Category: Smart Home Automation

Planning for Technology During a Home Renovation

When planning for technology during a home renovation project, it’s important to first identify your needs and consider the technology you currently use and what you would like to have in your new space. This may include things like home automation systems, home theater systems, and smart appliances. Identify Your Needs Once you have identified […]

Control4 vs. Savant: A Home Automation Showdown

Smart homes are becoming increasingly popular, and with so many options out there, it can be difficult to decide which home automation system is best for you. Two of the most popular systems are Control4 and Savant. Both of these systems have a lot to offer, but it’s important to understand the differences between them […]

Common Amazon Alexa Problems & How To Solve Them

Those of us with smart home equipment can attest to the many glories of web-connected hardware. One of the most popular Internet-of-Things (IoT) families is Amazon’s Echo lineup. Comprising smart speakers, displays, and a host of other equipment, these products can act as smart hubs for the rest of your home’s IoT gear. But like […]

New Smart Home Automation

The planning and design phases are the ideal time to consider adding smart home functionality. When planning new home automation, it’s important to take your ultimate goals into account. After all, you’re designing a house that matches virtually anything you could ever want, including features that will make living easier, at the end, you know when […]

Product Review: Control4 NEEO Remote

We’ve tested the Control4 NEEO remotes in our Innovative Design Center, and if you don’t have two minutes to spare I’ll spare you the suspense. This remote is super fast, amazingly simple, and constructed using an industrial yet intuitive design reminiscent. After unboxing the remote and connecting it to our WiFi, it immediately found our […]

Hygge and Home Technology: 5 Benefits

Everyone wants a happy home but how exactly can you get one? Decor and lifestyle trends are an effective way to achieve peace of mind in your space. Hygge is a Danish living principle turned popular trend that emphasizes living in the moment and values contentment with one’s current state. According to the trend, coziness […]

Smart Home Cost Considerations

At Livewire, we’re often asked how much a smart home costs.  We’re amazed how many industry colleagues shy away from the question lest they scare away potential customers. Solid information about the total cost of ownership associated with a solid home technology system is paramount to making an informed buying decision. Investing in home technology […]

Home Hub Showdown: Google vs Amazon

Here at Livewire, we get asked all the time which smart home hub does the best job controlling home technology. We decided to create a simple article highlighting the pros & cons of each major platform to help our clients decide for themselves which one works best for their home. Since the Amazon Echo debuted […]

Does Your Control System Need More Than One App?

Here at Livewire, we get asked all the time which approach is best for navigating your control system; “one app to rule them all” or multiple apps? We decided to create a simple article highlighting the pros & cons of each category to help our clients decide for themselves which one works best for their […]

Biophilia and Smart Home Technology

We’ve seen an abundance of interest this year around biophilia in the home technology space. What is it and how can we best leverage it in homes simply, reliably, and cost-effectively? I’ve spent the last six months researching the latest trends and wanted to share my findings. What is Biophilia? Biophilia refers to our innate […]