Smart Home Showcase

// The Challenge

The client had a custom-built premium residence and the expectations that go with it. They wanted security that matched the aesthetic and lifestyle of the home — invisible when things were fine, immediately responsive when they weren't. What they had was a standalone alarm panel from 2019, two doorbell cameras that didn't talk to anything, and no integration with the home automation system they'd already invested in.

The brief was simple: make everything work together. The alarm, the cameras, the locks, the lights, the thermostat, the garage — one system, one interface, one voice command to arm the house and walk out the door.

// The Solution

The integration started with an ADT Command hub as the central security brain, replacing the legacy alarm panel. The existing two doorbell cameras were reintegrated and now feed live to the ADT app, triggering recording on motion during armed modes. Eight additional cameras cover the perimeter, garage, and rear yard.

Every exterior door got a smart lock — Z-Wave compatible, with unique time-restricted access codes for family, housekeeper, and contractors. Contractor codes only work Monday–Friday during business hours. The locks integrate with the alarm system, so an incorrectly entered code after multiple attempts triggers a security alert automatically.

Seven automation routines were built and tested: "Goodnight" arms all zones, locks all doors, dims interior lights, and activates perimeter lighting. "Away" enables full arm, all locks, camera motion alerts, and random interior light scheduling. Plus four scene-triggered routines for smoke detection, CO detection, late-night doorbell motion, and glass break detection.

// The Outcome

The homeowner's summary after three months: "I don't think about it." That's the goal. The system triggered four genuine alerts — three package delivery events correctly flagged and dismissed, and one actual perimeter intrusion attempt at 2am that resulted in a police response and a clean-plate capture from the driveway camera.

The voice integration has seen 100% command success rate across 1,200+ logged interactions. The "Away" and "Goodnight" routines run every day without exception. The system works because it was designed around the humans using it, not the other way around.