Schlage LiNK Brings Smart Phone Technology To Your Home

Lately, it seems like all the talk is about Smart Phones, but did you know it is possible to lock and unlock your home’s front door using your Smart Phone? And you can do it from anywhere you can access the internet! This is certainly nothing new, as we have been installing these systems in our custom homes for a number of years. However, several well-known companies have brought a subset of this great technology to the broader market, making it accessible to everyone. Among these is the Schlage LiNK line of products. More than just a door handle, the Schlage products combine internet access with a wireless entry to create a door that can be unlocked from anywhere you access the internet.

From the company’s website comes this description:

Schlage LiNK Starter Kit includes everything you need to create your own remote access solution. Installation and set up are simple, you’ll be up and running quickly. Creates a Z-Wave® wireless network within your home that connects the Schlage Wireless Keypad Lock to the internet through the secure Schlage Bridge. Web-based access means greater peace of mind, no matter where you travel. Confirm the status of your Wireless Keypad Lock from anywhere with any Internet-enabled computer and most Internet-enabled cell phones. Requires monthly fee for remote access capabilities. Available in three finishes: Bright Brass, Satin Nickel, and Aged Bronze.

The applications of such a product are endless. Have a rental property across town or out of town that needs to be open for showing at a certain time? Unlock it from your iPhone. Have someone coming to clean your house at the same time each week? Program your door to be unlocked at that time each week. The keyless entry will allow you to assign different codes so that you can also see exactly what time your child got home from school or what time the door lock was accessed – and by whom. You can even set it up to send you a text message anytime the lock is accessed.

But the lock is not the only thing you can access with the LiNK bridge. This wireless system can be extended to include your thermostat, your lights and even a camera wireless camera. With all that power at your fingertips, you will be able to:

* Remotely control and monitor your home’s heating and cooling
* Let your kids in when they forget their key
* Check on your pet while you’re away with live video
* Check to see if you locked your door while you’re away from home
* Turn your lights on before you arrive home
* Schedule your Z-Wave enabled lights to turn on and off while you’re on vacation

In today’s mobile society, this one system meets many practical needs. The only drawback that we could find is its lack of expandability. For instance, if you wanted to add motion sensors or whole house audio, this functionality is not offered by the system. So, you would need to go with a more comprehensive system such as the Crestron system we install in many of our homes. However, if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive solution for a rental property or older second home, this might just fit the bill. In the interest of full disclosure, there is a monthly subscriber fee. However, $8.99 a month or $99 a year seems like a small price to pay for this technology.

ColorSnap

Sherwin-Williams has a fun application you can download to your iPhone that boasts the ability to match real-world colors with paint colors. “ColorSnap” is available to download from the App Store and has a number of cool features (copied from the Sherwin-Williams website):

• Capture a color that inspires you and match it to one of 1,500 Sherwin-Williams paint colors.
• Create a custom palette or Ask Sherwin-Williams for complementary colors.
• Search for specific colors or browse the full Sherwin-Williams color palette.
• Fine tune colors using lightness, saturation and hue features.
• Save colors to your “My Saved Colors” library to compare palettes or share via Facebook and email.
• Learn detailed color information, including color names, RGB values, and LRV numbers.
• Find a Sherwin-Williams Store Near You

The best part about this application is that it is free! I downloaded it and tried snapping a few pictures, then matching their colors and it was actually fairly accurate (my house is painted in all Sherwin-Williams colors). I liked the versatility of the program and could see how it would be very useful for someone who is working on a major project. It allows you to save 3 colors per palette so you could, for instance, save your primary wall color, accent color, and trim all to the “dining room” palette, then do the same for each room of your house. While the accuracy of the colors may not match that of an actual paint chip, it might help in a pinch.

Of course, not everyone has an iPhone. For those who do not, the Sherwin-Williams website has much to offer in virtual assistance. In the end, though, the best way to pick a paint color is the tried-and-true method of painting samples on the walls, then examining them under various lighting conditions.

At Jenkins Custom Homes, we provide our clients 8×11 sample sheets of their initial color selections (available to professionals from Sherwin-Williams) to help them narrow their choices. Then, we paint samples on the wall of those two or three selections so they can always select that perfect one paint color for each space. When the project is finished, we provide our clients with a detailed list of every color and stain used in the home, as well as extra paint in case they ever have need for touch-up.

Hot Links From The Home Blog, Second Edition

I subscribe to various feeds from other blogs and websites. Here are a few of my favorite links from the past few weeks.

• If you are in the market for a new cooktop, take a look at this new gas/ induction combination that KitchenAid is now selling in Europe!
• Looking for something fun and different hanging in your home? Love Gummy Bears? Why not combine the two??? I stumbled across this recently and thought it was nothing if not unique. (Of course, you know what they say – if you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can’t afford it!)
• If you love the modern look and are searching for the perfect vanity for your home, you might consider this Brillante vanity. I don’t think I have ever seen anything quite like it before – it’s completely made of glass!
• I really got a kick out of this blog post. Be sure to read the comments, as well.
• Finally, with summer on the horizon, Jandy has just released this:

“Introducing Jandy’s new AquaLink® Touch™, designed with the style and features today’s consumers demand in a technologically advanced controller. AquaLink Touch’s smart, intuitive user interface, customizable features and attractive styling present the best touch panel experience for the pool industry today.” (source: Jandy)

Top 5 Kitchen Trends for 2010

There is possibly no more important room in your house than the kitchen. The kitchen is the hub of activity, the source of sustenance, and the number one room a potential buyer will consider when choosing a new home. That is why designing the kitchen must be done with an eye to the current trends. Here are just a few of the trends we found for 2010.

