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Easy Living With Econnecx

Posted by Ben

Our Econnecx home automation has made living in our new house really easy and convenient.

We’ve set up a bunch of automated schedules for some of the key functions in the house. Our exterior and security lights turn on and off at varying times of the day that we’ve decided works with when we are coming and going. This is an awesome feature, especially arriving home to a well lit home at night. Functional and beautiful!

Our under floor heating and towel rails are also on schedules, which are quite different between the weekend and during the weekday. Which makes sense, we’re home more during the weekends so it’s nice to have the underfloor heating going, but while we are at work there is no need. Since we’ve had these schedules in place we’ve definitely noticed a reduction in power.

One of the coolest and most convenient features is being able to open and close the front door remotely, and turn the alarm on and off. Last week I was in Christchurch and Kylie was away as well, but wasn’t sure if she had set the alarm. I was able to check in on my phone and set the alarm from the econnecx app. Genius. There have also been numerous times that I’ve let tradies into the house without the hassle of having to wait around for them, or leaving a key out. You can even give them access that is time specific, so they can come and go based on the time of day, but outside of those hours they don’t have access.

We’re still waiting to connect up our central heating which will be really good. Plus add a couple of internal lights as well.

Home automation is one of those things you don’t think you really need until you have it. It hadn’t entered my mind during our planning stages as I assumed it would be really expensive, but econnecx is really reasonable – about $3k to set up and install, even into an existing home. Then $92 a year covers all the software upgrades and any support you may need during the year.

It’s super easy to set up too. Your electrician does all the work, then you can just play around creating schedules until you find ones that suit how you live.

Highly recommended.

At a glance we can see which of our connected devices are on, off or open in the house.

At a glance we can see which of our connected devices are on, off or open in the house.

Sitting at work or in a different country, we can open the door for tradies, friends or family. We can check if the alarm is on, or set it if it isn't.

Sitting at work or in a different country, we can open the door for tradies, friends or family. We can check if the alarm is on, or set it if it isn’t.

Once on a computer you can add and edit your schedules. Here you can see our underfloor heating and towel rails. It's very intuitive and automated, right down to dusk, dawn and public holiday settings.

Once on a computer you can add and edit your schedules. Here you can see our underfloor heating and towel rails. It’s very intuitive and automated, right down to dusk, dawn and public holiday settings.

Love Thy Stairs

Posted by Ben

The stairs up to our roof-top-deck are definitely one of my favourite features of the house thanks to the awesome team at Stylecraft Stairways. They are beautiful – a stunning sculpture greeting us every time we walk through the front door. They are magnificent at night as well – our electricians at EAV did an amazing job fitting the LED strips into each tread.

Mmm. Mm. M.

Stylecraft Stairways Designer Stairs Ben and Kylie Dreamhome 4

Stylecraft Stairways Designer Stairs Ben and Kylie Dreamhome 9

Stylecraft Stairways Designer Stairs Ben and Kylie Dreamhome 2

Stylecraft Stairways Designer Stairs Ben and Kylie Dreamhome 6

Stylecraft Stairways Designer Stairs Ben and Kylie Dreamhome 10

Stylecraft Stairways Designer Stairs Ben and Kylie Dreamhome 8

Roller Blinds

Posted by Ben

We are so stoked with our blinds. Kresta were amazing to deal with and the final blinds look amazing in the living pod. Choosing a motorised system was genius – with the push of one button all of the blinds can come down at once, which is so convenient when you get home, rather than racing round the room manually opening or closing them. Plus it’s a pretty cool party trick! Or we can control each blind individually on the remote.

By choosing a double layer, we also have full flexibility, leaving just the sun shades down reduces glare and provides privacy during the day, while still letting in some light. Then at night, we just bring down the block outs, giving us complete privacy.

The sun shades partly down over the Level Step Stacker - we can control each blind with our remote control.

The sun shades partly down over the Level Step Stacker – we can control each blind with our remote control.

And fully down - from outside you can't see in at all during the day, while inside you get a lovely filtered light.

And fully down – from outside you can’t see in at all during the day, while inside you get a lovely filtered light.

While the block out layer provides complete privacy with the touch of a button.

While the block out layer provides complete privacy with the touch of a button.

Similarly beside our dining table, the double layer is so flexible.

Similarly beside our dining table, the double layer is so flexible, and the light grey of the sun shade makes for a stylish and complementary feature of the house.

Kresta Roller Blinds Ben and Kylies Dream home 4

Our Other Two Bedrooms

Posted by Ben

I’ve finally gotten around to taking some photos of our other two bedrooms. One we have set up as a guest bedroom, and the other is a bit of an office with a pull out sofa if we have a full house.

We used Sugarloaf Island Half by Dulux for the feature wall in both rooms, along with Little Manly Half for the other walls, trim and ceiling.

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Curtains custom made by Kresta, Smart Strand Silk carpet from Carpet Court, bed from Freedom, throw from Freedom, bedsides from Freedom, artwork and feature pillows from Shut The Front Door, lamps from Lighting Direct, paint by Dulux.

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Custom made curtains from Kresta, Smart Strand Silk carpet from Carpet Court, table from Trestle Union, chairs from Freedom, sofa bed from Smooch, artwork and plant from Shut The Front Door, lamp from Lighting Direct, paint by Dulux.