aren’t present or at home. Motorized shades rise
and lower according to the time of day to help regulate
temperatures inside the house. And a clever whole-
house entertainment system delivers music, movies,
and TV programming in highly customized ways.
This level of smart automation is possible with a network
of sensors, all connected to a Control4 HC-800 Home
Controller and wireless lighting network. Eric Landis,
owner of Grand Junction-based All Sound Designs, which
specializes in hands-free home technology, reports that
30 tiny sensors help trigger the critical functions of the Project installation by
house—inside and out—without anyone touching a keypad. All Sound Designs
38 39The 3,000-square-
foot “high desert
modern” house
appears as if it
grew out of the
hillside. Lots of
windows provide
sweeping views
and help regulate
indoor climate with
motorized shades.
PLEASANT SURPRISES but also wanted it to be easy to views of the high desert, starring from ipe, the Brazilian mahogany- 10 p.m. At the same time, a selection in key pathways and rooms.
use and to save a ton of energy. He the Colorado National Monument toned hardwood, completing a of lights in the home also come If no motion is detected after
Gordon Nicholson is an engineer even had elaborate lighting plans and Grand Mesa. Livermont refined natural feel of a place on to 20 percent levels to create a set time, the pathway lights
by trade and plenty tech savvy, but with a full range of flexible control. designed the home in what he that folds into and complements an “Ambiance” scene throughout shut off to conserve energy.
he never expected the level of smart Using energy-efficient LED lamps terms “high desert modern” style, its rugged surroundings. the residence, highlighting After 10 p.m., the house
home sophistication he and Lay for all of the home’s lighting and with its contemporary rock-clad the couple’s art collection. enters “Late Night” mode and
Chin now experience every day. automating the climate control made and stucco forms appearing as AMBIANCE OF AUTOMATION The Nicholsons wanted to display any light triggered by a motion
Surprise after surprise faced the home automation a true no-brainer. if they had emerged from the art collected from their travels. sensor comes on at dimmer
Nicholsons, from the moment a But when the Nicholsons met mountain. Slanted roofs mimic PHOTOS COURTESY GORDON NICHOLSON
Behind the cowboy country Glare and the threat of fading levels around 10 percent to
bicycle ride up a bluff near Grand Landis and heard about hands-free the slope, and open decks extend views and comfortable modern from ultraviolet light inspired a eliminate the blinding effect.
Junction revealed the lot for sale— lighting, Gordon was skeptical. Then to wide-open vistas. The dining decor, sensors and timers work gallery that wraps around the walls During the day, most of the
and at a welcoming price. The couple he experienced it for real. “Touring room even opens to the outside. in concert with the Control4 that frame the staircase, which, lights in the home are not active.
snatched up the land, hired architect the other home [Eric] had done, we Wood trim adds warmth with system to light, heat and cool the of course, lights automatically Only areas that are naturally
Lancer Livermont of Intermountain began to get an appreciation going Douglas fir ceilings at the entrance house, hands- and mind-free. as one ascends or descends, dark during the day are active.
Architecture in Grand Junction, and up stairways and through hallways and in overhangs, quarter-sawn oak Fifteen minutes before sunset, depending on the time of day. When the Nicholsons actually
began plans. Nicholson wanted his and seeing the lights go on.” cabinets, hardwood oak flooring the home enters “Evening” mode. When the home enters “Evening” need to touch a lighting keypad,
new home to be technologically The finished house sits on the and extra wide oak trim. The tops The outside lights are programmed mode, the motion sensors button presses always override
equipped with home automation brow of a hill with 360-degree of the steel cable railings are made to come on and then turn off at become active and trigger lights automation. “If a light switch in
40 41the home is manually turned
on, it will come up to full
power, even if the light was
turned to a dim mode by a
motion sensor,” says Landis.
Six centrally located
thermostats rely on
temperature sensors in the
house and are programmed
with set points for different
times of day. In-floor heating
in the bathrooms turns on
for four hours in the morning
and four hours in the evening
to warm the floors. The
thermostats are also regulated
by occupancy sensors, so if no
one is in a zone for two hours,
the thermostat sets back to an
energy-saving temperature.
Other big energy savers
include the 30 motorized
Hunter Douglas shades,
programmed to rise and
lower at certain times to
control solar gain, which can
be a hot problem in the high
desert summer. The shades
on the east side lower in the
morning, and those on the
west side in the afternoon. In
less sunny areas, shades are
timed to display the great
views during the day and
then close after sunset.
The window shading and
energy-efficient lighting
complement the 7kW
photovoltaic solar system
that provides electricity.
Livermont says the Nicholsons
have achieved a net gain
on their electricity bills in
their first year there.
Yale Works for You
“[The home automation]
Home and lighting controls are
system perfectly dovetails SM
everywhere, but rarely do the
homeowners touch a switch or what we’re doing with design,”
keypad. Sensors trigger automated
says Livermont. “Having
lighting scenes for energy-efficient
LED lamps throughout the home. control of the interior shading Complete security of your smart home
helps manage the passive
solar design, and automated or small business with Yale Connected Smart Locks
VISIT yalelock.com
42 An ASSA ABLOY Group brand 43lighting controls save on
energy consumption.”
