Project Details:
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Project Type: Residential Smart Home Upgrade
Harbourside Apartment is a high-end Auckland residence where Safe N Sound delivered a smart home automation upgrade centred on migrating the existing Fibaro system to Control4.
The project brought lighting, automated blinds, entertainment and everyday controls into one coordinated environment, while retaining useful parts of the existing infrastructure where practical.
Rather than replacing everything already installed, the project began by assessing the existing infrastructure and identifying what could be retained, adapted or upgraded. A new Control4 controller, dedicated keypads, touchscreen control and revised programming were then introduced alongside the electrical changes required to support the new system.
The result is a more consistent smart home experience across the apartment, with physical controls, touchscreen access and mobile control all working through the same platform.
Comprehensive Services Delivered
Safe N Sound delivered the smart home upgrade from system assessment through to installation, programming and commissioning.
Key components included:
- Migration from Fibaro to Control4
- Control4 controller installation
- Smart lighting control
- Control4 keypad installation
- Custom lighting scenes
- Automated blind integration
- Wall-mounted touchscreen control
- Control4 app integration
- Television, soundbar and Sky integration
- Additional LED lighting circuits
- Dimmers and sensors
- Electrical modifications
- Programming and system diagnostics
- Testing, commissioning and handover
Bringing the electrical and automation requirements together allowed the upgrade to be coordinated as one system rather than split between separate contractors.
Tailored Smart Home Technology for an Existing Apartment
Upgrading an existing smart home presents a different challenge from designing automation for a new build.
The infrastructure is already there. Existing lighting circuits, control equipment, wiring and connected devices all need to be considered before deciding what should stay and what should change.
At Harbourside Apartment, the upgrade centred on:
- Replacing the existing Fibaro control platform
- Retaining useful existing infrastructure where appropriate
- Simplifying lighting control throughout the apartment
- Integrating automated blinds
- Introducing more consistent wall controls
- Adding touchscreen and mobile access
- Incorporating AV into the wider automation environment
- Adapting the electrical installation to support the new system
The goal was not simply to add more technology.
It was to make the existing apartment easier and more intuitive to live with. supports the school without competing with the finished building. where technology supports the experience rather than competing with it.
Advanced Technology Integration
Control4 Smart Home Automation Upgrade
At the centre of the project was the migration from the existing Fibaro system to Control4.
A new Control4 controller was installed within the network cupboard, creating the central platform for the upgraded smart home.
This allowed lighting, blinds, entertainment and other connected functions to be brought into one environment instead of being managed as separate systems.
By working with the existing installation rather than automatically replacing everything, the upgrade could focus investment on the areas that would make the biggest difference to everyday use.
For homeowners considering a similar migration, Control4 Smart Homes for Modern NZ Living explains how the platform can bring multiple home technologies together through one control environment.
Integrated Smart Lighting
Lighting formed a major part of the Harbourside Apartment upgrade.
Existing switch plates were consolidated and replaced with dedicated Control4 keypads, reducing the number of individual switches required while providing greater flexibility over multiple lighting circuits.
The upgraded controls were implemented across areas including:
- Entry
- Kitchen and dining
- Lounge
- Hallway
- Bedrooms
- Bathrooms and ensuites
- Scullery
- Office
Additional LED circuits, dimmers and sensors were also incorporated as the project developed.
Rather than simply replacing one switch with another, the Control4 keypads provide access to programmed functions and scenes from clean, consistent wall interfaces throughout the apartment.
Lighting Scenes for Everyday Living
One of the advantages of an integrated lighting system is the ability to control several circuits together rather than adjusting each light individually.
Custom lighting scenes were programmed around how different areas of the apartment are used.
This allows multiple lights to respond together for different activities or times of day, helping simplify everyday control while creating a more consistent atmosphere throughout the home.
An Exit House function was also incorporated, providing a convenient way to manage multiple lighting functions when leaving the apartment.
