Category Archives: Architecture

KBIS Series Part Four | Quiet Luxury and the Rise of the Technicurean: How SKS Is Designing the Invisible Kitchen

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Luxury appliances are no longer defined by visibility—they’re defined by intentional invisibility, precision performance, and seamless integration. At KBIS 2026, SKS reveals how thoughtful innovation, AI integration, and designer collaboration are reshaping the kitchen into a quieter, smarter, more intuitive environment. This is the emergence of a new user: the Technicurean.

John Russo explains how Signature Kitchen Suite is redefining luxury through purposeful technology, invisible induction, behavioral AI, and collaborative product development. The future kitchen doesn’t demand attention—it anticipates needs, enhances experiences, and disappears into the architecture.

At the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, innovation isn’t simply introduced—it’s tested, challenged, and refined in real time. For Signature Kitchen Suite, KBIS functions as a live laboratory where designers, builders, and specifiers provide critical feedback that directly shapes future product development.

John Russo shares how SKS approaches innovation deliberately, prioritizing purposeful performance over novelty. From invisible induction cooktops integrated beneath countertops to AI-powered refrigeration that anticipates user behavior, the goal is not to showcase technology—but to integrate it so seamlessly that it enhances daily life without disrupting it.

This conversation explores the rise of the Technicurean—a new luxury consumer who values precision, connectivity, and design harmony equally. Through quiet luxury, behavioral intelligence, and deep collaboration with the design community, SKS is building an ecosystem where appliances become architectural infrastructure rather than standalone objects.

KBIS as a Live Product Development Environment

  • KBIS functions as a real-world testing ground for future innovation.
  • Designers provide immediate feedback that shapes product refinement.
  • Concept products are introduced early to validate design direction.
  • Direct interaction between engineers and specifiers accelerates innovation.

Quiet Luxury: The New Definition of Premium

Quiet luxury shifts focus from visual dominance to experiential excellence.

Core principles:

  • Appliances integrate seamlessly into architecture.
  • Minimal visual disruption supports design continuity.
  • Performance becomes more important than appearance.
  • Acoustic comfort is essential—refrigeration operating around 38–39 dB.
  • Luxury is defined by how appliances make life easier, not how they look.

Invisible Induction and Architectural Integration

SKS is exploring cooktop technology that disappears completely into the countertop.

Implications:

  • Cooking surfaces no longer interrupt architectural surfaces.
  • Light-guided induction zones provide precision without visual clutter.
  • Appliances transition from objects into embedded infrastructure.
  • Product development includes multi-year concept validation cycles.

The Rise of the “Technicurean” Consumer

The Technicurean represents a growing demographic combining technological fluency with culinary passion.

Characteristics:

  • Values precision cooking and performance.
  • Expects seamless integration with digital ecosystems.
  • Prioritizes experiential quality over feature quantity.
  • Younger luxury consumers are accelerating this shift.

Purposeful AI: Technology That Anticipates Behavior

AI is being applied to solve practical problems rather than simply introduce novelty.

Examples:

  • AI-powered refrigeration anticipates usage patterns and adjusts cooling.
  • Oven cameras identify food and automatically adjust cooking parameters.
  • Remote monitoring allows users to supervise cooking from anywhere.
  • Automation reduces cognitive load and improves consistency.

Applicable Link:

  • LG ThinQ

Precision and Performance as the Foundation of Luxury

SKS emphasizes engineering performance alongside design integration.

Examples:

  • Induction ranges with 7,000-watt burners capable of boiling water in under a minute.
  • Column refrigeration producing clear craft ice.
  • Precision temperature management improves food preservation.
  • Technology enhances outcomes, not just convenience.

Collaborative Design as a Product Development Strategy

Designers directly influence final product form and function.

Process includes:

  • Design collective consultations.
  • Specifier surveys and feedback loops.
  • Prototype testing and iteration cycles.
  • Cabinet alignment, integration, and architectural consistency driven by designer input.

Full Home Automation and the Appliance Ecosystem

Appliances are becoming integrated nodes within larger home ecosystems.

Capabilities include:

  • Voice-controlled appliances.
  • Integrated lighting, HVAC, and appliance automation.
  • Recipe-driven automated cooking processes.
  • Unified control across multiple home systems.

The Invisible Kitchen: How Quiet Luxury and Behavioral Technology Are Redefining Appliance Design

For decades, luxury appliances were designed to be seen. Professional-grade stainless steel, oversized handles, and bold visual presence signaled performance and status. But today, the most important innovation in the luxury kitchen may be its disappearance.

Signature Kitchen Suite is helping lead a shift toward what it calls quiet luxury—a design philosophy where performance is paramount, but visibility is optional. The goal is no longer to showcase the appliance itself, but to integrate it so seamlessly into the architectural environment that it becomes invisible.

This shift reflects a deeper evolution in how luxury is defined. True luxury is no longer about visual dominance. It’s about effortlessness.

Concepts like invisible induction cooktops illustrate this transformation. By placing induction elements beneath the countertop surface, cooking becomes fully integrated into the architecture. When inactive, the kitchen appears uninterrupted. When active, subtle lighting indicates where heat is applied. The appliance becomes infrastructure.

This philosophy extends beyond aesthetics into performance and intelligence.

Artificial intelligence is now being used to anticipate user behavior and improve outcomes. Refrigeration systems can monitor usage patterns and adjust cooling cycles to maintain temperature stability. Oven cameras can identify food and automatically adjust cooking settings. These technologies operate quietly, improving consistency without requiring intervention.

Importantly, this innovation is not happening in isolation.

Events like KBIS provide critical real-world validation. Designers, builders, and specifiers offer immediate feedback, allowing manufacturers to refine products before full release. This collaborative approach ensures that innovation aligns with how kitchens are actually designed and used.

It also reflects the emergence of a new consumer profile: the Technicurean.

This user values precision, connectivity, and design equally. They are comfortable with technology but expect it to serve a clear purpose. They prioritize performance and integration over novelty. For them, the kitchen is not simply a functional workspace—it is part of a larger lifestyle ecosystem.

