An Austin Home with Sheer Shades, Statement Lighting, and Hidden Systems

Tunable where it counts, fixed where it saves

All of the recessed lights in the common areas are Lutron Ketra and are fully tunable. The linear lighting you see throughout the home was hand built by the Smarter Homes team.

The client chose a fixed color temperature for the linear lighting, set as the default for nighttime. That choice saved a large amount compared with Lumaris. The trade-off is that the linear lighting can't be tuned through the Ketra ecosystem, while the Ketra recessed lights still can.

It is a useful example of matching the lighting budget to how each space is used.

Why you can't see the strip

In the glass display cabinet, no linear strip is visible. We custom built the linear to fit behind the hinges of the glass cabinet door, so the light shows on the bottles and glass without any fixture in view.

Daylight you can control

Large glass doors bring in the view and the heat. Sheer shades take the edge off the sun while keeping the outdoors visible, and they can be set to the same scene as the pendant light above the table.

Planning the shade pockets and power with the builder keeps the ceiling and window trim clean. See our showroom to compare fabrics.

Low light for evening use

Soft lighting under the bar cabinets and along the floor of the coffee and tea pantry gives a glow for late night without switching on the overheads. It needs drivers and wire routes planned before the cabinets go in.

The parts you do not notice

Network, control, and audio cabling comes back to a planned location, labeled and kept off the floor, so service is simple later. Security devices outside are small and sit flat to the stone.

Settling those locations with the builder before walls close is what keeps the finished rooms clean.