Automated Blind Integration
Automated blinds were incorporated into the wider Control4 environment alongside the lighting system.
Instead of relying on separate blind controls, the homeowner can now operate compatible blinds using the same Control4 interfaces available throughout the apartment.
Programming was refined so blind operation could work naturally within individual rooms and as part of wider smart home routines.
This allows lighting and shading to complement one another rather than operating as isolated technologies.
For more on integrated shading, see Why More NZ Homeowners Are Choosing Motorised Blinds.
Touchscreen, Keypad & App Control
A smart home needs to provide convenient control without forcing the homeowner to interact with technology in one particular way.
At Harbourside Apartment, the system includes:
- Dedicated Control4 wall keypads
- A wall-mounted Control4 touchscreen
- Control through the Control4 mobile app
Physical keypads keep everyday functions immediately accessible, while the touchscreen provides broader system control from a central location.
The mobile app gives the homeowner another option when phone-based control is more convenient.
Together, these interfaces provide a consistent experience without relying on multiple separate apps or devices.
AV Integration
Entertainment technology was also incorporated into the wider Control4 environment.
Safe N Sound configured and integrated the apartment’s:
- Television
- Soundbar
- Sky system
This allows entertainment functions to work alongside lighting and other automated systems rather than operating independently.
Programming can bring several elements of the room together as part of a single experience, reducing the number of separate controls required for everyday use.
Electrical Integration
Electrical work was an important part of the upgrade.
Moving from one automation platform to another required changes to the existing installation to support new keypads, additional lighting circuits, sensors, dimmers and control equipment.
Safe N Sound managed the electrical and automation requirements together, including:
- Modifications to existing switch locations
- Additional LED circuits
- Dimmers
- Sensors
- Control modules
- Associated electrical modifications
This one-team approach meant the physical electrical infrastructure and the smart home programming could be coordinated around the same design.
Existing System Assessment
The first stage was understanding the existing Fibaro installation and identifying which parts of the system could be retained or adapted.
This provided the basis for determining how Control4 could be introduced without unnecessarily rebuilding the entire smart home.
System Design & Upgrade Planning
The new control environment was then planned around the homeowner’s requirements.
Lighting circuits, keypad positions, automated blinds, touchscreen control, AV integration and electrical changes were considered together rather than as isolated upgrades.
Installation & Electrical Integration
The Control4 controller was installed within the network cupboard and the necessary electrical modifications were completed throughout the apartment.
Existing wall controls were upgraded to Control4 keypads, while additional lighting circuits, sensors and associated components were incorporated where required.
Programming & Refinement
Once the hardware was installed, Safe N Sound programmed the system across:
- Lighting
- Lighting scenes
- Automated blinds
- Sensors
- AV equipment
- Keypads
- Touchscreen control
- Mobile access
Programming was then refined around how the homeowner wanted to use the apartment day to day.
Testing, Diagnostics & Commissioning
The final stage involved detailed testing and diagnostics across the connected systems.
Our team worked through the homeowner’s snag list, refined scenes and controls, checked system communication and completed commissioning before final handover.
Project Process
Existing System Assessment
The first stage was understanding the existing Fibaro installation and identifying which parts of the system could be retained or adapted.
This provided the basis for determining how Control4 could be introduced without unnecessarily rebuilding the entire smart home.
System Design & Upgrade Planning
The new control environment was then planned around the homeowner’s requirements.
Lighting circuits, keypad positions, automated blinds, touchscreen control, AV integration and electrical changes were considered together rather than as isolated upgrades.
Installation & Electrical Integration
The Control4 controller was installed within the network cupboard and the necessary electrical modifications were completed throughout the apartment.
Existing wall controls were upgraded to Control4 keypads, while additional lighting circuits, sensors and associated components were incorporated where required.
Programming & Refinement
Once the hardware was installed, Safe N Sound programmed the system across:
- Lighting
- Lighting scenes
- Automated blinds
- Sensors
- AV equipment
- Keypads
- Touchscreen control
- Mobile access
Programming was then refined around how the homeowner wanted to use the apartment day to day.
