The Kwikset Kevo smart lock. Courtesy photo

Smart Design With Suzette

The Wired Home – Raising Your Home’s Intelligence Quotient

When it comes to smart tech systems and gadgets, today’s home can provide more intelligence and convenience than ever before. You’ve probably been hearing about smart home technology for years – the lights that turn on when you pull into the driveway, the dead bolt that springs open as you reach the door.

If you are thinking of raising your home’s intelligence quotient, here are your best bets. All of them are easy to use, function without requiring rewiring of your house, can play well with other technology and are affordable.

Exterior Lights

WeMo Light Switch. Courtesy photo

Most porch lights require bulbs that aren’t smart yet. But as long as they are on a switch, it doesn’t matter. You can power them with the WeMo Light Switch. This Wi-Fi connected switch lets you program any bulb to come on at a particular time. Set it to turn on 15 minutes before sunset and you’ll never have to worry about a dark house when you travel. $50; wemothat.com

Leeo smoke alarm. Courtesy photo

Smoke Alarms

Leeo, an LED night-light programmed to listen for your alarms, will call your phone if the sirens go off. And if you don’t answer the call, Leeo can be set to contact your neighbor of choice. $99; leeo.com

Detect And Protect

A carbon monoxide detector that moonlights as a night-light, America Red Cross by Eton Blackout Buddy CO makes audible and flashing alerts when the odorless gas is present. And if the power goes out, the plug-in automatically turns on becoming a removable LED flashing light. $60; etoncorp.com

Security

Web security cameras typically just keep an eye out, but Piper nv has a 105-decibel siren that goes off while in “away” or “vacation” mode if its 180 degree lens detects intruders. It also tracks temperature, movement and humidity and connects to window and door sensors. $269; getpiper.com

Cree’s Connected LEDs, Courtesy photo

Light It Right

Wi-Fi connected light bulbs, like Cree’s Connected LEDs, are more than just controlling lights with a phone. Working with an app (like Wink), they ensure the basement lights weren’t left on. They’re also significantly less expensive than some of their smart counterparts. $15; creeblubl.com also available on amazon and Home Depot.

Reduce The Heating Bill

The Nest Learning Thermostat doesn’t just make your heating and air-conditioning more efficient; it’s also a hub, pairing with non-nest devices to add smarts to your house. For example, when Nest’s Protect smoke alarm notes a fire, it works with the thermostat to turn on Rachio’s Iro sprinkler controller to help fight the flames. $249; nest.com

Control The Whole Home

The idea of a house controlled by a phone is great – until you have guests. An in-wall touch screen, Wink Relay links to a variety of app-controlled smart home products, from bulbs to locks, letting anyone in the house access its cool features. $300; wink.com

Be The Key

If you can open your car by touching the doors and (and holding the key), why can’t you access your home by tapping the lock? The Kwikset Kevo smart lock allows this by linking with your phone via Bluetooth. If you have friends who need to enter, you can grant their phones temporary access.

Close the Garage from anywhere

Do you ever get the feeling you left the garage door open? Chamberlain MyQ Garage won’t just confirm your suspicion, it will also let you use your phone to close or open it from anywhere. The kit even enables your existing opener to work via Wi-Fi. $130; chamberlain.com

Iro, a Wi-Fi connected sprinkler controller. Courtesy photo

Water With The Weather

Lawn watering is among the most wasteful things homeowners can do, because the sprinkler controllers run baste on a clock, rain or shine. Iro, a Wi-Fi connected sprinkler controller, saves water by setting a schedule based on the weather and your geography. Program it via your phone, and then forget it. $249; rach.io.com

Sonos home audio. Courtesy photo

Dance To The Music

Sonos home audio set up can be as simple as the user chooses. A separate box controls up to 32 different sound zones in the home. They can play different music, or sections can be grouped together when necessary. (Sonos.com)

Smart Appliances

If the kitchen is where most time is spent, consider a smart appliance, like Samsung’s refrigerators with Wi-Fi. For a smaller commitment, a smart thermometer, like Williams-Sonoma, can monitor cooking progress and send alerts directly to a smart phone. (Samsung.com, Williams-sonoma.com)

With all the great technology available today, maybe this will give you some ideas to start your holiday list for a techy friend or family member – or – just for you!

Feel free to contact Los Alamos Interior Designer Suzette Fox to suggest specific design topics or for help with your home. For more information, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/SuzetteFoxInteriorDesign and on her website www.suzettefoxinteriors.com