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The “BIG” issueFABULOUSLIVING INFLORIDAOH, WHAT AN OASIS!A grand getaway in SpainADD MUSCLEA company gets fit and smartSpring 2015
CONTENTS6TIME TO UPGRADE?40SUGAR TECHFind out what you're missingThere's more to this candywith the latest featureshop than meets the tasteenhancements included inbud. Get a load of the smartsControl4 OS 2.6 and 2.7.in this unique space.1244HOLIDAY IN SPAINEDITOR’S NOTE8MUSCLE AT WORKWhat happens whenSee how a few strategican engineer who knowsautomation enhancementswhat smart homes cangave this HQ a serious IQ boost.do designs his own?Welcome to Villa Oasis.20PUSH-BUTTONPARADISE1028852SMARTS SELLIt’s a beautiful day in theneighborhood when yourdecision to invest in homeGO BIG inFind out how one Floridianautomation comes backyour man cavecouple enhanced a brightto you—and makes a newor media room.and beautiful new penthousebuyer happy, too.“Go big or go home!” That’s the well-exercised expression that sets the stagefor this particular issue of Home Smart Home. You may have used it yourselfto encourage a friend or family member to “go all the way to do whatever ittakes to not flake out.” (Or in modern day SMS-shorthand, perhaps you’vejust typed out “gbgh!”) Instead of taking this phrase at face value, however, weused these five words as our inspiration to prove that with all the right homeautomation bits and pieces, you can do both: Go big and go home.With more and more people talking the talk of "connected devices" andliving the “internet of things” dream, we thought it seemed fitting to find afew interesting people (in a few unusual places) who aren’t simply walking thewalk of home automation, but are in fact living it loud and large—and doing itright. And lucky us, because this mission took us on quite a journey. We founda spectacular Spanish getaway designed to leave you longing. In Canada,we toured an open house that closed before we could even say “Goodbye.”Living large in a state where everything is big, Texas definitely delivered ourfill, including a taste of a clever candy shop/ We also got an inside look at abooming company that added more incredible muscle to its business, and apeek inside a castle-like custom home just outside of Austin. When we finallymade it to Florida, well let’s just say we quickly learned that “home” can alsomean a plush penthouse with every possible pushbutton to make semi-retiredlife even more relaxing.With that teaser, now you’ve got lots to read—and lovely photos to view, too!Shanan M. Carneyeditor@control4.comControl4 Creative DirectorEditor, Home Smart HomeSmart HomeHOMEwith invisible genius.30Life under controlBIG IN TEXASEditorTake a trip around the world inDesignthis 10,000 square foot home inTexas where art meets smart.Shanan M. CarneyControl4 CorporationJenny DuffCorporate Offices11734 S. Election RoadDraper, UT 84020Copyright 2015, Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4, the Control4 logo,the 4-ball logo, 4Store, 4Sight, Control My Home, Everyday Easy, and Mockupancy areregistered trademarks or trademarks of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other names and brands may be claimed as the property of theirrespective owners. All specifications subject to change without notice.58Special thanks to the following contributors: JohnAnthony Foley, Dennis Burger, John Sciacca, DavidSeropian, Reuben Maness, Jim Stone, Mike Sawyerand Katie McDaniel.
FIT FORA KINGAUTOMATION GIVES A TEXASHOMEOWNER THE POWER TOLIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTERAn automatedinfrastructure wasincluded in thebuild, allowing thehigh tech to takebackstage to theinternationallyintriguinginterior design.JIM STONE PHOTOGRAPHYProject installation bySatellite StationFire & Security30They say a man’s home is his castle.But sometimes, a man’s home is acastle. That is nearly the case withRonnie Harpe and his magnificentlymassive residence in HorseshoeBay, Texas. It’s a 10,000-squarefoot beauty, featuring towers, giant statuesand a boathouse. It’s a Shangri-La in the LoneStar State, and it’s the kind of residence fitfor a king—or, in this case, a very successfulbusinessman with exceptionally high standards.“It’s a very special place,” notes Ronnie. He'sspent the past three years planning and buildinghis home on a large lot in the Escondido Lakeand Golf Club in Horseshoe Bay, about 50miles west of Austin. After starting the project,however, Ronnie decided to go bigger. Hebought the lot next door and doubled thesize of his house design. The result? A trulystunning residence that delights around everyturn, including a snazzy outdoor kitchen witha wood-burning oven capable of cooking anItalian pizza in minutes at 800 degrees.Touring the interior is like wandering througha museum of international design. Everynook and cranny of the six bedrooms and 11bathrooms is filled with eclectic treasures fromaround the globe—a stockpile of souvenirsamassed when Ronnie and his wife owned a31
home furnishing business. There areIndian rugs, paintings from Pakistan,Moroccan tiles and columns, hugechandeliers constructed fromantlers, and even a 100-year-oldChinese wedding bed. It’s a weaveof international curiosities, boastingbright colors and bold statements.Every detail is intentional, rightdown to the custom-built andcustom-hammered copper kitchenhood. And it all comes together tomake a unique aesthetic statement.“We don’t do anythingtraditional,” Ronnie notes.There’s no doubt that a houselike this was built and is run bysomeone who knows what he wants.