Testing, Diagnostics & Commissioning
The final stage involved detailed testing and diagnostics across the connected systems.
Our team worked through the homeowner’s snag list, refined scenes and controls, checked system communication and completed commissioning before final handover.
Client Outcomes & Benefits
One Control Platform
Lighting, blinds and entertainment are now managed through one Control4 environment rather than several separate systems.
Cleaner Wall Controls
Dedicated Control4 keypads consolidate multiple functions and reduce the need for rows of individual wall switches.
More Useful Lighting
Programmed scenes allow several circuits to respond together, simplifying everyday lighting control.
Integrated Blind Control
Automated blinds can operate alongside lighting and other connected functions rather than through separate controls.
Flexible Ways to Control the Home
The homeowner can use wall keypads, a touchscreen or the Control4 app depending on what is most convenient.
Coordinated AV
The television, soundbar and Sky system now form part of the wider smart home environment.
A Platform for Future Upgrades
The new Control4 system provides a stronger foundation for additional compatible technology as the apartment’s requirements evolve.
Technology That Complements the Apartment
Reliable Connectivity Foundation
Structured data cabling, wireless access point infrastructure and fibre provide Te Pae School with the physical foundation required for reliable connectivity throughout the site.
Controlled Access
Electronic access control provides a more structured approach to managing access across relevant areas of the school.
Security Built Into the Project
Security infrastructure was coordinated during construction, reducing the need to introduce cabling and equipment into finished areas later.
Future CCTV & Audio Flexibility
Provision for CCTV and audio gives the school greater flexibility to introduce or expand these systems as requirements develop.
Reduced Future Retrofit Work
Installing infrastructure during construction reduces the likelihood of walls, ceilings or finished areas needing to be disturbed for future technology installations.
Scalable Infrastructure
The network, fibre and communications infrastructure provides a stronger foundation for changing technology requirements as the school evolves.
Why Choose Safe N Sound?
Safe N Sound delivers integrated smart home, electrical, AV, security and networking solutions for homes and apartments across Auckland and wider New Zealand.
Clients choose Safe N Sound for:
- Control4 smart home design and installation
- Upgrades from existing automation platforms
- Integrated electrical and automation delivery
- Smart lighting and scene programming
- Automated blind integration
- AV integration
- Clean keypad and touchscreen interfaces
- Programming, testing and commissioning
- Ongoing support and future expansion
Working across both the electrical infrastructure and the technology itself allows the different parts of a smart home to be designed and delivered as one coordinated system.
Conclusion
The Harbourside Apartment project demonstrates how an existing smart home can be modernised without necessarily starting again from scratch.
By replacing the previous Fibaro platform with Control4 and integrating smart lighting, automated blinds, touchscreen and app control, AV and the supporting electrical infrastructure, Safe N Sound created a more unified way to manage the apartment.
The result is a high-end Auckland smart home that is simpler to control day to day while providing a stronger foundation for future technology.
Related Projects
Wynyard Quarter Apartment
Integrated Control4 automation, lighting, automated blinds, AV and networking delivered for a luxury Auckland apartment.
Devonport Villa
A residential technology project bringing smart home automation, lighting, AV, security and networking together within one coordinated environment.
Grey Lynn Renovation
Integrated smart home, AV, networking and electrical technology delivered as part of a modern Auckland renovation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Planning a Smart Home Upgrade?
An existing automation system does not necessarily mean starting again from scratch.
Safe N Sound works with Auckland homeowners to assess, upgrade and integrate existing smart homes, including:
- Control4 automation
- Smart lighting
- Automated blinds
- AV
- Networking and Wi-Fi
- Security
- Electrical infrastructure
Our one-team approach brings the technology and electrical requirements together, helping create a cleaner upgrade and a more consistent finished system.
