Remodeling your kitchen is not just a project, it's an opportunity. Every remodel is a chance to change a few things - and do some upgrades - along the way.
Any time you are rebuilding walls or cabinetry, you can completely rethink what you have "built-in" to your kitchen; including technology. Now is the perfect time to incorporate the latest in kitchen tech right into your new kitchen design.
Want a smart kitchen ready for automated delight and ease? Let's dive into six of the coolest ways to give your kitchen a technological upgrade this year.
If we start with a lot of smart home stuff, that's because the smart home has taken kitchen gadgetry by storm. Smart home speakers and screens are a great way to access all sorts of features while your hands are covered in flour or oil. And it doesn't take much to hook one up, just a power source to an outlet or even just a USB slot.
Pick your favorite AI and make sure there's at least one smart home speaker in the kitchen itself - where it can hear you clearly. You can build a special shelf or powered nook for the smart home speaker or create a small pedestal on your counter to keep the speaker clean. Don't forget cable management.
Some things you can do with a voice-activated smart hub are
Next, there are smart appliances. These are distinctly different from just integrating a smart home hub. Each appliance has its own app or shares an app with its brand. Smart appliances can be turned on, set, and sometimes checked through mobile technology and often controlled via voice commands through your smart home.
A smart fridge can count your eggs and let you know when to buy more. A smart oven can pre-heat for you, adapt to temperature and recipe times, show you the baking items inside, and ping your phone when the oven timer goes off. But our favorite is the smart coffee pot that "wakes up" five minutes before you do so you can wake up to the smell of fresh coffee- even if you're the first person awake.
Routines are the best for smart appliances - one-command sequences that do cool things like your morning routine or getting ready for dinner.
Smart lights are app-controlled light strips and bulbs that can provide responsive lighting right where you need it. An LED light strip under the upper cabinets can provide the perfect lighting for your countertop.
And with RGB and smart control capabilities, it can also become beautiful nightlights and mood lighting for your kitchen when you don't need the brightest glow for cooking.
Charging stations are the way of the future. Home landlines are a thing of the past and every adult (and teen) in your home likely has their own cell phone. They may also have tablets and laptops that go everywhere as well. So where should they charge up? Why not in your kitchen which is the hub of family activity? Built-in outlets are an amazing way to transform a section of island or countertop into the family's charge station headquarters
Some build a charge-drawer with outlets on the inside. Some design a lovely countertop area just for devices to charge. You can even install an induction charging pad, but the most popular are outlets that include USB ports as well as three-prong.
Wireless, battery-powered, and USB-charging isn't just for phones anymore. Kitchen devices are also going wireless and portable. If you use certain kitchen gadgets often, create a docking station. Give yourself a rubber mat for your heavy mixer, or even a gas-spring arm to bring it out of the upper or lower cabinet with ease. If you have a wireless handheld device, give yourself a charging location with elegant access and cable management. Kitchen devices don't have to be a mess of cables or battery packs every time you use them. Your kitchen design can make it elegant and easy.
Finally, one of the latest crazes for 2022 kitchen design is touch-activated faucets. While the technology isn't new, it's getting better with every year. With increased consideration about hand wash cleanliness, tap-faucets that turn on and off with a touch are much more sanitary. Tap the faucet with your wrist when your hands are dirty and tap it off when you're in a rush for quick control.
This year has some incredible options for giving your kitchen an elegant tech upgrade. Contact us today to explore the many cool ways to integrate the latest kitchen technology into your new kitchen design.