• Kitchens are getting bigger. “It seems as though families are getting smaller and at the same ti me, kitchens are getting bigger. Designers are using industrial appliances, state-of-the-art cabinets and countertop materials, and including a kitchen island whenever possible.” (source: http://interiordec.about.com/od/kitchenislands/a/a_kitchenisland.htm)
• Kitchens are getting to be more earth-friendly. “Eco-friendly is all the rage these days, but most notably in the kitchen where a few small changes can make a significant impact. You can use inexpensive recycled or natural materials such as recycled glass counter tops or formaldehyde-free bamboo for work surfaces and flooring. Convenient built-in recycling centers and food composters can save space and make recycling simple. The overall idea is making the kitchen effortlessly eco-friendly so that being green isn’t a sacrifice, it’s just an easy part of your everyday life.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are focusing on being both convenient and multi-purpose. “This year’s kitchen features products that are…all about convenience-meets-multifunctionality.” (source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,1637271,00.html) What does that mean? Well, “sinks with accessories, such as built-in preparation boards, colanders, and/or drain trays…storage that is both stylish and highly engineered…Cupboard inserts and custom storage areas with adjustable dividers and pull out baskets…appliances set on wheels or movable islands which allow you to easily rearrange the kitchen for convenient preparation, cleaning, and entertaining… which is not just multi-functional, but also kind of fun.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more colorful. Color trends change regularly, but the top color choices for kitchens include “Creamy Neutrals, Veiled Violets, A Gamut of Grays, Pale & Punchy Greens, Bold Turquoise” (source: http://www.kitchens.com//design/color/color-trends/color-trends-2010.aspx). Also consider that “Unexpected flashes of color and bold shapes are all the rage, and offer a nice juxtaposition to the earthy mellowness of the eco-friendly trend.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more high-tech. “Just like every other aspect of our lives, kitchens are featuring more technology than ever. A lot of this technology is focused on making the kitchen more enjoyable and adding a bit of the “wow” factor. From flat-screen televisions and computer-based entertainment systems to retracting ventilation hoods and gas burners, technology can make the kitchen more fun, convenient, and cool. The kitchen is both a social and functional space in the home. Small additions, like a small mobile device charging station, really illustrate this point. Imagine your family returning home in the evening, immediately plugging in their mobile devices, and congregating in the kitchen to catch up with each other.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)

Construction Proceeds on Applehead Island

Construction is moving along well on the home currently being built by Custom Home Builder, Jenkins Custom Homes, on Applehead Island in Horseshoe Bay.  The home is framed and in the beginning stages of interior plumbing and electrical work.  This home is being built for out-of-town clients who enjoy the beautiful lake setting as well as the many activities Lake LBJ has to offer. Working with the Jenkins team from out of town has been drama-free, as the clients have taken advantage of the Jenkins web-based “Guide to Picture Perfect Projects” Personal Home page to view progress, project documents, and process change orders.  With these conveniences, the clients have only had to travel into town for a few critical-stage meetings.

Construction on this custom home began in the Fall of 2009 with the bulk head and boat house.  Those are continuing, as construction on the home continues as well.

Top 5 Home Technology Trends

We recently attended the International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas, where we attended lots of seminars.  One of the big topics this year, as in years past, is home technology; however, the twist on this year’s seminars was “affordable technology”.  So many of today’s technologies are affordable and finding them in the plethora of choices is sometimes daunting.  Here are my “Top 5″.

  Convenience. These are the basics, like, when I get up at 3 am to go to the bathroom, the bathroom light comes on so I don’t trip on my shoes.  Convenience may or may not be expensive but can really change your life.

Accessibility. The smart phone has really changed everything in relation to accessibility.  Now, there’s an app for just about everything you can imagine on your home.  Want to watch streaming video of your kids getting home?  There’s an app for that.  Want to turn off the sprinklers because it’s supposed to freeze tonight?  There’s an app for that…  You get the picture.

  Green Technology.  This can mean a lot of things but the most popular ones usually involves some cost savings to the consumer or an ecologically-friendly impact on the environment.  These areas have really evolved recently to include things like tankless hot water heaters, geothermal heating, and solar panels.  These technologies for our homes are very site-specific; some of them are cost-prohibitive in certain areas while other alternatives have a 2- or 3-year cost benefit payout (which is fantastic!).  So, make sure you ask for a comprehensive cost analysis before you begin.

  Anticipation. Much of our new technology is created in anticipation of things to come.  Lately, we have installed a number of whole-house backup generators for our high end clients, for example.  They are anticipating power shortages at some point in the future.  Another example is the 3D technology that is coming, thanks in part to the movie “Avatar”.  At the International Builder’s Show, the speakers informed us that the new 3D technology that we saw on the big screen will some day be in our televisions in our homes.

Convergence.  Convergence in the technology realm refers to multiple technologies coming together to form a single, better solution.  In the home technology world, a great example of this is our ability to tie in the heating and cooling system into the home’s smart panel to allow for sensors in a room that control the room’s temperature when someone walks in the room.  You can imagine the many benefits for this type of feature, especially when you have two people living in a 6,000 square foot home or a couple who only comes to their lake home on the weekend.

There are so many more great new technologies which can be incorporated into a home.  The key is to really analyze how you live in your home and then talk to the experts about what’s out there.  If you are building a new home, do your research and be sure to discuss with your Builder the convenience, accessibility, green technology, anticipation, and convergence technologies which best fit your lifestyle.

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About the Author:  Bethany Jenkins is Vice President of Jenkins Custom Homes in Austin, Texas.  To read more about Bethany check out her bio here.