Josh.ai Case Study: 53 Montecito
The Vision
At 53 Montecito, modern architecture meets an expansive collection of cutting edge technology. The clients wanted a whole-home automation system to bring everything together while complementing the home’s clean, contemporary design. The goal was not only to control individual devices, it was to create one intuitive experience to seamlessly connect with the entire property.
“There’s a tremendous amount of technology in this home, but I never want the homeowner to feel like they’re operating a complicated system. They should be able to walk into a room and simply ask for what they want. That’s what Josh.ai does so well. It takes everything we’ve integrated - lighting, shades, entertainment, music, climate - and makes it feel simple. As an integrator, that’s what I want technology to do: disappear into the home and just make the experience better.” - Jason Bernhardt, Custom Connections
The Challenge: Making a Complex Home Feel Simple
A luxury home can quickly become complicated as connected devices and systems add up.
The technology spans 310 total devices across lighting, shades, climate, surveillance, access control, audio, video, water features, fireplaces, and more. The challenge was deploying a system that enabled all of the technologies to work together seamlessly without making the home feel overly technical.
The goal was to create a seamless control experience across the entire property that complements the architecture and interior design. Josh.ai brings the home’s extensive technology ecosystem together through minimalistic hardware and naturally intuitive control interfaces. The result is a simple, sophisticated experience that enhances the way the home is lived in while preserving the designer’s original vision.
The Experience
In 53 Montecito, Josh.ai provides flexible control with handheld remotes, room-specific touchscreens, and hands-free voice, making the entire property accessible however is most convenient. This gives every member of the family the flexibility to interact with their surroundings in whatever way feels most natural, while Josh.ai orchestrates the connected systems behind the scenes.
Josh.ai also enables the home to respond intelligently to everyday activities and changing conditions, coordinating connected experiences that promote ease of use. When the theater’s entertainment system is turned on to watch a movie or TV, the shades automatically lower to reduce glare and create an optimal viewing experience. At night, a motion sensor in the backyard is set to trigger a Josh.ai-powered security scene that announces activity through the backyard speakers while activating selected exterior and interior lighting to create the impression that the home is occupied.
The property was originally designed and built as a spec home with the intention of being sold. However, after seeing the finished result and experiencing the technology integration, the owners were so impressed with the home that they ultimately decided to make it their own.
“When we want to watch a movie, why use the remote? We just tell Josh what we want to watch and - boom - it’s on. It’s faster, simpler, and a lot more fun. We love being able to just ask Josh for what we want to watch and have everything happen automatically.” - Ben Hecht, Homeowner
The system design includes:
- Lighting: Ketra controlled by Lutron HomeWorks QSX
- Shading: Lutron Palladiom and Sivoia QS
- Climate: Ecobee smart thermostats
- Security & Access: IC Realtime surveillance and access control, along with August and Yale locks
- Audio: Sonos powering Sonance speakers throughout the property, with Denon supporting the dedicated theater.
- Video: Roku streaming throughout the property, with a dedicated theater featuring an Epson projector and Denon AVR.
- Theater Audio: A high-performance 9.2 Dolby Atmos configuration utilizing MartinLogan speakers.
- Pool & Water Features: Pentair integration managing the pool, spa, and interior fountain pools.
- Fireplace: IntelliFire smart fireplaces.
The Josh.ai system includes:
The Result
With over 300 connected devices working as one system, the homeowners interact with their surroundings through a unified natural interface. At 53 Montecito, Josh.ai has become more than another layer of technology. It is the control center for the entire property.
For the architect and designer, the result is just as important. Sophisticated technology has been installed and seamlessly integrated, while preserving the visual integrity of the space. Josh Nano microphones discreetly integrate throughout the property, while strategically placed Josh Touchscreens and the Josh Edge remote provide tactile control everywhere it is needed. 53 Montecito is a stunning example of technology supporting the architecture rather than competing with it.
The home's technology works around the design. Interfaces are intentionally limited, hardware remains discreet, and the intelligence of the system lives largely behind the scenes. The result is a home that feels sophisticated because of its technology’s capability to transform the space with such a small visual footprint.
From everyday essentials like lighting, climate, shades, music, and entertainment to distinctive features like reflection pools, fountains, accent lighting, and fireplaces, Josh.ai unifies the property’s technology into one seamless control experience.
“We use Josh.ai for everything - turning on the TV, controlling the lights, closing the shades, even playing music. It’s so easy and intuitive to use that it’s become a natural part of how we live. I honestly can’t imagine our home without it.” - Ben Hecht, Homeowner
The Takeaway
53 Montecito demonstrates the possibilities when technology is considered as part of the home's overall design rather than being added as an afterthought. For architects and interior designers, intelligent home control doesn't have to mean more devices, more interfaces, or more visual clutter. When thoughtfully integrated, technology can complement the material palette, preserve clean architectural lines, and allow the design itself to remain the focus.
Josh.ai brings the home’s connected devices together with one intuitive experience, empowering its users with effortless control while allowing the architecture and interiors to speak for themselves. The project demonstrates the contrast of a space filled with smart devices and a property that has been thoughtfully designed with true home intelligence.
“Jason Bernhardt at Custom Connections did a fantastic job and brought great vision along with smart, practical recommendations that really elevated the final result on my home at 53 Montecito. The entire process was handled professionally from start to finish, with excellent execution, fantastic recommendations and guidance, with great attention to detail. I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out and would absolutely recommend him.” - Ben Hecht, Homeowner