This shift is also generational. Younger homeowners have grown up with connected technology and expect seamless integration across devices. Appliances must function as part of a unified system rather than standalone tools.

The ultimate goal is not to add complexity, but to remove friction.

Automation, behavioral learning, and architectural integration all contribute to this objective. Appliances anticipate needs, simplify processes, and reduce cognitive load. They enhance experience without demanding attention.

In this future, the most advanced appliances will not announce themselves.

They will disappear.

And in doing so, they will redefine luxury—not as something you see, but as something you feel.

WestEdge Wednesday Part Ten | 652 | Green Shoots: Evolving Materials, Innovative Mindsets

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Innovation Under Pressure: Prefab, Modular, and the Future of Resilient Design Under Pressure. Architecture is evolving faster than ever, driven by natural disasters, technology, and client expectations—but how do designers balance innovation with risk, regulation, and lifestyle priorities? Josh Cooperman hosts an unfiltered conversation with Drew Davis, Brian Pinkett, Aaron Neubert, and Joseph Dangaran about prefabrication, modular construction, client programming, and the challenges of rebuilding communities in fire- and flood-prone regions. From the Palisades to Paris, they explore how architecture must adapt—or risk falling behind.

1. Introduction and Context

  • Host introduction: Josh Cooperman, Convo By Design.
  • Acknowledgements: Kim Gordon Designs (venue), Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home (sponsor and industry supporter).
  • Why the discussion matters: natural disasters as a case study in architecture’s evolving role.
  • Personal anecdote: Josh’s wildfire experience in 1983 highlighting the urgency of resilient design.

2. Guest Introductions

  • Drew Davis, Partner, Kligerman Architecture & Design, NYC – Residential expertise nationwide.
  • Brian Pinkett, Principal, Landry Design Group – High-end, global custom homes, with focus on innovation and sustainability.
  • Aaron Neubert, Principal, Annex – Residential and hospitality projects in LA & Las Vegas.
  • Joseph Dangaran, Founding Partner, Woods & Dangaran– West Coast single-family homes, high-end interiors.

3. Critical Thinking vs. Design Education

  • Discussion of Brian Pinkett’s insight: architecture school teaches critical thinking, not design itself.
  • How critical thinking shapes the conversation about innovation and client expectations.
  • The influence of NIMBYism and cultural resistance on design risk-taking.

4. Client Literacy and Innovation

  • How clients’ exposure to Instagram, travel, and boutique experiences shapes design expectations.
  • Balancing aspirational ideas with practical constraints: budget, schedule, site conditions.
  • Scenario-based design and programming as a tool to understand lifestyle priorities.

5. Prefabrication and Modular Construction

  • Defining terms: prefabrication vs. modular, and their misconceptions in high-end architecture.
  • Historical examples: Eiffel Tower (prefabricated in 1889), Wallace Neff bubble homes.
  • Case studies: past Malibu prefab project, Arts District hotel project.
  • Discussion of benefits (speed, quality, cost) and challenges (flexibility, client acceptance, perception).

6. Lifestyle vs. Shelter in Rebuilds

  • How trauma and loss after disasters impact client priorities.
  • The tension between rebuilding for necessity vs. recreating lifestyle and memory.
  • Temporary housing solutions and lessons from disaster response (Shigeru Ban, Fresno pre-approved plans).

7. The Role of Regulation in Innovation

  • Flood, fire, and safety regulations: both barriers and catalysts for creativity.
  • Discussion of over-regulation and its impact on rebuilding efficiency, particularly in high-demand areas like Pacific Palisades.

8. The Future of Architectural Innovation

  • Emerging materials, prefabrication, and modular design for high-end custom homes.
  • How technology enables flexibility and quality at scale.
  • The challenge of evolving architectural vernacular to reflect contemporary technology.
  • The importance of balancing client desires, regulatory frameworks, and architectural creativity.

9. Closing Thoughts

  • Necessity drives invention, but adaptation and education are key.
  • Designers’ role in guiding clients through uncertainty and risk.
  • Encouragement to rethink traditional paradigms: innovation in practice, materials, and process.

10. Callouts / Quotes for Social Media

  • “Innovation isn’t about change for change’s sake—it’s about solving the problem you didn’t know existed.” – Brian Pinkett
  • “Prefabrication isn’t a compromise. It’s a new way to design for speed, quality, and scale.” – Aaron Neubert
  • “The goal isn’t just shelter. The goal is lifestyle.” – Joseph Dangaran

11. Links & References

Fresh Takes on Authenticity, Resiliency and Artificial Intelligence Design Application (for now) | 651 | Stephanie Martin of Stephanie Martin Design

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Calgary-based designer Stephanie Martin shares the story of launching her firm during the 2008 financial crisis, the gap between design education and reality, and why hand-crafted authenticity remains vital in the age of AI. She also takes us inside the Rideau Residence, a project blending modern aesthetics with sentimental family history.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Calgary Roots & Business Resilience

  • Launching in a Recession: Stephanie discusses starting her firm in 2008 during the financial crisis, which heavily impacted Calgary’s oil and gas-driven economy. She attributes her early success to “door-to-door” marketing and building a reputation through exceptional service rather than just aesthetics.
  • The “Cowboy Town” Reality: A look at Calgary’s diverse culture, strong job market, and affordable housing, countering its reputation as just a “cowboy town.”
  • Service Over Style: Stephanie emphasizes that the core of her business is caring about the clients’ lives, a lesson she learned early on that differentiates her firm today.

The Evolution of Design Practice

  • Education vs. Reality: A candid discussion on how design schools often focus on exaggerated creativity while overlooking practical skills like budgeting, timelines, and coordination.
  • Post-Pandemic Expectations: Clients now prioritize emotional connections and functional spaces over mere aesthetics, seeking designs that actively enhance their well-being.
  • Sustainability: The conversation touches on the necessity of sustainable building practices, including Stephanie’s experience with passive homes.

