#KoziMediaDesign is a proud member of HTA.

On July 11, 2019, in Uncategorized, by KOZI Admin

#KoziMediaDesign is a proud member of HTA.

Read more about the certification process that assures residents of a quality and legitimate integrator: https://restechtoday.com/home-technology-association/ #proudmember #design #media #HTA #hometechnology #smarthomeautomation #smarthometechnology #smarthomes

 

This past week Kozi Media Design (http://kozimediadesign.com/) spent 12 – 16 hours a day in New Orleans with the country’s top like-minded integrators being educated, having thought-provoked discussions, and attending forthcoming technology’s, and business-intense seminars.

Each year, Azione Unlimited, a consortium of like-minded dealers, custom retailers, integrators, and vendors, of which Kozi Media Design is a member of, hosts these intense seminars. Together, this group led by Richard Glikes achieve greater levels of prosperity, technical acumen, and sophistication in running businesses and serving customers.

Kozi Media Design continually meets with potential clients, the architects and designers of potential clients, and educates them on the latest technologies. Either through direct communication, classes for the architects /designer trades, or a client project that Kozi Media Design brings the architect or designer to, there is plenty education to go round – but that’s what makes KOZI successful. In order to stay continually informed of these technologies, the owners, managers and technicians of Kozi Media Design rely on the unprecedented personal relationships with their vendors, manufacturers, and distributors. These quality suppliers, as well as monthly seminars and annual trade shows, keep KOZI in tune with the coarse of technology and integration.

The next time you are looking into an integration project, be sure to look into your A/V specialists educational background. Check their certifications, their employees certifications, their policy, and their security measures. Make sure they explain the technology to where you are comfortable with their explanations and the proposal plan. Do they supply documentation? Do they supply system wiring schematics? Do they supply architectural drawings for your systems? Keep in mind that there is a cost for quality and system (as well as family or business) security. What you need to do is evaluate what that cost is for you? your business? your family?

 

 

2015 Home of the Year: New Build

The Schlotterbeck family creates a home in Richland Township with features that offer sweeping views of their surrounding 160 acres — and the land itself allows for opportunities they never imagined.

By Lauren Davidson


PHOTOS BY DAVID KELLY AND DENMARSH

When Brenda and Steve Schlotterbeck started to think about the prospect of moving, they believed a home on a 5-acre site would suffice. For around 12 years, they had been living in a 2,500-square-foot home in Pine Township, but the property had become too small for their family of five. “We were in a subdivision,” Steve says. “We were thinking we wanted more space.”

They looked at existing homes, wanting to avoid building from scratch after hearing horror stories from friends. They couldn’t find a home with the acreage they sought, however, and they wanted to remain in the same school district.

Then, their real estate agent informed them she had found a plot of land on which they might consider building. In an email, she noted its size: 160 acres. The couple thought it was a typo.

“I didn’t even think there was that much land [nearby],” Steve says.

They looked at the property and fell in love. They purchased it in 2010 and moved in late 2013.

Now, their 10,500-square-foot dream home overlooks acreage that has provided space for an outdoor kitchen, a koi pond, chickens and bees — with room for more. The home itself was built to appreciate the terrain, with large windows on five sides of the breakfast nook that bring the outdoors in, a turret with a view of rolling hills in the distance and a small observation area off of the third floor.

“We all really like the outdoors, which is why we were looking for a bit more space,” Steve says. “The way this sits up on the hill — it just has beautiful views, and we wanted a house that maximized our ability to see and interact with the land.”

Decision-Making

After purchasing the property, the Schlotterbecks, both 49, hired Astorino, now Astorino/CannonDesign, to design and build a home there. After interviewing several architects, they say they believed John D. Francona, a former principal and senior vice president at the firm who now is retired, best understood their vision. They told him they wanted the home to fit into the landscape and have a distinctive design.

“We didn’t want it to look like a cookie-cutter home,” Brenda says.

