Cover For many, the phrase “smart home” brings to mind blinds that swish shut at a whisper, or lights that dim with a tap. But for Sean-Li Murmann, Director of Game Technology at Mon.Co, smart living isn’t about showy tricks. It’s about intuition, reliability—and yes, a bit of joy
For many, the phrase “smart home” brings to mind blinds that swish shut at a whisper, or lights that dim with a tap. But for Sean-Li Murmann, Director of Game Technology at Mon.Co, smart living isn’t about showy tricks. It’s about intuition, reliability—and yes, a bit of joy
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Sean-Li Murmann invites us into his self-built smart home, where thoughtful automation meets everyday living
For many, the phrase “smart home” brings to mind blinds that swish shut at a whisper, or lights that dim with a tap. But for Sean-Li Murmann, Director of Game Technology at Mon.Co, smart living isn’t about showy tricks. It’s about intuition, reliability—and yes, a bit of joy. “First and foremost,” he shares, “smart living to me is a hobby, one that I enjoy spending my free time on when I have it.”
That hobby began humbly, with a clearance-sale switch and a motion sensor in his parents’ kitchen at 3 Damansara. “My parents really loved that one,” he recalls. One light flicking on with movement, and a spark was lit.
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Above Nearly every switch at the disposal of his fingertips
Above Murmann showing his computer setup in his study, having a full overview of the home
Nearly every switch at the disposal of his fingertips
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A decade later, Sean’s home now hums with silent coordination, an elegant patchwork of sensors, automations, and purpose-built scripts that elevate daily life without ever drawing attention to themselves. What started as a curious dabble has grown into a fully fledged ecosystem.
Long before Siri or Alexa were elbowing their way into living rooms, Sean had already found his platform of choice: Home Assistant, the open-source darling of the smart home community. Backed by a tribe of inventive tinkerers, it gave him a way to prototype, remix, and reimagine what a home could do. “It was all about tinkering and learning,” he says.
When it came time to renovate his own space, Sean took a director’s approach. Devices were purchased well in advance, his electrician briefed with crystal clarity: install, but don’t touch the setup. “They didn’t need to handle any of the configuration,” he says, with the air of someone who’s learned to anticipate confusion before it happens.
Above Murmann holding his one-stop control centre for his home
Murmann holding his one-stop control centre for his home
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The days after moving in were, to put it diplomatically, intense. “I spent hours every night troubleshooting and pairing all the devices to my Home Assistant server,” he says. “On several occasions, I reconfigured the entire setup, which meant starting from scratch. It was frustrating but absolutely worth it.”
Despite a background in programming, Sean says success came more from stubborn persistence than any technical edge. “Understanding computers has always come naturally to me,” he says. “But smart home tech is different enough to stay exciting.” The challenge, it seems, is half the fun.
Functionality never sacrifices form. From robot-vac-friendly furniture to modular pieces that adapt with the home’s needs, every decision has intention baked in. “We moved in with very little,” he explains. “We took our time, assembling the space piece by piece based on how it felt to live in.”
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Above Even when out of the house, Murmann can observe and control the home from his smart watch
Even when out of the house, Murmann can observe and control the home from his smart watch
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And while the home is wired for convenience, it wears its tech discreetly. “I prefer smartifying dumb lights that I like, rather than buying overpriced Wi-Fi lamps that look out of place.” The house, in short, is clever, but cool about it.
Guests won’t find any sci-fi spectacle here. Instead, when a visitor connects to Wi-Fi, automations subtly pause to prevent surprises. “The goal,” says Sean, “is not to impress guests with tech, but to make their experience seamless.”
That same restraint extends to energy use. With real-time power monitoring, Sean has tracked inefficiencies, replaced power-hungry appliances, and fine-tuned the home’s electrical diet. The system’s brain? A ten-year-old recycled computer. “It may not be the most energy-efficient anymore, but I’d rather reuse what I have and replace it only when necessary.”
One standout feature is as elegant as it is understated: a bedside button that powers down the entire house. It cues a ballet of automations—blinds draw shut, air-conditioning adjusts, the water heater prepares for morning, and lights settle into sleep mode. It’s not about automation for automation’s sake. It’s about serenity.
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Above Murmann sitting next to the heart of his home
Murmann sitting next to the heart of his home
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Sean hasn’t stopped innovating. On the wishlist: sofa pressure sensors, license plate recognition, voice announcements for guests, and a rooftop weather station. Siri, beware—there’s even a custom voice assistant in the works.
For newcomers, Sean’s advice is both pragmatic and philosophical. “Start small. Solve one problem well. Don’t lock yourself into a single ecosystem, it becomes expensive and restrictive quickly. Home Assistant is a great bridge between platforms.” And whatever you do? “Test your backups. Trust me.”
Above Murmann in his kitchen, surrounded by fully automated lights and air-conditioning
Murmann in his kitchen, surrounded by fully automated lights and air-conditioning
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Ultimately, this isn’t a showroom for gadgets. It’s a home; a quiet, clever place that responds, adapts, and understands the rhythm of life. “For me, having a smart home means having control,” he says. “It’s a canvas that lets me explore spontaneous ideas to improve my quality of life.”
In a world obsessed with speed and spectacle, Sean-Li Murmann’s home reminds us that the most innovative spaces don’t shout. They simply know when to turn the lights on—and when to let you sleep in.
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Photography: Fady Younis
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Quinny Tan is the Social Media Manager of Tatler Malaysia, where she leads the growth and strategy of the brand’s social presence while overseeing content output, ensuring the brand's voice resonates with both longstanding readers and new communities in the digital space. In recent years, she has worn several hats across the media landscape—having served as a writer, video producer, video editor, and on-camera host.
Outside of work, she can be coaxed out of her default doom-scrolling state with an iced black coffee, reruns of Prison Break, and a quick-shuffle of Red Hot Chili Peppers' discography. Find her at the nearest, spiciest sazerac whilst building rapport with anyone who has a good story to tell, with mic in hand.
