Editorial 2/10/08 17:22 Page 3
the blue shirt”, for example. “What are you leisure, ‘home time’ is sometimes the only ‘down
doing? You shouldn’t be on this property. time’ available. So maximum benefit must be derived
Leave now!” from what may be a limited commodity. To this end
Now you
Being told exactly what you are wearing gives there is a plethora of gadgets on the market which
a pretty good clue to how stringent the security is and can be incorporated into home automation…everything
normally prompts an instant departure. But, if it’s from flat screen televisions and multi-roomed music
see it...
ignored, the security reaction goes to the next level, to moveable pool tables…all at the touch of a button
as Matthew explains. or even voice-activated. And Intelligent Homes has
“If they don’t leave they will be warned again. its finger firmly on that button, something Tim Cahill
If that still doesn’t work, an additional warning will was also keen to take advantage of. or do you?
be issued telling the intruder “I had great experience from
that we have now informed having automation put into my
the police and the Homeguard home in Australia”, says Tim. For Thomas & Warnes, things are not always
service, and that someone “So I spoke to numerous companies what they appear to be. In fact, what you see is
will be there in a matter of here, but they couldn’t meet most definitely not what you get. Take Mirage
minutes. If there’s a ‘Panic Room’ my needs, requirements, for example, a stunning piece of contemporary
in the house, the occupier personalisation or the standard furniture that hides a remarkable secret.
may also be instructed I wanted to achieve. Then I was But first a little background. While many of us
to secure themselves in it. fortunate enough to meet up are happy to put down roots and spend years
A pay-as-you-go mobile phone, with Matthew.” living in the same home, others don’t always have
on permanent charge, enables “It wasn’t just a brief that luxury. Top company executives, media
2-way communication with encounter. We sat down for around personalities and sports stars in particular are
the outside world once they are a month, planning and drawing, often on the move…none more so that top flight
safely inside.” at great length, which probably international footballers.
For high-end clients, nothing explains the 29 miles of cabling What isn’t a secret is that today’s footballing
is left to chance, and security is all encompassing. in my house! We went over every minute detail from maestros enjoy computer-gaming almost as much
“Actually we interview the women of the house more televisions, Play Stations, Xboxes, and Nintendo Wii’s as their on-field pursuits. They like their music
than the men because the men are all sold on this all playing off multi-units, to ensuring my missus and their home cinema too. So much so that they
kind of kit”, says Matthew. “But while they’re often was happy with the furniture finish. Conceding that will invest extraordinary amounts of money in
away playing football, touring with a band, or maybe she wouldn’t let me have a television in the drawing- having their multi-media requirements built into
doing a deal across the other side of the world, it’s room, we compromised by designing one that becomes the fabric of their home.
their wives or partners who are the most threatened, a mirror when you switch it off. Things like these
the most vulnerable and the most likely potential target.” basically come down to me being a big kid. I even had
my pool table fitted on to tracks so I could move it
to create more space in my games room.”
Home entertainment
Every solution is
Just as with the security, client and provider worked
closely together, as Matthew explains. “Tim asked us
a lot of questions and he actually took the visualisation
as you’ve
entirely bespoke... of the concept beyond our imagination. In fact, some
of our most ambitious and innovative solutions are
never seen it before.
as a result of the client’s input. It hasn’t been the
Things are not always what they appear to be.
That’s why the security available is not restricted needs of my disability that have taken our Intelligent Take this ingenious box of tricks.
to being at home. For instance, if the client has Homes security and home entertainment to such an
a £250,000 ring on her finger and feels she is being advanced level. It’s the clients who have done that.” The problem is, when they ‘up-sticks’ and
watched, perhaps while shopping, the Homeguard Surprisingly, although Tim’s requirements are way move house, that infrastructure can’t always go
Most people will see an elegant piece of commissioned furniture,
service will cover her, maybe walk her to a restaurant, up there in the upper stratosphere, they are not at all with them. Until now. That’s because Thomas &
crafted exclusively to reflect your lifestyle…whether it’s personalised photo-montage,
wait in the doorway, escort her to her car and actually uncommon, hence IH’s rapidly growing list of delighted Warnes has created Mirage…an ingenious piece
follow her home. clients. “It’s all about having everything you want of hand-crafted furniture which is entirely
precious veneers, unique leathers or even Swarovski crystals.
