There’s so much happening in smart home technology, it’s tough to know where to begin. NKBA’s guest experts shed some (LED) light on the subject.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
Smart technology for the home is developing at warp speed, but all too often, neither designers nor homeowners quite know what to make of it. In fact, it can be so overwhelming that they barely skim the surface of what’s available and why they might want it — or skip it altogether.
NKBA’s February webinar series addressed the theme of smart tech at home and offered some tips on getting started in this rapidly evolving sector. In “Kitchen and Bath Technology Trends That You Can’t Afford to Miss,” hosted by Ed Wenck, content marketing manager for CEDIA, the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association, panelists Jamie Briesemeister, sales & marketing director for Integration Controls; Adam Gibson, CMKBD, owner of Adam Gibson Design, and Chris Wright, CR, president of WrightWorks LLC, discussed the integration of current and emerging technologies for the home.
In a second webinar, Gerri Chmiel, senior design manager at Formica Corp., talked about the potential for the “Future Kitchen,” including products that can be implemented now and ideas that are a few years away.
Finally, Briesemeister rounded out the month with a solo session, “Home Technology and Its Influence on Design and Life,” offering practical advice for designers seeking ways to integrate tech into their clients’ spaces and how to communicate effectively about these innovations.
Technology is changing the way people buy and live, and it isn’t going anywhere. Briesemeister pointed out that 2.6 billion people used a smart phone in 2016, and 71% of teens spend three hours or more watching videos on their phones every day. Apps dominate mobile use time, and home broadband use is on the rise among all ages and demographic segments. Still, it can be daunting for some homeowners.
“You don’t sell technology, you sell the technology experience,” said Wenck. “As consumer awareness grows, the market will also grow, and products will become more accessible.”
“At KBIS, we saw all kinds of connected appliances,” said Briesemeister. “Voice control is pretty big. It seems like everything has Alexa built into it!”
For starters, designers can talk about home tech as it relates to safety and security. She said there are many features available to meet some basic needs, even beyond a basic home alarm system — for instance, water and leak detection. Using sensors, the house will be able to send an alert to the homeowner’s phone that water is collecting in the basement, or that there’s been a spill or overflow in the kitchen or bathroom. Similarly, a wireless connection to a smart device will reveal if they’ve left the garage doors open or forgot to lock the back door. A function called geo-sensing lets the house know where the owner is, so if he or she is not on the premises and left the lights on, the house can send an alert and ask if it should turn them off.
Some systems offer at-home mode, away mode and sleep mode. “For instance, if you activate sleep mode,” she pointed out, “the house automatically turns on the alarm system, locks the doors and sets the lighting the way you want it for nighttime.”
But there are a number of emerging technologies that go well beyond basics to more luxurious upgrades, and these are often the products that will become the must-haves in the home of the not-too-distant future.
Coordinated installation to hide wires and make area app-controllable with hidden television sources in a rack in the mechanical room. TV mounted higher than typical to accommodate heat from the fireplace and make visible from adjacent shower (not pictured).
One such example is a TV and smart-glass mirror in the bathroom. “You can have a specially designed TV in the bath and not have to worry about it in a wet environment,” she said. “It’s purpose-built for that reason. Smart mirrors with integrated TV projections all in one can also be customized to the environment and connected via Wi-Fi.”
In addition to media, smart mirrors can be touch- or voice-controlled. It virtually turns your bathroom mirror into a desktop screen, she explained. “The only drawback is fingerprints!”
Wenck added, “Right now, the number-one request in home technology is audio and visual technology, followed by lighting.”
One point Briesemeister emphasized is to use purpose-built appliances, particularly when it comes to incorporating electronics around water. “Like the TV for the bath or the mirror/TV combination, it’s purpose-built to perform in certain environments. They’re designed so the power source is elsewhere. The unit is controlled by a remote, or by an app on your phone.”
Another connected appliance that was all over KBIS was the smart refrigerator. “These have many features,” said Briesemeister. “Some are equipped with an interior camera, so if you’re at the supermarket and you forgot what you have or what you need, you can look inside the fridge via a phone app. You can get alerts if the unit needs service, or if you need to replace the filter. Some have screens that can be connected via Wi-Fi to check email, see who’s at the front door, etc. And sometimes these products can lend a smart element to a space without a full remodel.”