Technology & Authenticity

  • The AI Debate: Stephanie and Josh discuss the rise of AI in design. While Stephanie is optimistic about AI for efficiency, she argues for maintaining “hand-crafted” creativity to ensure designs remain meaningful.
  • Authentic Marketing: In an era of AI-generated content, Stephanie commits to keeping her social media presence true to her values by showcasing only authentic, human-created work.

Project Spotlight: The Rideau Residence

  • Modern-Traditional Mix: A deep dive into the kitchen design which juxtaposes modern elements with sentimental details, specifically a brick backsplash sourced from the owner’s grandmother’s house.
  • Space Transformation: How a formal dining room was reimagined into a dark, masculine office space that contrasts sharply with the rest of the light-filled home.

Links & Resources

WestEdge Design Fair Part Nine | 650 | Wellness by Design: Creating Interiors the Support Mind & Body

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When interiors meet intention: a dynamic panel on how color theory, holistic living, sustainable materials, and design thinking come together to redefine residential spaces for 2025 and beyond.

Sherwin Williams set out to cover Earth with beautiful colors over 150 years ago. 1866, Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams founded the company in Cleveland, Ohio, on a mission really. And the result is a company dedicated to delivery of the  best in paints, coatings and related products to discerning clients all over the world. That dedication was evident from the start with the hiring of Percy Neyman, the very first chemist employed by an American paint manufacturer. Sherwin Williams continues to set the bar high and provide the design community with the essential tools to create superior projects. Sherwin Williams is commitment to supporting the design community, which is why they sponsor programs, like this one. They are also dedicated to a betterment philosophical approach which is why they selected ‘wellness” as the topic for this talk.Thank you Sherwin Williams for your tireless support.

In this timely conversation, experts from across interior design and sustainable living explore what it means to design for wellness in 2025. Moderated by Sue Wadden and Ashlynn Bourque of Sherwin-Williams, the panel features voices from:

  • Jeanne Chung (Cozy, Stylish, Chic) — known for crafting spaces that blend comfort, style, and emotional balance.
  • Julee Ireland (Julee Ireland Design Studio) — bringing a refined, intentional aesthetic rooted in longevity and livable elegance.
  • Greg Roth (CarbonShack) — spotlighting eco-conscious material sourcing, sustainable practices, and climate-aligned living environments.

Together they examine how interior design can be a catalyst for holistic living — from color palettes that promote calm and emotional balance, to spatial planning that supports aging in place, to circadian lighting and neurodiversity-friendly layouts. The discussion underscores a rising trend: residential interiors inspired by hospitality, wellness, and sustainability principles.

Listeners will come away with fresh ideas on turning their homes into future-proof sanctuaries — design-forward, earth-conscious, and emotionally attuned.

  • Health span-focused design: Designing spaces that help residents live longer, healthier lives at home.
  • Aging in place: Home layouts that accommodate long-term functionality and wellness.
  • Home gyms, saunas, cold plunges: Integrating spa-level wellness amenities in private residences.
  • Dual kitchens: Inspired by Italian family homes for multigenerational living.
  • Collaboration with architects: Designers as integral contributors to maximize natural light and spatial flow.
  • VR visualization: Helping clients experience proportion, scale, and sightlines before construction.
  • Problem-solving as designers: Addressing unforeseen construction issues creatively while maintaining aesthetics.
  • Circadian lighting: Lighting systems (e.g., Lutron Ketra) that mimic natural light patterns to support sleep and productivity.
  • Plant-based fabrics (hemp, bamboo, kelp): Sustainable, high-performance materials.
  • Evidence-based color design: Physiological effects of color on multigenerational inhabitants.
  • Neurodiverse design considerations: Minimizing overstimulation in homes for ADHD, dementia, or sensory sensitivity.
  • Hospitality influence on residential design: Bringing experiences from wellness hotels into private homes.
  • Storytelling & provenance: Educating clients about material sourcing and sustainable practices.
  • Sustainability education: Visiting factories, quarries, and trade shows to understand materials and processes.

Relevant Web Links

  • Lutron Ketra Lighting: https://www.lutron.com/en-US/Products/Pages/WholeHome/ketra/overview.aspx
  • Round Top Market (antiques & sustainability): https://roundtoptexasantiques.com
  • Hemp & sustainable fabrics: https://www.hemp-trade.com

KBIS Series Part Two | The Smart Home Standoff: Tech vs. Tradition in Appliances

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The New Appliance Ecosystem: Translating Value, Technology, and Human-Centric Design

The modern appliance conversation has shifted beyond features and price into something far more consequential: value, usability, and human-centered design. 

Designers, manufacturers, showrooms, and independent testing labs now operate as an interconnected ecosystem guiding consumers through increasingly complex decisions. The future of appliance specification belongs to those who can translate technology into meaningful, intuitive, lifestyle-driven solutions.

Featuring insights from Nicole Papantoniou of the Good Housekeeping Institute, Jeff Sweet of Sub-Zero Group Inc., and Christa Mallinger of AJ Madison, this conversation explores how appliances have evolved from commodities into lifestyle infrastructure—and why education, not persuasion, defines the next era.

KBIS Podcast Studio Resources:

KBIS

AJ Madison

NKBA

LUXE Interiors + Design

SubZero, Wolf & Cove

SKS | Signature Kitchen Suite

Hearth & Home Technologies

Kitchen365

Green Forrest Cabinetry

Midea

The appliance industry has entered a human-centric phase, where performance, intuitive use, and real lifestyle benefit outweigh raw features or price alone. Designers act as translators of lifestyle, manufacturers as problem-solvers, and showrooms as educators—collectively helping consumers navigate increasingly sophisticated choices.

Panelists discussed the shift from feature-driven sales toward performance-driven value, emphasizing longevity, ease of use, and frictionless integration into daily life. They also explored the growing role of education, testing standards, showroom partnerships, and post-installation support in helping consumers fully realize the value of their investment.

Technology remains central, but its success depends entirely on reducing friction—not adding novelty. The conversation revealed that the future of appliances lies not in more technology, but in better technology—technology that disappears into the experience.

