Posted by Eileen Komanecky on Thu, Dec 03, 2009 @ 11:06 AM
No matter who you are or what you are buying, you want to know you're getting a good bang for your buck. At simpleHome, we understand this concept well. That's why we've developed a system that ensures you get the most for your investment through our design/build process and through a process we call engineering for value.
Our approach focuses on understanding the things that are most important to you to ensure that your expectations are met or exceeded. Likewise, we look at the things that are unnecessary or not important to you and cut those costs out of your project. Why install and pay for something you don't want and won't use? It sounds like common sense, but in reality, it is very common for people to get and pay for things they don't need or want. There are several reasons why this occurs: companies rush to provide a price quote without taking the time to understand your desired result, companies focus on the things they care about instead of taking the time to listen to you, and companies try to use the inventory the have in stock to satisfy your needs, even if they are not the best fit for you.
The professionals at simpleHome have the discipline and commitment to take the time upfront to design & engineer the best solution for you. Further, we have the experience & industry knowledge to be able to provide the best solution within your set- aside budget. We don't maintain inventory, so you will never be sold a product that we are trying to move along. Through the design process, you'll understand what your system will be like when it's completed before the installation is even started. That allows you the luxury of making adjustments to the design that can lead to an even better result than you first imagined. And the fact that all our solutions are carefully designed and documented, it is easy to maintain, add to or modify your systems as your needs change. Engineering for value is a win-win for everyone!
Posted by Eileen Komanecky on Fri, Oct 23, 2009 @ 11:27 AM
I read this in the paper the other day:
Prince has problems with remotes
LONDON- He may be married to Queen Elizabeth II, but Prince Philip has the same technological troubles as millions of commoners. The 88-year-old prince has bemoaned the complexity of television remote controls, saying attempts to record programs often end up with him lying on the floor with a flashlight, a magnifying glass and an instruction manual.
"Oh please, can't we get those nice chaps from simpleHome to drop by the castle so I can simply enjoy my telly?" pleads Prince Philip to the Queen.
If there were a simpleHome in London, this would never happen. In fact, this story reminds me of why we began simpleHome. We saw that too many people were not enjoying and taking advantage of the technology available to them because the systems were not designed to be easy to use. Our mission was, and still is, to provide our clients with high quality solutions that integrate seemlessly into their lives, making life more fun with greater peace of mind.
Posted by Mark Komanecky on Fri, Oct 16, 2009 @ 12:31 PM
This is the first in a series of articles about the control and audio/video systems we used on the D Residence. simpleHome has been associated with this project for 18 months and we have been involved from the early design of the control systems to final implementation. This article will focus on one of the sub-systems – the outdoor music system for the property.
One of the goals of the project was to create a space where large gatherings of people could comfortably come for events that span the entire property.
The property has four main features, as seen in the map below: The main house, a poolhouse, tennis court and an art gallery.
For events, people are expected to move between the pool area and the gallery using all of the space of the property. With regard to music in these events, we wanted to achieve the following:
- Be able to easily listen to great sounding music, no matter where you are on the property
- Have no place where the music is too loud or distracting
- Minimize the sound that “bleeds out” to adjacent properties and disturbs neighbors.
- Have a good selection of music and have fun with the system!
The Disney World Effect
This is a similar set of constraints that all large outdoor entertainment areas face. Because you want sound everywhere and have it loud nowhere, you can’t have one or two big speakers blasting into the property. This would make it too loud to be near the speakers and it would sound bad. Also, the neighbors would be calling the cops and you'd be busy discussing noise violations – this breaks the “fun” rule that we have.
To address this, we went with what we called – the Disney World effect – lots of smaller hidden speakers, all playing fairly low volume, all throughout the property – just like what you find at Disney. To cover this property we developed the following plan:
Each of the blue dots represents a twin tweeter outdoor speaker. The green dots are direct burial subwoofers. OK– Disney probably doesn’t have any subwoofers at the Magic Kingdom – but they should!
Buried Subwoofer In D Property and Gallery
The next thing we needed to do was decide where all of these speakers should be controlled, and start to bury the wire. Since the pool house had an equipment shed, we decided that would be a logical place to "home run" all of the wire. We set up the equipment racks in the shed and started digging.
In order to prevent gardeners from accidentily cutting any wires while digging, we decided to bury all of the wire in conduit. We designed the conduit with a few large branches with smaller ones going off to individual zones.
After several days of rain we got to work burying conduit and pulling speaker wire throughout the property. In the end we had just over 2 miles of wire buried in conduit. We were now ready to start installing the speakers.
Installing and hiding the speakers
We chose to use Bay Audio’s line of outdoor speakers for the in-ground subwoofers and the partially buried yard speakers. With all of the speakers in the yard – there was no way to try and create a typical stereo separation with right and left channels. So we wanted a speaker that carried both – a twin tweeter speaker. We also wanted a speaker that had a fairly wide angle of sound dispersement – in this case – the speakers are designed to send sound in a 120 degree arc. Bay Audio’s speakers are also marine rated – so we wouldn’t have to worry about the elements degrading the system over time.
