Hi, I'm Marco.
I build things I actually use.
I'm a state-certified mechanical engineer technician and Technical Business Administrator (IHK), based in Erkrath, Germany. At home I live with my wife Marieluise and our six-year-old son Malte — which means every device I test has to survive real family life. No controlled lab. No gentle handling. Just daily chaos, a curious kid, and high expectations.
Erkrath, Germany
Philosophy
My testing philosophy
I don't write about products I've only seen in a press kit. Every device on this site has lived in my home — on my network, controlled by my automations, judged by my family. If something annoyed me, you'll read about it. If something genuinely impressed me, you'll read that too. No paid endorsements. Not once, not ever.
Marco Breuer, SmartHomeBlox
Background
Technical depth meets common sense
Two disciplines I actually use every day — engineering precision and asking whether something is worth the money.
State-Certified Mechanical Engineer Technician
I read datasheets. I understand tolerances, failure modes, and the difference between a marketing claim and a spec that holds up under real-world conditions. When a product's build quality is poor, I know why — and I'll tell you.
Technical Business Administrator (IHK)
The second lens I apply to everything: does it make sense financially? Is the price justified by what you actually get? I combine technical depth with economic thinking — because a great device that costs too much is still a bad recommendation.
The Origin Story
It started as personal notes.
SmartHomeBlox wasn't planned as a publication. It grew out of necessity.
- Started as a place to document my own smart home journey. Every time I set something up, troubleshot an integration, or decided not to buy a device — I wrote it down so I wouldn't have to figure it out twice.
- Grew into a resource for people who want honest, practical guidance. Not just specs. Not lists of affiliate links. Actual answers to "should I buy this, and will it work in a normal home with a normal family?"
- Currently running 60+ active devices in the house. Lights, blinds, heating, sensors, locks — all integrated into Home Assistant, all living alongside a six-year-old who has absolutely no patience for devices that don't work.
- No paid endorsements. Ever. If a manufacturer sends me something to keep, I disclose it. If I bought it myself and it's bad, I say that too. The credibility of this site depends on that, so it's not negotiable.
Flagship Project
Kacy Brain
The project that started as a personal experiment and became a real product.
Built entirely by me.
Running in my own home.
Kacy is my AI assistant for Home Assistant — built using the Claude API, running on a Raspberry Pi, integrated into every corner of the house. It knows our routines, controls lights, blinds, and heating, and understands natural language without needing rigid voice commands. What started as a weekend experiment turned into the most-used thing in the house.
- Built with Claude API + Home Assistant + Raspberry Pi
- Runs entirely local — no cloud dependency
- Knows the family's routines and schedules
- Controls lights, blinds, heating and more
- Available for your home too — one-time license
What's on this site
What you'll find here
Three things I care about — and nothing I don't.
Honest Reviews
If it's bad, I say so. If it's good but overpriced, I say that too. Reviews come from months of real-world use, not a half-hour unboxing session.
Practical Guides
Step-by-step tutorials tested in a real home, not a lab. If a step is unclear or something can go wrong, I'll mention it — not gloss over it.
Kacy Brain
My own AI assistant — built from scratch, available for your home too. The most personal project I've ever shipped. It runs my home. Maybe it can run yours.
Questions? Write me.
Whether it's about Kacy Brain, a product you're considering, or anything smart home related — I read every message and reply personally.
m.breuer@e.mail.de