The Appliance Ecosystem Is Interdependent

  • Designers interpret lifestyle and aesthetic needs.
  • Manufacturers engineer performance-driven solutions.
  • Showrooms educate and guide decision-making.
  • Independent testing organizations validate performance and usability.

Value Has Replaced Price as the Primary Decision Driver

  • Consumers rarely regret investing more in appliances.
  • Longevity, performance, and service support define value.
  • Sustainability increasingly aligns with durability.

Human-Centric Design Is the New Standard

  • Appliances must be intuitive without relying on manuals.
  • UX consistency across appliances improves adoption.
  • Technology must solve real problems—not create new friction.

Education Is More Important Than Selling

  • Many consumers buy appliances only once every 10–15 years.
  • Showrooms and testing labs bridge the knowledge gap.
  • Post-installation education helps unlock full product potential.

Appliances Are Expanding Beyond the Kitchen

  • Refrigeration, coffee systems, and specialty appliances now appear throughout the home.
  • Multi-kitchen and multi-generational design is driving specification complexity.
  • Flexibility and modular integration are essential.

Technology Adoption Depends on Familiarity and Trust

  • Induction adoption accelerates when paired with familiar controls.
  • Consumers embrace technology that feels intuitive and beneficial.
  • Novelty alone does not guarantee long-term value.

The modern appliance is no longer just a tool. It’s infrastructure.

At KBIS, where the industry gathers annually to define its future, a clear shift has emerged. Appliances are no longer judged solely by features or price, but by how effectively they integrate into human behavior. The question is no longer, “What does it do?” but rather, “What does it enable?”

This shift has elevated the importance of collaboration across the appliance ecosystem. Designers serve as translators, interpreting the client’s lifestyle into functional requirements. Manufacturers act as problem-solvers, engineering solutions grounded in real user needs. Showrooms and retailers bridge the gap between technology and understanding, while independent testing organizations validate claims and ensure products deliver on their promises.

This ecosystem exists because appliance decisions have become more consequential—and more complex.

Unlike consumer electronics, appliances are purchased infrequently. A homeowner may go fifteen years between purchases. During that time, the category evolves dramatically. Induction replaces gas. Steam ovens expand culinary capability. Refrigeration becomes modular, flexible, and architectural. Appliances no longer exist solely in kitchens, but in offices, bedrooms, outdoor spaces, and wellness areas.

With that expansion comes responsibility. Technology must reduce friction, not create it.

Christa, Nicole and Jeff all emphasized that human-centric design now drives product development. Appliances must be intuitive enough to operate without instruction, consistent enough to feel familiar, and purposeful enough to justify their presence. Technology for its own sake has limited value. Technology that removes mental load, improves performance, or enhances daily living defines the future.

This is where education becomes critical.

Showrooms no longer simply display products; they contextualize them. Independent testing organizations evaluate not only performance, but usability, cleanability, and intuitive function. Manufacturers increasingly provide post-installation support, recognizing that the real product experience begins after installation, not at purchase.

Value, therefore, is no longer measured in features alone.

It is measured in longevity. In reliability. In the confidence that a product will perform consistently over time. In the reduction of friction between intention and outcome.

Perhaps most importantly, appliances have become emotional infrastructure. They support gathering, creativity, ritual, and identity. They enable the modern kitchen to function not just as a place of preparation, but as a center of living.

The future of appliances will not be defined by how advanced they are.

It will be defined by how invisible they become—seamlessly enabling life without demanding attention.

And those who understand that distinction—designers, manufacturers, and educators alike—will define the next generation of the built environment.

WestEdge Wednesday Part Eight | 648 | Enduring Modernism: A Retrospective with Marmol Radziner

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The Accidental Empire: Marmol Radziner on Preservation, Prefab, and Fighting the Tyranny of the Nimby. Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner discuss the 36-year evolution of their design-build firm, tracing its roots in a student co-op to becoming a leader in modern residential architecture, restoration, and the urgent need for sustainable urban density in Los Angeles.

The conversation features Leo Marmol and Ron Radziner, co-founders of Marmol Radziner, detailing the firm’s history, their design philosophy, and their views on the current state of preservation and sustainability in LA.

  • Origin Story and The Return to Modernism:
    • The co-founders met as students at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, living in “The Ark,” a condemned co-op. This environment of free rein to alter the building foreshadowed their later design-build approach.
    • They founded their firm in 1989 during the “dying days of postmodernism,” quickly committing to the modernist ideal of clarity, reduction, and the connection between design and craft (Bauhaus).
    • They attribute the firm’s early success to aligning with the eventual return to California modernism, driven by its rich history in the region.
  • Milestone Projects and Preservation:
    • The first major flag-planting project was the Gutentag Studio (a small, pure concrete block and cedar studio), followed by the new Ward Residence.
    • Their watershed moment in preservation was the Kaufmann House restoration (1993) in Palm Springs. At the time, there was virtually no industry for modern restoration, forcing the firm to develop the roadmap for approaching these aging buildings.
    • They view restorations as “classrooms” that inform their new work, maintaining a healthy split of one-third restoration and two-thirds new construction.
  • Preservation Today: The Fetish vs. Functionality:
    • Marmol and Radziner argue they are often at odds with the preservation community because they believe historic properties must evolve to remain functional and relevant, cautioning against a “fetish” that prevents necessary change.
    • They criticize the current situation where every modern building is deemed “sacred,” citing the contentious, successful fight to demolish the Barry Building on San Vicente as an example of overreach where the building’s significance did not rise to the level requiring preservation.
  • The Problem of Scale (“McModerns”) and Efficiency:
    • They express concern over the proliferation of “McModerns” and elephantine houses, driven by high property values and the pressure to “max out the buildable area” on a site.
    • They emphasize that their modern perspective is less about style and more about the fundamental importance of connection—internal open plans and connecting the home to the landscape and exterior rhythm of nature (a concept that is lost when properties are overbuilt).
  • Sustainability and the Nimby Problem:
    • While California leads the country in robust, fire-resilient, and energy-efficient building codes (which have been a success), they gave the state’s housing policy an “F.”
    • Leo Marmol asserted that the greenest thing the city can do is densify and allow more housing in the urban core, calling out the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) mentality as the primary political failure that forces sprawl and long commutes.
  • The Return to Prefabrication (Prefab 2.0):
    • Marmol Radziner initially experimented with prefab from 2004–2012 but stopped after the 2008 crash.
    • They are now returning to prefabrication—Prefab 2.0—as a response to the current “crisis of construction costs” and the need for quick, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions, particularly for fire rebuilds in Altadena and the Palisades.
  • Design-Build Practice Scale:
    • The firm combines Architecture, Construction Services (design-build), Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design under one roof.
    • They support their construction services with their own dedicated cabinet shop and metal shop in El Segundo, allowing for control over craft and execution.
  • Fire Resilience and Landscape:
    • The fires are affecting landscape rules, particularly regarding Zone Zero (the 0–5 feet immediately surrounding the building). They argue against the extreme position of “no planting” in Zone Zero, believing the right, well-irrigated planting can help against embers, which they identify as the biggest culprit in mass fires, more so than direct flame.
    • Home hardening (sealing every vulnerability) is considered the single most important factor, with modern energy codes being an accidental but highly effective form of fire hardening.

