The weather was kind of crummy on Tuesday night but that did not stop us from having another fun and educational evening at
Mountain High Appliance for the Eatertainment Encore with Mountain High Appliance Executive Chef,
Keith Jones. As Chef Keith explained during the workshop Eatertainment is all about having fun while cooking. Judging by the many laughing moments and smiles on the faces in the audience the encore presentation of this workshop did not disappoint! Here are some pictures from the evening.
Chef Keith "Eatertaining" his audience!
Chef Keith and his assistant, Julie Xiong (student at the Art Institute, Culinary Program) showing off the super cool fryer that is part of the
Miele modular system. The "Design your Own Cooktop" phenomenon allows for specialty cooking pieces to adapt to a cook's dream....Fryer, Superburner Wok, Ceramic Electric, Gas, Induction, Tepan Yaki and more....
Chef Keith provided lots of tips and tricks to the audience.
Chef Keith demonstrating the one of a kind hood from Miele that lowers or raises to the convenience of the user. It is especially helpful in island applications, especially with the wonderful views from our kitchens in Colorado!
Chef Keith demonstrating the cooking of his Moussaka Tart one of the nine recipes highlighted during the workshop.
A happy member of the audience!
Chef Keith putting his magic touch on some Triple Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies.
Miele was a co-sponsor of both Eatertainment events. Barbara Barton and Missy West from Mountain High Appliance are drawing names for some door prizes generously provided by Miele.
Another happy audience member receiving a door prize from Barbara.
A winning team! Chef Keith, Brad Barnett (owner of Mountain High Appliance), Helly Duncan (owner of Design Matters Home).
Brad is talking to some of the attendees after the demonstration about the components in the
Miele kitchen in the Mountain High Appliance showroom.
Labels: entertainment, Louisville Colorado, Workshops
We attended a very informative seminar last week in Boulder on Hiding Technology put on by Tyler Lantzy of
Saavihome - the only national network of professional home electronic integrators in North America according to their website. Tyler presented what appeared to be a presentation from CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association). Topics included the value gained in working with an ESC (Electronics Systems Contractor), an overview of the different types of residential systems, the importance of including your home electronics wants/needs early in the home planning process, and some of the methods and strategies for hiding technology.
A key to hiding technology, especially for new homes, is to integrate technology with the design and décor rather than treating it as an afterthought. To achieve the goal of integrated technology it is recommended to engage the ESC in the planning process 2-3 months prior to the completion of the construction drawings.
Today's home entertainment systems are seeing more rooms with multiple televisions along with televisions in rooms that traditionally did not have them like kitchens and bathrooms. Done poorly, the increasing presence of technology in the home can detract from the décor. Done properly though technology will not even be noticed, that is being noticed in a bad way.
Subsystems in homes include home theater, distributed audio, distributed video, lighting control, climate control, custom motorization, security and fire, video surveillance, and voice/data networking. Many homes already include all of these subsystems but they are not integrated. Integrating them together is a good way to enhance the experience of the homeowners while significantly reducing the adverse visible impact to the homes décor.
While there are definitely high end options for integrating all these systems, options are becoming more available for middle class homes as well.
Tyler showed examples of the following methods of hiding technology - conceal, camouflage, consolidate, remotely locate, and eliminate. Since video and audio are designed to be seen and heard respectively it can be challenging to hide them but it can be done without compromising their functionality and quality. Examples of ways to hide video displays include: recess in wall, behind doors, behind two way mirrors, behind art, motorized lifts, and drop screens.
For sound, technology today is allowing concealment through total blend-in with sheet rock, faux painting, behind grills/heat registers, disguising with artwork and tapestries, and integration into light fixtures.
Another key part of hiding technology that was covered is the consolidation of controls. Instead of having multiple switches and remotes for your lights, sound, video, heat, etc. you can now integrate all the controls into single units that are more functional and do not deter from the décor.
When you integrate all the technologies of your home you can have enhanced experiences, reduced clutter, and possibly even more efficient power usage through smart homes. One concern I had was that with stand alone technology units the technology is not tied to the home and it is typically not a part of the selling process. When it is integrated though it becomes a part of the selling process and can most definitely enhance the value of the home but it can also detract if the technology has not been kept up to date. Remember all the homes that have antiquated intercoms that no longer work and are now eyesores? The key is making sure that the foundation is solid and the wiring is there. New technologies are able to run through more consolidated wiring so that even if the technologies change well designed solutions should still last a long time by allowing you to plug and play the respective end delivery technology (i.e. speakers, TV) without having to dig into your home's walls every time tech changes.
So if you are building a new home or retrofitting an existing home it makes sense to consult with an Electronic Systems Contractor before getting to far along in the project. Even if you don't think you can afford all these integrated systems talk to them first. Just like with Interior Designers their subjective and expert viewpoint will make sure you are getting the most for your budget and will be most satisfied with the end result.Labels: entertainment, Interior Design, technology
