I’ve recently embarked on a fun project that’s completely transformed how I interact with my smart home, and I’d love to share my experience with you all. It all started with a desire to have a more intuitive and visual way to control various devices and monitor statuses around my home. After some research, I stumbled upon the Adafruit Neotrellis, and I knew it was the perfect solution for my needs.The Setup I decided to install the Neotrellis in my kitchen, as it’s the heart of my home and where I spend a lot of time. The grid is connected to an ESP32 microcontroller, all neatly enclosed in a 3D-printed case. The buttons on the grid send MQTT topics when pressed, while the LED indicators subscribe to MQTT topics to display real-time information. I’m using Node-RED to handle the logic and color changes, which has been a breeze to set up.What’s on the Grid? The first row is dedicated to tracking everyone’s whereabouts. I’ve got indicators for my location (blue for home, red for work), my partner’s location, and even a quick check for guests. This has been incredibly handy, especially for the kids who now don’t have to open their phones to see if mom’s on her way home.The second row is all about power usage. A green light means we’re exporting energy back to the grid from our solar panels, which is a great visual reminder of our eco-friendly setup. The third row controls the projector and speakers, making movie nights even more seamless. Just a quick press, and the lights dim, and the mood is set.The fourth row is where the daily essentials live. A button press starts the coffee machine, another switches on the kitchen work lights, and there’s even a ‘Good Night’ button that shuts everything down before bed. It’s these little touches that have made the system indispensable.The Kids Love It Too One of the most rewarding aspects has been seeing the kids interact with the grid. They love the UV indicator on the second row, which changes colors based on the sun’s intensity. It’s become their go-to before swimming, ensuring they’re protected without needing to check their phones.Why I Love It What I love most about this setup is how customizable it is. Every LED and button can be programmed to do exactly what I need, and the integration with MQTT and Node-RED has been seamless. It’s also incredibly reliable, and the fact that it’s all open-source gives me peace of mind.Tips for Anyone Interested If you’re thinking of trying something similar, I’d recommend starting small. Maybe just a few buttons and indicators to get a feel for how everything works. Node-RED is a fantastic tool for handling the logic, and there’s a wealth of community support if you run into any issues.In conclusion, this project has been a huge success for me. It’s not just a cool gadget; it’s a functional, beautiful addition to my home that’s made managing my smart devices a breeze. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking to bring a bit more interactivity and visibility to their smart home setup.