CEDIA Expo & CIX – The Ride Along: Part Four | 647 | Jason McGraw, Dale Sandberg & Jim Garrett

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This week on the show, you’re going to ride along with me from the incredibly comfortable and stylish VW ID.Buzz, which served as the mobile podcast studio at CEDIA Expo / CIX this September in Denver, Colorado. Were going back for more conversations from the show.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) is the global trade association for home technology professionals, specializing in smart home, automation, audio-visual, networking, and integrated systems. Its mission is to advance the home technology industry through education, certification, advocacy, and networking. Members include integrators, designers, manufacturers, and consultants who shape the connected environments we live and work in.


CEDIA Expo is the industry’s largest annual event for residential technology professionals. With hundreds of exhibitors, educational sessions, live demos, and global networking opportunities, it’s where new ideas and innovations in smart home and AV integration take center stage.

The Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX), co-located with CEDIA Expo, focuses on commercial integration technologies—from conferencing and IT infrastructure to building automation and emerging AV solutions—bringing together commercial integrators, IT pros, designers, and tech managers.

Jason McGraw | Group VP and Show Director, CEDIA Expo / CIX

  • Scope of the Show: McGraw details the scale of CEDIA Expo 2025, featuring over 350 exhibitors and immersive demo rooms that showcase integrated audio, video, and control systems.
  • Integration Meets Design: Discussion centers on the critical partnership between integrators and the design-build community (interior designers, architects, builders). McGraw emphasizes that technology—ranging from AI and energy management to lighting—must be a foundational element of the design process, not an afterthought.
  • The Business Case: Designers are encouraged to view integrators as essential trade partners, similar to electricians or plumbers, to better service clients and protect home networks.

Dale Sandberg | Product Manager for Electronics, Sonance

  • Aesthetic Performance: Sandberg discusses Sonance’s philosophy that sound should support the design of a space rather than dominate it. The focus is on blending high-fidelity performance with discreet aesthetics.
  • New Innovations: Highlights include the compact UA Series amplifiers designed to fit behind displays or in tight spaces, and the integration of professional-grade Blaze Audio amplifiers into the Sonance family.
  • Outdoor Living: The conversation covers the growing trend of outdoor entertainment, where amplifiers and speakers are used to create immersive environments in backyards and outdoor kitchens.

Jim Garrett | Senior Director of Product Strategy, Harman Luxury Audio Group

  • Hidden Technology: Garrett addresses the challenge of eliminating “wall acne” through invisible speakers and design-integrated solutions that do not compromise acoustic performance.
  • Pandemic Influence: The discussion explores how the pandemic shifted focus toward outdoor living and unconventional entertainment spaces, including garages and multi-generational gaming setups.
  • Brand Portfolio: Insights into the product strategies for Harman’s luxury brands—JBL, Revel, Mark Levinson, and JBL Synthesis—and the importance of gathering direct feedback from integrators to drive R&D.

Links & Resources

Show Topics & Outline

  • CEDIA Expo 2025 Snapshot
    • Denver, Colorado Convention Center
    • 350+ exhibiting brands, 100+ conference sessions, 115 manufacturer trainings
    • Demo rooms showcasing integrated audio, video, and control systems
  • The Wave Effect of Trade Shows
    • Innovation as unseen currents shaping the industry
    • Ideas incubated at CEDIA spreading across markets and returning as trends
  • Integration Meets Design
    • Town hall insights with CEDIA’s Daryl Friedman & NKBA’s Bill Darcy
    • Bridging integrators with interior designers, kitchen & bath professionals, and architects
    • Untapped opportunities in collaborative smart home projects
  • Technology as a Design Driver
    • AI, energy management, lighting trends, and seamless AV systems
    • Why technology must be discussed at the start of design projects
    • Case studies: motorized shades, outdoor AV, invisible speakers, custom veneers
  • Outdoor Living & Luxury Spaces
    • Kitchens and backyards as multi-hundred-thousand-dollar investments
    • Expanding living spaces through technology
    • Luxury demo rooms and high-performance home theaters
  • Why Designers Should Be Here
    • Missing out on competitive advantages without CEDIA exposure
    • Seeing products in person vs. static web images
    • Real examples of design-centric AV solutions and invisible tech
  • The Business Case
    • Designers need integrators just as they need electricians, plumbers, and fabricators
    • Protecting networks and ensuring cybersecurity in the home
    • Service and maintenance as part of the client experience
  • Looking Forward
    • Progress and serendipity at trade shows
    • Extending collaboration with KBIS and IBS (Orlando, 2026)
    • Building lasting bridges between integrators and designers

Links & Resources

  • CEDIA Expo
  • Commercial Integrator Expo
  • NKBA – National Kitchen & Bath Association
  • KBIS – Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

Dale Sandberg on Sonance, New Electronics, and Designing for Sonic + Aesthetic Experience

Dale Sandberg, new Product Manager for Electronics at Sonance, shares how the company is blending high-fidelity performance with discreet design solutions, introducing amplifiers and loudspeakers that elevate both sonic and aesthetic experiences in residential and commercial spaces.