Education is also very much part of the package, at the flick of a switch because, like most people, bespoke… inside and out.
according to Matthew. “We advise everyone to drive I don’t want to be pressing 26 different buttons. On the outside it can be exquisite wood veneers,
What you will discover is the astonishing array of cutting-edge technology masterfully concealed.
around the block if they suspect anything is amiss Intelligent Homes has created a system uniquely for leather, photo-montage…virtually anything you
and to contact Homeguard or the police before going me, a personalised system of security and home want it to be.
Elevating super-wide screen, huge Kaleidescape film storage, integral computer, Internet,
anywhere near the home. These numbers will be entertainment which is simplicity itself. You go into And on the inside? An astonishing box of
iPod, PS3, Xbox and Wii, awesome mega hard drive capacity, the world’s finest speakers…
stored in the phone and, once the world’s top hotels and have tricks. A-state-of-the-art home entertainment centre
called, Homeguard or the police everything to hand, so why combining an entirely customised collection of
in fact your own unique, custom-made multi-media centre with the ultimate AMX touch panel control
will take it from there.” not invest in having the same electronic and technological wizardry. The latest putting you right in the zone, without moving an inch.
Another of the more recent opportunities in your own home?” gaming consuls, wide-screen cinema, DVD Player,
developments in IH’s home If there’s one last secret to Internet access, Wi-fi technology, iPod sound,
security system is number-plate Intelligent Homes’ expanding list top spec speakers and an awesomely powerful
And when it’s time to move on, the entire piece is portable so you simply turn off and chill out.
recognition, a complex set-up of clients, it’s customisation, Kaleidescape hard drive to store countless movies,
It even has a built-in fridge...chilling a case of the finest Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne.
which not only recognises as Matthew points out. “Every music and games. Plus anything else you happen
the home owners’ vehicles but individual one-stop solution is to fancy…all controlled from one simple, central,
Now that’s cool.
also flags up any uninvited entirely bespoke. We design all multi-function AMX remote. It even includes a roomy
or undesirable vehicles not our own cinema rooms, sound- fridge to keep the beers and the bubbly chilled.
logged within the system. proof walls, chairs with motion But what makes this box of tricks even more
But even once the gates start to built-in…even pop-corn and ticket impressive – if that’s possible – is that it has
open to ‘friendly’ vehicles, if the machines so children can make been designed to ‘grow’ with the user…bringing
driver suspects something may ‘bookings’ for watching movies in an entry level spec of Mirage well within the
be wrong notifying Homeguard will ensure they their own cinema. We also work with top international range of those lower down the salary level, with
are safely ‘on-camera’ all the way from gate to designers and with property developers too. Indeed ample scope to expand its potential when the
garage, while someone is on their way to assist. we advise developers that if they put an ‘Intelligent’ opportunity comes along.
So…that’s the home and everyone in it as safe as infrastructure into a house, making it ‘smart-ready’ And, of course, when the transfer deadline
houses. Now comes the fun bit because the other can be a huge selling point. approaches and it’s time to move club and city,
side of Intelligent Homes is an extraordinary system To glimpse the future and what Intelligent Homes Mirage makes the journey too. And no agent’s
Beyond imagination
for home entertainment. can do for your home check out the slide show on fee to pay!
For today’s modern families, when it comes to their web-site...www.intelligent-homes.co.uk For more on Mirage, visit www.thomaswarnes.com
www.thomaswarnes.com tellmemore@thomaswarnes.com Telephone 0 8 4 5 6 4 3 4 3 4 2
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