How a DIYer Transformed a Seattle Artist Loft with Brilliant
When former aerospace engineer Mark Kempton spotted a wild listing for sale on Zillow, he knew that he and his wife had to visit the property. Used as a creative studio and teaching space by Trimpin, a local German artist known for electromechanical musical sculptures, the building featured wide-open loft spaces, towering windows, and skylights. After touring the art-filled three-story artist studio in Seattle's Madrona neighborhood, he knew he had found his next major project. Mark left his engineering job to tackle the massive renovation full-time.
Upgrading an artist loft to full-time living space presents unique challenges. Mark needed to modernize the home's infrastructure while maintaining its open aesthetic. This meant improving confusing electrical setups with seamless smart home technology. By choosing the Brilliant Smart Home System, Mark found an elegant way to automate his lighting, simplify his daily routines, and prepare his home for the future.
Solving the Entryway Switch Problem
Because of the loft's massive, open layout, the home's original builder clustered the electrical controls near the front door. This resulted in a massive five-gang switch box that baffled anyone walking inside. Mark wanted a cleaner, more intuitive solution that his family and guests could actually understand.
Mark also realized that fitting five individual smart switches each needing to be wired with their own neutral/white wire connection in the same, cramped gang box would be a challenge. Instead, he installed a Brilliant Smart Home Control panel to replace the massive bank of traditional switches. Since Brilliant control panels only need one neutral wire connection to power a full bank of lights, Mark knew he had found the perfect solution. Given this feature, Mark’s install was a breeze. Brilliant saved Mark time and effort compared to every other solution he considered:
“When I was searching for a solution, Brilliant stood out as the only smart panel capable of controlling multiple circuits,” Mark explained. “It simplified our smart home installation and gave our entryway a much cleaner look.”
With this single centralized panel, Mark easily controls:
- Two interior lighting circuits for the main living area.
- One exterior lighting circuit.
- An outdoor smart outlet powering his permanent Govee smart lights.
Automating Daily Routines
Mark leverages Brilliant's built-in automations to make his home work for him. He configured his exterior lights to turn on automatically at dusk and turn off at dawn. This simple automation improves home security and ensures he never comes home to a dark house.
The system integrates smoothly with his Google Home setup too, giving him flexible control options. Brilliant's user-friendly interface also doubles as a digital photo frame. Mark uses the album feature to display a slideshow of his favorite photos, which frequently captures the attention of his curious cat.
Hands-Free Stairwell Lighting
The smart upgrades extend beyond the front door. Mark installed a Brilliant Smart Dimmer Switch and configured the built-in motion sensor in the home's stairwell. When someone walks down the stairs, the lights activate automatically. This provides hands-free convenience and enhanced safety for a multi-story home, ensuring nobody has to fumble for a light switch in the dark.
Proven Reliability for Future Projects
Smart home technology needs to be dependable. For Mark, the Brilliant system has delivered exceptional stability. In six years of continuous use, he has rarely needed to reset his control panel, unlike other smart devices in the home. This proven reliability gives him the confidence to expand his smart home setup as the renovation continues.
As he finishes the top-floor master bedroom, Mark plans to add a single-switch Brilliant control panel upstairs. This will allow him to see who is at the front door without running all the way downstairs.
An Upgrade With Home Automation
Mark's artist loft proves that you can seamlessly integrate advanced technology into any unique space. By consolidating cluttered switches into an intuitive touchscreen, he elevated both the function and design of his unique home. He proves that transforming a house into an easy-to-use smart home provides a terrific upgrade for any size, any layout home.
