Tag: Monogram Experience Center

Designer Profile: Mary Kathryn Strong

 in Interview, Profile

The Louisville Monogram Experience Center (MEC) brings designers to Louisville, Kentucky, for two-day experiences to learn about Monogram, the design process, our appliances – and even cook with them! We interviewed each designer to learn a little more about their background and design experiences. Today we’re featuring Mary Kathryn Strong with Trey Strong Custom Homes and MK Strong Design based in Lubbock, Texas.

SRFD: How did you become interested in design?

Mary Kathryn: I have always paid attention to design even before I knew it would be my job. I used to listen to my grandmother talk about antiques and how she was always planning her next decorating scheme. She had an interior designer that she loved for many years and they would talk about different textiles, colors and interior styles. She taught me that if you love something like a piece of furniture or color, you can make it work for you and the rules are there aren’t any rules!

SRFD: Tell us about a recent project.

Mary Kathryn: One of my recent customers built a beautiful, traditional, two-story home. My style is probably a little more sleek than ornate, but they had huge, rare pieces of Baroque artwork they wanted all over the house. It was fun to incorporate them and have them against such clean and spacious backgrounds.

SRFD: A trend you’re excited about?

Mary Kathryn: New trends that aren’t really new … I’m glad color is coming back. I love a neutral house, but I need a little “pop’ here and there.

SRFD: A trend you’re over?

Mary Kathryn: I’m over all or nothing. I don’t like all grey or all taupe. Or all white. I like to mix and match the grey and tan. I think of it like jewelry. Gold and silver can be mixed and be timeless. I feel the same about a house.

SRFD: What did you learn during your Monogram experience.

Mary Kathryn: First of all, I thoroughly enjoyed my Monogram experience. I learned more than I could ever imagine about how a dishwasher works 🙂 I thought it was really cool to understand the technology behind refrigeration. The cooking experience with the chefs was a great lesson in heating your oven and pans before cooking. Most important, I am using Monogram on my next kitchen design project!

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The Smart Kitchen Evolution

 in Technology

Written by Molly Ford, Monogram Experience Center intern

We have all seen the home become increasingly “smarter,” or more device-central, but large kitchen appliances have not kept up at the rate that smaller technologies have developed. The heart of the home is finally seeing some long-anticipated upgrades that bring the kitchen up to speed with the rest of the house. The idea of connecting intuitive technologies with powerful appliances creates an impressive duo- with relatively untapped potential.

The Amazon Echo has been on the scene for about a year, and has rapidly grown from a novelty gadget to a hub for home-automation. The Echo is a voice-enabled wireless speaker – think of a stand-alone Siri with a longer list of skills. Here at the Monogram Experience Center, we wanted to see how we could use the Echo in our day-to-day work and personal lives. We have made “Alexa,” the Echo’s trigger name, our assistant chef, secretary, entertainer, and more.

Alexa will provide us with meal ideas, food storage information, beer and wine pairings, measurement calculations, create a synced grocery list, among a constantly growing list of skills. These are fun to play with, and legitimately helpful, but the real “smart kitchen” came when we connected the Echo with our wall ovens.  We can control these ovens with our voice saying something like,

“Alexa, turn on the upper oven to 350 degrees and set the timer for 45 minutes.”

Alexa will confirm and immediately start the oven. Similarly, we can control the range hood and lights, and the team is constantly collaborating with developers to add kitchen elements to blend appliances with devices.

Voice-enabled appliances are a just a peek at how technology could change the way we cook and spend time in the kitchen, and we are eager to see the next convenience we can offer our customers.  The program is still in it’s infancy, but we expect to see everything but the kitchen sink connected to our Echo soon – and who knows, they might throw that in too!

The Amazon Echo and our Monogram wall oven in the Monogram Experience Center.

The Amazon Echo and our Monogram wall oven in the Monogram Experience Center.

A “Pin-worthy” Production – from Storyboard to Social Media

 in Event

Written by Molly Ford, Monogram Experience Center intern

I recently observed as GE Appliance’s user experience team attacked one of a food-lovers’ greatest challenges – creating food that looks as good as it tastes. Our “office” at the Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, KY, was taken over by a fascinating team that spent their workday preparing, arranging and shooting dishes for the GE Appliances website, Pinterest page and other social media outlets. The journey from inspiration board, to story board, to cutting board, was quite the production.

