Dream Home Yorkshire
Sarah and James approached Clearly Automated at the National Homebuilding and Renovating Show. They were embarking on the build of their dream home and wanted to integrate audio and video systems, together with mood enhancing lighting and a dedicated cinema.
Starting with a blank sheet of paper in a new build provides a fantastic opportunity to provide the client with exactly what they want, unhindered by the constraints of an existing building.
Getting involved at this early stage enabled a very close working relationship to be built between the designers and the client. The first stage was to create fully personalised lighting designs, which served to build moods and themes throughout different areas of the house. This was done by creating storyboards showing the lighting effects, followed by full schematics which enabled the couple’s electrical contractors to pre-wire and install the lighting within the fabric of the building. This use of architectural hidden lighting was chosen to help make the technology invisible, something that Sarah and James were very keen to do.
The cinema room is the perfect example of lighting integration, where moods can be easily created without the light fittings intruding into the beautifully simple aesthetic of this get-away space. In addition to the dedicated cinema, movies and music are accessible throughout the house – in bedrooms, the kitchen, study and family living room – courtesy of a video media server, multiple Sky boxes and numerous Sonos audio systems, all of which are centrally located within a dedicated equipment rack in the utility room.
The carefully landscaped garden also forms part of the lighting control system, with strategically placed and well-hidden lights. The control function also serves to operate the window treatments, blinds, the gate intercom and CCTV system.
The entire family have found the system very easy to use, happy that it enhances their enjoyment of the dream home they have built.