At his first CEDIA Expo, Dale highlights Sonance’s latest innovations, from compact UA Series amplifiers designed to disappear behind displays to Blaze Audio’s professional-grade amplifiers now integrated into the Sonance family. With a philosophy that sound should enhance the design of a space rather than dominate it, Sonance is shaping how integrators and designers deliver immersive, comfortable experiences both indoors and out.

  • Guest: Dale Sandberg, Product Manager for Electronics, Sonance.
  • Background: from pro audio to Sonance, less than one year with the company.
  • Context: first CEDIA Expo experience, excitement about Sonance’s direction.

New Product Highlights

  • Loudspeakers
    • High Output Series (professional side).
    • Wedge speaker for outdoor/architectural blending.
    • Re-engineered Power Pipe subwoofers for stronger low-end performance.
  • UA Series Amplifiers
    • Compact two-channel models (UA-125, ARC-enabled versions).
    • Mountable behind TVs, under tables, or in tight spaces.
    • Features T-slots for stacking/mounting other gear.
    • Energy-efficient design with minimal heat output.
  • Blaze Audio Amplifiers
    • Sonance acquisition of Blaze Audio brand (Pascal, Denmark).
    • Range from 60W per channel up to 400W bridged.
    • Full DSP capability, rack-mountable, UL-rated.
    • Outdoor applications via weather-rated cases.

Design & Integration Perspective

  • Compact electronics give designers freedom to hide gear while maintaining performance.
  • Balancing performance and aesthetics: sound follows the design, not the other way around.
  • Example: background music at parties that fills space without overwhelming conversation.
  • Outdoor living trend: amplifiers and speakers enabling outdoor kitchens, theaters, and entertainment spaces.

Company Ethos & Philosophy

  • Mission: deliver complete audio solutions—amplification, processing, and speakers.
  • Philosophy: the sonic experience should support the aesthetic experience of a home or space.
  • Growth vision: expand residential dominance while building commercial presence.
  • Takeaway: not just about volume—it’s about creating the right experience.

Jim Garrett | Harman Luxury Audio

Jim Garrett on Harman’s Audio Innovations, Hidden Tech, and Pandemic-Inspired Entertainment

Jim Garrett, Senior Director of Product Strategy and Planning at Harman Luxury Audio Group, shares how the company balances high-performance audio with design aesthetics, explores emerging opportunities in outdoor and unconventional home entertainment, and highlights why integrator feedback is vital to shaping future products.

From invisible speakers to immersive home cinema solutions, Jim Garrett takes listeners behind the scenes of Harman’s engineering and R&D process, discussing product development for brands like JBL, Revel, Synthesis, and Mark Levinson. He explains how the pandemic inspired new entertainment spaces, how technology can be seamlessly integrated into interiors, and why CEDIA Expo remains an essential hub for innovation, collaboration, and awareness in the custom electronics industry.

  • Guest: Jim Garrett, Senior Director of Product Strategy & Planning, Harman Luxury Audio Group.
  • Role: Oversees product roadmap, development direction, and exhibition strategy.
  • Context: Recorded in Volkswagen ID.Buzz at CEDIA Expo 2025.

CEDIA Expo 2025 Overview

  • Largest booth shared with parent company Samsung.
  • Opportunity to engage integrators directly and gather actionable feedback.
  • Importance of listening to installation professionals to improve products.

Product Strategy and Brand Focus

  • Harman Luxury Audio Group brands: JBL, JBL Synthesis, Revel, Mark Levinson.
  • Focus at Expo: JBL Synthesis for home cinema and immersive audio.
  • Solutions include invisible speakers, wall/ceiling installations, and custom home audio products.

Balancing Performance and Aesthetics

  • Challenge: high-performance products that are visually unobtrusive.
  • Goal: eliminate “wall acne” with invisible or design-integrated speakers.
  • Inspiration drawn from evolution in lighting design to minimize visual clutter.

Engineering and R&D

  • Harman’s science-based approach: performance must meet visual and acoustic demands.
  • Innovation includes weatherproof outdoor speakers and displays for bright sunlight.
  • Teams challenged to create high-fidelity systems that integrate seamlessly into homes.

Expanding Entertainment Spaces

  • Pandemic influence: growth of outdoor living and unconventional entertainment areas.
  • Multi-generational engagement: home theaters, garages, patios, bathrooms, and gaming setups.
  • Flexibility of audio/video systems allows new experiences across the home.

Integration and Awareness

  • Educating interior designers, architects, and end users about hidden tech.
  • Raising awareness of capabilities beyond audio: lighting, shades, HVAC, security integration.
  • Emphasis on simplifying life at home while elevating performance and experience.

KBIS Series Part One | Beyond the Price Tag: Defining Luxury in Appliances & Design

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Luxury can be expensive, but it can also be subtle, practical, or deeply personal. Sometimes it’s about choice, sometimes restraint, sometimes the way a space or product simply works better for you. Through thoughtful discussion, the episode examines how luxury shows up in appliances and design—through performance, comfort, longevity, and everyday ease—and why it resonates differently for everyone over time

This nuanced conversation explores the evolving meaning of luxury through multiple industry perspectives, featuring Devoree Axelrod, General Manager at AJ Madison, alongside industry expert Jill Cohen, Editor-in-Chief, Luxe Interiors + Design.

KBIS Podcast Studio Resources:

KBIS

AJ Madison

NKBA

LUXE Interiors + Design

SubZero, Wolf & Cove

SKS | Signature Kitchen Suite

Hearth & Home Technologies

Kitchen365

Green Forrest Cabinetry

Midea

Luxury Isn’t a Price Point. It’s a Performance Standard.

At the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show 2026, leaders from AJ Madison and Luxe Interiors + Design reframing luxury as durability, intentionality, and the ability of design to support how people actually live.

