Introduction

Link It Solutions completed a major smart home upgrade for a prestigious Hampstead Heath residence. This technically demanding project involved migrating an ageing Crestron Custom system to the advanced Crestron Home platform, integrating KNX for lighting, blinds, heating, and cooling, and delivering a modern, intuitive user experience.

Project Overview:

The property is a grand multi-level home with extensive automation requirements. Our goal was to replace outdated technology with a future-ready smart home system, while preserving KNX infrastructure and ensuring seamless integration.

Existing System Challenges:

Before the upgrade, the home’s system faced several issues:

• Outdated hardware no longer supported.
• Limited remote access.
• Fragmented modifications by multiple companies.
• Missing documentation and incomplete KNX ETS files, requiring a major investigative effort.
• No access to administrator passwords for the old Crestron system.

This was not just an upgrade it was a complex investigative project to piece together the system architecture before implementing the new solution.

Scope of Integration:

• Lighting circuits: 330
• Blinds and sheers integrated: 28
• Heating zones configured: 43
• Air conditioning zones configured: 22
• 56 Audio zones

Progress and Technical Highlights:

Our engineers worked tirelessly to deliver a seamless upgrade. Here’s what we achieved:

Lighting Integration: All 330 circuits migrated and tested, including outdoor lighting. Redundant circuits removed for efficiency.
Blinds: Fully integrated and upgraded from simple open and close to a percentage-based control (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) for improved flexibility.
Climate Control: Heating and cooling zones configured; auto climate logic verified. AV System:

• Fixed issues in the Cinema room making it fully operational and integrating the lighting and blind to work as part of the cinema room experience
• Gym TV: Working perfectly with Apple TV and sound.
• Fixed Issues and control of the 56-zone integrated music system
• Legacy Integration: Sonos system and legacy amps successfully integrated.
• Touchscreens: All new Crestron 7-inch wall panels installed and linked for intuitive control.

Rack & Network Optimisation:

We reorganised the plant room rack to remove redundant equipment, improve airflow, and simplify future maintenance.

Outcome:

The Hampstead Heath residence now benefits from a state-of-the-art smart home system that combines elegance with reliability. Powered by Crestron Home, the property offers intuitive control of AV, lighting, blinds, and climate through sleek touchscreens and mobile apps. Remote access ensures convenience from anywhere, while the system’s future-ready architecture provides flexibility for upgrades and new features. This transformation delivers not just modern technology, but a seamless lifestyle experience tailored to the homeowner’s needs.