Getting Smarter

There is a commonly held belief in business that the best way to differentiate a firm is to simply work harder. However, others maintain it is a matter of working smarter. With regard to advances in kitchen and bath technology, it is certainly the latter.

Products that feature “smart” technology – such as hands-free faucetry, integrated surround-sound stereo systems in the shower or refrigerators that tell the temperature inside and outside – can help jazz up a design, while they also make the client’s life easier and present the designer as creative, conscientious and smart.

Bill Feinberg, president of Allied Kitchen & Bath in Fort Lauderdale, FL, notes these items are not always selected for the sole purpose of impressing friends or for the sake of having the latest gadgets and gizmos. In fact, quite often, these items have a very practical bent, he maintains.

“As lifestyles change, so do advances in technology to keep up with our demands. The modern kitchen is used to pay bills, entertain, do homework with the kids and do laundry,” he says, explaining that technology that facilitates these tasks is sure to be valued by busy consumers.

Mike Sanak, CKD and projects manager of Kitchen and Bath Studio in Duluth, GA, agrees: “We are all becoming ‘wired,’ and this trend to be in contact will continue. The new ‘smart’ technologies brought to the kitchen and bath and throughout the house by structured wiring systems (and wireless systems) can and will allow us access to our e-mail, phone messages and recipes from our favorite cooking shows, [as well as improving security] so we can see a video image of who just rang the front doorbell.”

Feinberg says today’s kitchen appliances are not only fashion forward, they are also all about time savings – for instance, ovens that can be set to cook a meal remotely from the user’s cell phone as the person drives home from work. Likewise, many refrigerators now feature built-in TVs, DVD players and radios as well as weather and information stations.

“They can tell you the temperature inside and outside – which in turn will help keep food fresher longer,” he notes.

Gail Drury, CMKBD and president of Glen Ellyn, IL-based Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio, sees a similar surge in demand for techno-friendly products.

“There are refrigerators that can be set for vacation mode or for quick chill settings to keep food at the best temperature and save energy at the same time,” she offers.

Integrated touch sensors and cell phone-activated refrigerators are not reserved only for the iPod generation, though – these are advances that can benefit all clients. In fact, consumers of all ages are increasingly becoming more versed and interested in these options – and designers should recognize that, says Janice Stone Thomas, CKD, ASID, NCIDQ, CID and design principal of StoneWood Design in Sacramento, CA.

“I find all of my clients are more involved than in the past, and they like to do their own research. They definitely like to do the hands-on things,” she explains.

Or the “foot-on things,” quips Rick Cowan, CKD and president of Archipelago Hawaii in Honolulu, HI. He notes, “There are technologies that have been developed for professional applications that have found their way into the modern kitchen. One such device is the foot pedal-operated faucet. Typically found in doctor’s offices, the foot pedal can be hooked up to any kitchen faucet and allows users to turn on the water without the use of their hands.”

“Basically, in the future, smart technology – much like green products – will be huge in the minds of many consumers. Once they catch on, it’s only a matter of time before they become commonplace in every new home and remodel project,” Feinberg states.

Connected Kitchen

Indeed, in recent years, the kitchen has seen a transformation from being the heart of the home to something more like its central nervous system.