igh technology is the last thing you think about when you walk into the entry of the most recent project completed by DJ Dowling, General Contractor. In the heart of the trees of Atherton, the classic Georgian home is filled with craftsmanship at a level of detail that harkens to a bygone era. The forgotten arts of stone work, plaster, and leaded glass come together in the home's entry in an elegant, substantial style seldom seen today.

Straight across from the mahogany, glass, and solid brass of the front door, a double spiral staircase of black walnut soars freely, rising up from the floor of the deep basement, up to the cantilevered entry level floor, where the twisting wood appears to levitate for a moment before continuing upward again to the living quarters. The proportions of the panelled walls behind the staircase, under the thirty-foot ceiling, are exquisite. To the right, through an elliptical panelled arch, a hand-carved limestone fireplace accents the rich, hand-applied wall finish and ceiling mouldings of the Living Room. To the left, the upholstered walls of the Dining Room complement the wainscoting, panelling, and mouldings that run throughout the house, giving the home its traditional elegance.

As one reads through the litany of state-of-the-art conveniences tucked within, however, it becomes clear that the home is firmly rooted in modernity. The panels in the Living Room arches, for example, conceal a central stereo system connected to built-in speakers in every area of the home. Master switches turn on multiple lights at predetermined "scene" dimming levels. Alarmed screens allow the owners to open the wood casement windows without disarming the security system. Future closed-circuit video will allow the young professional couple to monitor their children as they play on the grounds. Network cabling runs between the computers in the house, and links the owners to the outside world. Zoned heating and cooling controls manage the temperature throughout the home's 15,000 square feet. And the Kitchen by itself is a tribute to the marvels of innovation. "We wanted many functions to be automated," relates the owner. "But they had to be easy to use and low maintenance. And it wouldn't be 'smart' if it interfered with the design."

"I have heard several definitions of what makes a 'smart' house," ponders general contractor Dan Dowling. "I think that overall, the key idea is function with style. Some 'smart' installations seem to rely on a big display of electronics to take center stage as a design motif. To me, a 'smart' house begins with the structural components and continues all the way through to the final design elements, from forming and framing to cabinetry and carpets, form following function. What I particularly enjoy about this house, why I think it's really 'smart', is not so much the abundance of automated features, but rather how the features flow within the layout of the structure. You feel comfortable and elegant at the same time."

Photo: "The key idea in a 'smart' house", asserts General Contractor Dan Dowling, is "function with style."