Photos courtesy Marly and Carl Grosso
Many cabin owners head to the woods with the goal to unplug — quite literally. But for Carl and Marly Grosso, a New-York husband-and-wife team, smart-home innovation was central to their cabin renovation.
Purchased as a respite from New York City life, the cabin is outfitted so the couple — and all the Airbnb guests they now offer it to — can sneak out of town without slipping entirely off the grid. Throughout the home, visitors will find a showcase of smart-home tech: Each guest gets a unique door code for their stay, which activates the lights so one never has to enter a dark house. The lighting schedule can be synced with sunrise and sunset, and the window shades automatically adjust to the light. The wood stove starts with the press of a button, and the temperature controls and water can be activated or deactivated from literally anywhere with a quick click.
“You know, I find that every single person that has come through here is surprised how, despite being this little cabin in the Adirondacks, it’s so technology driven,” Marly shares. “They’re surprised by the fact that there’s a smart home in an area like this.”
The technology even extends into the garden: “We have a fire pit for the summer. We go out there with friends, and we have music all throughout the backyard via these rock speakers, so you can sit there and listen to music while you’re having a glass of wine by the fire.”
Having a high-tech cabin makes sense considering their backgrounds: Carl is an IT professional, and Marly has a background in interior design, which drove the cozy cabin’s eclectic style. “It’s definitely a compilation of both our work; that makes it fun,” says Marly.
The ever-connected nature of the cabin eliminates time spent troubleshooting for guests (Marly and Carl can assist remotely at a moment’s notice) and provides peace of mind for the couple.
“Since we’re three hours away, we needed to make sure that we had access to it from our phone somewhere else. We made it so that if somebody needed help using the TV, we can assist them. But most people have no questions whatsoever.”
Probably because there’s plenty to occupy one’s time outside the home, too. Perched on four private acres, the rental cabin has appeal in all seasons. Visitors can ski the slopes at Gore Mountain just 10 minutes away or spend a day on the lake at Lake George, Schroon Lake or Lake Placid, all located conveniently close to the cabin. Guests might end their day of outdoor adventures making s’mores by the fire pit or curled up by the wood stove, but either way, they’re sure to see just how unplugged smart cabins can really be.
Learn more and book your stay at airbnb.com/h/lil-cabin-in-the-adirondacks
