Insights into smart home integration with thinkingbricks 

State of the art technology for the home is in high demand and a rising trend in digital innovation. Leaders in this field, thinkingbricks work with architects, interior designers, property developers, building and electrical contractors as well as private clients to design, install and maintain smart home systems in the high-end and prime residential marketplace throughout the UK.  

RHA has recently had the pleasure of working with thinkingbricks on a stand out private residential project and here we speak with Ian Trudgeon, Director of the company who provides his insights into smart home technology. 

Q. Tell us more about thinkingbricks and what you offer your clients – where does it all begin?

thinkingbricks is a full service smart home integration company, established in 2004. The first step in our A-Z approach is advice and consultancy. This clearly identifies the client’s needs, which in turn decides which systems are relevant.

We can also highlight other considerations that may be useful or necessary, due to the scale or type of the property. We always ask to meet the end users – it is critical to hear directly what is required and how they plan to use the relevant systems. Once the brief is agreed, we develop simple plans, to show where equipment lives or cables will be run. This can really help clients visualise the systems.

The plans drive the project budget, which we provide with our in-house quotation software. Clients often want to cost out some aspirational touches, if the eventual project allows. 

Once the scope and budget is agreed, we develop the initial design into more detailed technical documentation.

The design is an essential tool in our project management visits to site, to check progress and highlight areas for attention. This is used by our electrical contractor colleagues and main contractors to deliver the infrastructure cabling on site.

As the project progresses, we source the equipment, and install different elements of the smart home infrastructure and test and link systems together.

It is common that we build and programme the lighting control panels and AV equipment racks off site, so they can be delivered ready to install when the property is ready.

Finally, as completion approaches, we commission and handover the integrated final system to our clients.

Often, we are the final “trade” to leave the project, much of our work starts in the final portion of the delivery of the home.

From handover onwards, we have an established maintenance scheme to ensure the systems are monitored remotely, and updates are scheduled.

It is common for us to undertake further installations, as part of an overall system, in the ‘smart homes’ we deliver.

We have a number of clients we have worked with over several years, upgrading the infrastructure in their homes as technology improves and their needs change.

Q. How do you work with architects and interior designers on private residential projects?

 Often, architects and interior designers call us to ask for advice on behalf of a new client. We’ve recently been working with practices such as RHA on some really exciting schemes and it always helps to have their professional input in coordinating the project.

As busy design professionals, they don’t always have the time to research and explain all the various smart home systems available. They look to us to help clients build a ‘smart home concept’ and steer their clients correctly.

By understanding what their clients need and aspire to, we can accurately build the right set of systems to deliver a useful, exciting and reliable home technology network.

 It is very much about being a team player – we work in a co-operative way. We ultimately pride ourselves on delivering the best results for the client and getting the project across the line efficiently.

Q. Do you have a stand out project you have worked on you can tell us about?

Sure, we operate in any number of high end and super prime projects each year. We always try to make technology approachable, fun and reliable. I think standout projects are those where the clients really engage and use their systems every day and importantly, return to us to do more.

Recently, we had an existing client who had moved out of London, to a country home, as a post COVID lifestyle change. In an old house with limited refurbishment possibilities, we managed to cable specific areas to deliver what they wanted from their new home including:

• Wide coverage for Wifi, and improved incoming broadband cabling
• Network connections for Smart TV, integration of existing CCTV
• Multi-room audio, fed by music streamed by mobile phones, played back through integrated speakers in walls / ceilings
• A full refurbishment of an unused garage into an amazing home cinema
• Minimal disruption and decoration…of course!

The clients are absolutely delighted with the result.

Smart homes for some of our clients can be a definite case of not just keeping up with the neighbours, but leaving them for dust!

If I wanted to pick an example that shows the fullest extent of what we can do, then it would be a refurbishment of an old Admiralty building in Belgravia. The entire delivery process, from design to handover, took just over three years and included: 

• Control over all the lighting circuits and curtains and blinds
• Automation of house heating and air-conditioning
• Full hideaway cinema room, with drop down projector and screen in the basement
• Total home network – including wired and Wifi broadband
• Full video distribution network for HD TV and satellite and centralised media streaming
• Integrated speaker systems with in-ceiling speakers to key rooms
• Video intercom and CCTV
• Automated control for the sauna and pool cover

We still look after the project, and are about to offer a range of upgrades or updates with the existing cabling for the new owners.

Our business is fuelled by referral and recommendation, so delivering the right result, each and every time, is paramount to why we have been in business for the past 20 years.

Q. What trends are you seeing in creating fully fledged smarter homes? 

 Entertain and Enjoy – Following the experience of lockdowns, recent clients seem to focus more on enjoying their home, inside and out.

• Integrated audio systems for key rooms – with smartphone streaming
• Provision for audio and even TVs being requested for patios and gardens
• More interest and demand for movie rooms and home cinemas – people want a more immersive experience from their raft of TV and movie content

Health and Wealth – There is a definite demand for robust technology to make life easier for work and play.

• Reliable connections for clients working from home
• Networking for exercise equipment in a gym, sauna / steam rooms or into external buildings / office space
• Automating lighting and blind / curtains alongside natural circadian rhythm is gaining traction with high end clients 

Energy Costs and Climate – Events over recent months have really focussed clients, at all levels of personal net worth:

• Automation to control energy use in lighting and heating and cooling across the home
• Connections for diagnosis of advanced equipment (such as heat pumps) to ensure optimal performance and efficiency
• Energy monitoring – measuring usage and adapting automatically

Q. Could you tell us more about design-led ‘techno-luxury’ and how you work with your clients to achieve this?

I think the element of luxury comes in when the clients choose to treat themselves to a specific element of the build. This often involves aspects of the technology scope – whole house audio or lighting control, or a home gym, or a dedicated cinema room.

It is always good to add that extra flavour to the project, and are usually the first rooms shown off when people come to visit. 

Customising components for clients is a key part to making the solutions bespoke to them.

• Bespoke seating / acoustic panels / movie memorabilia in a cinema room
• Matching interior finishes for keypads, speakers
• Custom icons and photos on touchscreen

The interior design and getting the look and feel of the finished result is the key to these spaces. The brands we choose to deliver solutions are luxurious in themselves. Many have a profile in high end automotive or marine markets or are installed in well known prestigious venues across the world.