Kitchen & Bath Business May/June 2021 - 32

TECH SAVVY

Thinking Smarter

The kitchen in this new-build home plays
a key role in connected living

FOR THEIR NEW HOUSE, the clients wanted
everything from the door locks and appliances
to the security and lighting systems to be voice
activated via Amazon Alexa and Apple Home
Kit. Jeremy Jones of Atlanta-based Jones Design
Associates ( JDA) had met the client's mother -
custom home builder Arlene Dean - a few years
back and was selected as the designer for all their
custom homes since, including this project. Dean's
daughter Leslie, who has been a general contractor
and project manager for six years, approached JDA
and architect Eric Rawlings of Rawlings Design
to create a space for her blended family and pets.

ABOVE Builder clients in the

Atlanta area wanted all the bells
and whistles when it came to
the connected elements in their
new home. This includes smart
appliances in their kitchen and
a variable HVAC system that
controls humidity throughout
the home.

PERFECTING THE DESIGN
OF THE HEART OF THE HOME

For the kitchen, Jones was tasked with creating
something clean, modern and darker that didn't
feel darker. Clients Leslie and her partner Michael (site foreman for Arlene Dean Homes) also
wanted a functional space in which they could
cook and entertain on a regular basis.
" They wanted us to tell them what we thought
they needed before they knew they needed it,
which is a welcome departure for us, " said Jones.
" But this is also one of our largest repeat clients,
so the pressure was on to not disappoint our colleagues - all of whom have become close friends. "

32
32-33_KBB_0521_TechSavvy.indd 32

By CHELSIE BUTLER

To carry out the modern look the clients desired, the design team integrated most of the appliances.The darker vibe was accomplished with black
granite composite sinks and faucets with knurled detail, darker countertop
and backsplash selections and JennAir's Noir Collection of appliances.
" We didn't want the space to feel cold and wanted to contrast the wideplank white oak flooring, so we used walnut and darker wood cabinets to
break up the monolithic look of this kitchen, " said Jones. " Arlene surprised
us all by adding the Cyprus ceilings as a housewarming present to the family,
which further helps warm the space. "
INCORPORATING MULTIPLE LEVELS OF TECH

Although the clients wanted to integrate smart home capability wherever
possible, the kitchen features a lot of elements that are innovative without
necessarily being connected. For example, the design team installed plug
mold strips under the wall cabinets so as not to mar the backsplash with outlets and a nook in the island for the puppy to sleep without being stepped on.
The cabinets incorporate multiple interior elements to make them more
accessible, including pullouts for utensils, knife blocks and Blum servo-drives
- providing hands-free access to the garbage.
" Instead of the norm - placing small cabinets above large ones - we reversed them and put flip-up doors at the smaller wall cabinets located closest
to the floor, " said Jones. " This allows the children to easily reach commonly
used items, and the 42-in. high wall cabinets above display their contents
from the floor without the use of a ladder. "
The island features pop-out outlets on either side. The countertops can
withstand extremely high temperatures, so there is no need for hot pads or
trivets, and the disposal is operated with an air switch.
To accommodate lots of pets in high-traffic areas, the design team chose a
commercial-rated, water-based wood flooring urethane, which Jones says is
Greenguard Gold certified, virtually VOC-free, fully cures in days and creates
a durable, scratch-resistant finish.

/ MAY-JUNE 2021 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)

5/11/21 11:38 PM

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Kitchen & Bath Business May/June 2021

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