There's been a lot of speculation about how and to what extent the design industry, not necessarily known for embracing new tech, will embrace artificial intelligence. Enter Isla Porter, a recently launched kitchen startup that uses AI to create floor plans and cabinet heights to the nearest 1/16th of an inch.
CEO Sharon Dranko, who co-founded the company with CCO Emily Arthur, estimates that a kitchen designer can spend up to 40 hours filling out all the specs and dimensions needed for a finished, workable layout that can be handed over to a contractor. By combining a LIDAR scan of a client's kitchen with a detailed design questionnaire, she says, Isla Porter's technology can produce three potential floor plans with accurate, workable dimensions in about two hours.
Emily Arthur and Sharon DrankoCourtesy of Isla Porter
What prompted the pair to leave their jobs at West Elm (Dranko is director of merchandising and Arthur is vice president of design) wasn't a desire to revolutionize the cabinet industry with cutting-edge technology; it was the lack of aesthetic flair they found themselves in during a pandemic-era renovation. “Our question was, 'Why are all the Shaker cabinets gray?'” Dranko says. “There's no shade. That's all I have in my house, because that's all there is out there, other than custom millwork.”
The two began exploring production options in 2021 and partnered with a manufacturer in Cambodia before quitting their jobs 18 months ago to found Isla Porter (raising funding from cabinet industry investors). After knowing they could design the product they imagined, they were faced with the next problem: how to get it into people's homes. “It's not like you design a coffee table, ship it and be done,” Arthur says. “There are a lot of hands involved. [planning and] “When you order a kitchen, the entire process needs to be managed from one place, from the designer to the contractor. We've worked on all these beautiful designs, but how do we get them out there and improve this really complicated process?” This question led them to Brooklyn-based AI startup Skipp, who they ultimately partnered with to manage the backend of the platform.
Here's how the process works: After an initial consultation with the kitchen designer assigned to the project, customers fill out a questionnaire about how they'll use the space, who will occupy the home and what storage they need. They also provide inspiration images and preferences for details like overlay and inset cabinets and hood covers. Customers scan the space with an app that uses LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology on the Pro editions of iPhones and iPads to get precise dimensions and details like overhangs and other architectural quirks where standard cabinets might not fit. Isla Porter designers then present the customer with a mood board with suggested finishes and floor plan suggestions, and make adjustments before sending out final renderings. Customers have two rounds of revisions before submitting their final order.
For the homeowner, the design process will cost $3,000, which will be applied toward the final cabinet cost. For the designer, the process will cost $1,500, but that cost will not be credited since the design time is expected to ultimately be billed to the client. Finishes like countertops, backsplashes, and lighting are not currently available on the site, but the goal is to eventually expand in those directions. The actual installation of the cabinets is up to the customer, but the Isla Porter team will help introduce customers to contractors in their area if they haven't already worked with someone.
While Isla Porter targets design-savvy homeowners, the brand is also looking to tap into industry insiders. It's launching with a 20 percent industry discount, and Dranko aims to cater to designers at any stage in their career. “For early-career designers, we offer both tech support, where the AI does much of the spec-up for you, and collaboration with an experienced kitchen designer who will double-check everything for you,” Dranko says. “For more experienced designers, this is a great option if you have an out-of-market client. We ship nationwide and can help you find a local contractor no matter where the project is based. We want to meet designers where they are and help them.”
Isla Porter's kitchen rendering Courtesy of Isla Porter
The Isla Porter line offers more than 20 door styles, 70 finishes, and details like brackets, leaded glass, and cut-out accents. Cabinets can be painted in 58 colors from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams, or you can request a custom color from your paint supplier of choice. Contrasting tones and painted interiors are also possible. Cabinet boxes are made from architectural-grade European plywood, while frames and hanger rails are made from American hardwood. From a cost perspective, Dranko puts Isla Porter below the price range of Henrybuilt and Plain English, and on par with deVOL. (As part of the research process for this article, I looked into Isla Porter's design process and estimated the total cost of the cabinets for my postage stamp-sized kitchen to be $25,672, excluding labor.)
Arthur says Isla Porter isn't aiming for a single aesthetic, but rather wants to offer a wide range of door styles to attract a variety of designers. “We want designers to be able to work within our kit of parts and create different visions,” she explains. “Coming from a product design background, it was crucial for us to offer a strong, wide selection.”
Later this year, Isla Porter plans to launch select FF&E packages targeted at homeowner customers. The plan for these packages is to license and expand on designer kitchen plans. “With a program like ours and the help of AI, we can partner with top designers and monetize their designs,” says Dranko. “Athena is a great partner for us. We're a partner with top designers and we're a partner with them. We … [Calderone] She has said many times that she wishes she could have found a way to create her own source of income. [widely coveted and copied] “Kitchen design. We see this as a natural way to work with the industry and get homeowner customers. So whether you're a beginner who's nervous about kitchen design or you're a big-hit designer, we think there are a lot of ways we can work together.”