Reciple shoot 1

In the weeks prior to the shoot, photos of bright colors, contrasting textures, and refreshing ingredients filled the team’s summer recipe inspiration board. With the goal of creating photogenic foods, they decided on a menu featuring Blackberry-Raspberry Coconut Pops, Grilled Sweet Potato and Corn Salad, and Spicy Shrimp and Avocado Dip, among other light and savory recipes. Everyone knows that no food shoot is complete without the appeal of melted cheese, so accordingly, Fig & Prosciutto Pizza and Roasted Vegetable & Chicken Enchiladas served as the decided main course.

Reciple shoot 2

As in any efficient production, story boards were drawn to ensure that every step in the process was captured at the right moment, from the optimal angle. The menu collaborated with appliance features, to highlight how GE Appliances and Monogram not only produce amazing food, but also facilitate a love for the process of cooking. No logistical piece was overlooked – sliding racks, temperature settings and door features all played roles as the story boards followed the recipe’s progression.

reciple shoot 3

Once to the cutting board with the big picture in place and cameras shooting, the team focused on ensuring every detail was carried out perfectly. While the shoot was meticulously planned, down to the degree, the team came prepared to solve issues that arose during the shoot. Several members of the team worked simply as “runners,” to fetch another light board, a different colored bowl, or additional fresh herbs. The team’s biggest challenge, however, was holding off on digging in to their creations until every perfect arrangement and angle had been captured!

Reciple shoot 4

As I tasted the starring recipes at the end of the day, I deemed the photo shoot to be a success, but you will have to be the ultimate judges.  Head over to the GE Appliances website, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest sites to get inspired and test out these summer recipes!

Monogram Dream Kitchen Design Contest Winner: Sarah Robinson

 in Contest, Interview, Profile

The Monogram Dream Kitchen Design Contest was created to celebrate the imagination and creative vision inherent in beautiful kitchen design. All designs were required to integrate Monogram appliances and were judged across several award categories. We announced the winners last month and will be profiling each of them on Save Room for Design over the next few months.

The first place winner in Best Traditional Kitchen Design is Sarah Robinson from Jansen Inc. in Pensacola, Florida. We profiled Sarah here on Save Room for Design earlier this year.

Sarah Robinson, Best Traditional Kitchen Design first place winner

Sarah Robinson, Best Traditional Kitchen Design first place winner

We asked Sarah to tell us about her winning design:

“I found out about the contest after researching on the Monogram website. I had been in Louisville at the Monogram Experience Center the week before and learned so much! When I saw the call for submissions, I decided to submit a recent project.

This project was unique since we worked on about 80% of the home. The homeowners wanted to remodel their 1970’s ranch house to create an open floor plan fit for entertaining and making the kitchen the center piece. The home was their family home and it is located on Perdido Bay (in Florida). They are both retired now and wanted to update as well as to create a home that they could host many family gatherings. They utilized several Monogram appliances – 48” pro range, beverage center, ice maker, dishwasher, and my favorite, the Advantium oven. The homeowners had an Advantium years ago and said that it would be a staple in this kitchen. After learning and cooking with it, I have to agree with her!”

See more of Sarah’s designs on Houzz.

Sarah Robinson's winning kitchen design

Sarah Robinson’s winning kitchen design

 

Designer profile: Kirsten and Darrell Becker

 in Interview, Profile

The Monogram Experience Center (MEC) brings designers to Louisville, Kentucky, for three-day experiences to learn about Monogram, the design process, our appliances – and even cook with them! We interviewed each designer to learn a little more about their background and design experiences.

Today’s profile highlights Kirsten and Darrell Becker with Becker Studios in Santa Barbara, California.

Kirsten and Darrell Becker, recent participants at the Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, Kentucky

Kirsten and Darrell Becker, recent participants at the Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, Kentucky

SRFD: How did you become interested in design?

