CE Pro February 2023 - 38

TECHNOLOGY
Water-Based Solutions
has taken notice and is
mounting a strong eff ort to
build relationships between
K/B designers and CEDIA
integrators.
A recent study of 2022
Design Trends, commissioned
by NKBA in 2021,
concluded that only 30%
of K/B Designers used
integrated technology, and
less than 10% of them have
worked with a technology
integrator on a project.
Demand for kitchen and
bath technology has soared,
as Millennials, who are accustomed
and expect tech,
grow to a signifi cant part of
their client base. As with
a new car, they expect the
latest technology, and they
expect it to be intuitive.
There is clearly a disconnect,
and both NKBA and
CEDIA are working hard to
remedy that.
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Perhaps the primary issue
is the lack of communications
between K/B designers
and tech specialists. As a
result, K/B designers are not
familiar with the technology
and what is required to
implement and integrate it
properly. As I've heard one
designer ask, " Who programs
the smart stove? " So,
K/B designers are less likely
to promote technology
solutions that they feel they
cannot properly support.
Similarly, integrators are
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likely to regard kitchen and
bath appliances as " outside
their scope. " If any communications
occur between K/B
designers and integrators,
it is likely to be towards the
end of a project, when problems
occur that could have
been anticipated and solved
if the conversations had taken
place sooner. Ideally, they
would communicate at the
very beginning of a project,
so they could trade ideas and
present the client with fully
realized solutions. It should
38 | CE Pro February 2023
KBIS events present
integrators with a way to
learn more about the industry,
do some training
and see new products.
not be the responsibility of
the client to understand the
available tech and specifi cally
request it. Look for more at
CEDIA Expo later this year.
Illumination,
Ventilation Among
Areas Integrators
Can Address
While an integrator will
probably specify music and
video screens in kitchen
and bath areas, there are
many other ways dealers
can provide to improve
these spaces. Lighting is
a key issue. Many kitchens
and bathrooms have
acceptable overall illumination,
but specifi c task
lighting is often lacking.
If the project is a remodel,
often the original lighting
plan is kept intact, even if
the fl oorplan and workcepro.com
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CE Pro February 2023

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