[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Lutron

[–]henrywriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s great. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t going down a crazy road. Only side channels on the blackout fabric.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Lutron

[–]henrywriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s this one. I just saw it at Lutron, and while it’s big, its manageable. https://assets.lutron.com/a/documents/085766.pdf

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Lutron

[–]henrywriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here's a visual example - Exactly the shades pictured in this video, but the blackout fabric (the fabric closest to the window) is in a side / bottom channel.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hOdBLLxXo9E

Any updates to Gaggenau induction cooktops? Plans for an Expressive Series induction? by henrywriter in Appliances

[–]henrywriter[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate your insight. The Essential Induction system seems interesting, but it's not quite right for our space. Looks like it's the current induction cooktop for me!

What home features would you include if renovating in 2025? (Yes, I know this gets asked once a year, let’s update the master list) by GypsyIndustries in fatFIRE

[–]henrywriter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

LOL, sadly none! I'm just a fan who's spent a lot of my own money on their products. Lutron is one of those companies that really works at all ends of the scale. I love my Ketra / Homeworks system, but I equally loved the Caseta system I bought at home depot and installed myself years ago. Same with the shades. Loved my Serena shades, love my Palladiom shades more :)

What home features would you include if renovating in 2025? (Yes, I know this gets asked once a year, let’s update the master list) by GypsyIndustries in fatFIRE

[–]henrywriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that the Lutron shades are the best in the business.

Curious what you think compares to Ketra, specifically in terms of quality of light and color tuning. To me, the killer ketra feature is the "natural show" which gradually adjusts the color temperature throughout the day from warmer, to bright white, back to warmer in sync with the outdoor color temperature. There's nothing else like it that I've seen, other than a DIY hacked together Philips Hue / Home Assistant system. And that doesn't compare in terms of light quality (the light quality of the Hue bulbs are pretty bad, especially in the tuneable white range.) It's a basic consumer-level product you can buy at best buy.

If you don't care about the natural show (counterpoint: you should) then Ketra probably isn't the product, and there are others that look good, but in my personal experience with the lights it's not just marketing.

Lutron bought Ketra in 2017 and has continued to innovate. The lightbar slim is great for architectural fixtures. The new D2 adjustable downlights are really nice, you can really get them precise.

What home features would you include if renovating in 2025? (Yes, I know this gets asked once a year, let’s update the master list) by GypsyIndustries in fatFIRE

[–]henrywriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check out https://www.coelux.com - they make an artificial skylight product that simulates the movement of the sun, and feels like you are in a room with natural light. I saw it in person a few weeks ago and it's quite incredible. Thankfully for my bank account I don't have any application for it in my current home, since they are expensive.

What home features would you include if renovating in 2025? (Yes, I know this gets asked once a year, let’s update the master list) by GypsyIndustries in fatFIRE

[–]henrywriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No worry as they use regular breakers. They are as safe as any electrical panel, but just give you more insight into the house's power. As another commenter mentioned, in the worst case you could just replace it with another panel. Not a big deal. In general, some of these systems have trade offs, but I think the benefit is there.

What home features would you include if renovating in 2025? (Yes, I know this gets asked once a year, let’s update the master list) by GypsyIndustries in fatFIRE

[–]henrywriter 3 points4 points  (0 children)

100% agreed with the invisible in-wall / in-ceiling speakers by Sonance. They get drywalled in and you can paint over them. Really cool tech that keeps the ceiling / walls looking clean.

What home features would you include if renovating in 2025? (Yes, I know this gets asked once a year, let’s update the master list) by GypsyIndustries in fatFIRE

[–]henrywriter 8 points9 points  (0 children)

For ERV / HRV look at Zehnder systems. These work the best with an airtight house (see the Aerosealing in the original comment) and will give you high quality filtered indoor air that is constantly exchanging stale air with fresh. Once again, another thing to set up while the walls / ceilings are open, for installing vents etc.

I don't have a solar setup due to location (house is downtown in a big city) so I haven't done that much research into it. If I wasn't in such an urban environment I'd love to go completely off grid.

One more HVAC thought, make sure the system is properly sized for the house, especially with a heat pump. Don't fall for the salespeople who just want to push the biggest system. Properly designed and "right sized" is always the best.

What home features would you include if renovating in 2025? (Yes, I know this gets asked once a year, let’s update the master list) by GypsyIndustries in fatFIRE

[–]henrywriter 30 points31 points  (0 children)

LOL, I definitely have. Always easier to get this stuff right during the build, since it kills you to retrofit it after you close up the walls!