Kirsten and Darrell: We have always been taken by that relaxed, perfectly satisfied feeling you get in a space that’s done right. But we are more affected by what’s wrong in a space! When it just feels a tad bit off or seriously awkward, that’s what inspires us to look at it from different angles and create a certain mood and better flow that puts anyone that enters it in a “feel good” place. After working separately for many years, Kirsten, a designer, and Darrell, a custom builder, found that collaboratively, their work exceeded expectations, so Becker Studios was established as a one-stop shop for design/build projects. We always stick to two mottos. First: Dream. Design. Build. Then: Rearrange, Refine, and LIVE!

SRFD: Tell us about a recent project you really enjoyed.

Kirsten and Darrell: We recently completed a massive commercial development project – The Mill. The Mill is a marketplace featuring local merchants with Santa Barbara roots. We purchased the property, had a vision for it, designed it, processed it, built it and procured the proper tenant mix to bring it to life. What’s special about The Merchants is that they all produce and serve their products – beer, wine, BBQ and more – on site, so it is the ultimate inception to finish experience. The Mill also includes our offices and Becker Studios’ design outlet, Millworks. As a brand extension of Becker Studios, it features our own unique furnishings and designs. We sourced recycled barn wood from Wyoming and created custom, one-of-a-kind hardware, gates and panels to make it feel of era and authentic. It has been a long road, but the results are beyond what we pictured. We are thrilled to watch our vision come to life on such a large scale! Anyone can watch our journey through @themillsb on Instagram!

SRFD: A trend you’re over?

Kirsten and Darrell: Restoration Hardware knocking off every cool, unique relic that ever existed – and doing a great job at it!

SRFD: A trend you’re excited about?

Kirsten and Darrell: Raw, authentic goods displayed at the heart of design. Living finishes are comfortable to soak in, plus they are low maintenance and better for the environment.

SRFD: What did you learn in Louisville?

Kirsten and Darrell: Appliances not only need to be user friendly and super functional, but also on the cutting edge of design. And not all designers are good cooks…even with Advantium at their fingertips!

Follow along with Kirsten and Darrell on Instagram at @beckerstudios.

Designer profile: Sarah Robinson

 in Interview, Profile

The Monogram Experience Center (MEC) brings designers to Louisville, Kentucky, for three-day experiences to learn about Monogram, the design process, our appliances – and even cook with them! We interviewed each designer to learn a little more about their background and design experiences.

Today’s profile highlights Sarah Robinson with Jansen Inc. in Pensacola, Florida.

Sarah Robinson, recent participant at the Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, Kentucky

Sarah Robinson, recent participant at the Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, Kentucky

SRFD: How did you become interested in design?

Sarah: I became interested in design many years ago. I used to watch This Old House with my dad when I was a kid and was just fascinated by the older homes.

SRFD: Tell us about a recent project you really enjoyed.

Sarah: I worked on a huge remodel that touched about 80% of the home. It was fun to rework the layout, take down walls, and create a new kitchen and master suite

SRFD: A trend you’re over?

Sarah: The thin linear glass tiles and the small square glass tiles for a backsplash in a kitchen.

SRFD: A trend you’re excited about?

Sarah: The rustic chic design style – it’s fun and comfortable

SRFD: What did you learn in Louisville?

Sarah: Lots! I loved learning about the Advantium Speed Oven – what an amazing product! Also, I loved the French door oven and seeing the French Door Fridge being manufactured

Designer profile: Melissa Helvey

 in Interview, Profile

The Monogram Experience Center (MEC) brings designers to Louisville, Kentucky, for three-day experiences to learn about Monogram, the design process, our appliances – and even cook with them! We interviewed each designer to learn a little more about their background and design experiences.

Today’s profile highlights Melissa Helvey with Great Floors in Spokane, Washington.

Helvey Headshot HiRes

Melissa Helvey, recent participant at the Monogram Experience Center in Louisville, Kentucky

SRFD: How did you become interested in design?

Melissa: Throughout my childhood I had always said I wanted to be a lawyer when I grew up. My senior year in high school I took an interior design class, just to fill my required course load. The first day of class we visited a home construction site, and the minute I stepped in and looked around at the framing and everything coming together. I knew instantly that was what I was meant to do.

