Dumb

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In the past, state-of-the-art technology was a must-have luxury feature for any expensive property listing, often accompanied by large home gyms, infinity pools, and oversized garages for 12 cars. However, it’s becoming increasingly hard to find an appliance such as a fridge, toaster, or light bulb that isn’t Wi-Fi connected or voice-controlled. Yet, the fully equipped tech estate is losing its appeal among high-end homeowners, who are finding themselves in a rush to change their passwords in order to break free from the $100 billion smart home industry.

Much like the arts-and-crafts movement emerged as a response to industrialization, we’re witnessing a similar reaction against smart homes today,” notes interior designer Jamie Bush, who has been instrumental in designing some of LA’s most renowned architectural residences for influential figures such as studio heads, celebrities, and tech moguls. “Individuals are now preferring simpler, more hands-on living spaces.

Originally, celebrities like Sofía Vergara were the most enthusiastic promoters of smart homes, boasting about managing her house’s security, appliances, and media systems from her phone (such as controlling Modern Family’s home). However, the initial excitement surrounding digital dwellings is now encountering the challenges of confusing interfaces, constant updates, and forgotten passwords.

In my own words as a fan, I’d say: “Believe it or not, I couldn’t locate a single light switch in the entire penthouse I was remodeling – a task I undertook in Beverly Hills,” shares Carrie Livingston, an acclaimed interior designer known for her work with high-profile clients like Ralph Lauren, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Dasha Zhukova. The previous owner’s Crestron automation system controlled the lighting in response to movement within rooms, but this feature caused some issues. “The wife mentioned that every time she got up at night, her husband would be able to see her path due to the lights turning on automatically as she moved from the bedroom to the bathroom,” Livingston explains. “On other occasions, she’d enter a darkened room and no matter how much she waved her hands, the lights wouldn’t turn on.” To rectify this situation, I decided to scrap the entire system and install manual switches instead, which came with an extensive overhaul that ended up costing more than $100,000.

On a separate note, I recently encountered another interesting challenge during a renovation – a kitchen equipped with a built-in dining table that can be raised or lowered using hydraulics. However, to make it move, you need a passcode. If not, the table remains stationary.

Step into the simple abode. “There’s been a significant increase in demand for low-tech and non-tech homes,” notes Compass real estate agent Matt Witek. “Buyers are drawn to homes that provide self-reliance, durability, and an escape from technology-centric lifestyles.” Among his current properties is a recently constructed Los Angeles home, devoid of smart systems, instead focusing on optimal solar alignment for natural heating and cooling, as well as earthen walls for regulating temperature naturally. Low-tech, manual aspects are now a valuable selling point in prestigious Hollywood homes too, such as a newly listed, $14.5 million Santa Monica Canyon estate comprising a two-story guest house that was once an original barn from the Leo Carrillo estate.

Several tech company heads are among those advocating for a non-digital home environment. For instance, a recent project by Livingston was for the former president of CrowdStrike’s global sales head, who desired minimal technology at home to accommodate his large, six-child family. In this case, she created a media room filled with books, board games, and even transformed an old Corvette into a pool table. By making the space less focused on digital gadgets and more tangible, she aimed to encourage family members to gather there and engage with one another instead.

The change is sparking a revived appetite for traditional home fixtures that predate the internet. Notable companies such as Forbes & Lomax, a U.K.-based firm specializing in creating and producing historically accurate manual switch plates, priced at around $800 each, are currently trending in design circles. Bush notes that clients prefer a tangible button for switching, to experience the satisfying click.

Modern house buyers are growing weary of excessive digital technology. As stated by Gillian Flynn, a real estate agent from Pacific Sotheby’s, who recently sold a 1912 Craftsman cottage in Cardiff-by-the Sea – a peaceful coastal town in North County San Diego that has drawn homeowners like Emily Ratajkowski, Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, and professional surfer Rob Machado – “In the past, appealing to high-end buyers meant having flat-screens in almost every room, even outdoors. Today, though, an overabundance of technology can be a significant deterrent.” Flynn continues, “We purposefully staged the home without any TVs. Currently, the luxury market appreciates features such as outdoor showers, scenic vistas, and original architectural details more than smart heating systems controlled by voice commands.” Bush adds, “When constructing a house, we always consider something that will endure beyond our time – not something that may become outdated in seven years.

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2025-04-05 19:55