Home automation has not only changed but improved the way our household functions. It is like having a personal assistant on demand, increasing effective time management. It allows me to be the mother I aspire to be, fully enjoy my family, and make sure I have time for self-care. This is a day in the life of our automated home…
Wake-up settings for the weekdays are programmed to open all the shades letting in natural sunlight. Classical music comes on to stimulate our brains in all the right ways. The thermostat also slowly adjusts before the alarm wakes us up, so we jump out of bed, ready to take on the day.
“Alexa, turn on the coffee.”
I make sure my kids are on task with dressing, while the devices in the kitchen go to work on demand. We use a control panel on our bedroom wall to let the dogs out of their room downstairs. The private doggy door opens into the backyard and closes after detecting they are outside.
Smart-devices in the kitchen simplify mealtime. I grab granola, fruit, and yogurt from the fridge, and quickly scan for provisions, using the automated door panel to send an order to the grocery delivery service. They will deliver while we are at work, eliminating the need for shopping later. My husband pours us both a coffee, and discuss some plans for the evening while waiting for the kids to come down for breakfast. A fully automated kitchen allows precious moments to slow down and be present as a family. We can actually sit together before school and work, eating and chatting.
When our nanny arrives to help with the kids, I use the smart-home app to disarm the alarm, unlock and open the front door for her. I see my family off for the day, and I am alone in the house for a glorious hour before I have to leave for meetings with clients.
“Alexa, start my spa shower.”
I use the app again to lock the doors and transform the master bathroom into a tranquil sanctuary. The classical music changes to ambient spa vibes, and the lights dim to a glow. When I step into the shower, the tile is warm and the water temperature is perfect, allowing me to fully relax.
After showering, I utilize voice commands to activate the Smart Mirror above my bathroom vanity. A screen appears directly in front of me, just below eyeline, a bit larger than an iPad, but not an obstruction for the rest of the mirror. Light bars on either side illuminate fully, and I tap the glass to check my email and calendar. I can mentally prepare for my day while I dry my hair and get dressed. I indulge in my favorite blog sites while I brush my teeth, gathering creative inspiration.
At last, I grab my bag and keys, leaving my sanctuary behind, and head for the door. My smart-home gives me freedom and flexibility to turn everything off, and lock down the house with just one click. I take off for work assured that my house is in an eco-savvy sleep mode.
When Amazon delivery arrives, the alert goes to my husband’s phone. He can let them in via his app and watch the whole process on camera. Our nanny has limited access to control parts of the house as well, through the same app on her phone. She returns with the kids after school to do the evening routine, greet the dog walker, and start prepping meals for that night and the next morning. She even monitors the dogs for us during the day, through the remote app.
By the time we arrive home, dinner is on the table. I tap the screen on my smartphone to set the scene for “weekday evening.” The lights dim and the shades come up over the west windows, revealing a sunset view. Our ambient fireplace flickers to life, and the speakers surround us with a mellow moody beat. We can drop everything and just focus on each other.
Our home system allows us to set all of the lighting to a natural glow for the rest of the evening. This ensures there are few disruptions in circadian rhythm, encouraging an easy transition to bedtime for the kids. After brushing the teeth, getting into PJs, reading bedtime stories, and giving lots of snuggles, we can depend on the presets of our automated home to put the house into sleep mode. One tap of the app and the lights go off, doors lock down, and security system sets. The air conditioner kicks on, lulling us off to restorative sleep. The day is done.
“Responsive Living,” the term coined by Acoustic Architects founders, Aaron Flint, and Spencer Hauldren, is the concept of seamlessly enhancing the client’s unique lifestyle using smart-home technology. Responsive Living allows you to interact with your space via touch input, voice command, and predictive automation, placing you in full control of your home.
If you would like to learn more about home automation, feel free to connect with us. We will be happy to schedule a demo with you.
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