LIVING SMART

Despite the grumblings of those who say we’re losing ourselves to gizmos and gadgets, many Australians have gotten over the techno-shock of the early 2000s. Today, Aussies are some of the quickest embracers of new technologies worldwide, and many feel it has had a positive impact overall. When used and designed well, technology allows us to simplify or enhance our lifestyles and, purists aside, many homeowners have found a wide range of uses for it.

Although smart home systems and home automation have been around for decades, they have only recently become more mainstream, in part due to tech companies including Amazon and Microsoft wanting a bigger market share of the Internet of Things, or IoT.

There are many installers and businesses in Australia that cater to the high-end, professional, smart and home automation desires of homeowners and builders. These companies can create custom solutions with an amount of control and flexibility that IoT devices can’t match, and provide continued support and technical assistance for the lifetime of these installations. Although there can be a significant financial investment in larger installations, the ease of use and added value they give to a home is a factor that can’t be ignored, and is easily off set by enhanced liveability and eventual resale value of a property.

WINCHESTER STREET RESIDENCE

This home in Southport, Queensland,