Cool tech for the home

[cmhforron]

So i am in the process of a complete rehab, taking the house down to the studs and redoing everything. What i am looking for is cool tech ideas to put into the house.

 

Wiring for ethernet/ surround sound / in wall speakers / nest thermostat already in the plans.

 

What i am looking for is other cool things that are not crazy expensive and just something cool to put in a house.

 

Let me know what you guys think!

[emistery]

Chromecast is a cool little thing

[Bogica]

Try some LED projects such as lighting, maybe RGB LED ambient ligting around the TV?

[ELSknutson]

A maid with a vacuum 

[CostcoSamples]

do LOTS of lighting.  recessed lights are really nice, especially if you have lots.  And get dimmer switches for rooms you think it might be nice.

 

Put recessed lights either in the stairs or above them.  lots of light in the stair well is nice to have.

 

Put power outlets above kitchen cabinets, and ethernet too.  you might want to put your wifi router up there, or a network speaker system, or who know what.  better to have the wires just in case.

 

Also, consider wiring extra ethernet cables for video surveillance around the exterior of the house.  you can get cheap surveillance cameras that are easily replaced/upgraded.  

 

Install a hidden gun safe in the wall!  I always thought that would be fun.

[Jagsrs28]

I've always wanted to build an inwall safe that I can put a painting in front of. Maybe put some old Hard Drives with valuable information in there?

[CostcoSamples]

I know you said ethernet is in the plans, but make sure you have LOTS!  run it to places you think you might want a wifi access point (such as on the ceiling in central areas on each floor).  you can always cover them with a blank cover plate until future use.  Also, in case you aren't aware, you can get wifi access points that draw power from the ethernet cable (its called POE, and your network switch must support it). 

[Mushious]

Put floor and ceiling speaker jacks that route back to a single location. Have a media cupboard with all the stuff you don't like seeing around the place, camera DVR, modem, router, ONT (if you have one), etc.

[CostcoSamples]

when I built my house, I had them run a PVC pipe from where I wanted to hang my TV on the wall to where I wanted to have my receiver, BD player etc.  I keep an extra string in the wall so I can easily pull new wires through any time I want.  I also put a recesses electrical outlet behind the TV so I can flush mount a thin TV without a big space behind it for cords.

[Giants mountain]

Mini cameras that mount on the ceilings. Hook them up to a 6 monitor display and be like Paul blast from mall cop. On a more serious note the fridge that tells you the sell by date of food

[js123]

Motorised projector screen, drop down projector mount and ceiling speakers. Some of which I plan on doing in the man-cave refurb I'm about to embark upon.

 

You can't go wrong with plenty of ducting though.

 

edit: Motion sensors linked to the lights, with a timer or a light meter to reduce would be cheap and save on electricity by turning lights off when you leave the room.

[SirSquid]

Video intercom to the front door