One of the most important trends is smart lighting, specifically in the kitchen. “That can lead to a lot of switches, so to make all those switches look good, try an attractive keypad. some keypads can be connected to a smart watch, so you can just control your lights or other home systems right from your wrist.”
Sometimes, designers are met with resistance to new products. Clients think of them as unnecessary expenses and don’t see the potential to enhance their lives.
“To think of it as a standalone product is one thing,” said Briesemeister, “but try think of it as being integrated with the lifestyle. We try to offer solutions to problems you might not be aware of until you’re in the middle of them. We started 13 years ago, before iPads. Now there’s audio and video control, temperature control, system controls, smart device alerts…knowing the difference between expensive and affordable products is key. Smart home technology is not just at the luxury level anymore.”
Chmiel added that the kitchen has become a diversified space, a family hub and meeting place, home office and more, and it needs to be adaptable at a moment’s notice. These spaces need to have charging stations and USB ports easily accessible. Fold-away features, “disappearing” sinks that can convert to countertops, and small-space solutions like refrigerator and freezer drawers are useful in a multitasking space.
On the topic of surfaces, Chmiel noted there are materials being developed for countertops that are self-repairing, durable, heat and chemical-resistant, and coated with a nanotechnology process that resists bacteria and acid damage while maintaining breathability for natural surfaces. She also cited an under-mount induction food warmer that turns the countertop into a heating element — great for buffet entertaining. Similarly, chilling zones can also be integrated into counters or tabletops.
The experts offered a few suggestions on ways to improve the overall experience, save production time and gain referrals. First on the list is integrating the work team early in the process: designer, builder and home-tech integrator.
“Every kitchen has some sort of integration, even if it is just two speakers,” said Gibson. “To do it right, you need someone specialized in this area. Be sure to get the integrator involved early…it’s like working with an electrician. Get the wires in the walls first.”
“My values as a business owner have evolved over time,” Wright observed. “I started as a passionate craftsman, and I thought that all I needed was for my craftsmanship to speak for itself. Then I hooked up with a great designer and realized how my craft looks better in good design, and my craft makes good design look better. Similarly, professional-level technology integration becomes more important. It takes great design, great craft and great technology integration as well, to make a great finished product.”
Getting Started with Clients
“Start by talking about existing systems in the house,” said Wright, noting that designers/remodelers don’t want to scare clients into thinking that all they want to do is toss everything and buy all new tech products.
“Distributed audio is the bare minimum now. Prepare in advance to be able to deliver lots of options. Tell me about your network — wireless networks are being highly taxed, everything wants to be connected to Wi-Fi. Security is important, as are app-controlled heating and cooling.
“It’s the same as early smart phones,” he continued. “At first I thought it was ridiculous to have a phone in a camera… what did I need that for? Now it’s a standard, and an expectation. And the cameras are getting better. Clients will spend more as they realize the usefulness of the technology.”
The panelists concurred that the way to start talking to clients is to talk about the way they use the space and issues they want to address. Do they want to know if they left the garage door open? Do they want to adjust the temperature? Heat? Lighting? Stream music?
“I start with the problem,” said Briesemeister. “What could we solve if there was one button that could do ‘blank’ — for instance, control lighting, receive an alert that you left the oven on, see who’s at the front door, watch the kids in the backyard while you’re in the kitchen, hide wires, watch TV — but there’s limited wall space in the open-plan space, etc.”
Calling in a home-technology specialist is also key. Wright said, “I don’t have to be the tech expert, I have to be the facilitator. I can recommend someone who knows technologies and system integration, and that makes everyone happier. Clients will spend on technology in addition to and separate from the aesthetics.”
Briesemeister added that home tech experts are “there to help you —not to steal your business. It’s important to form a relationship with a knowledgeable home tech pro. Reading reviews about products is great, but getting first-hand expertise from an actual user or installer is the best.”
Gibson said that as with any other trade, he looks for “someone who is very knowledgeable about what’s available now, and will do a great job and get it done on time. I look for pros in industry associations as well, from CEDIA, NKBA, etc.”
“Integrating multiple technologies creates a frictionless home environment,” Briesemeister concluded. “We don’t necessarily need all of this, but it makes life more convenient.”
