Smart Thinking

Home House Magazine talks to Gary Lewis, co-owner of Cornflake – the Fitzrovia-based home automation and home cinema specialist – about its smart living solutions designed to enhance your day-to-day life.

In an attractive side street just off of London’s Charlotte Street are two signs – both the same – each displaying a single word: ‘Cornflake’. One is for the company’s head office and the other, two doors down, is above the entrance of its two-floor showroom, open by appointment only.

This isn’t like most showrooms, because its lower floor is designed, in the main, as a prime residential apartment where clients can visit to experience the latest smart technologies for their homes. It is here that Home House meets with the calm and convivial Gary to discuss the concept of smart living and Cornflake’s specialist approach.

Gary co-owns Cornflake with CEO Robin Shephard, who bought the eponymous business in 2010, but the company began as an AV specialist retailer in 1984. While it no longer purveys rows and rows of TVs, Hi-Fi systems and speakers on its shelves, its focus remains in the development of smart audio and visual solutions for the home.

Homeowners can also enjoy high-quality entertainment outside

When Cornflake first opened its showroom, smart technology was still in its infancy. Now, there are countless off-the-shelf connected products available for the home. With that in mind, does Gary think that people have a greater understanding of smart living these days?

“I think it’s a generational thing, but people do tend to understand the benefits of being able to use connected apps to control different aspects of the home, whether that’s answering the doorbell, switching the lights on, or turning the heating down,” he answers.

As we are talking – whilst sat in a stylish, traditionally-designed open plan living area – Gary picks up an iPad and with one-touch, changes the mood lighting in the room from cool to warm.

When asked about the drawbacks to all this new technology, Gary answers honestly:

“One of the pitfalls is that manufacturers all use different operational platforms, so you end up with loads of different apps to control different parts of the home. This defeats the object, as technology is ostensibly designed to make life easier and less time-consuming.”

Cornflake’s solution has been to develop an umbrella platform that controls every aspect of the home, using one single app with an easyto-use interface on a smartphone or tablet, from security to lighting and heating, to audio and visual, and even the curtains and blinds.

“We want to create life-enhancing experiences for people to live their finest lives in their homes, so we do all the hard work in the background,” he states.

Cornflake specialises in smart home solutions for owners of prime and super-prime UK residences, and it also offers a smart backup option. Its 24/7, 365-days-a-year concierge service will remotely handle any technological aspects in the home – and it will fix any issues as well.

“Our clients can be away on holiday or on business,” he explains. “On the day they return, we will remotely activate lights, heating or air conditioning and create the perfect ambience so that their home is ready for them as soon as they walk through the door.”

With many of Cornflake’s clients now able to travel abroad again, keeping their homes secure when they are away is a major consideration.

“Security is absolutely paramount,” he nods. “We work closely with trusted security companies to integrate CCTV, analytics, controls, and home data security options into one single package. We have a very proactive approach and we can put in place multiple systems to keep people safe and undisturbed at all times.”

The company regularly works with architects and interior designers, and Gary finds that one aspect in particular makes all the difference to the aesthetics of a smart home:

“Smart lighting is crucial,” he stresses, gesturing around the room as an example. “We have a dedicated lighting room in our showroom to demonstrate how the ambience in any space can change at a single touch, or we can create lighting scenes that will adapt to light variations throughout the day.”

Cornflake has worked on a number of subterranean living projects in locations like Mayfair and Kensington. “We can simulate the look of natural light in areas that have no access to it,” Gary points out. Do smart home technologies help save money on energy bills?

“Yes, definitely. Our solutions are designed to be truly energy efficient. Examples include sensors that can be installed so that when you leave a room, the lights will automatically switch off, while smart heating can be regulated room by room. In addition, the temperature will automatically increase or decrease as you move through the house, and we can pre-set options too.”

During the summer months when high temperatures are the issue, blinds can be programmed to close automatically to block out direct sunlight, keeping rooms cool at all times.

Gary touches the iPad again and a projector screen descends from the ceiling. Now we are listening to some powerful-sounding classical music whilst watching an orchestra play in full 4K high resolution. As this takes place, the lighting in the ceiling changes colour to perfectly reflect the activity on screen. We are now completely immersed in the entertainment in front of us.

Modern and period properties can both be accommodated

Gary explains: “Many London homes don’t have the space for a separate room to encompass gaming or big entertainment in a meaningful way, so we make existing living areas truly multifunctional by designing state-of-the-art media rooms.”

Cornflake works with top tier audio and visual brands to incorporate their products in its media rooms. “We also specify powerful speakers that can be integrated within plaster, or behind fabric wall coverings so they are concealed from view,” he notes.

The company has designed and specified media rooms for contemporary or traditional homes, including listed buildings – recently winning two CEDIA industry awards for a media room project in a converted museum at Clink Wharf in central London.

“We absolutely respect the fabric of every property and we develop bespoke solutions for each client so they have the right systems for their requirements,” says Gary, escorting Home House through to a gaming and bar area. He then slides another unassuming side door back to reveal a fully acoustically-treated home cinema room that seats 12 people.

Cornflake has designed and installed many home cinemas over the years in properties across central London, including in Knightsbridge and Mayfair. The company has also won awards for creating the firstever subterranean 18-seat IMAX cinema in a private residence in Kensington. “That was a very satisfying challenge,” he says with a smile. So what’s next for the business?

“We are developing new products under the Cornflake brand name,” he reveals.

This includes a package solution for people that want to convert a spare bedroom or a garage into a home cinema. The company is also focusing on the outdoors with the development of a bespoke mobile bar called The Eden Chest that conceals a weatherproof TV that rises from within – ideal for sports fans that want to watch the big game in their garden with friends.

“It’s an exciting time for us,” he smiles as we settle down to watch the latest blockbuster in the Cornflake home cinema.

A tour round the Cornflake experiential showroom is a thrilling experience, and if you are thinking about smart solutions for your own home, then this is definitely the place to visit.

www.cornflake.co.uk

Cornflake designs easy to use automation systems for the whole house