​Astorino/CannonDesign designed and constructed the sandstone-colored stucco exterior, decorative crisscross wood beams nestled into the peaks of the black-and-gray Vermont slate roof, and copper gutters and downspouts — all natural-looking elements to tie in to the landscape.

“It has a really nice, traditional look to it,” says Marc Del Rosso, director of preconstruction services at Astorino.

Mary Cerrone, a member of Pittsburgh Magazine’s Home of the Year panel of judges, admired the restrained feel of the front façade.

“It’s not overly busy,” she says. “It’s nicely composed.”

The Home of the Year judges also noted that the subtle, attractive details of the decorative beams on both the home and the three-car garage give the structures a cohesive look.
The focal point of the home’s façade is the turret. The spiral staircase inside spans four floors of the home and opens to a small sitting area at the top overlooking the property.

“It’s just amazing,” Steve says of the staircase.

“We were thrilled,” he adds, noting that construction throughout the project was a smooth process. “They did a fantastic job.”

On the second floor, the corridor leading from the staircase provides a balcony over the home’s entryway and opens to another balcony over the great room. That area is among the features Francona added to make the space distinct. The balcony provides a view of the floor-to-ceiling fireplace and vaulted ceiling with wood beams in the great room.

Must-Haves

When the Schlotterbecks first met with Francona, they told him they wanted the laundry room, master bedroom and two offices — Steve is an executive vice president at EQT, and Brenda is a homemaker — on the main floor for convenience.

Francona suggested a ranch style, but the couple preferred a multi-story space similar to those in which they had grown up.

“I think we thought on the piece of land up on the hill, a ranch house really wouldn’t fit,” Steve says.

So the first floor was designed with a wing for the master bedroom suite, which includes his-and-hers walk-in closets and a master bathroom with heated floors, a soaking tub, a separate shower with two showerheads and integrated custom tile.

Cerrone says she appreciates the impressive tile design.

“I’ve done that sort of thing before, and it takes a lot of planning to get it right,” she says.

While Steve says the shower is one of his favorite features of the home, Brenda says she enjoys many of her closet’s hidden gems — a full-length mirror is concealed inside a vertical drawer to be pulled out when needed, and a small opening is designed for a stepstool that allows the couple to reach the top cubbies of storage.

Throughout the first floor, cherry-wood floors mesh with cherry doors, casing and trim to tie the space together.

Brenda says she left most of the interior decorating to the staff at Astorino/CannonDesign; they discussed her tastes at length before composing the soft yellow, blue and red color scheme and accompanying furnishings.

The custom kitchen by Cuvee Kitchen Designs is one of Brenda’s favorite rooms. The centerpiece is a large island with granite countertops that contains a warming drawer as well as a refrigerated drawer to hold such basics as milk and water for easy access during cooking.

State-of-the-art features include an automated coffee machine hooked up to a water line. The Schlotterbecks add coffee beans and the machine brews freshly ground coffee.
Cabinetry purposely hides built-in kitchen appliances, including the refrigerator, freezer and two dishwashers. The kitchen also contains abundant cabinetry storage.

“We discover more storage space every day,” Brenda says.

The kitchen, laundry room and pantry are located in the back of the home, where an entrance accesses a covered portico leading to the three-car garage.

A small balcony/patio in the back of the house connects the breakfast nook to the great room, making easy pathways for social events — the couple held their youngest daughter’s graduation party at the home as well as a company outing for EQT.

The second floor contains three bedrooms with full bathrooms and walk-in closets as well as a children’s play area. The third floor includes a dormitory-style area with four single beds intended for guests — the Schlotterbecks’ three children now are away at college, but they enjoy entertaining and hosting family and friends for visits, especially on holidays.

The finished basement includes a fitness room, powder room, small library — Brenda loves to read and says she asked for the cozy alternative to a proposed game room — a bar area with two high-top tables and a family room with access to a rear patio. A home theater also is planned.