The word “luxury” has become one of the most overused—and least defined—terms in the design industry. At KBIS 2026, a live conversation featuring Devoree Axelrod, General Manager of AJ Madison, and Jill Cohen, Editor in Chief of Luxe Interiors + Design, set out to recalibrate its meaning. What emerged was less about price and more about performance, longevity, and intent.

For decades, luxury was shorthand for premium brands, higher costs, and visual distinction. Today, that definition is insufficient. The modern homeowner isn’t simply buying a product; they’re investing in how their home supports their routines, relationships, and future. Luxury, in this context, becomes the elimination of friction. It’s the appliance that performs reliably every day. It’s the kitchen designed around how a family actually cooks and gathers. It’s the confidence that decisions made today will still make sense twenty years from now.

Cohen shared findings from Luxe’s upcoming national survey of 1,000 leading architects, designers, and builders, confirming that the kitchen remains the single most important area of homeowner investment. More significantly, appliances are often the first and most consequential decisions made in the design process. They establish the spatial, technical, and functional framework around which everything else follows.

Axelrod reinforced this from her vantage point inside one of the country’s largest appliance retailers. Appliance selection determines infrastructure—electrical loads, ventilation, plumbing, and spatial relationships—making it foundational rather than decorative. When clients prioritize performance and usability first, the rest of the design aligns more effectively, both functionally and financially.

The conversation also addressed the persistent myth of the fixed budget. In reality, budgets are fluid, shaped as much by emotion as by arithmetic. Homeowners may begin with a number in mind, but that number evolves as priorities clarify. The role of the designer and appliance advisor becomes essential: helping clients distinguish between what serves their lives and what merely satisfies aspiration.

This shift is evident in how kitchens are expanding beyond their traditional boundaries. Secondary prep kitchens, beverage stations, outdoor kitchens, coffee bars, and integrated refrigeration throughout the home reflect a broader redefinition of convenience. These are not excesses for their own sake; they are extensions of daily life, driven by multigenerational living, remote work, and a deeper integration between hospitality and residential design.

Perhaps most telling was the reframing of luxury itself. Neither Axelrod nor Cohen defined it by brand name. Instead, luxury was described as ease, time, and permanence. It is waking up and having what you need within reach. It is durability that eliminates the need for replacement. It is thoughtful planning that prevents regret.

In this light, luxury is not what something costs. It is what something enables.

And increasingly, what it enables is a home that works—quietly, reliably, and seamlessly—in service of the people who live there.

Luxury is the measurable outcome of thoughtful design—where performance, longevity, and relevance align to support the way people actually live.

  • Luxury is the removal of friction from daily life.
  • Luxury is durability aligned with intent.
  • Luxury is design that continues to perform long after the purchase is forgotten.
  • Luxury is confidence—in function, longevity, and fit.
  • Luxury is not what you spend. It’s what you never have to rethink.

The Kitchen as the Primary Investment

  • The kitchen remains the #1 homeowner investment nationwide.
  • Homeowners are willing to exceed budget in the kitchen more than any other space.
  • The kitchen is the most public and social room in the home.
  • It represents identity: “I’m a cook,” “I entertain,” “I host.”
  • Food equals memory; appliances enable those memories.

Appliance-First Design Strategy

  • Appliances determine electrical, ventilation, plumbing, and layout requirements.
  • Major appliance decisions must precede cabinetry and finish selections.
  • Early appliance specification prevents costly redesigns.
  • Designers increasingly plan around cooking infrastructure first.
  • Professional appliance advisors play a key role in product education and innovation updates.

Budget Realities & Psychology

  • Budgets are rarely fixed; they are often unstated or misunderstood.
  • Clients frequently establish budgets before fully understanding what they want.
  • Designers must define the intersection of “want” and “need.”
  • Stretching budget in the kitchen feels justified because it is essential.
  • Strategic trade-offs are common (invest in cooking, scale back secondary items).
  • Transparency and cost clarity are critical in today’s climate.
  • Surprises—especially tariff or pricing shocks—undermine trust.
  • Professional designers protect clients from unrealistic expectations and long-term regret.

The Expanding Kitchen Ecosystem

  • Kitchens are no longer singular spaces—they expand throughout the home.
  • Secondary kitchens (sculleries, prep kitchens, butler’s pantries) are rising.
  • Beverage centers, bars, and wine storage are increasingly common.
  • Coffee stations and en-suite kitchenettes are viewed as lifestyle enhancements.
  • Outdoor kitchens are now expected in many markets.
  • Refrigeration appears in bathrooms (skincare), offices, and guest suites.
  • Multigenerational living drives multi-kitchen design.
  • Post-COVID entertaining shifted bar culture into the home.

Lifestyle-Driven Design Trends

  • Hospitality influences residential expectations.
  • Convenience and personalization outweigh pure status signaling.
  • Aging in place is shaping appliance planning (drawer refrigeration, wall ovens).
  • Durability is increasingly valued over trend-based aesthetics.
  • Remote work drives integrated kitchenettes and beverage access in home offices.
  • Multiple laundry setups reflect modern household logistics.

Status vs. Practicality

  • Status still influences resale-driven decisions in some cases.
  • However, emotional connection tends to be with category (cooking, entertaining) rather than brand alone.
  • Longevity and service reliability often justify premium selections.
  • Magazine-driven or editorial glamour exists—but practical function ultimately wins.

Role of the Professional Designer

  • Designers provide budget discipline and scope management.
  • They help clients make decisions faster, reducing cost creep.
  • They balance aspiration with feasibility.
  • Professional oversight protects long-term value.
  • Design is positioned not as a privilege, but as a necessity.

Market & Cultural Influences

  • COVID permanently shifted how homes are used.
  • Entertaining moved inward; bar and pizza oven sales spiked.
  • Multigenerational living increased spatial complexity.
  • Social media informs but can distort expectations.
  • Consumers increasingly research via reviews and digital channels.
  • Clients are more cautious amid economic and tariff uncertainty.

