I am and have always considered myself interior design-friendly. My mother is a designer/contractor and my sister is an interior designer, so I have been surrounded by the profession from the moment I can remember the first time picking the paint color for my own bedroom. When I entered the field of audio/video integration, I knew that my immersion in interior design would help me in my business. I would come in contact with interior designers on home systems projects, and being able to speak their language would surely foster a strong relationship.
Well, it’s not always been so easy. As flexible as I tried to be in the early 2000s, the designer’s desires for aesthetic would almost always trump my desire for a cohesive, reliable smart home system. My decisions on placement of speakers and keypads and touchpanels were often ignored, resulting in the products ultimately being relocated numerous times as new design elements came into play. Our speakers, so painfully lined up one day, would be off kilter when we visited the house the next day. Keypad locations would need to be altered due to a hinged door being changed to a pocket door. The close collaboration I had envisioned between myself and interior designers simply wasn’t happening.
However, there was hope. Hiding technology seemed to resonate with interior designers—just flip through the pages of a periodical like Architectural Digest, and you’ll notice that all traces of technology have been carefully photoshopped out. It made sense that concealment in real life would strike a chord. Interior designers certainly appreciated my skills at tucking electronic components into closets and cabinetry, but they still weren’t completely sold on the idea of their high-end designs sharing real estate with my high-tech equipment.
Thankfully, this game of tug-of-war between home systems integrators and interior designers is becoming much less vicious. Designers now consider home systems integrators to be essential when designing high-end homes. We’re now introduced to projects early, and we’re privy to initial discussions with homeowners regarding the location of equipment. In fact, architects and interior designers are even specifying the inclusion of a room to house racks of processors, amplifiers, switchers, and other components.
Why such a dramatic shift in thinking among the design community? Clients want smart home technology. They’re asking for it, and even demanding it. And designers are nothing if not client-pleasers. In today’s world, it behooves designers to understand technology. They are, more than anyone, the person the homeowner trusts in all matters, having usually created a very personal relationship with them. Communication is the key to success in any project—and designers have finally included us in the conversation. EH
Michael Fehmers is a 15-year veteran of the A/V integration industry. A member of multiple companies and a recipient of over 10 Industry awards, he’s worked with a wide variety of home automation platforms. In 2012 he started CBA Technology, South Pasadena, Calif., a small home systems integration firm dedicated to an intimate customer experience and excellent service. www.cbatechnology.com
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