SRFD: Tell us about a recent project you really enjoyed.

Melissa: I recently finished a kitchen remodel. My client found me at a Home Show back in April and she came up to me with a sketch on a napkin of her kitchen and said.. I NEED YOU … She had a dreadful existing kitchen that was so small and materials so dark it was like being in a cave. WE worked closely to find a design and materials that would make the space feel more comfortable to be in and more functional. Throughout the project she would send me photos almost daily, so excited about the progress. At the end of the project she called me in tears. I said, Mary, what’s the matter? Are you not happy with your kitchen? She said, “I LOVE it! I can’t tell you how much I love it and how much I appreciate all your help.” It wasn’t an award-winning design or even very creative, but this really captures why I do what I do. I love being able to help people have a better life. Help them through what can be a very difficult process and experience their joy at the end.

SRFD: A trend you’re over?

Melissa: Hand-scraped hardwood floors. They still very popular in the inland Northwest…and I think they should be banned 😉

SRFD: A trend you’re excited about?

Melissa: I still love the greys. I know it’s been trending for quite a while, but in my neck of the woods were pretty slow to catch on to the trends.

SRFD: What did you learn in Louisville?

Melissa: I was so impressed with how much research and thought goes into the Monogram product line. It was so amazing to see the 3D printing technology and learn how it has improved and sped up the research process.

I wasn’t familiar with all the capabilities of the Avantium technology. I called my husband back at home the day we learned about it and told him we were getting one!

The Most Stylish Encore Career: Interior Design

 in Interview, Profile

Written by Kennedy Williams, Monogram Experience Center intern

Today’s designer profile highlights Sharon Bond from Louisville, Kentucky. Sharon is Chief of Planning for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville and began her career with the Corps as an Economist. As she approaches the final years of a fulfilling career with the Corps, Sharon is planning for her second career in the field of interior design. Her passion for interior design inspired her to begin taking classes at Sullivan College of Technology and Design.

Sharon Bond, Chief of Planning for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Louisville District, and Interior Design student

Sharon Bond, Chief of Planning for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Louisville District, and Interior Design student

SRFD: Economics and interior design are quite different from one another. What made you interested in this field?

Sharon: The two are not as different as one might think. In the design field, one’s job is to listen to the client and help them to achieve their creative vision for their home or office. The client’s budget is a key factor to consider. Scope, schedule and budget are important considerations both in my current and future careers. I have always had a passion for design, going back to elementary school when I’d spend hours cleaning out the garage and transforming it using treasures “borrowed” from our home. I love experimenting with color, texture, and fabrics; and I am frequently up until the wee hours of the morning pouring over a Florida Homes magazine, reading design blogs, and visiting interior design websites. I don’t plan to retire and then figure out my next career move, which is why I’m planning for that transition now.

SRFD: What are your favorite styles and trends in interior design today?

Sharon: I’m drawn to timeless, classic style. For example, custom cabinetry designed with the look of built-in furniture. I love the focus on natural materials and sustainable design. I start with a neutral palette and add in color, while working in favorite pieces of art, family photos and other treasures. I tend to stay away from trendy styles. Most people redo their kitchens every 15 years. If you have to live with something for that long, it should have more of a classic, traditional feel. If you want to add in something that is “of the moment,” do it with accessories or paint colors, which are relatively inexpensive and easy to change.

SRFD: Tell me about a project you recently completed at Sullivan that you enjoyed?

Sharon: In my Intro to Design class, I had to research a well-known interior designer. I was assigned Billy Baldwin, a tremendous talent who was quoted as saying, “Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style.”

SRFD: What is your favorite room to design?

Sharon: For me it’s the kitchen. Our family’s activities are centered around the kitchen so it’s important that it be a comfortable, efficiently-designed space. There are also wonderful choices to explore in cabinets, countertops, appliances, lighting, flooring and organizational products.

SRFD: Now that you have visited the Monogram Experience Center and are more familiar with Monogram, will you recommend it to your customers one day?

Sharon: Absolutely! I am extremely impressed with the Monogram line and with the attention to quality and detail. Once you’re exposed to Monogram, you won’t be satisfied with anything less.