Example speaker in mulch area
As part of the design, the owner wanted the speakers to be concealed in the landscape – but he did not want them to be disguised as something else. This ruled out rock speaker designs and planter speaker designs.
We then went a little custom on the speakers – we partially buried each of the speakers, and added some acoustically transparent camouflage material. The landscapers, who were working at the same time, also planted a special type of long grass around the speakers that would grow and droop over the speakers. This grass does not need to be cut, so the speakers are not going to be run over by a lawnmower any time soon. The final effect is shown in the picture below:
There are 5 speakers visible in this view – if you know where to look for them!
Stay tuned for our next entry on this exciting project!
Posted by Eileen Komanecky on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 @ 11:51 AM
I’m going into my sophomore year at Yale University, and I’ve interned for Mark and Eileen Komanecky here at simpleHome for two summers; I was fortunate enough to get the position last year, and I was invited back again this season. But what keeps me coming back? Is it the pay? Well, I’d be lying if I said the money wasn’t a motivation, but it’s also not the only one. Interning at simpleHome is great—I get to participate in many facets of the business, instead of simply standing behind a cash register at the supermarket. Although I can hardly express how cool it is to work here, I’ll do my best. Presenting: my top five reasons to intern at simpleHome…
1. The Small-Business Environment
Working for simpleHome is working in a small, efficient environment. What does this mean? Well, for starters, things get done; everybody has a task, and I can’t remember any time I’ve had nothing—or, even worse, busywork—to do. Furthermore, because the environment is small, everybody has a hand in all the processes that go into each job. I’ve worked with all the employees in some capacity or other, and they’re all personable, easy to reach, and quick to respond to any problem or issue. Finally, everyone knows everyone here, and that friendship makes for a great workday, any day of the week.
2. The Expertise
A small workplace environment can be downright frustrating if nobody knows what they’re doing. Fortunately, simpleHome only hires the best. The knowledge of products and tech specs here is vast, and the engineering plans come out with minute detail. What about the tangle of wires that is sure to appear after all my AV equipment is installed, you ask? I asked that question once, and the only answer I needed was a look at an installed equipment rack. Our technicians, for lack of a better word, are wizards at wiring. Each individual cable is cut, wrapped, threaded, and connected with the kind of care I thought only a mother could give. High praise, I know, but seeing is believing.
3. Cutting-Edge Tech
As a college-age male, I feel a natural interest in any piece of technology, audio systems and televisions included. Working at simpleHome, I’ve seen incredible cutting-edge home tech. From any installed panel in your house, you have total control over all of your home’s vital systems—temperature, audio, video, and security, to name a few. Even better, full-home automation saves money and lowers energy usage. When tech that cool is also that beneficial, my interest is definitely piqued.
4. When a Project Comes Together
I’m lucky enough to see almost every aspect of simpleHome’s workings as an intern, and so I appreciate how much effort goes into each and every project. From marketing to the first power-up in a freshly-installed system, a great deal of work is put in by all of simpleHome’s employees. The best part of any of these projects is seeing the end result. Cables are tied, televisions and projectors are mounted, wireless thermostats are installed, and access to everything is placed within the touch of a button. The satisfaction of everyone who has collaborated on the project is ignited by the light in a client’s eyes as he or she realizes just how much smoother their house will run. Even as an intern, I get to share in that satisfaction, and it’s a great feeling.
5. The People
What would simpleHome be without the people who work there? I don’t know, but it certainly wouldn’t be the great place I know. Despite my lowly intern status, I feel like I’ve been taken into the fold, and I couldn’t have picked a more friendly place to work. Everyone I’ve met, and I’ve met everyone, is a genuinely kind person, and this kindness extends to any and all clients we have. It’s great to see a company of people who cares about both their product and the people who work for them, and nowhere else I’ve worked can top the welcome I’ve been given at simpleHome.
Posted by Judy Rapa on Wed, Jul 15, 2009 @ 10:45 AM
I have a confession to make. I still own an analog TV. It is a 4 inch black and white SONY Watchman complete with tin foil on the antenna. They were all the rage in the early 90's. Some of you may even remember them. It was my Mother's Day present in 1991 and holds great sentimental value. This old friend had sat on my kitchen counter for the past 18 years. When my children were young and watching Sesame Street in the family room, I could get my fix of The Today Show every morning and The NBC Nightly News every evening without exposing them to the horrors of the daily news. Once they were teenagers, I could watch the news without being exposed to the horrors of their reality TV shows playing in the other rooms. My Watchman had been my companion through good times and bad and it still worked perfectly well - except for the obvious problem - no audio and no video. I heard rumors that the end was near, but I chose to ignore the warning signs by thinking that President Obama would keep postponing the cutover - forever. My hopes were dashed when on June 12, 2009 my little analog friend became a victim to the digital age. I later found out that I am not alone. My neighbor Beth was using the same wishful thinking strategy for her bedroom TV. Perhaps I should form a support group for those of us in denial - Analog Anonymous anyone?