The Schlotterbecks declined to disclose the project’s cost.

Fringe Benefits

Despite the family’s affinity for outdoor sports and recreation, Steve says they didn’t foresee all they’ve been able to do on the property.

They now keep bees and chickens for fresh honey and eggs; they also put in a large garden. They grew a 450-pound pumpkin, and Steve dreams of cultivating one that reaches 1,000 pounds.

Steve is in the process of placing outdoor food posts for deer that share the space with turkeys and coyotes. The family’s plans also may include reconstructing an old barn on the property and using it for storage, events or perhaps even housing alpacas or goats.

“Honestly, we hadn’t really thought we’d have bees and chickens and grow giant pumpkins,” Steve says. “But once we saw this piece of land, it was pretty clear this is what we wanted to do.”

The couple also installed an outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven, an icemaker, a beverage fridge, two televisions and an Arcadia Louvered Roof. The roof slats open and close to allow more or less light or keep out bad weather. The roof is connected to a full custom-automation system by Kozi Media Design, which controls the temperature, lights, sound and stereo system and even window blinds throughout the home.

A partially heated driveway and entry walkway eliminate the need to shovel snow in winter.

Steve says he enjoys working the land, and he set out last year to cut all of the grass himself. He hired a landscaper, though, after spending eight hours each week tending to the entire property.

“It’s so pretty in the spring and summer,” he says.
Early in his career, Steve says job opportunities caused the family to move every few years. Now, he and Brenda are happy to stay put.

“Hopefully, someday one of our kids will take it over when we move on, but we intend this to be our final home,” he says. “Brenda and I will retire here and enjoy the land.
“This is our dream home on a property we love, and we can’t really imagine having anything we like better.”

Vendors

Architect: Astorino/CannonDesign
Contractor: Astorino/CannonDesign
Interior Design: Astorino/CannonDesign
Cabinetry: Cuvee Kitchen Designs
Flooring: Kestner Wood Products
Windows: Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork
Hardware/Master Fixtures: Ferguson
Tile: Ceramiche Tile & Stone, Joseph F. Mushinsky & Son (installer)
Drapery: Decsign
Appliances: Hillmon Appliance Distributors
Plumbing Contractor: Ryco Inc.
HVAC: Motta Heating & Air Conditioning
Electrical: Matuszak Brothers Electrical Contractors
Arcadia Louvered Roof: Adjustable Patio Covers
Home Automation: Kozi Media Design
Landscaping: George Girty Landscape Design

- See more at: http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/Home-Garden/March-2015/2015-Home-of-the-Year-New-Build/#sthash.PDeYNiMn.dpuf

 

BAMP 2014 Housing Excellence Award

On January 29, 2015, in Uncategorized, by KOZI Admin

Kozi Media Design is honored to be involved with the BAMP 2014 Housing Excellence Award presented to John Hobart Miller Builder & Developer for Best Single Family Home of the Year, 2M And Over project. We ended the year well, and have a surprise to come in 2015!

We do not typically “blow our own horn”, and 15 years without pressing the media with our quality custom installations proves the fact, but it is nice when we are recognized for our hard earned efforts. We congratulate John Hobart Miller Builders for their award and thank them for allowing us the honor of working alongside on this magnificent project.

 

Great article http://www.powermatters.org/component/content/article?id=284

 

DuPont Building Innovations joins the Power Matters Alliance

DuPont Building Innovations to champion embedding wireless charging solutions for smartphones and tablets into DuPont™ Corian® solid surfaces used in furnishings for the home and public spaces

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 A rendering of the new PMA compatible Duracell Powermat wireless charger for the iPhone 5 being charged on a DuPont™ Corian® kitchen countertop. Photo DuPont™ Corian® / PMA.

 June 27, 2013 – DuPont Building Innovations has joined the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) and is working with other PMA members on wireless charging solutions for smartphones and tablets that can be effectively integrated into worktops made with DuPont™ Corian® solid surface.