“I’m a control freak,” Ronnie admits.now seamless security connected home automationgo smartly hand in handSecure the best peace of mind & conveniencewith a smart Napco Security System nowintegrated to the max with Control4, at yourfingertips, home or away.This stunningantique, a traditionalChinese "bridal bed,"makes a lastingimpression in one ofthe guest rooms.Monitor, manage and control your security systemand more, wherever you are. Sure, you can turn youradvanced security system, perimeter or interior, on oroff, from any Control4 touch screen or station, at homeor from a smartphone or tablet through 4Sight , butsmarter customized protection’s just the beginning.With your Napco Security System reporting anyand all activity in your home directly into yourControl4 System you’ll also know status ofwhat’s happening and where, anytime. Stayin the know: Get updates of comings andgoings, when it’s armed or disarmed; knowwhere motion is detected, keep an eyeout on certain areas, people and more.Your smart home’s suddenly smarter,plugged in with your Napco SecuritySystem, and that means you’re smarter. Know to relock your door, sinceyour son’s no longer home, or thecleaners just left Get proof that your specialdelivery or repairman really arrived Automatically turn the lights offand the thermostat down, andsave energy, since everyone’s out In an alarm emergency, knowwho’s there, who came to therescue; how and where it startednapco. the smarter homesecurity you deserveNapco Gemini. The 1st Security Systems with Automatic Control4 SDDP & Ethernet Integration32Now available to Control4 Dealers in the Online 45
An HC-800controller and twoHC-250 controllerspower the systemfrom a climatecontrolled rackroom, automatingeverything fromice machines toaquariums.And the perfect complement for ahome like Ronnie’s? An automationsystem that gives the homeownerthe power to control every detail.With a house of this magnitude,Ronnie knew he wanted the bestautomation system to help controlthe home. He saw other systems inaction in other people’s homes—both good and bad examples. “I sawthe problems and heard the horrorstories, so I was pretty cautious,”he admits. Ronnie explored severaloptions but eventually choseControl4, primarily because of itsadaptability. “Some of the othersystems were really in their ownworld,” Ronnie says. “You have tobuy only their products for it towork. With Control4, you can use allkinds of add-ons and other products,and it all works together, easily.”Ronnie commissioned SatelliteStation Fire & Security to buildthe system—and what a system itis! “This is a very, very big project,probably our biggest project,” notesDavid Root, the installer. The systemfeatures two full-size, seven-foot3435
Whether visitorsarrive by car, footor boat, the DoorStation systemannounces theirarrival to thehomeownerswith both videoand audio.racks that run 19 televisions, 16 audiozones, 14 security cameras, six InWall Touch Screens, two PortableTouch Screens, three Door Stations,126 Panelized Lighting circuits,and several ZigBee circuits. It’s ahuge system that, David admits,was a bit intimidating at first.“The biggest challenge was justthe sheer size of the project,” hesays. “But as we started puttingthe equipment in and seeing howthings were coming together, Igot more comfortable with it.”Ronnie directed David and hiscrew to go all-out. So what didRonnie automate? “What didn’tI automate?” he jokes. The pool,lighting, music, audio and video36distribution, three theater roomswith surround sound, outdoorlighting, Door Stations with videosecurity, and even the Christmaslights are included on the system. “Idon’t know of anything else we canautomate,” Ronnie laughs. “I guesswe could get the toilets to flushwith my iPhone, but that’s about it.”Large vases that flank the outdoorpool can spit fireballs at Ronnie’scommand. The Door Station at thefront gate alerts Ronnie to visitors,whom he can allow entrance (ornot) with a touch of a button, whichopens the grand front gate. Ronniecan turn on the outdoor firepit—orany other light or heat source in thehome—from his phone. “This house37
Regal flourishes include a wine cellar, an exotic sitting room and a master kitchen—each featuring its own audio zone, naturally.was made for entertaining,” henotes. And automation helpsRonnie and his wife party in style:They use several lighting scenes toinstantly set a morning or eveningmood in any room in the house.It’s a fairytale house, no doubt,but the real magic happenson the lower level. Here, you’llfind a beautiful wine cellar(accessible from the butler’skitchen by elevator) and, behindsome unassuming bookshelves,a secret man cave straight outof a James Bond movie.“That’s where the guys go andhide,” Ronnie laughs. The ultramasculine lounge features a750-gallon aquarium, three TVs, and38heavy-duty blinds that cover thewindows and shield the room fromoutsiders. Why did the homeownergo to such extravagant ends for aman cave? “Because I could,” Ronniesays with Texas charm and a smile.Every homeowner likes to finetune their automation systems totheir liking, but Ronnie takes it astep further and makes the typeof technical adjustments withthe Control4 software that aretypically done by a professional. Forinstance, Ronnie’s three dogs gotaccustomed to the doorbell sound,and would bark loudly when it wentoff. “My old doorbell just freakedthem out,” Ronnie notes. So, Ronniewent into the system, changedthe tone, and now the dogsdon’t make a giant racket whensomeone calls from the front door.So, is this self-admitted powerhungry homeowner content withhis system? In a word very. “I knowRonnie is happy,” David tells us. “Helets me know when he’s not happy.He understands the complexityof what we’re doing. He’s veryhappy with it. Every time I comehere he always has somethingnew for me to add to the system.He just keeps adding stuff!”Ronnie agrees. “If you look at thewhole scale of the house and whatthe automation system cost, it waswell worth it. If you’re not happy, itain’t working. It works. I’m happy." Q39
editor@control4.com Control4 Creative Director Editor, Home Smart Home CONTENTS 28 58 6 Find out what you're missing with the latest feature enhancements included in Control4 OS 2.6 and 2.7. TIME TO UPGRADE? 44 See how a few strategic automation enhancements gave this HQ a serious IQ
