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6 ways to enhance your summer social life with smart technology this summer
If the unpredictability of the great British weather makes you nervous about planning a summer BBQ, al fresco dinner or big sporting event viewing party, the good news is that you can stop worrying. Transforming your outdoor space using smart technology can help to make your summer social plans a hit with your guests – giving you the peace of mind that, come rain or shine, your garden is summer ready. Charlie Hibbins, director of Symbiotic Smart Homes, explains how. All-weather shelter with smart awnings Rain stopping play can be a thing of the past with smart awnings, which automatically extend when they detect rain to make sure your guests and garden furniture are kept dry. But the benefits also extend if you are lucky enough to have the sunshine on your event, says Charlie: ‘Smart awnings also provide much-needed shade from blinding rays to help prevent painful and harmful sunburn.’ Outdoor heating systems to warm up those colder evenings If your plans extend into the evening, installing an automated outdoor heating system will mean your party can continue without the need to retreat inside, Charlie explains: ‘You can set your heaters on a timer so there’s no danger of
Bringing the indoors out – by making your garden smarter
When summer arrives bringing longer days and warmer evenings, it’s time to unpack the garden furniture and get the BBQ going. Your outdoor space becomes an extension of your home in the summer and a time for kicking back and relaxing with friend and family. Charlie Hibbins, Director of Symbiotic Smart Homes, explains how you can enhance your garden with smart technology – using mixed lighting, audio visual systems that won’t annoy the neighbours and automatic awnings – to make the most of it during the summer. Lighting is key to unlocking the ambiance of a space, both indoors and outdoors. It can be particularly powerful in enhancing areas within your garden, whether it’s lighting up features such as sculptures or fountains, lining pathways, or keeping al fresco dining spots bright enough when the sun has set. Setting a variety of up-lightning and low-lighting systems on timers, means that you don’t have to worry about turning it on or off, it just takes of itself. Charlie expands: Using lighting to create unique spaces in your garden “Smart exterior lighting doesn’t just make a garden more usable, but it can also be used to create focal points and bigger spaces.
Elevating your lifestyle through innovative technology
In the fast-paced world we live in, finding ways to simplify our lives and enhance our overall well-being is essential. Enter the era of Symbiotic Smart Homes – a technological revolution that not only adds value to your property but also transforms the way you live. Charlie Hibbins, the Director of Symbiotic Smart Homes, shares five compelling ways in which smart technology can significantly improve the quality of your life. Buy back your time Time is a precious commodity, and smart technology can help you reclaim it. From robotic vacuum cleaners that efficiently clean your floors while you’re away to seamless connectivity ensuring strong Wi-Fi throughout your home, smart tech enables you to streamline tasks and buy back valuable time. Charlie emphasises the impact on our daily lives, stating, “Smart tech can take away the stress of too much to do and too little time to do it.” Save your energy In an era where energy conservation is paramount, Symbiotic Smart Homes offers a range of solutions to save both money and the planet. Intelligent heating systems and smart shading are among the most popular. Charlie explains, “Smart shading conserves heat in the winter and blocks out the sun to
A minimalist smart technology solution for a high-end new build
Sometimes, our clients are as tech-obsessed as we are and revel in all things smart, but others are looking for expert advice and guidance on a subject that can be utterly perplexing to them. These clients need a professional they can trust to help to deliver a finished system that offers them solutions to issues they didn’t know they needed! This was certainly the case for our client, Deborah, whose brief was to provide understated yet beautiful tech solutions for her new home. Here, we explore how at times, less is more and how the team at Symbiotic Smart Homes worked to create a smart-home solution that surpassed client expectations. A beautiful new build Deborah Richards, Founder of Maddisons Residential Estate Agency in Tunbridge Wells, is no less than a property specialist. After years of buying, selling and developing property, alongside running her successful residential sales and lettings agency, it was time for her to embark on a rather exceptional ‘forever home’ by way of a new-build project. With such an important venture, Symbiotic Smart Homes were thrilled to be invited to help install some smart tech. A solid solution for a unique home Deborah’s dream home was constructed from
Unlocking the magic: all you need to know about home cinemas
Imagine immersing yourself in a cinematic escape within your home — a dream made possible by the wonders of a home cinema. In this guide, Charlie Hibbins, the Director of Symbiotic Smart Homes, unveils the secrets of home cinema projects, explores their benefits, and shares invaluable tips to help you create the perfect cinematic haven. How much does a home cinema really cost? Dispelling the myth that a home cinema is a luxury afforded only to the super rich, Charlie clarifies, “For a small cinema room, costs can start from around £17,000. This would be for a full installation of hardware, software, furniture, acoustics and lighting.” Of course, the bigger the room, the larger the screen or projector you will need, with more speakers required to provide the optimum experience. Larger cinema rooms can cost upwards of £150,000, with the top-end projects easily exceeding £250,000, but Charlie explains that you can still enjoy fantastic results at the smaller end of the scale: “When you have a large room – 12 seats or more – the cost increase is exponential and, of course, we love working on projects such as these. However, we take great satisfaction in the smaller jobs; working
