|| SMART BATHROOMS: YEP, THEY’RE A THING NOW || 

Centenarians in the 21st century might remember a time when indoor bathrooms were new. Indoor plumbing apparently caught on, for various reasons, more quickly in the US than in other parts of the industrialized world. Even psychologists have noted Americans’ insistence on and delight in private residential bathrooms. 

The upgrades and progress for bathrooms are a long way from the first indoor water closets. 

But as far back as 2006, sports agents were tricking out their bathrooms with flatscreen TVs to stay on top of their client's performance during games. Hands-free phones and other add-ons for the digital workspace became the norm for hard-driving, full-time-plus jobs. 

Some people may even remember the tales (which, according to the former president’s biographer, Robert Caro, were true) of Texas native Lyndon Johnson voicing letters for dictation from the commode. 

Porches are part of the unique American social architecture. the space between public and private life. The US, having the second-largest average house size in the world, gives us an added location out front to chat with neighbors or throw parties. A singular display to everyone nearby, they're a veritable profile avatar. Evolve Technology will add sights, and sounds, and can resolve security issues for porches. 

Porches Are Making a Comeback

As life outside the home returns, people are rediscovering the power of community. porches can help with that. Access the neighborhood and the outdoors, but without leaving home. 

The rate in this country for new single-family homes built with porches is up 10% since 2005. and two-thirds of such houses built in 2017 had them. 

The uptick in preference for porches parallels the collective thirst for a better-connected neighborhood. in days of yore, the porch was just that, the settings for an analog social network, a kinetic next-door app.

Spring has indeed sprung, and Dallas may see a 90+ degree day in the next week!

Pools are one of those things that are good, both hot and cold, like coffee or dessert. They're something that adds to your residential enjoyment and, if they're in the ground, take up no visible room.

And, whenever you want during good weather, you can sign out of the daily grind and enjoy that ageless pleasure of a good swim (or soak).

Your indoor or outdoor pool can have real sensory engagement with audio and visuals. You can control, secure, and cover your pool from home or away. You can even make adjustments to the pool settings from your phone.

But first, make your pool a 24-7 activity--and give it some serious style--with the perfect lighting.

Connecting a refrigerator to the internet.

At one time, that sounded far-fetched. But we now have smart home technology introduced into TVs, doorbells, and lighting (and, of course, phones). Voice commands and related convenient features on a refrigerator, now sound doable.

The best smart refrigerators are useful because they connect to more than the internet. Z-wave and "mesh" networks home Wi-Fi links smart home devices with each other. It's not a conference meeting, it's a mixer.

As we reintroduce social mixing in our lives, a tall cold one, (or a short dram) might be called for. Let's talk about that.

SMART FRIDGE FOR THE GROWN FOLKS  

Statistics textbooks still say that weather forecasts are about 75% accurate, at best. There are really two types of Americans: those who think their state's weather is crazy, and those who live outside Texas. Despite that, history tells us there are a lot more days you're free to go outside here than in, say, Buffalo, New York.

In a few weeks, spring will arrive. There will be (somewhat) reliably good weather. Dog walking will be more enjoyable, kids can be out of the house for hours a day, and internet consumption will dip a little bit for everyone.

Until then (and after it), have you considered an active room for your house?

FLOOR SPACE: WHAT ABOUT A HOME GYM OR FAMILY "RUMPUS ROOM"?

In the last century, humans have learned that sitting down too much is bad. Every home has a place to sit down. Now, more of us are adding time to our schedule to get out and get moving; to not sit. Could we find a way to not sit in our house?

Movement and kinesis have become much more important to a healthy life. Newer or modern homes may start to incorporate built-in fitness rooms as exercise becomes less recreational and more utility. 

Everyday Speaker Sounds of Audio and Video

Live sports, to Pandora, to FM to on-demand DVR'd reality shows. Broadcast or recorded sound is a century old. 

On-demand sound evolution:

• Turntable records
• Car radio 
• Box-rocker portable stereos 
• Modern-day: stand-alone media room in our pocket or on our wrist 

One-way and two-way audio systems are a non-stop feature in the 21st century. Waking up, working, and falling asleep to a preferred sound, such as music, is a constant for many people. 

The New Year is finally here! 

With 2021 finally behind us, many of us are keeping our eyes on the future and focusing on things that are in our control. Oftentimes people set unrealistic New Year Resolutions for improving their life, ultimately falling short when things get difficult and life gets busy. It’s easy to resort to old habits and it's common for people to throw in the towel completely. In cases like these, the most important way to stick to your goals is to hold yourself accountable. With hundreds of apps to keep track of your fitness, screentime, or calorie intake, it can be overwhelming to stay up to date. Although, programming automated controls throughout your home can remind and motivate you to stay on track and achieve your goals. Below are some home automation suggestions to help you. 

Custom Audio Button

When life gets hectic many people rely on music or even meditation to help calm their mind and reset. Rather than fumbling trying to connect your device to your speakers, installing a specific button that is programmed to your favorite radio station or meditation channel can help ease tensions. Whether you want it to play throughout your entire Dallas home or only in a specific room, these controls can be customized to ensure you have immediate access to stress relief. 

Refreshed Lighting Scheme