Now you can only imagine the reactions my high-tech simpleHome colleagues had to my latest low-tech announcement. They seem to have barely recovered from the fact that when I first came to work here I did not own a DVR box or a GPS. (I have since then acquired both thank you very much and my life has been greatly enhanced.) No, this response was far more dramatic. It went something like this: "BLACK AND WHITE! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! (chuckling) ....HOW BIG?! (louder chuckling), HAVEN'T YOU HEARD OF CABLE?! (knee slapping)...TINFOIL??!!! (hysterical laughter). Then there was the joke email sent around the office on cutover weekend. I laughed along with the gang and tried to put up a brave face in spite of my loss.
As it turns out, my story does have a happy, albeit bittersweet ending. After the teasing subsided, my colleagues rallied around me - pointing out that I work at simpleHome, the place dedicated to making life simple, fun, and easy! Thanks to them, I now have a sleek-flip up and down-color-cable connected television mounted under my kitchen cabinet. I have modernized my 1980's vintage kitchen by bringing it into the digital age. Now if I could just get rid of those darn white Formica counter tops. I will always have fond memories of my Sony Watchman and the time we spent together, but I have to admit that Matt Lauer and Brian Williams really do look even better in color!
Posted by Eileen Komanecky on Thu, Jun 25, 2009 @ 01:38 PM
When people
learn that my husband and I own a home technology company that provides smart
home solutions to homeowners, I’m often asked the same question: “What is your house like?” I think some people are
hoping my answer were a little more interesting. Say, something like, “Did you
watch The Jetson’s growing up. That’s pretty much our house. Including Rosie
the robot maid.” Well, we may not
be the Jetson family, but the Komaneckys do have some pretty cool technology
working for us at our humble abode.
Here’s one
example:
Like many working
moms across America, arriving home after work is a time of mixed emotions. Sure,
it’s nice to know the work day is behind me. And being warmly greeted by my two
thrilled-to-see-me, tail-wagging dogs certainly warms my heart. But the thought
of the long list home duties that lay ahead of me can be daunting.
Specifically, preparing a dinner that satisfies everybody in the family. But since
I’m committed to that nightly ritual of reconnecting 4 individuals back into
one family that can actually communicate and enjoy each other’s company, I
persevere. And the good news is that simpleHome makes it easier.
How does simpleHome help? As a person who loves music, nothing
makes a mundane task more enjoyable for me than listening to great music as I
work. Preparing dinner night after night can qualify as such. So before I start
that process, I walk over to the kitchen in-wall touch panel and press the
button that says Cooking. Each of the buttons on touch panel was customized for
our family by simpleHome. When I press Cooking, here’s what happens: my music
favorites begin to play at the right volume, the lights are adjusted to the
levels that are just right for cooking, and the thermostat is adjusted to the
proper temperature. Through the touchpanel, I can easily access our entire
music collection, as well as internet or satellite radio. Or I can easily
switch on kitchen TV as I unwind & decompress from the work day. When it’s
time to call the family to the table, I turn back to the touch panel and press
the Dinner button. That button is programmed to adjust the music to speakers
above the dinner table, rings the “dinner bell” throughout the speakers in the
house, flashes the lights in my teenage son’s Man Cave (that’s another blog
altogether) to let him know it’s dinner time. It also adjusts & dims the
lights in the kitchen to just the way we like them when we eat dinner. The
scene is then set for our family to come together to enjoy a nice relaxing dinner
and each others company!
Posted by Mark Komanecky on Tue, Jun 09, 2009 @ 02:41 PM
The simpleHome team is looking forward to staying in touch with our clients, partners, architects and designers, custom builders, and other interested parties via our new blog. Over the last few months, we have been very busy developing our new web site and we think you will like what you see. We will continue to enhance and expand our site with more infomation on our latest projects, new partnerships, and our emerging work in the energy management area.
Our new web site is not as "flashy" as our previous one, but it will be much easier to find us on the Internet. That is because we have made it much more "search friendly" for Google and the other major search engines.
Now for a bit of news.....we are very excited to be featured in the Project Gallery section on Control4's web site. They selected simpleHome because of our work on a challenging project in rural Connecticut. You can find out more details by clicking here. As you can see, this is a example of how we can integrate smart home and home enertainment technology into an existing home--even in an almost 300 year old farmhouse.
simpleHome worked in conjunction with Control4 to equip the home of techology industry analyst Danny Briere. We installed many of our coolest features, including whole house music, whole house video, lighting control, video cameras and even a driveway sensor to alert the Briere's that someone is entering their driveway.
The Briere's home is located in a rural area of New England where milk is still delivered, so we equipped their milkbox with a Control4 sensor and they now get an alert that says "you've got milk!" One more feature the kids like....they each hear the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" at 6:30 AM every school morning.
The Briere family is thrilled to be living in an 18th century home filled with 21st century technology!
Just a quick note on Danny Briere....he is the CEO of TeleChoice, a leading strategy and advisory firm and also the co-author of several books on home technology, including Smart Homes for Dummies, Home Theater for Dummies, and HDTV for Dummies. You can find a list of all his "Dummies" books on the Digital Dummies web site.