In the world of Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ), it is often said that participants need to learn how to be comfortable in uncomfortable circumstances.
For those that don’t train in BJJ the expression can still have deep meaning. One such case for example is the relationship between integrators and building trades that include interior designers and architects.
Looking at these relationships—or more succinctly—lack of relationships between designers, architects and integrators, and it is clear these professions recognize the need for one another. The problem however is these respective groups have had difficulty forging those increasingly important relationships.
This past fall, KMB Communications founder and CEO Katye McGregor Bennett joined the “To-The-Trade” interior design podcast with hosts Laurie Laizure and Nile Johnson. In their more than hour-long discussion, Bennett, Laizure and Johnson share their views on ways the integration, design and architectural communities can come together to meet the evolving needs of modern homeowners.
To-The-Trade Podcast Emphasizes How Integrators and Interior Design Professionals Complement One Another
Laizure noted during the discussion these relationships are slowly gaining momentum, but it is not enough she says to simply acknowledge cooperation between the professions is essential.
“Loving design and respecting what the designer is doing is a big part of it. I think that is something that has been missing; the missing link with integrators sometimes,” says Laurie Laizure.
Moments later, she went on to describe what is likely a typical reaction from the interior design community when a designer encounters some form of technology or the presentation of home electronics.
“The golf simulator room, a lot of designers are lost on that, [but] talk about wellness, the environment and how the client is experiencing—leveling up of that environment for their client—they love that aspect,” she notes.
As the podcast continued, Johnson summarized what people can expect if they do integrate technology within their homes by comparing the experience to a stay at a luxury hotel.
“It’s the hotel experience,” comments Johnson.
“When I walk into The Encore and they hand me that iPad and the blinds will open, the drapes, it’s the whole thing, the lights. That is what you will get.”
Towards the end of the end of the podcast, Bennett stressed that beyond the health and lifestyle benefits that home technologies offer homeowners, electronics can also be used to aid quality of life. Citing an issue that most people are forced to deal with at some point, Bennett raised the topic of aging parents and how technology can be used to support homeowners that may no longer have the physical capabilities to engage in normal daily activities.
“Aging parents … start thinking about how if the needs of the home have to rapidly change to adapt to someone with less mobility. What does that look like, what does that feel like, how are they going to access technology,” adds Bennett.
“Voice control— [you] may not want it now, but when you lose capacity to use your hands or fingers for whatever reason, then having technology that is responsive to hands and fingers, then you are going to need to change that. Voice is a lot of fun, and a lot of people are like, ‘I don’t want to talk to my house,’ and it is a little weird when you talk to your house, [but] you are just talking to a digital interface.”
The complete podcast episode can be streamed on YouTube or Spotify.
Check out this blog from KMB Communications’ Katye McGregor Bennett on the importance of reliable products and systems.