I’m back from a weekend at our “smart cottage” in the Balaton-Highlands wine region. And let me tell you, it was a blast. Despite the ongoing renovations, we were able to kick back and enjoy some much-needed downtime in the beautiful Hungarian countryside. And, of course, being the Eurovision fan that I am, we tuned in to the finals and had a fantastic time bopping along to the music. But here’s the real kicker – we also took some major steps towards turning our cottage into a high-tech haven, thanks to some amazing smart home technologies. In this post, I’ll share with you my favourite song from the Eurovision finals and my experiences beginning to implement these smart technologies. So, grab a cup of coffee and join me as we relive the weekend’s fun, and explore how we’re turning our humble abode into a tech lover’s paradise!
Who the Hell Is Edgar?
If you’re a fan of Eurovision like I am, then you know that the finals are always an exciting event. This year was no exception, and I found myself glued to the screen as the contestants took the stage. There were some truly fantastic performances, but one song, in particular, stood out to me: “Who the Hell Is Edgar?” by Salena and Tey from Austria. The upbeat rhythm and catchy lyrics had me tapping my feet and singing along, but what I found particularly clever was how they wove references to Edgar Allan Poe into the song. As a writer myself, I couldn’t help but appreciate the clever lyrics. It was a standout performance that had me cheering from my chair.
The song attributes their success to possession by the 19th-century author, poet and gothic celebrity Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849).
Of course, the Eurovision finals are about more than just the music. The whole event is a spectacle, with bright lights, glitter, and outrageous costumes. It’s always fun to see what kind of show the contestants will put on. This year was no exception, and I was thoroughly entertained by the over-the-top performances and the outrageous outfits. All in all, it was a great night of music and entertainment that left me feeling upbeat and inspired.
Smart Cottage in Progress
As much as I enjoyed watching Eurovision, I was equally excited to come back to our cottage and continue the process of upgrading it with the latest smart technologies. While our renovation project is still ongoing, we’ve already started implementing some incredible features.
Our smart technology upgrades will eventually culminate in a whole home entertainment and automation system, built around the EA-5 system controller from Control4. As we get closer to completion, we’re looking forward to upgrading to the new CORE-5 controller for even more advanced features. More than just device control, the controllers provide you with personalized automated experiences, Intercom Anywhere, and high-resolution audio streaming.
Currently, we’ve integrated our system with the Sonos wireless sound system, which has been fantastic for streaming music and podcasts. However, we’re also planning to install an architectural speaker system by Triad in the near future for an even more immersive audio experience.
We’ve also implemented energy management features with Shelly.cloud relays and sensors, which allow us to remotely control and monitor energy usage throughout the cottage. It’s great for both saving energy and keeping an eye on our electricity bills. It integrates perfectly with Control4, using the Shelly Suite Driver by Chowmain Software.
All of these features are just the tip of the iceberg, and we can’t wait to add so much more. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey to a fully integrated and smart cottage!
Shelly Pro 4PM: Relay suitable for home and facility automation with remote control and precise power management.
Conclusion
As we start a new week, I am grateful for the progress we’ve made on our cottage renovations despite the rainy weather. It’s been exciting to see our piece of wine-country slowly come together and we’re grateful for the modern technologies that have made it all possible.
With the help of Control4, we’re excited to see how our cottage will evolve into a modern and efficient retreat. And who knows, maybe next time we’ll even be able to enjoy some sunshine on the terrace? Complete with our new audio and video setup – and a tiki bar!
So, if you’re ready to take your home to the next level, don’t be shy. Give Control4 a chance to impress you with their life-simplifying capabilities. Who knows, you may even find yourself singing along to some catchy Euro-pop like we did. Cheers to the future of smart homes!
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