 “The next phase in wireless power is seeing it embedded into surfaces used for furnishing solutions,” said Ron Resnick, President of PMA.  “DuPont has been driving innovation for decades in the area of advanced materials. DuPont™ Corian® solid surface is a globally renowned premium solution in the markets of furnishing and interior design, both commercial and residential. The collaboration between PMA and DuPont Building Innovations marks another step forward in the PMA’s vision to make smart wireless power a ubiquitous part of our lives.”  

dupontcorian

A rendering of the new PMA compatible Duracell Powermat wireless charger for the iPhone 5 being charged on a DuPont™ Corian® kitchen countertop. Photo DuPont™ Corian® / PMA.

 PMA was founded by Powermat Technologies and Procter & Gamble in 2012 and its board also includes representatives of AT&T, Duracell, Starbucks and the U.S. Government’s Energy Star (non-voting).

 “We are excited to join the PMA and demonstrate once again the endless evolution capabilities of DuPont™ Corian® solid surface for creating the furnishing solutions of tomorrow,” said Ruslan Yusupov, global marketing director of DuPont Building Innovations. “We have been exploring the right technologies and partners for integrating wireless power into specific applications of DuPont™ Corian®, and we have found both in the PMA.  We recognize that wireless power is fundamental for the further development of our mobile society, and we look forward to combining it with the design versatility and beauty of DuPont™ Corian® solid surface. For decades, surfaces made with DuPont™ Corian® have brought superior functionality and style into homes and public spaces. Now we aim to bring this level of performance to new heights, while meeting the emerging needs of industries and consumers to remain powered up throughout the day.”

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Elegant, functional and versatile, DuPont™ Corian® solid surface is used in a wide variety of interior design and architectural applications. The image shows a selection of colours from the current collection of DuPont™ Corian® for Europe Middle East and Africa (Photo Leo Torri for DuPont™ Corian®, all rights reserved).

About the Power Matters Alliance (www.powermatters.org)

PMA was founded by Powermat Technologies and Procter & Gamble in 2012.  A wide array of PMA-compliant products are available at leading retailers, and compatible “wireless charging spots” have been installed at leading airports, stadiums, restaurants, gyms and hair salons. Membership of the PMA is open to all, and its technical specifications are available to all members at www.powermatters.org.

About DuPont™ Corian® (www.corian.com, www.facebook.com/CorianDesign)

The continuous efforts, the investment and the creativity of DuPont in research and technology, product innovation, new applications development and marketing have made DuPont™ Corian® solid surface a design tool offering exceptional versatility and almost limitless possibilities for producing high-quality, effective, functional and reliable solutions addressed to residential, public and commercial environments, both indoor and outdoor.

From kitchens to lamps, from bathrooms to the exterior cladding of buildings, from seating solutions to home automation systems, from radiators to touch control surfaces, from tables to furnishing and fashion accessories, to mention just a few: the “magic” of DuPont™ Corian® can be found today in an extremely wide variety of products, systems and objects that everyone uses or experiences in daily life. And the list keeps on growing.

DuPont™ Corian® solid surface (the whole range or specific colors) has received important independent certifications (like UL Environment GreenGuard Certification, Home Innovation Research Labs/NBGS Green Certified Product, Scientific Certification Systems, Ecospecifier). Its performance also has been certified by prestigious independent institutions (for example, by NSF International for food contact, The Royal Institute of Public Health and LGA QualiTest for hygienic performance).

The DuPont manufacturing facilities that produce DuPont™ Corian® solid surface have been certified according to ISO 14001.  As a result of a multi-year improvement program, all of these facilities have achieved zero landfill status by reducing, reusing and recycling manufacturing by-products and waste.

DuPont –DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

 

The DuPont oval logo, DuPont™ and Corian® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. The Power Matters Alliance logo is a property of Power Matters Alliance, Inc. Other logos, trademarks and registered trademarks mentioned in this press release are a property of their respective owners.