How Smart Homes Will Evolve in 2024: A Symbiotic Vision for Sustainable, AI-Powered Living
As we approach the end of another year, the anticipation of technological advancements fuels our curiosity about the future. What transformations will the next 12 months bring to our homes? In this insight we will share our compelling vision for 2024, exploring the integration of sustainable living, artificial intelligence, health-focused technologies, and the sheer enjoyment of smart home experiences. Read on for a glimpse into the future. Sustainable Living: A Smart Choice In a world increasingly attuned to environmental impact, the prospect of sustainable living takes centre stage. We are at the forefront of this shift, as more clients are seeking ways to integrate sustainable smart systems into their homes, not only to reduce their carbon footprint but also to enjoy the added benefit of lowered energy bills. From solar panels harnessing energy to smart heating systems optimising efficiency, the possibilities are diverse. Crucially, smart homes provide real-time data, empowering homeowners to make informed decisions about energy consumption. Smart appliances play their part, offering insights to maintain peak efficiency across the home. AI-Powered Harmony Artificial Intelligence (AI) dominated headlines in 2023, and in 2024 its impact on our daily lives is set to become even more pronounced. We envision that
6 ways to enhance your summer social life with smart technology this summer
If the unpredictability of the great British weather makes you nervous about planning a summer BBQ, al fresco dinner or big sporting event viewing party, the good news is that you can stop worrying. Transforming your outdoor space using smart technology can help to make your summer social plans a hit with your guests – giving you the peace of mind that, come rain or shine, your garden is summer ready. Charlie Hibbins, director of Symbiotic Smart Homes, explains how. All-weather shelter with smart awnings Rain stopping play can be a thing of the past with smart awnings, which automatically extend when they detect rain to make sure your guests and garden furniture are kept dry. But the benefits also extend if you are lucky
Bringing the indoors out – by making your garden smarter
When summer arrives bringing longer days and warmer evenings, it’s time to unpack the garden furniture and get the BBQ going. Your outdoor space becomes an extension of your home in the summer and a time for kicking back and relaxing with friend and family. Charlie Hibbins, Director of Symbiotic Smart Homes, explains how you can enhance your garden with smart technology – using mixed lighting, audio visual systems that won’t annoy the neighbours and automatic awnings – to make the most of it during the summer. Lighting is key to unlocking the ambiance of a space, both indoors and outdoors. It can be particularly powerful in enhancing areas within your garden, whether it’s lighting up features such as sculptures or fountains, lining pathways, or
Elevating your lifestyle through innovative technology
In the fast-paced world we live in, finding ways to simplify our lives and enhance our overall well-being is essential. Enter the era of Symbiotic Smart Homes – a technological revolution that not only adds value to your property but also transforms the way you live. Charlie Hibbins, the Director of Symbiotic Smart Homes, shares five compelling ways in which smart technology can significantly improve the quality of your life. Buy back your time Time is a precious commodity, and smart technology can help you reclaim it. From robotic vacuum cleaners that efficiently clean your floors while you’re away to seamless connectivity ensuring strong Wi-Fi throughout your home, smart tech enables you to streamline tasks and buy back valuable time. Charlie emphasises the impact on
A minimalist smart technology solution for a high-end new build
Sometimes, our clients are as tech-obsessed as we are and revel in all things smart, but others are looking for expert advice and guidance on a subject that can be utterly perplexing to them. These clients need a professional they can trust to help to deliver a finished system that offers them solutions to issues they didn’t know they needed! This was certainly the case for our client, Deborah, whose brief was to provide understated yet beautiful tech solutions for her new home. Here, we explore how at times, less is more and how the team at Symbiotic Smart Homes worked to create a smart-home solution that surpassed client expectations. A beautiful new build Deborah Richards, Founder of Maddisons Residential Estate Agency in Tunbridge Wells,
Unlocking the magic: all you need to know about home cinemas
Imagine immersing yourself in a cinematic escape within your home — a dream made possible by the wonders of a home cinema. In this guide, Charlie Hibbins, the Director of Symbiotic Smart Homes, unveils the secrets of home cinema projects, explores their benefits, and shares invaluable tips to help you create the perfect cinematic haven. How much does a home cinema really cost? Dispelling the myth that a home cinema is a luxury afforded only to the super rich, Charlie clarifies, “For a small cinema room, costs can start from around £17,000. This would be for a full installation of hardware, software, furniture, acoustics and lighting.” Of course, the bigger the room, the larger the screen or projector you will need, with more speakers required
How Smart Homes Will Evolve in 2024: A Symbiotic Vision for Sustainable, AI-Powered Living
As we approach the end of another year, the anticipation of technological advancements fuels our curiosity about the future. What transformations will the next 12 months bring to our homes? In this insight we will share our compelling vision for 2024, exploring the integration of sustainable living, artificial intelligence, health-focused technologies, and the sheer enjoyment of smart home experiences. Read on for a glimpse into the future. Sustainable Living: A Smart Choice In a world increasingly attuned to environmental impact, the prospect of sustainable living takes centre stage. We are at the forefront of this shift, as more clients are seeking ways to integrate sustainable smart systems into their homes, not only to reduce their carbon footprint but also to enjoy the added benefit of