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If you were renovating a house ...

15 replies

LutherLover · 23/01/2019 17:38

Which ‘smart’ things would you install?

(Yes I know lots don’t like them in case of spying)

OP posts:
icantthinkofanotherone · 23/01/2019 17:54

Well I wouldn't bother with any of it, to be honest. It's just more stuff that uses electricity, and more to go wrong/become obsolete.

blacksax · 23/01/2019 17:55

I might be tempted to install a burglar alarm with motion sensors, but that's it.

Sharkdo · 23/01/2019 18:06

One of those boiling water taps! Grin

Sharkdo · 23/01/2019 18:07

Oh and the plug that grinds down leftover food.

digitallyremastered · 23/01/2019 18:11

I don't think the OP necessarily means 'smart home' tech but just smart ideas?

anniehm · 23/01/2019 18:19

Integrated music across the downstairs and the WiFi hub in the middle of the house! Oh and Ethernet cables to various points as WiFi is blocked by extra thick walls. Wished we had the special blinds inside the windows too

RippleEffects · 23/01/2019 18:26

Common key for all external doors.

Doorbell camera so if for example a courier rings your bell you can speak to them via WiFi from anywhere with instructions to leave in xyz location, with a neighbour or redeliever.

Zoned heating so if fuel prices keep going up you can have warm zones rather than heating whole house. If radiators used thermostats valves on every radiator.

Heated towel radiators near every bath/ shower with integral electric element so you can dry towels on it in summer if main heating is off.

Lots of light switches so you can turn lights on off from where ever you need. We have landing light light switches outside each bedroom so who ever gets up first/ goes to bed last can turn lights on/ off.

Lots of sockets many with usb points for devices.

In our last house, with very thick internal and external stone walls, we also wired for intranet when wiring the house (that was a back to bare walls house true full renovation though so logistically very easy and cheap to add).

I do love boiling/ near boiling water taps.

I don't know that I'd have a hob in a new kitchen. I think I'd get one or two portable induction rings and keep them in an appliance cupboard. Likewise I dont think id bother with a big ceiling fan over the hob.

I'm a complete convert to hydroponics and have a smallish salad/ herb set up with led daylight simulator bulb above semi built into a cupboard in my dining kitchen. Fresh salad, herbs, watercress daily year round. It was all from IKEA and I'd definitely factor a couple of these into the design of a new kitchen. The DC love it too. It's great to always have fresh mixed leaves to pick and throw in a wrap or make a fresh salad.

LutherLover · 23/01/2019 18:38

Both really!!

Clever smart or technically smart.

Keep em coming.

What are special blinds @anniehm

OP posts:
3out · 23/01/2019 18:42

We’re def making sure all new sockets have usb sockets too.

I think you can get smart light switches, and then you don’t need smart bulbs, but I’ve not looked into it.

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 23/01/2019 18:47

Plan in outdoor sockets for Christmas lights and a gas line for a fire pit or BBQ. In fact go for an outdoor kitchen! And oversized out door table and seating and a projector shelf with a screen for film nights ( indoors and outdoors too)
UFH in every bathroom is a must!
A pantry and a cleaners cupboard. A bootroom and a laundry room. An accessible shelved store room for junk.

Sadik · 23/01/2019 18:58

I'm in the early stages of planning a total renovation of my 40s 3 bed semi, last updated I'd say late 70s / early 80s. I turn 50 this year and want to make it comfy and 'future proof' as far as I can as I get older & in an era of increasingly uncertain energy supplies.

This is perhaps along different lines to what you're looking at but I'm considering:
Drylining entirely (we're right by the sea so cavity wall fill is questionable, and I already have some damp problems).
New much more insulating windows to replace my 70s double glazing
More loft insulation
Heat store with dual feed in - high efficiency wood burner of some type (I already have wood heating but from a 70s rayburn) and then probably ground source or air source heat pump
More PV to add to my existing panels, and potentially solar hot water also

I suspect the guy I'm working with (architect trained but specialises in green building/renovation) will suggest replacing the radiators with underfloor heating - not sure myself but want to listen to the reasons for.

icantthinkofanotherone · 23/01/2019 19:03

Oh well in that case... you can never have too many cupboards, especially a proper airing cupboard.

Work out where people are most likely to want to put furniture in each room, and put sockets where they will be accessible (and not behind where the fitted wardrobe will go for instance).

3out · 23/01/2019 20:14

Not smart, but don’t forget an outside tap.

burritofan · 23/01/2019 20:36

Boiling water tap. Outside tap. Table lamps on mains circuit operated by the light switch, so you don't have to play find-the-traily-light-cord. Bathroom underfloor heating on a timer.

Not USB sockets because DP would stick a charger wire in every single one and leave them there permanently like a bloody wire installation. Maybe USB charging drawers/cupboards to keep them out of sight. Lights inside kitchen drawers.

digitallyremastered · 23/01/2019 20:47

Not sure about lots of USB sockets as they might well become obsolete before long?

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