In addition, the garage
door sensor ties into the
security system and a
driveway sensor alerts the
house to guests arriving with
an audible tone over the
house-wide audio system.
Entertainment wasn’t left
out. Gordon and Lay Chin
enjoy his and her Sonos
systems over the in-ceiling
speakers throughout the
house. Apple TVs and a TiVo
Roamio, with TiVo Minis behind
each TV, provide video on
demand everywhere, without
employing a complicated
and complex video matrix, or
switching system. The TiVo
Minis are connected over the
network to the Roamio, and
the audio from the Apple
TVs and TiVo Minis are fed
into the Control4 amplifier,
then to the speakers.
The backbone is a
networking system using
Ubiquiti access points that
allow easy roaming through
the house without losing a
Wi-Fi signal. “The unified
system creates a nice, smooth
umbrella,” says Landis.
All of it, of course, is
operable from an app—even
the ceiling fans, fireplace,
and outdoor water fountain.
Remote access is a prime
feature for the couple, who
travel a lot but like to check
in on the home front. Water
and low temperature sensors
can alert them to a problem
ILLUSTRATION KRISTIAN ANDREEV
Entertainment is available on demand
with leaks or frozen pipes. via “His” and “Hers” wireless music
“The flexibility of this system systems and Apple TVs and TiVo Minis
hidden behind each TV, all operated by
is amazing,” says Nicholson the Control4 system.
by phone, as he checked up
on his super-smart home—
remotely of course. ■
44 4546 47
HARDCORE
HI-TECH HOUSE
At the corner of
an African nature
preserve, Kloof Road
House seamlessly
blends inside
with outside.
Architecture and automation
combine in the smartest way. Project installation by
Complete AV
48 49A modernist fortress perched high
in the hills above Johannesburg,
South Africa, Kloof Road House
is a marvel of concrete, steel, and glass. It
commands the attention of any passing eye with
its brutally stunning right angles, sharp edges,
and stark contrasts. It serves as a residential A few strategically
placed switches and
home, but feels more like a setting for futuristic touch screens are all
sci-fi thrillers featuring advanced technology. one sees of the whole
And advanced technology it has! Home home automation,
opposite. Wireless
automation experts BNC Technology, a full- technology allows
service systems integrator out of Johannesburg, the architecture to
be strikingly center
worked with the South African design firm stage, above.
Nico Van Der Meulen Architects to seamlessly
PHOTOS COURTESY LUXURY BRANDS
ingrain the necessary technology into the
bones of the house. The result is complete
WiFi coverage, automated HD AV setups in
virtually every room (including a concealed
TV that rises out of the kitchen counter), and
remote control of over 70 blinds, all without
any visible cabling or unsightly wiring. The raw
beauty of the home, the iconoclastic sculpture
50 51of the architecture, is unmarred by the full
home automation, which is controlled by a few
Control4 Touch Screens that have been installed
in the most-trafficked areas of the house.
“Too often we find there is a big
misconception about when the home
The convenient
indoor-outdoor flow technology professionals should be brought
is made possible by in to consult on the project,” says BNC
home automation,
below. Wireless founder and MD Nick Caripis. “We’ve found
technology allows it commonly (and incorrectly) perceived that
the architecture to
the systems designer isn’t needed until the
be strikingly center
stage, opposite. house is built and ‘ready for the equipment.’
On the contrary, the designer should become
part of the project at its earliest stages.”
BNC was brought in at the design stage to
fulfill all the home automation needs except
the lighting. Another contractor was given that
task, and unfortunately installed a, what the
owners considered, sub-par lighting system.
The problem didn’t “come to light,” as it were,
until the homeowner moved in and began living
with it. Malfunctions of the lights, intermittent
reliability, and convoluted programming drove
the owner to ask Caripis and his BNC team
52 53The spacious
living room
if they could remedy the situation. lights, and replacing the electrical
doubles as a BNC was happy to oblige, but bus system. They successfully
lanai, rendering the project had its challenges. The upgraded the automated lighting to
the occupant
both indoor and wiring that needed to be replaced the Control4 system, and got it done
outdoor at the was now embedded under concrete within the requested timeframe. The
same time.
and steel. Add to that the client’s homeowner was pleased, and quickly
mandate to have it all finished within adapted to the one-tap technology.
a two-week period, and Caripis “Only now that he’s moved into his
had his work cut out for him. house does he realize how much
“It was a rush job, but we knew he needs it and how valuable it is
we could do it using a combination to his lifestyle,” Caripis tells us.
of wireless technology and off-the- He adds that he’s seen that same
shelf controllers,” says Caripis. “In reaction in many other BNC customers.
the past we never would’ve been “In fact, clients really need to be able
able to do it without breaking the to interact with the systems first, and
home to pieces to run wires. With see how they work. There is no better
this house that just wasn’t an option. way to show them how easy and Organically
Nearly every wall is solid and has flexible home automation can be.” playing off the
architecture,
an amazing custom finish.” To that end, Caripis and his crew the automated
BNC solved the problem by built a full showroom in the BNC lighting is
designed to add
performing remedial work on all industrial space on the edge of to the home’s
switches, adding some wiring to the Johannesburg. This showroom distinct style.
