William Holley
Holley Schink Design Builders, Middleton, Wis.
Instead of installing standard bar or prep sinks in kitchens, custom builder William Holley recently switched to Kohler’s stainless steel Undertone Trough sink, which has a distinctive rectangular shape with a sloped bottom. Because of its shape, Holley says, the Undertone Trough gives the same working area for food preparation as a traditional round prep sink and because it is narrow it also maintains more working counter space.Holley also specs Wolf’s 48-inch gas range with four burners and a grille with griddle accessory. He says the appliance’s size and commercial appearance, especially with the manufacturer’s trademark red knobs, lends kitchens a bit of flair and a sense of mass. “Most of the time, the appliances are showpieces,” he says, “but we do have some clients who love to entertain.”
Kohler. 800.456.4537. www.kohler.com. Wolf. 800.332.9513. www.wolfappliance.com.
Lori Hales
Echelon Custom Homes, Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Courtesy Honeywell
Most of the houses that Echelon Custom Homes builds are “smart homes” incorporating a variety of home automation systems. For home security, the firm specs Honeywell Security’s residential security system with the Symphony-i keypad control system, which uses the Internet and e-mail to report alarm events to the homeowner. The keypad lets homeowners arm and disarm their security system, control lighting, and view up to four different camera locations as well as activate garage door openers.“It’s super-easy to use, because it’s just a screen that you touch,” says Lori Hales, Echelon’s sales and marketing manager. The Symphony-i keypad can also be linked to a personal Internet page and accessed and controlled from any Web browser, allowing homeowners to monitor activity in the home, view camera locations, and lock or unlock doors remotely. “The accessibility of being able to let a plumber in your home and actually be able to see him standing at your front door and know that it’s him and be able to unlock the front door for him; to have TV systems, heating systems, everything be controlled by a computer is so cool,” says Hales.
Honeywell Security & Custom Electronics. 516.921.6704. www.security.honeywell.com.
