Experts Share Views On Present, Future

Here’s what local experts say about today’s conveniences, and what lies ahead:

Chuck Contardo of Kitchens By Contardo.

Kitchen aren’t getting larger, says Contardo, “but we’re putting more things into them: roll-out shelves, pull-out pantries, recycling bins.

“On the other hand,” he says, “10 years ago there was a trash compactor in almost every (highend) kitchen. Now we do only two or three a year.” Why? “They’re noisy, they break down, and there’s the sanitation issue of having 30 pounds of garbage in the kitchen.”

Overall, says Contardo, “I see a trend toward understated elegance. Clients are digging in for the remainder of their life, and they don’t want to be surrounded by a lot of stuff that’s high-maintenance.”

Eliot Mohr, Kitchen/ Interior Showcase.

“The biggest trend of the past decade has been a move toward more drawers in base cabinets,” says Mohr. “The older we get, the harder it becomes to bend down and use fixed shelves. Modern hardware makes drawers a lot easier to use.”

Also gaining popularity are under-cabinet lights. “They make the kitchen a much easier place to work.”

Troy Varness, Fred’s Appliance.

“We’re selling a lot more gas cooktops,” says Varness. “Innovations such as auto relight are making them very friendly to use.”

But the hottest item in Varness’ showroom is the Flashbake 120 oven, which cooks with halogen light. Similar in size to a microwave, the stainless-steel unit bakes in half the time of conventional ovens. Price: $1,600.

Royce Ficek, Sound & Image Interiors.

The latest trend in home electronics, says Ficek, is the integration of heating, air conditioning, security, telephones, computer, sound system, lights, drapes and home theater all into one system.

“And technology has become much simpler for homeowners to use,” he says. “Display panels have pictures and diagrams.”

Prices are coming down, too. Touchpad controls used to cost about $7,000 per room; now models are available for under $1,000.

Here’s what today’s system can do: Say you’re driving in from Seattle. From Ritzville you could call your empty home, push some buttons, and, when you arrive an hour later, lights and heat are on, the hot tub is warm and your favorite music is playing.

Be it ever so humble …

George Thompson of GT Contractors.

Thompson has installed the latest wiring in his 48-unit Westwood Hills gated community in southwest Spokane, one site of this year’s Showcase of Homes.

Thompson predicts “smart homes” like those in Westwood Hills will allow older people to live longer on their own.

“Seniors could have a device on their wrist that, if they fell and hurt themselves, it could (instruct the home’s central computer to) make up to eight phone calls and tell their porch light to flash, so emergency crews can find the house faster.”

With “smart home” systems starting at $10,000, will they catch on?

“I predict that, in five years, they will be as popular as indoor plumbing,” says Thompson.