What Will Homes Be Like 5 Years From Now? by Dorene Gomez

Interior Designers are continuing to see a rise in the volume of business due to the positive economic outlook. 

Consumers are continuing to know the importance of quality living spaces along with  knowing their lack of free time.

 Smart homes with clever automation can make your daily life simpler, convenient and even safer. These systems have been around since the early 2000's and have grown with technology. Solutions are styled to make life and entertainment anything but dull. The system can automate lighting, security, appliances, computer and telephone and even window treatments to make your life easy.

 What about a smart small wireless sensor that makes sure that all of your rooms are being heated or cooled properly. Or lights that automatically turn off to avoid unnecessary use. How about a smart gadget called the Roast Smart Battery that plugs into any existing smoke alarm or CO2 detector so if the smoke alarm goes off it will alert you on your smartphone no matter where you are.

 These systems can save you on utility costs and keep you safe by developing a program based on the owner's habits that will optimize you saving money. Other benefits are convenience and peace of mind.

 In the works are builders designing  projects that are eco-friendly along with being sustainable. 

 Custom single homes along with large community housing developments are popping up everywhere and selling out as fast as they can build them. 

 So what does the designing of these residences look like? What is eco-friendly and why sustainable? Interior Designers will always produce an aesthetic, functional and safe design for interior spaces using conceptualization. 

 We find that more strategic planning is now needed for the conceptual design of living spaces. Our clients want their homes healthier along with lower maintenance and of course being more energy efficient.

"Build it Green" or sustainable design is what we keep hearing which directly influences our daily lifestyles. Reducing landfill waste by recycling tends to be highly affecting the design business. By the reuse of timber and minerals it prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials.

 Some of the materials we are specifying in new construction and remodeling is recycled and reclaimed wood for cabinets, mantels, flooring, beams, doors and wall treatments, along with furniture. These reclaimed woods, when  used, add warmth to a room that also has a sense of history that new woods  lack.

  Becoming more environmentally friendly is also an understanding of the process in that we all need to conserve our resources. To get started just make small steps towards making a difference for good old Mother Earth. J. Hettinger Interiors strives to always keep in mind that we all need to protect our natural resources. Call us if we can help you with a new project that you would like to build Smart and Green.