Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2019 - 22

TRENDS

Living Better in
the Smart Home

How technology is
maximizing comfort
and convenience in
the kitchen and bath

T

IME IS THE ARGUABLY THE MOST PRECIOUS and the least available commodity for consumers today. In this high-paced era, everyone seems
to find themselves short on the hours they want to spend relaxing
and connecting with family and friends.The manufacturers and innovators behind the smart home are solving that problem.
"The amazing thing about smart home products is that consumers of varying age groups, lifestyles and abilities are all finding technology
that resonates with and benefits their lives," said Jonathan Bradley, channel
manager at Kohler. "When it comes to technology, the opportunities and
possibilities are endless."
According to a recent joint survey from CNET and Coldwell Banker, 57
percent of Americans say that having smart products in their house saves
them about 30 minutes per day.This adds up to 182.5 hours a year or about a
week and a half. Along with saving money - about an average of $98.30 per
month - smart home systems provide security and control for homeowners. These are features designers can leverage when suggesting smart tech to
clients of any age and budget. Smart homes are no longer exclusively about
luxury; home tech products today center on convenience and peace of mind.

COOKING WITH TECHNOLOGY

Along with saving time, in the kitchen the goals of most smart home products include enhancing the cooking experience and increasing homeowners'
control, both remotely and at home. Connected products allow homeowners
to take their kitchen with them, sending alerts when a dishwasher cycle is
done, when a refrigerator filter needs changing or if the freezer door was left
open. These capabilities make it easier to entertain guests, manage a second
property or simply to have the knowledge that an appliance was not left on.
"Today's homeowners can manage almost any system in their homes from
their smart device, so we've made it possible for your kitchen appliances to also
provide this level of high-tech convenience,"said Steve Knox, connected cus-

22

ABOVE Now connected with

wearables like FitBit, Home
Connect from BSH HOME
APPLIANCES has added new
partnerships to its open platform that connects to home
appliances, such as those
from Thermador. New partners
- including Josh.ai, Cheﬂing,
SideChef, Flic, LaMetric,
Fibaro and ABB - have three
categories to oﬀer consumers
with Home Connect appliances: food and recipes, voice
assistants and smart home
integration and connected
devices and services.

RIGHT DELTA FAUCET is

tomer experience manager at Sub-Zero Group.
"People are pressed for time and are looking for
appliances that can simplify their lives."
Smart kitchen products can also help inexperienced or time-starved home cooks get a quality
dinner on the table quickly with appliances that
guide users through recipes with a corresponding
app.These appliances can offer as much or as little
help as the consumer wants.
"The biggest misconception of smart kitchens
is that the machines will do everything for you,"
said Henry Kim, director, H&A Smart Solutions
project manager at LG. "The technology can instead help make you a better cook and can provide
insights into what your family might like for dinner, based on each person's preference."
This ability to better customize and control a
kitchen appeals to consumers. When appliances
can communicate with their owners about how to
best use and maintain them, the result is enhanced
product performance and better overall experiences in the kitchen.
"Smart appliances are often considered a novelty but not a 'must-have,'" said Kate Bailey, director of showrooms at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen
& Lighting. "This is changing as manufacturers
continue to launch products that are truly smart
and can save time for a busy homeowner."
RELAXING SMART

While technology in the kitchen is more about
efficiency, innovations in the bathroom are meant
to help homeowners slow down, relax and fully
enjoy what spare time they have.
"Our goal is to turn the bathroom into a destination space within the smart home, so that it's
not just because you have to spend time there -
it's because you want to spend time there," said
Bradley. "It's a space where people relax, groom
and consume content; we create those immersive
environments that enable new experiences â
and make existing ones better."

making VoiceIQ Technology
available on any Delta faucet
with Touch2O Technology.
Paired with Amazon Alexa and
Google Assistant-enabled
devices, Delta VoiceIQ Technology allows the user to easily
warm water and turn it on and
oﬀ with a voice command. The
faucet can also be directed to
dispense a measured amount
of water in various quantities
and deliver customized
prompts to make everyday
tasks easier.

By ERINN LOUCKS

/ JULY-AUG. 2019 / KBBONLINE.COM / The official publication of NKBA (NKBA.org) and KBIS (KBIS.com)
http://www.Josh.ai http://www.KBBONLINE.COM http://www.NKBA.org http://www.KBIS.com
Kitchen & Bath Business - July/August 2019

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