In the home: New tech driving trend toward personalized decor 

Becky Chekan (left) and Danica Guibord from Amsted Design + Build say aging in place and the need for better accessibility are driving the use of smart technology in the home.  Photo by Vanessa Chiasson

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Did you know that you can match your house’s lights to your favourite sports team or even some techno music? These are just a couple of the hot autumn trends I learned about at the recent Ottawa Fall Home Show at the Cohere Centre. 

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I first spoke with Matt Lee and Travis Lee, who are the co-owners of Bright Neighbour. Their company specializes in permanent outdoor lighting. They showed me how, with a few quick commands on an app, you can customize your home’s lighting motif to, well, just about anything.  

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There are literally hundreds of options to complement any holiday or theme you might want (and when you’re not celebrating, the soft white default light serves as gentle general lighting around your property). 

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You can even connect your lights to your Alexa device, allowing them to move and flash along with the music. Best of all, the colour-matched tracks holding the LEDs blend in perfectly with your home and tuck seamlessly under your roofline – or just about anywhere else you’d like a little extra illumination.  

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Once they’re installed, they’re essentially maintenance free and you’ll never have to worry about climbing up ladders to put your Christmas tree lights up again. However, the trend doesn’t stop with houses.  

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The Lee brothers told me that personalized landscape lighting is a huge trend this fall. Me being me, I immediately envisioned shrubs and rosebushes all bedazzled with lights, but thankfully they clarified that the landscaping in question is more about decks and patios. That makes a lot more sense! So if your backyard needs a little pizazz, this is the way to go. 

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Travis Lee (left) and Matt Lee from Bright Neighbour, specialists in permanent outdoor lighting, say there are literally hundreds of options available to complement any holiday or theme. Photo by Vanessa Chiasson

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Colour, personalization, and plenty of tech were also on display among the gorgeous fireplaces being showcased by The Stove Store.  

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I had a personal interest in this one as I grew up with a wood stove and I just love their warmth and sound. Alas, my current home will only allow for electric models, something I didn’t know much about.  

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President Brian Belanger showed me just how far electric fireplaces have come over the years, and they’re highly realistic now compared to the models of yore. I loved that they now have subtle crackling sounds, just like the wood fires I grew up with.  

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However, some decidedly not-so-realistic touches are super hot now, if you’ll pardon the pun. Flames with green and purple accents immediately caught my eye. It’s all about colour here too! I also enjoyed hearing Belanger describe how homeowners are customizing their units.  

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Unusual faux wood, glass marbles, and even toy cars are some of the fun accents he’s seen. Those touches require a hands-on take with your decor, but when it comes to customizing the intensity of the flames, their colour, the heat, the sound, and more, you can control everything from your phone, perfect for when you are far too cozy on the couch to get up and change things around.