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The Post COVID-19 Home

“Home should be a sanctuary”

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated home trends that were gaining adoption, and also created new ones that will fundamentally change the ways in which we interact with and view our homes.

Flex Spaces

With the whole family spending more time at home, there is an increased need for flexible spaces. Key areas must easily transition between community living and isolation; homeowners will need creative ways to delineate spaces and open them back up again.  For example, entertainment areas should have the capability to quickly convert to conference areas and back again at a moment’s notice. Previously unused or underutilized spaces can be creatively converted to functional space. Taking a conference call on the formal dining table while the kids play in the background will no longer be the regular mode of operation.

Home Office

Many of the benefits of working from home became apparent during the pandemic. Once commonly accepted pitfalls of traditional office work, such as commuting and expensive office leases, are decidedly no longer in favor. As companies continue to adopt the work-from-home trend, there will be an increased need for dedicated functional, advanced home offices. The home office of the future will know your routine, perhaps starting your cup of coffee in the morning, turning on your devices, and adjusting the lighting for maximum productivity. 

Health

A more obvious trend as a result of the pandemic is the desire to monitor health at home. This may lend itself to broader change in the form of higher transparency in healthcare. Homes will have a “health dashboard” that constantly monitors the health of the home and its inhabitants, reporting on anything from air quality to body changes resulting from diet and other lifestyle factors. Healthcare will become far less of a “black box”, where people have no transparency into how various environmental and lifestyle factors play into their overall health. 

Garages

Similar to the idea of flex spaces, garages deserve their own spotlight as a space ready for change post COVID-19. Modern garages are typically used solely for storage of cars and items. By expanding the garage or converting wasted space, homeowners can add valuable additional living and entertainment areas. A busy working couple can create a separate area for presentations and conferencing. A car aficionado can showcase his collection and entertain guests by converting excess garage space to an entertainment area for games, socializing and more. 

Gyms

As gyms closed and became unavailable for the duration of the pandemic, people quickly found creative ways to exercise at home. In doing so, they found value in the convenience, privacy, and flexibility of a home gym. Dedicated and technologically savvy spaces for home gyms will become increasingly common. They will have home automation components, such as knowing your routine, adjusting temperature, lighting, and even difficulty of the workout. And they will also have a social focus, given that gyms have always had a social component to them. Machines will be increasingly connected, whether integrating with social platforms or providing audio/video capability for remote group workouts.

As the COVID-19 pandemic comes to a close, we will continue to see these trends accelerate in homes around the world. Please contact us at hello@rare-homes.com to discuss how Rare Homes can create the home of tomorrow for you.

Cinema at Home

A dedicated home theater room significantly upgrades and refines the movie experience. Much more than simply a TV and speakers, a true home theater considers variables such as acoustics, lighting, and connectivity. It is not only functional but also experiential in its aesthetics and quality. Here we will walk through some of the variables we consider when designing your home theater.

The Room

Acoustics

At Rare Homes, we begin each home theater installation with a detailed analysis of the room’s acoustics. Rectangular rooms tend to work best for sound projection; however with specialized equipment, we are able to map how sound travels throughout the room no matter the shape. We then determine the optimal locations for each of the speakers. The result is a home theater room that provides a truly immersive audio experience.

Floor and Walls

Carpeting is generally a good choice for the floor of a home theater room. Hard surfaces are not ideal for optimal sound, and are not considered as aesthetic in a room that should feel comfortable. 

The walls should be as dark as possible, as darker colors reflect less light which is advantageous for a bright screen. Regular drywall works as the wall material, though large sections should be broken up with accents or sound absorption panels to reduce sound reflection. The benefit of using sound absorption panels throughout the home theater room is that less sound will leak out into other areas of the home. 

Screen

The screen is the obvious focal point for any home theater room. Deceptively simple at first glance, there are a number of variables to consider when choosing a theater screen. When selecting a screen, the optimum angle, distance, and viewing height should be considered. Projectors tend to have the advantage when it comes to size, and are the most popular option for a dedicated theater room. 

Smart Home Automation

Consider integrating the latest in smart home automation technology in your home theater installation. Items to automate include lighting, audio video, voice controls, shades, and more. No more fiddling with different remotes, manually adjusting the lights, or spending what could otherwise be movie time setting up and adjusting the theater room. Through your phone or tablet, simply select ‘Movie Mode’, sit back, and relax as your home theater sets itself up for you within seconds.

Design

As a design-first home services firm, Rare Homes can create a truly experiential home cinema experience for you and your family. From the accent and color selection, to highly bespoke designs that challenge the imagination, we have the expertise to craft something special.

Please contact us at hello@rare-homes.com to discuss how Rare Homes can create the home theater of tomorrow for you.

Cybersecurity At Home

Cybersecurity is not a common discussion point when installing a home network or when implementing smart home technology. Yet it is becoming increasingly important as more devices connect to your home network and working from home prevails. Burglars, predators, financial criminals, and more are starting to use technology to their advantage, and a connected home with a lack of cybersecurity is the obvious target. 

Smart Home Device Risks

An unsecured home network provides malicious actors a gateway into every aspect of your life. They can gain access to devices such as smart thermostats to determine when you are not home. Smart speakers allow them to listen in on your conversations. Just a single compromised smart home device puts the entire home network, and consequently every device connected to it, at risk. To prevent such intrusions, it is best to adhere to the following network security protocols:

1. Enable WPA2 security to guard access to your WiFi router. This setting is enabled by default on most routers; it requires each device connecting to the network to enter a password to connect. If this is not enabled on your router, this is the first step to take in securing your home network.
2. Ensure that all devices on your network are up to date. Most smart home devices have an option to automatically update themselves to the latest software versions, which often contain important security updates. 
3. Install a hardware firewall. Firewalls monitor inbound and outbound traffic on your network, and while most routers have a basic firewall installed, the entirety of the network is reliant on that single firewall. A hardware firewall connects directly to your router and adds a much stronger level of protection to the home network.

Security System Risks

Most home security is focused on monitoring. However, cameras and alarm systems can only go so far. If an intruder wishes to break into your home, they can bypass typical monitoring setups with tools as simple as a crowbar (break into the home), wire cutter (neutralize the alarm system), and cell phone jammer (prevent the alarm system/home residents from calling the police). This is often made easier for criminals when homeowners display signs with the brand of their security system outside of their home; while this can deter a potential intruder, it is also providing valuable information to others.

Rare Homes can install security systems that strengthen typical monitoring capabilities, and also provide offensive/defensive options not typically seen in home security today. On the monitoring front, we install enterprise-grade cameras with microphones for full coverage and months of video storage. These cameras can come pre-installed with security software such as facial and license plate recognition. We will also install multiple alarm systems in your home for redundancy and added layers of protection. Offensive security measures can incapacitate intruders without your involvement, while defensive measures can offer child protection and more.

Please contact us at hello@rare-homes.com to discuss how Rare Homes can design and install the home security system of tomorrow for you.