Retrofit Smart Home

The clients of this lovely 15th century Grade II listed farmhouse wanted to integrate 21st-century technology for internet connectivity, CCTV, heating, lighting control, safety and security.

As the clients were not doing any renovations, we chose to use the limited network cabling that a previous owner had installed.  I tested and verified that the cabling would be suitable and despite the challenges the building presented, I was able to get Wi-Fi coverage throughout the house (not easy when some of the walls are 1 metre thick!).  I hard-wired Sky Q boxes to all 4 TV’s in the house and an outbuilding.  I installed CCTV coverage inside and outside, including a video doorbell that also acts as CCTV coverage for the front of the house. The CCTV footage is all securely recorded locally with no cloud services or subscriptions to pay and the clients are able to access it remotely for peace of mind..

For additional family safety and as custodians of a historically important building, the clients wanted to make sure the whole house had the best smoke and carbon monoxide sensors to protect them and the building.  I installed smart alarms throughout the home that alert the occupants to precisely which room detected the issue (e.g. “There’s smoke in the kitchen”).  The family can quickly determine the safest route out of the house or deal with the problem.  The client is also notified on their mobile phone.  Additionally, the sensors do a weekly health check to make sure they are operating correctly and have a built-in night-light in hallways that light up to show the way when movement is detected.