Amazing New Home Technology and Gadgets for 2016
February 26, 2016 by
Filed under Blog
It’s always fun to look at old shows and movies that tried to predict what the 21st century would be like. Remember the House of the Future in Disneyland? George Jetson’s house with all its push buttons and remote controls may look a little silly, but a lot of the same things are actually happening now. A friend of mine was staying at a hotel in Los Angeles recently and there was a real room service robot in the lobby named Wally that can navigate the entire hotel and deliver groceries to your door!
Many people are using automatic vacuums like Roomba. Did you know they make an automatic lawn mower, and a gutter cleaning robot? The same company makes robots for surgery and bomb disposal! Amazing!That’s One Smart House
Just like in the movies, there are so many “smart” devices for your home these days that it boggles the mind. Many can be controlled with a phone app. For example, if you know that you’re going to be home from shopping in a half hour, you can “call” your thermostat and it will make sure the house is the perfect temperature, warm or cool, when you arrive. Arms full of groceries? No problem–your door will recognize that it’s you and unlock itself.
Oasys is a new device being developed that monitors household water use, which is so important in California. It can detect how much you use, and if water is still flowing after you’re done, it alerts you that you might have a leak somewhere.
Home security is a big category, of course, and hidden cameras are becoming more and more common, especially by the front door. You could be sipping a latte and enjoying the coffee shop’s free wifi while waiting for a package to be delivered, and you can see it arrive on your porch through the live video feed on your phone. Cameras can also help catch thieves, especially the newer cameras that have very clear pictures and are much smaller and easier to hide. In fact, earlier this month I installed a combination doorbell/video camera for a client.
What’s Cooking? New Tech!The hottest trends in the kitchen are color and customization. Imagine a line of cookware with snap-on handles in different colors for you to mix and match however you want. How about painting and ordering your own custom tiles over the Internet in just minutes? How about a faucet that can also pour you the perfect cup of coffee when you turn on the tap? You can even order your espresso from bed!
And, of course, smart kitchens are more and more in demand, especially by new buyers. People want device charging stations, but that’s just the beginning. Screens for following along with video recipe instructions can also be linked to your digital music collection so you can pick a playlist for your cooking groove, or to entertain friends. Kitchen lighting can be controlled with your smart phone too: Bright for food prep, dim for a romantic dinner.
All this new tech is mind-blowing, and there’s more on the way! The House of the Future is here today, and it’s even better than the designers of the 1950s dreamed of.
The Fix-It Professionals can help you install these amazing new gadgets to bring your house into the 21st century. Many of these devices need the expertise of an electrician to install them properly, something we specialize in. New technology is coming out all the time, too, so be sure to call today and ask about hiring us on retainer for the very best price on your ongoing upgrade projects.
The Latest Home Decorating Trends for 2016
February 11, 2016 by
Filed under Blog
This year has so many interesting color and decorating ideas. For the first time, Pantone’s “Color of the Year” is a blend of two colors, Rose Quartz (pink) and Serenity (blue). Have a look at their website for some really interesting color suggestions that compliment them, like grays and purples.
Some 2016 trends are coming from what people are actually doing in their homes and posting about on social media like Pinterest. Let’s look at some of the more popular ideas from across the country. Maybe they will give you some inspiration for a new look as we move into spring:
Zen and Now
Simple, bright, and modern — that’s the look of 2016. Gone are faux finishes and dark colors, replaced by the “Etsy” look of clean white spaces. Mid-century style is very popular right now, because it combines simple lines with pops of bright color. Another Etsy influence is the handmade and ethnic look, like bright Guatamalan woven fabrics.
Speaking of fabrics, people are actually using outdoor canvases to upholster indoor furniture. These are often bold colors, oversized prints, and are very hard-wearing, which is great in a house with pets or kids. Fabrics are also making a return as wall coverings!
Swing Low, Sweet Pendant LampPendant lamps are back and are replacing chandeliers, which can be harder to keep clean and which really don’t fit with the simpler lines of 2016.Just like with other furnishings, mid-century is huge, so you may want to scour your local thrift store for one of those oversized colorful glass pendants from the 1950s while you can still find them cheaply. If you do find an old one, make sure it meets with current wiring standards before it’s installed. Old-fashioned “Edison” filament bulbs, like the one pictured here, are also big right now.
Surprises in the Kitchen
One new thing I’m seeing in kitchen decor is that people are mixing things up. One section of a countertop might be butcherblock, but when it turns a corner it becomes some kind of interesting stone, all in the same room. Top cabinets over a counter might be white or light wood while the bottom ones are a completely different color or dark wood. Stainless steel appliances are still very popular, but now these old standards come in different colors of metal!
Bidet Has His Day
According to Houzz, the home decor and remodeling idea website, the number of bathroom renovations that include bidets is rising, especially now that they are combined with regular toilets. Modern luxury bidets are also appealing for their heated seats and fully adjustable settings. Other popular changes in the bathroom are large elaborate mirrors over bowl-type sinks, larger tiles with a more architectural look, and fancy tile mosaics on floors and walls.
It’s a Dog’s LifeIn Chinese lore this is the Year of the Monkey, but maybe 2016 should have been year of the dog! More than half of households have a pet, and dogs seem to be more popular than ever right now. As mentioned above, people are using tougher fabrics inside to make furniture more pet-friendly. Outside, the popularity of “dogscaping” is growing, with special areas designed just for Fido’s needs and the removal of any plants that could be toxic or dangerous for pets.
There are so many ways The Fix-It Professionals can help you create the look of your dreams! We can re-wire and install vintage lamps, get that painting done, change your cabinet fronts, put up new fabric wall coverings, dig into new yard work, and so much more. Call us today, and be sure to ask about hiring us on retainer for the very best price.
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