Sneak a look inside these automated homes for luxe styling ideas
In the grand room scheme of things, technology is no longer taking a backseat – it’s now as important a fixture on our interior moodboards as the paint, fabric and furniture. Top interior designers will agree, the gadgets we choose to furnish our properties play a key part in our style at home.
High end smart home automation companies such as Crestron and Control4 are stepping up to make it easier than ever before to stylishly incorporate the latest technologies into our homes. These systems won’t be for everyone, but even if you take a more do-it-yourself approach, you’ll still find some smart home style inspiration to steal.
With its elegant control systems, Crestron is designed to integrate and automate all the connected devices in your home. This means your lighting, heating, security and audio and visual capabilities can be personalised and accessed easily, to work in harmony with rest of the décor in your home.
Tech can be controlled via a touch screen panel on the wall, tablet or your smart device and be linked to Amazon Alexa so you can also activate features using your voice. Sounds like a dream? It is. And so are the beautiful homes Crestron has kitted out with latest tech, a few of which you can tour here. Click through the galleries to see throughout the house.
Classic meets contemporary (London, UK)
Clean lines, floor-to-ceiling windows and opulent finishes help to create eye-catching rooms in this apartment, which is in London’s Belgravia. The owners wanted each room to be discreetly packed with lots of clever tech, so they turned to the interior design team at Leconfield Property Group and high-end AV specialist Knektd to make their dreams a reality.
Walls and ceilings feature versatile automated tech, hidden away behind the beautiful furnishings and accessible via the bespoke Crestron touch panels. In the reception room for example, a press of a button will make the Damien Hirst artwork rise to reveal a 55-inch 4K TV. The speaker then drops down and an extended arm gives the ideal viewing position.
Another noteworthy feature is the motion detector capabilities in several of the rooms – walk into a room and it will brighten automatically.
When you enter the office, for example, the lights will come on and the smart TV will flick itself onto the owner’s favourite channel. In the bedroom, the tech is equally impressive with smart keypads built into the millwork of the bedframe to control the lighting, audio and visual tech and an ‘All Off’ button easily reachable before going to sleep.
Eaton Square gallery
Urban Minimalist (London, UK)
A major renovation in this London property – from five studio flats to one single house – has created a modern and functional family home. The scheme is fresh and contemporary and inspired by the cool, neutral shades of Scandinavia. The hidden tech is equally uncomplicated and stylish. London-based installer Intellicasa were called upon to add smart features using a Crestron control pad. The entire home’s automation functions including audio, visual, heating, lighting, door entry, alarm and security cameras can be controlled via a single app on the wall-mounted panel, as well as the owner’s smartphone and tablet.
A feature the owners have found particularly reassuring is the bedside lighting keypads, which activate the alarm and lights in case of emergencies.
The home has also been futureproofed, with the tech installed to potentially add connected blind and shading control in the living and kitchen areas, as well as air conditioning throughout. The owner have also set their sights on adding voice-activated control via Amazon Echo, which Intellicasa will be linking to the Crestron setup later on in the year.
Harvist Road gallery
Modern Luxe (Buckinghamshire, UK)
Luxurious finishes in fixtures and fittings create soothing spaces in this beautiful, detached family home. It’s situated in a picturesque part of Buckinghamshire with American-style tree-lined roads and the area is often referred to as ‘Mini Hollywood’ due to its celebrity residents.
Inside the home, a full Crestron home-automation solution was installed by integration company ClearSphere. Touchscreen control panels on every floor give simple access to the lighting, heating, audio, visual, security and door entry features.
The owners love their bespoke lighting scenes that can be easily switched on for everyday tasks such as working in the office, relaxing in the bathroom or entertaining in the open-plan kitchen. Another stylish feature is the extension of the Creston system into the garden, which gives the owners access to atmospheric lighting schemes and music – ideal for parties and long summer evenings outside.
Fulmer Drive gallery
Cool and characterful (Oxfordshire, UK)
A pop of subtle colour brings to life the calming scheme that has been created in this Oxfordshire home, which by day is the ideal country retreat and by night is the perfect party space.
It’s the media room that houses most of the home’s smart tech. Here a Crestron control system installed by Inspired Dwellings creates a versatile space that works as a home-cinema room, a living area, bar and study in one.
The home cinema system includes a 4K projector, as well as a speaker system and six audio zones for impressive surround sound throughout the room, which can all be controlled via the Crestron control panel. Lighting and shade controls have been added in too, as has a smart security camera system for peace of mind. With a stocked up drinks bar, vintage gaming tables and comfy sofas you’d never want to leave the room.
The Well House gallery
Unique chic (London, UK)
With its curvaceous and characterful interior and exterior, this Westminster apartment building designed by Stirling Prize winning architects Stanton Williams overlooks London’s River Thames. The interior has been carefully considered to make the most of the views and the property’s lofty stature and natural light.
It is integration experts Smartcomm who, using a Crestron automation system, have kitted out the interior with lots of intuitive tech to control the music, TVs, lighting and computers throughout.
A 5.1 surround sound system that can be instantly accessed via a Crestron app and control panel – flush-mounted within polished chrome faceplates on the walls – ensures the living room offers the owners an authentic cinema experience from the comfort of their sofa. If they prefer, however, they can make use of the Aquavision TVs in the bathroom and watch their favourite series from the comfort of a bubble bath.
Riverwalk gallery
Images: Harvist Road by David Parr