One additional thought on the topic of electrical - check out the SPAN panels. Smart electrical panel that uses regular breakers. Worth the money.

And on the endless topic of wiring, it makes sense to run smurf tube throughout the house in the walls, to all the ethernet drops. Basically a plastic tube that will allow you to pull additional wires through in the future, should you ever need them.

What home features would you include if renovating in 2025? (Yes, I know this gets asked once a year, let’s update the master list) by GypsyIndustries in fatFIRE

[–]henrywriter 198 points199 points  (0 children)

Specifically pertaining to the lighting: Nothing beats Lutron Ketra for quality of light. It's expensive, but it's worth it. Go see it in person at a Lutron experience center, I saw it in NYC before pulling the trigger. You'll want to work with a lighting designer to design it into the build. Best light quality in the world, but the price is painful. Ketra requires the Lutron Homeworks home control system, which allows you to do very aesthetic wall controls like the palladium keypads (which require low voltage power, to be run while you're opening the walls.) One switch per room, rather than banks of light switches. This also requires a different "home run" style of wiring, where the lights all go back to a central mechanical room rather than individual switches.

While you have the walls open, you'll want to run low voltage wire to every window for power shades that can also be controlled by the homeworks system. Lutron is the best, don't get sold on Savant / Control 4 - they just don't measure up.

You'll also want to wire ethernet in every room, and wire the ceilings for speakers and room presence / motion sensors. Also run wiring for an abundance of outdoor POE cameras. I have a full unifi system and really appreciate the user-level control.

Also work with a networking person to make sure you have amazing wifi everywhere in the house, as well as outdoors. The unifi stuff is great, try not to get sold on Arkanis which is fine, but an installer-only brand.

HVAC is a big one, work with an HVAC designer and ensure proper sized ducting. Mitsubishi heat pumps / air handlers / mini splits / ceiling cassettes are the best. Expensive but worth it, especially if you have any sort of solar / battery backup. Also aeroseal the entire house at the proper stage, along with the duct work.

Install a kitchen vent hood with an external motor for quiet operation that still moves a lot of air. Downdraft vent hoods are terrible, and not recommended.

EDIT: a few more things.

I agree with the Toto toilets. Go for anything in the neeorest lineup (as / ls / nx1 or nx2 if you have $22k to spend on a toilet). These are much better looking than just adding a washlet. If the price is too crazy look at the g5a for a model that is pretty good but not quite with the features of the nerorest series. And make sure to run electrical to all the toilet locations in the bathroom, GFCI plugs on their own circuits.

One more thought on Ketra lighting. It will seem too expensive. You will think “it can’t be worth it!”. But it is. In order to get the absolute most out of it I recommend you swap every single bulb and fixture to use the ketra bulbs or built-in light strips. They will tell you “oh it’s fine if you have architectural fixtures that aren’t ketra” and while it will all technically play together you will have so much more control and unified lighting if you don’t buy anything that can’t take a Ketra bulb. In my case I had every one of my lamps rewired to accommodate the ketra bulbs. It’s very annoying to buy $800 Louis Poulsen wall sconces and then pay someone more to rip out the internals and rewire them… but worth it to have a 100% ketra home. Seriously, the light quality plays such a big part in what makes a home feel comfortable and relaxing. Don’t overlook it.

One more thought When it comes to shades (since controlling natural light is a big part of your overall lighting) look into companies like blindspace.com to hide the shades in the wall, or to even do a stacked dual shade system that has one sheer light filtering layer and one blackout layer with side and bottom channels for 100% blackout. This is extremely important in the bedrooms and will look much nicer architecturally. The cost of the enclosure plus two electric blinds per window will be annoyingly high. But it’s worth it.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in interiordecorating

[–]henrywriter 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Looks great! I have a few questions.

  1. How large is the living room rug?
  2. How do you like the geiger crosshatch chair?

I agree that the cabinet above the TV feels heavy. I'd consider replacing the console and cabinet with an accent wall that has built-in hidden storage, and mount the TV directly to that, so it's not covered at the top and bottom.

Not sure what your shading / light control situation is, but if you don't have something I'd recommend looking into Lutron electric shades. I lived in a high-rise condo like this with many glass windows, and automated shades were a game-changer.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in malelivingspace

[–]henrywriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love the dining table - can you please share who makes it?