Guiding Principle

  • “Proper planning prevents poor performance.”
  • Early, honest, and intentional planning reduces regret.
  • Design is both a desire business and a service industry.
  • The goal is not excess—it is alignment between space and life.

CXD Icon Registry February 2026 | 646 | Christine Anderson – In Memoriam

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The chill is still in the air as winter prepares to give way to spring. That time of year, depending on where in the world you happen to be, nature is beginning to remind us about the magic of renewal in small but familiar ways. We are reminded that the more things change, renewal is possible. Today’s Icon Registry episode celebrates our newest inductee, and those who have listened to the show for a while know her, and even though she left this world a few years ago, her spirit endures.

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

Christine Anderson was a SoCal based publicist with a dedication to her clients, friends and colleagues rarely seen anymore. I had the opportunity to work with Christine on many occasions and she hosted the show more than any other guest show. You might even recall her hosting the ICON Registry episode featuring Woodson & Rummerfield. 

This is Christine’s well deserved induction into the registry. What you are about to hear is Christine’s conversation with Dora Epstein Jones Dr. Dora Epstein Jones is a prominent architectural theorist, educator, and administrator known for her rigorous interrogation of the discipline’s boundaries. She is currently a Professor of Practice at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, having joined the faculty in Fall 2023.

The Convo By Design Icon Registry is presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, a Best Buy company and avid supporters of the design community. They help designers become the very best version of their professional selves through advocacy, educational opportunities and professional support. 

This wraps up another episode of the Convo By Design Icon Registry. A celebration and recognition of a true master in the art of design and the mastery of all that encompasses in the pursuit of making better the lives of those they serve. And, giving back along the way. Thank you Christine for your many years of friendship, partnership and collaboration, you are truly missed. Thanks for listening to Convo By Design. Thank you to my partner sponsors, Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home for presenting the Convo By Design Icon Registry and Convo By Design partner sponsors, Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home,TimberTech & Shelter Republic. And thank you for taking the time to listen. I couldn’t do this without you, wouldn’t want to. I hope this show helps you stay motivated, inspired and focused so you can rise above the chaos. -CXD

WestEdge Wednesday Part Seven | 645 | Kitchen rEvolution: Crafted, Curated Spaces Created for an Evolving Clientele

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Kitchen Revolution: Elevating Kitchens and Baths for Lifestyle, Wellness, and Technology. Designers and innovators discuss how kitchens and bathrooms have transformed into lifestyle-focused, wellness-oriented, and tech-savvy spaces, shaping the homes of today’s discerning clients. From pandemic-driven shifts to smart appliances, spa-like bathrooms, and open-concept living, this panel explores the evolving demands of homeowners and the strategies designers use to balance aesthetics, function, and innovation.

1. Introduction

  • Host Virzine Hovasapyan, Experience Director of Marketplace of Innovation for Pacific Sales, introduces the panel and sets the stage: kitchens and baths are no longer purely functional—they are deeply personal lifestyle environments.
  • Emphasis on the convergence of beauty, comfort, and smart technology to meet wellness-focused and tech-savvy client needs.

2. Panel Introductions

  • Karen Rideau, Kitchen Design Group: three decades of experience, expanding from kitchen and bath to full interior architecture.
  • Holly Hollenbeck, HSH Interiors: bi-coastal firm specializing in remodels and new builds, high focus on kitchen and bath.
  • Lori Hafele, Hafele Design: luxury cabinetry-focused design, hard surfaces specialist.
  • Pam Barthold, Poziom Designs: national remodels, holiday decor focus, wellness integration.

3. Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Shifts

  • Kitchens evolving into living spaces for family interaction and entertaining.
  • Movement from segmented to open-plan living; the kitchen is now the “heart of the home.”
  • Rise of furniture-like cabinetry and hidden storage to maintain aesthetic beauty.

4. Collaboration Between Designers and Showrooms

  • Importance of collaboration between designers, manufacturers, and showrooms.
  • Need for continuous education on appliance and technology innovations (steam ovens, microwaves/air fryers, modular units).
  • Designers as knowledge bridges for clients.

5. Wellness in Kitchen and Bath

  • Bathrooms now spa-like: steam showers, infrared saunas, cold plunges.
  • Kitchens adapting for wellness-conscious lifestyles: beverage centers, accessible hot water, herb gardens, indoor/outdoor cooking integration.
  • Efficiency for tech-savvy clients: proximity solutions, outdoor entertaining, smart layout adjustments.

6. Technology Integration

  • Challenges of over-technology vs. simplicity: balancing clients’ desire for tech with usability.
  • AI and digital inspiration may introduce non-buildable concepts; designers interpret and adapt.
  • Circuit breaker capacity and smart appliance integration considerations.
  • Strategies to educate clients and ensure the right technology fits their lifestyle.

7. Translating Client Dreams into Practical Design

  • Process includes space planning, 3D renderings, vendor collaboration, and creative problem-solving.
  • Importance of editing ideas to fit space and budget.
  • Budget discussions start early; expectations around pricing, lead times, and custom millwork.

8. Setting Expectations & Discovery

  • Use of robust client questionnaires to uncover lifestyle, wellness, and usage patterns.
  • Managing timelines, trades, and supply chain realities.
  • Addressing dual-client decision-making and educating clients on care and maintenance of appliances and materials.

9. Audience Q&A Highlights

  • Managing open-plan kitchens and sound/visual separation through back kitchens, secondary prep spaces, and innovative layouts.

10. Key Takeaways

  • Kitchens and bathrooms are now multifunctional lifestyle spaces, blending aesthetics, wellness, and technology.
  • Collaboration, client discovery, and education are critical for successful design.
  • Designers balance aspirational visions with practical realities to deliver functional, beautiful, and personalized homes.

Links / Resources:

  • Pacific Sales – West Coast leader in Kitchen, Bath, Outdoor, and Total Home solutions.
  • Kitchen Design Group – Caren Rideau
  • HSH Interiors – Holly Hollenbeck
  • Hafele Design – Laurie Hafele
  • Pazzam Designs – Pam Barthold