Run your home...with your phone

When Thomas Edison was creating the light bulb as we know it today in 1880, it included an essential piece of equipment: a switch, so it could be turned on and off.

Today, switches are everywhere. The average home in Mimi’s circulation area probably has 30 to 60 switches, and, invariably, the one we want to use is always out of reach.

“Honey,” my wife says as she lays her head on the pillow next to me, “I think I left the light on in the basement. Can you check?”

“Sure, Babe.”

“Oh, and check the back door,” she adds. “I may have left it unlocked when I let the dog out. And come to think of it, the outside lights might be on, too. And make sure the garage door is closed. Did the kids leave their TV on? I think I hear something.”

What follows is 15 minutes of unexpected cardio for me ... in my pajamas.

Rob Myers, founder of K+ Integration and Audio, a home automation company based in Northeast Ohio, laughs when I tell him this story.

“It’s not a serious problem if you live in a 1,500-square-foot home,” Rob says. “But if you live in a 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot home—or even larger—it’s a huge deal.”

Rob’s company focuses on automating homes to enhance safety and simplify management.

“Virtually anything that runs on electricity can be controlled with a wall-mounted tablet or a smartphone,” he says. “It’s not quite the Jetsons, but it’s pretty close.”

Watch TV with One Remote

Thirty years ago, “smart” homes and office buildings were the domain of James Bond, but today—thanks to so many Wi-Fi-enabled electronic devices—more homeowners are using the technology. And it doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated.

“Many of our clients simply want to watch TV with a single remote control,” explains System Architect Lee Fioritto. “That’s because watching TV often requires three remotes—one for the TV, one for the cable box, and one for the sound system. Throw in the gas-log fireplace and the automatic window blinds and remotes are everywhere. With our services, you can manage all electronics in your home on your smartphone.”

Setting the Scene

Regarding lighting, Rob explains that his customers can select from preprogrammed “scenes” that adjust a room’s lighting to suit the activity. “In the morning, you might want a well-lit kitchen with bright undercabinet lighting to brew coffee and make breakfast,” he says. “But in the evening, you can switch the scene with the push of a button to create a romantic dinner, with gentle lights and soft music from hidden speakers.”

Other options are more practical. “When one of my kids wouldn’t wake up to go to school, I would simply turn on their bedroom light from my kitchen,” Rob says.

The team can even install a panic button. Press it, and every light inside and outside your home turns on all at once.

High-Quality, Durable Equipment

The technology used by K+ Integration and Audio to achieve all this is top-of-the-line. It’s called Crestron, and you’ll find the company’s technology in many Fortune 500 headquarters, including Apple, Google, Meta, and even Goodyear, right down the road in Akron.

“Crestron equipment is not only technologically advanced, it’s also extremely durable,” Lee says. “This isn’t lightweight equipment you find at chain electronics stores or on Amazon. Crestron is virtually bulletproof and many parts have a lifetime warranty.”

Easy, Affordable Installation

Surprisingly, K+ Integration doesn't have to tear your house apart to install this technology.

Depending on the scope of your project, its installation teams can complete the job in a day or two.

“Once you experience managing your electronics, appliances, audio, home security and more from a single device, you realize what true peace of mind is all about,” Rob concludes.

Wait, did I leave the basement light on?

K+ Integration and Audio serves homeowners throughout Northeast Ohio. Start with a free in-home consultation with Rob or Lee to discuss your project.

K+ Integration & Audio

440-708-2424

K-Integration.com