Can You Build a Smart Home One Room at a Time?
Updating a home you already live in raises an awkward question: how much do you take on at once? A full overhaul of the lighting, shades, audio, and TVs means weeks of disruption and a long list of decisions, so most households would rather start with whatever bothers them most. A retrofit can be staged that way, as long as the first phase lays the groundwork for the next.
Our recent project video follows a home that is partway through exactly that process. Keep reading to see how the work was sequenced and what a smart home automation system makes possible later.
Start With the Problem That Bothers You Most
At a home in Scottsdale, the problem was light. The homeowners wanted their rooms to look crisp and bright during the day, like a new build, and then settle into something warmer at night. Replacing every fixture was one answer. Wipliance took a smaller step first: retrofitting DMF warm-dim downlights, which give a bright look in daylight hours and a soft glow in the evening without a complete lighting overhaul.
Layers came next. Proluxe linear lighting ran under the bar and into the toe kicks, with additional lighting beneath the cabinets in the kitchen and bath. Downlights light the room, while linear lighting adds depth at counter height and floor level, so the space has more than one layer of light to work with throughout the day. You can read more about our lighting design and control work if you're weighing the same upgrade.
Shades Show How the Next Phase Slots In
Lutron motorized shades went in as part of the project, giving the household control over natural light and privacy. The homeowners plan to add shades to more rooms over time, and that is where the system design matters. RadioRA 3 lighting controls and the shades run on the Lutron system, and the main Lutron processor can support a larger system as the home grows. Adding a shade in a new room means extending what is already there.
Audio and Outdoor TV for a Household That Lives Outside
Music matters when you entertain, so Wipliance installed a Control4 distributed audio system that feeds the landscape, the pool area, and every zone inside. The whole house can play one playlist in party mode, or each space can play something different. Outside, a Samsung Terrace outdoor TV makes it possible to watch a favorite show from the pool or patio in any weather. Its bright screen stays visible in any lighting and avoids glare.
Inside the sunroom, a Leon Edge Media Frame integrates the TV and soundbar into a single architectural frame. It blends into the room and still delivers the audio performance the household wants.
One Control4 System Ties It Together
All of it runs through a Control4 automation system. Lighting, shades, audio, and TVs respond to a touch panel on the wall or a handheld remote, and a phone does the same job by the pool or away from home. The homeowner spends more time on what they love and less on managing the equipment.
This Is Only the Foundation
The project is still in progress, with future phases to go. Many of today's lighting, shading, entertainment, audio, and automation solutions can be retrofitted into an existing home and expanded over time, so nobody has to take on every upgrade at once. Start with what matters most today, and the foundation gives you options for tomorrow.
Ready to Explore What's Possible?
If your home is due for an update but you'd rather not tackle it all at once, tell us what matters most to you. Reach out through our contact page, and a Wipliance representative can tell you which solutions are compatible with your residence. You can also stop by a showroom to see lighting and shades in person. Our showrooms keep evolving as we bring back new ideas, so check in to see what's been added.