54 55features a full theater with customizable
lighting, an automated lighting system
throughout the building, and a display
case for the building’s electronics rack.
Customers are invited to get a feel for
the ease of use and the convenient
benefits of whole home automation.
BNC is currently working with
Kloof Road House’s architect on a
new home in Johannesburg. Again,
the house will be designed and built
with a home automation system
from the start. “One of the key
elements to a successful project is
comprehensive and organized design
during the planning phase,” he says.
The Kloof Road House architecture Floor-to-ceiling
optimizes its views with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors
bring the magic
windows and doors that open up to
of the evening
the outside in every room. The house into the home,
is designed to integrate the outside above. High-tech
amenities, high-
with the inside seamlessly. And just so, quality furnishings,
the home automation has holistically and high-end
design give the
integrated into the lifestyle of the house’s house a mystique
occupants. It’s part of the landscape. ■ like no other, below.
56 57HOLY HOME MAKEOVER!
A New York City church becomes a
smart home, with a surprise interior.
T
he old adage has
never been truer:
Don’t judge a book
by its cover. Case
in point? This stunning New
York City six-story townhouse.
From the curb, this stately
beauty in the Hell’s Kitchen
neighborhood exudes classic
New York brownstone. But
few passers-by know of
this property’s unusual past
life—or of what now lies
behind the front doors.
Before the current owner
bought it, this property was
actually part of a catholic
church called The Church
of the Sacred Heart. The
building served as the rectory,
where the Brothers lived and
studied to become priests.
“My dream was to turn it into
a single-family home,” notes
the owner, who wishes to
remain anonymous. So, after
Project
installation by purchasing the 110-year old
Kraus Hi-Tech building, he gutted it and
Home Automation
designed the home he had
always wanted for himself,
his wife, and three sons.
And, this owner’s vision was
PHOTOS REVEN T.C. WURMAN
The top-most
floors of the six-
level residence
are cantilevered,
adding 16 extra Automation shortcuts save
feet to the unnecessary ups and downs
master suite and via the stairs, as stylish and
rooftop deck. modern as they may be.
58 59The owner and installer
both agreed that Control4
made the most sense to power
the system. The owner has a
different brand of automation
in his Connecticut home, one
that has limited his options
because only the native brand
of components will work
on the system. “I was stuck
with this ‘gated community’
style vendor,” the owner
notes. “Control4 offers a
more open platform. It was a
flexible, and a cost-effective
solution.” The Kraus team
concurred. “It was really a
matter of value,” Stephen says.
“Even though the Control4
control equipment is robust
and feature-laden, it’s less
expensive, so you can spend
more money where it matters...
on the displays, speakers, on
the stuff you’re controlling
rather than the control of it.”
And so, together with an
architect, the owner and the
installer transformed the
former rectory into a future-
forward, 8,000-square-foot
an unusual one: He wanted Tech Home Automation for Those enjoying family home. Some floors
the “man cave”
to keep the exterior in the the install. This is a group that on the parlor level were partially removed to
classic brownstone decor, but knows automation—they did can reach people create ultra-vaulted ceilings.
on other floors
inside, he wanted a totally all 400 rooms at Trump SoHo, via intercom,
“We enjoyed the owner’s
different look. “I wanted a the first fully-automated hotel or via a quick participation very much in
elevator ride.
classic facade outside, but in New York City. At the onset, the design process,” Stephen
when you walk in, you’re in the plan for the new home notes. The look is sleek
a modern loft.” Outside: all system was fairly elementary, and modern, and it’s laden
New York; inside: all Miami. just lighting in the staircase with smart features. The
Having experienced the and common areas. “But, system includes lighting,
power of automation with a as the owner learned more distributed video, 15 audio
basic system at his Connecticut about what automation could zones, HVAC integration, two
home, this owner knew his do, we were able to pinpoint door stations, two Wireless
revamped city dwelling a design for him,” Stephen
would be a smart home. “In notes. And to realize the vision
such a vertical space, I knew of the modern interior, the
automation was an essential,” owner knew high-tech would The automated
he says. “When you’re up on help. “There’s no way you can shades on the
super-sized
the sixth floor, and you left the recreate that modern look south-facing
radio on on the first floor, it’s without integrating it with windows lower
automatically
no fun.” So, he enlisted Stephen the modern conveniences of when house is set
Kraus and team at Kraus Hi- technology,” he explains. to “Away” mode.
60 61You can also read
