“The industry has grown.” In stating the obvious, Natalie Gibson is not truly stating the obvious. The scope of home automation has indeed expanded. Yet current applications and those coming in the near future exceed what is generally expected by the public. Gibson owns Axiom Home Tech in Monterey, working with designers and homeowners to integrate theater, distributed audio, lighting and more. She says that when building a home, these installations should be the norm, and should also be included as part of any redesign. Home theater and audio may seem relatively common, though developments continue. “The really exciting thing is automated lighting and shades,” Gibson observes. “It’s still somewhat cutting edge.” Both lighting and shades can follow a daily schedule. The unit “knows” its location and time of day. Axiom works with Lutron + Ketra, a premier automated lighting line (as well as others). The system can also be controlled through discrete wall plates or remotely. They can be programmed for unexpected events—illuminating the hall, stairs and kitchen for a midnight snack at the touch of a screen, for example. Yet there is more to automated lighting than convenience. Systems can dim or brighten, change the quality and tone of light to suit the time of day and more. Gibson says comfort and ambience are of equal importance. “Your shades are going down and evening chill lights are coming on,” she adds. “These events happen on their own.” Meanwhile, home audio companies have not slowed the pace of change. Just last year, Focal released the Diva Utopia, the brand’s first-ever wireless active speaker system. It combined high-end floor standing loudspeakers with built-in amplification and a multitude of wired and wireless connections. The company is now out with a successor, the Diva Mezza Utopia system. Mezza Utopia works precisely the same as the Diva Utopia. It’s designed for audiophiles with deep pockets who want a versatile plug-and-play-ready system without the hassle of dealing with separate components. The main difference between the Diva Utopia and the Mezza Utopia is size and power. Several companies now produce invisible speakers. These sit in the wall or ceiling, without noticeable speaker grills. “True audiophiles may hear the difference, but for everyday listening the sound quality is comparable,” Gibson says. “The aesthetics are so important.” The Italian audio company Sonus 28 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2025-2026 Auto Home THE SMART HOME INCLUDES AUDIO AND THEATER, BUT ALSO GOES WELL BEYOND. By Paul Fried Home lighting (above) and shade (page 30) systems can follow the course of any day, automatically making adjustments without the need for input. COURTESY AXIOM
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