Inside a Fully-Connected Smart Home

This family home has been fitted with a complete smart technology system that can used whether the owners are home or away

by CEDIA

29th March 2018

To enhance their house revamp, the owners of this family home decided to employ BrownHen Solutions to deliver a whole house smart technology solution that would also offer flexibility for any future upgrades within the constraints of their modest budget.

The family wanted the setup to fit in with the property’s aesthetics, support some of their existing technology and offer remote operation.

Central control

Taking a holistic approach to installing the inner workings of the home means that the family can control different elements from one place.

CEDIA member BrownHen Solutions integrated a Control4 EA-5 hub to run the property’s lighting, audio visual (AV), security and heating. This technology means all these elements can be controlled via a touchscreen in the centre of the home, along with two handheld remotes in living rooms, lighting keypads around the property and through the family’s smartphones.

A variety of lighting options can be controlled centrally to set different moods

The living room features a smart TV and invisible speakers

The homeowners were after a robust and reliable network to support the heavy use of mobile devices in their house. In response to this, BrownHen Solutions installed a Draytek router and switch with three Ruckus Unleashed wireless access points (WAPs). The WAPs were configured with separate guest access for security purposes.

Multi-scene lighting

The main living spaces were wired for panelised lighting, which means they feed back to the central Control4 unit. The system can support 24 lighting circuits, nine control keypads and allows movement detecting outdoor security lights to be integrated into the setup.

A variety of scenes were programmed for different scenarios, including ‘welcome’, ‘coming home late’ and ‘party’ modes.

Smart TV & home audio

An ultra-high-definition switch has been installed that acts as a hub for the property’s audio visual, allowing Apple TV, Sky HD and Amazon Fire devices to feed televisions in four different rooms.

The living area features a recessed, wall mounted screen with Amina invisible speakers, while the family room boasts integrated surround sound (5.1 audio). Additional screens were installed in the kitchen and master bedroom. The setup provides flexibility for more to be added in the upstairs study and remaining bedrooms at a later date.

The family wanted to play music in multiple zones in the house, so the audio system has been connected to their streaming apps. They are planning to add ceiling speakers into the master bedroom at a later date, along with upgrades to the amplification.

High-tech security

A full security system has been installed and integrated with the existing entrances, including a Doorbird door video intercom. Nest Protect smart smoke and CO2 alarms enhance safety. The property’s HVAC system has also been included in the setup thanks to Heatmiser smart controls, which allow the owners to monitor and adjust the underfloor heating, radiators and electric towel rails in bathrooms, too.

Many of the smart technology design decisions in this house were influenced by the project’s budget. In fact, innovative solutions were often used to minimise costs without affecting overall quality. The finished result ticks all the boxes for the homeowners, who are thrilled with their new smart setup. BrownHen Solutions won ‘Best Integrated Home £120,000 and Under’ for this project at the 2017 CEDIA Awards.

CEDIA is the global trade association and central touch point for 3,700 member companies who design, manufacture, and install technology for the home. To learn more about how one of these firms can help you enhance your lifestyle with home technology, book a consultation at Build It Live Bicester (9th-10th June) or visit the CEDIA website