ADI and Control4 have showcased a smart home integration project at a luxury waterfront residence on North Carolina’s Lake Norman, following a 16-month renovation that stripped the property back to its structural shell before rebuilding it.
According to the companies, the project aimed to integrate automation, lighting, audio, networking and security while preserving architectural features, lake views and interior design choices.
The homeowner worked with Charlotte-based HTS (Home Technology Solutions) and an interior design firm from early in the renovation. The installation was built around the Control4 platform supplied through ADI, combining Control4 automation with Lux Lighting, Triad audio, Araknis networking and Luma surveillance.
“The technology was important, but aesthetics were always the priority,” said the homeowner. “We wanted everything to blend naturally into the home rather than stand out. The technology is there when you need it, but it never becomes the focus of the space, and that’s exactly what we were trying to achieve.”
HTS said it coordinated closely with the homeowner and interior designer on the placement of televisions, touchscreens and other visible technology to align with the home’s architecture and finishes.
“Technology doesn’t have to dominate a home,” said Mike Fitton, president and CEO of HTS. “When it’s planned properly, it blends naturally into the architecture and interiors, becoming part of the overall design rather than drawing attention to itself. Early in the project, we worked closely with the homeowner and interior designer to ensure every technology decision supported that vision.”
Lighting design was a key element of the approach, with the project using Lux Lighting keypads and customised lighting scenes as an alternative to banks of traditional wall switches. The companies said this simplified user controls while supporting the home’s contemporary interiors.
“Clients increasingly recognize how important it is to integrate high-end, streamlined technology into the overall interior design,” said Samantha Holcman, interior designer. “When everything is considered together, you create spaces that are elegant, comfortable and effortless to live in.”
The wider installation included concealed Araknis networking equipment, Triad in-ceiling speakers for distributed audio, a Samsung Frame TV in the main family room, and Episode soundbars in secondary spaces.
Control4 was used to unify lighting, audio, climate control, surveillance, security and gate access through a single interface, replacing multiple standalone applications.
“We wanted everything working through one interface,” the homeowner said. “Instead of juggling separate apps for security, audio and everything else, it all works together in one place. It keeps day-to-day living simple while allowing the technology to stay in the background, exactly as we intended.”
Security elements included Luma cameras and Luma Bridge analytics, alongside Control4 Chime, Qolsys security and integrated access control. The companies said the intent was to maintain coverage while keeping devices unobtrusive within the overall design.
“Today, we can meet interior designers’ needs far better than we could in the past,” Fitton said. “Rather than getting in their way, we can highlight the beautiful spaces they’re creating. Technology should reinforce great design, not compete with it.”
ADI said the project reflects the role of early collaboration between homeowners, designers and technology integrators in aligning connected-home features with architecture and interior design.
“Projects like this demonstrate what’s possible when technology is considered as part of the overall design from the outset,” said Herbert Bansbach, Business Development Manager at ADI. “Through ADI’s ecosystem of interoperable brands, integrators can create homes where technology complements the architecture, simplifies everyday living and enhances the homeowner experience.”
