Hunter Douglas Motorized Shades are the epitome of hightech window coverings.
DESIGNER Q&A with Claudia Leah
HIGH-TECH INTERIOR DESIGN
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he Internet of Things has made home design an increasingly sophisticated process. The popularity and affordability of smart home products has led research firm Gartner, Inc. to predict that by 2022 a typical family home, in a mature affluent market, could contain several hundred smart objects. Keeping them all connected has become the domain of voice-activated systems like Amazon’s Echo or Google’s Home. LUXU RY O R L I F E SAV E R ? This technology is a boon for homeowners, particularly for mature adults who wish to “age in place”—remaining in the comfort of their own homes as long as physically possible. While we may be tempted to think of them
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as frivolous or luxurious, technology-enhanced furnishings and décor can mean the difference between a rest home and resting in one’s own home. For example, a homeowner with declining strength or arthritic hands who finds drawing heavy draperies difficult, can adjust motorized draperies easily with the push of a button or by speaking a voice command. Modern smart beds offer raised heads, raised feet, anti-gravity settings, massage features, and temperature control, all of which aid certain infirmities as much as they enhance sleep. B E YO ND T H E B E D AND BATH Infinitely adjustable recliners and sofas, and motorized lift chairs add a measure of comfort for everyone, and to some homeowners they are a