The importance of working as a team to design and build the kind of smart homes today’s homebuyers expect took center stage last month at CSI Kitchen and Bath Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, when Nortek Security & Control (NSC) Director of Builder Services Bret Jacob and Digital Logic Systems President Daniel Solly presented an AIA and ASID certified course to some 50 architects, designers, and homebuilders.
The course, entitled “Understanding Today’s Home Technology and Infrastructure Options,” covered the many smart home options that are available to today’s home design and build community, and stressed the importance of bringing together all of the players in the design and build process as early as possible at the start of a project. “Truly, smart homes have to provide homeowners with a seamless user experience throughout every room and function of the house, from the entrance door to the backyard lighting and pool,” Jacob emphasized to the group. “To deliver this seamless user experience, the qualified systems integrator has to be as integral to the design process as the architect, interior designer and builder.”
The ELAN® New Home Program that Jacob directs is creating a new model for collaboration between luxury home architects, designers and residential system integrators — dramatically changing the way stunning, connected smart homes are being designed and built. “Based on the interaction we had with the audience, a lot of eyes were opened up to the benefits that a clearly thought-out technology blueprint can bring to the contemporary home design process,” Jacob emphasized.
Jacob was introduced to Steen Clausen, owner of CSI Kitchen & Bath Studio, by Digital Logic Systems President Daniel Solly, who previously installed an ELAN automation system at Clausen’s home. “Steen loved the ELAN system we installed at his home and he immediately saw the benefits of featuring an ELAN control and automation system in his showroom. We are now training the CSI staff so that they can present ELAN’s capabilities to customers who are designing or renovating homes.”
According to Solly, the co-branded collateral in the ELAN New Home Program really helps to sell the benefits of smart home automation. “Consumers who read the brochure immediately understand the benefits of incorporating smart home automation into their design project, which in turn creates new opportunities for me and for CSI Kitchen & Bath Studio.”
CSI Kitchen & Bath Studio’s Steen Clausen is sold on the entire idea. “This is a win-win for the entire community we serve: architects, interior designers, homebuilders, the systems integrator and, most importantly, the consumer who now gets the smart home of their dreams.”
According to Clausen, CSI Kitchen & Bath Studio plans to host additional events for the trade as well as smart home open houses for consumers. When he does this, he’ll be sure that Bret Jacob is available to return and present another eye-opening presentation. “Bret makes a compelling case for the economic and experiential benefits of smart home design better than anyone I have ever met — except perhaps for Daniel Solly – and I’m partnered with both!”
As for other events like this, Jacob stressed that working closely with design centers is a key component of the larger ELAN New Home Program. “These centers are natural magnets for everyone involved in the design and build community, and, as such, they are an ideal place for ELAN to preach the benefits of smart home planning.”