Dean Davis, author of many useful Mac programs for home automation and a contributor to Smart Home Hacks, points out this push-button home article at Modern Mechanix.
My favorite "hack" is the system that automatically closes the windows when it rains, but there are so many clever implementations that it's hard to pick just one. The dog-proof garbage can lid is also quite a neat idea. Certainly whl the implementation of the ideas might seem quaint, it's interesting to see how many of the overall tasks remain the focus of home automators today. Including the puzzle of how to hide all the equipment from spouses and houseguests.