Automation is the next frontier of home design, or so the experts say. Think ovens that can be warmed up to the perfect temperature via your smart phone on the way home, fridges that allow you to stream cooking videos or tell you when your milk is about to expire, and lighting or music that comes on with a voice command when you have your hands full. Smart features can even help you lower your energy bills. Considering adding smart functionality to your kitchen? Here, experts in kitchen design reveal all.
We’ve accompanied this story with a few images of beautiful kitchens from the Houzz archives to inspire your next renovation.
Ochre Studio
What is a smart kitchen?
A smart kitchen features wifi- connected and app-controlled appliances that can be managed using your smart phone or tablet or via voice command.
Clipsal by Schneider Electric
“Smart home tech was once only considered an option for the ultra-wealthy, but that’s no longer the case,” says Tim Fant, product manager at Clipsal by Schneider Electric.
“With increased accessibility, the interest in affordable, easy-to-use and future-ready systems has risen significantly.” Wireless systems such as Clipsal Wiser Smart Home, for example, fit directly into power points and switches, making them easier and cheaper to install than wiring up your whole house or apartment.
Looking to automate your home? Find an electrician near you on Houzz
What’s the appeal?
“It’s all about flexibility and convenience,” says Renee Richards, interior designer at Ochre Studio. “We lead such busy lives and, one you get used to it, smart functionality can make things quicker and easier.”
Fant concurs, adding; “The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the home – and quite often the messiest and most appliance-heavy. A smart kitchen makes the experience of cooking or catching up with friends and family as comfortable and seamless as possible, all while isolating energy usage and catering to the many appliances that may be required throughout the day,” he says.
smarterBATHROOMS+
Are smart kitchens and cooking appliances gaining in popularity?
“Definitely,” says Bruce Cranston, product expert at Winning Appliances. “Since a lot of us have been spending more time at home, we’ve been looking for ways to make life more convenient, particularly if we’ve been working from home and juggling homeschooling.
“With a smart kitchen, you can connect to bluetooth or wifi and give voice-activated commands to help you cook, wash and clean, saving time and hassle,” he says.
Taylor Knights
“We’ve seen a strong uptake in lighting control with smart switches, dimmers and motion sensors in clients’ room upgrades,” says Fant. “Kitchens include a wide range of lighting and fixtures, including pendants, downlights, pantry lights and even LED strip lights – with smart control, you can control it all hands-free.”
Winning Appliances
Smeg Dolce Stil Novo 45-centimetre oven: Winning Appliances.
What are some features you’d expect to see in a smart kitchen?
The possibilities for smart functionality in the kitchen are practically endless, says Richards. “You’ll find smart functionality on appliances such as dishwashers, range hoods, coffee machines, microwaves and sensor taps, along with wifi-connected benchtop appliances such as the Thermomix – I have one of these and love it.”
Smart ovens are gaining in popularity, says Cranston. “The Miele M Touch oven, for example, connects to the Miele app so you can control it from anywhere,” he says. It also offers FoodView and CookAssist functionality so you can keep an eye on dishes that are cooking, all from your smart phone or tablet.”
Western Cabinets
Bosch is another brand offering smart functionality with appliances such as ovens and washing machines, says Cranston. The brand’s Home Connect app, for example, allows you to preheat your oven so it’s warmed up by the time you arrive home, or set your washing cycle to start while you’re out of the house. Appliances can also be operated via voice command, meaning you can tell them to switch on when you’re in another room.
Samsung Home Appliances
Family Hub refrigerator: Samsung.
Wifi-connected fridges, such as the Samsung Family Hub – which sends you reminders when food is about to expire, streams videos, lets you browse the web or add to your shopping list with a voice command – are another appealing option.
Browse more images of beautiful kitchens on Houzz
Smart sensors are another feature you might expect to see, says Fant. “Your hands are often full or messy when you’re in the kitchen, and motion sensors mean the lights in your butler’s pantry come on automatically when you enter.
“Or, opt for smart speakers, which allow you to turn on lights, heating and appliances with a voice command,” he says.
“Humidity sensors, which monitor the level of moisture in your kitchen [and automatically turn on ventilation], and water-leakage sensors – which provide an early warning or trigger a series of actions to prevent water damage and mould from a leaky dishwasher or pipe – are other features you might see in a smart kitchen,” says Fant.
Ochre Studio
Energy-saving power points are also on the rise, says Rod Still, brand manager at Delta Electrical. “They allow you to schedule when power is available to certain appliances. For example, if you have a Zip water tap [a drinking water system that serves up boiling, chilled and sparkling water from a single tap], you can schedule it to switch off overnight to save power.”
Simon Taylor Furniture
“With more people becoming interested in sustainable living, there is also increasing interest in products that bridge the gap between convenience and sustainability,” says Cranston.
The Natufia Smart Kitchen Garden, a fully-automated and wifi-connected machine that allows you to grow herbs and vegetables without GMOs [genetically modified organisms] or pesticides, is one such product. “It can be integrated into your kitchen for year-round fresh-food production of up to 32 plants simultaneously, with automatic watering and lighting,” says Cranston.
Winning Appliances
Any tips for buyers?
“Before considering a smart appliance, research the product well, and don’t just take the manufacturer’s word for it being the best thing since sliced bread. Speak to people who have them or book a demonstration and see them in action,” says Richards.
Tech is constantly evolving, so be sure to visit a showroom and speak to the experts about what’s available currently and what’s in the pipeline, she advises. “It’s easy to be dazzled by something with smart capabilities, so also consider whether it is something you will actually use and if it’s worth the investment.”
Juro Design
Your turn
Do you like the idea of a smart kitchen? Which features would you want to include? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want more on smart homes? Don’t miss this story: So What’s In a Smart Bathroom (and How Will It Change Your Life)?
