Peering into the future, it is nice to imagine a home that is smart in every sense–and inviting to all.
Sunset Magazine and Popular Science recently team-conceived the Idea House, the House of Innovation , in Alamo, California. This intelligent $5 + million smart home provides a trajectory of design and technologies that will end up in homes of tomorrow. It is loaded with sustainable materials and innovative ideas. This Idea House has drywall that is paperless and prefinished plank hardwood flooring that locks into place for fast, glueless and nail-free installation.
What do we like best?
- Air quality filtration system systems that filter particles down to one micron.
- Windows that turn translucent with the flip of a switch.
- Wine vault that maintains a bar-scanned inventory of both wines stored and wines comsumed.
- Family Center (just off the kitchen) with informal dining table invites gatherings, homework, projects and snacks.
- Kitchen as a news-gathering center and meeting spot. Web-accessed security monitoring views the entrance path, pool and patio areas. There is a family computer in the corner and a dedicated counter-mounted computer dedicated to foods.ot
- Robotics that vacuum the carpeting, mop the floors and mow the lawn. (Can you say FUN???)
Smart Trends in decor?
- As a counter-balance to the high tech functionality of the home, nature inspired hues dominate throughout. Look for colors ranging from tawny summer yellows to taupey jute to deep sunset purple.
- A return to dining rooms that are visually separated from the kitchen, tied together by dark hand-hewn floors.
- Bringing the outside in and vice versa. Look for enormous glass doors that slide inconspicuously into the wall, turning the great room into an extension of the rear garden. The garden, in turn, offers casual seating and additional room for entertaining.
- In the master suite, look for vanity mirrors mounted above translucent windows to provide for private natural lighting.
It is a worthwhile journey to go through both sites and see for yourself this remarkable home! Unfortunately, it is no longer for sale and has been sold. It was listed by Peggy Cortez with Alain Pinel Realtors and closed just before Thanksgiving to an undisclosed buyer. The 6500 square foot luxury home was offered at a price close to $5.3 million and exchanged hands for an amount reported by the agent to be close to the asking price.
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