Explore BWB’s Dream House 2.0
The best of today’s household smart technology to build your dream home.
These smart products are giving a whole new meaning to the expression “a home away from home.” Today, houses are coming to life with a new crop of internet-connected appliances. These devices are helping us reconnect more with ourselves, our families, and even nature! We’ve handpicked the best of today’s household smart technology to build our dream home. Care to step inside?
FOR THE HOUSE
1- The Doorbell
When someone does – or doesn’t – ring the doorbell, this bell has a built-in motion sensor that automatically activates the app.
“Ding dong!” Wait, stop right there. Ding-dong doorbells were so 20th century. Now, top-secret motion sensors are in. The SkyBell wifi connected doorbell lets you see who is at your door via a video camera and app. When someone does – or doesn’t – ring the doorbell, this bell has a built-in motion sensor that automatically activates the app. It will then send you alerts to show you who is paying a visit, and will let you talk to them even if you’re not home.
2- Amazon’s Echo aka Alexa
Alexa is like your own personal assistant.
Amazon’s Echo is a speaker that you control with your voice. “Alexa” is like your own personal assistant who answers all of your questions, plays your favorite music, reads books to you, tells you what’s happening in the news, and even updates you on traffic and weather. She can also control lights, switches, thermostats and other connect tech in your house.
IN THE BEDROOM
3- The Bed
Thanks to its SleepIQ technology, it tracks how well you’re sleeping every night.
There’s nothing more luxurious than a good night’s sleep. Check out the haute couture version of a bed, appropriately called the “It Bed,” by Sleep Number. The It bed lets you adjust settings from soft to firm according to contours to the neck, shoulders, back, and hips. By using your smartphone to record what fits you best, this bed helps support the entire body for better spinal alignment. Plus, it can be adjusted differently to each side of the bed. Thanks to its SleepIQ technology, it tracks how well you’re sleeping every night, as well as your day-to-day activities. You can even connect it to your fitness tracker and thermostat to determine the best time to work out, your ideal room temperature, and other personalized tips to ensure the best sleep of your life.
4- The Alarm Clock
In the morning, it wakes you up with a light that simulates sunrise.
Excluding a live rooster waking you on a farm, the Beddi provides the healthiest wakeup experience around. It puts you to sleep with soothing white noise while your phone and tablet charge at night. Then, in the morning, it wakes you up with a light that simulates sunrise. You can also set the alarm sound to your favorite music, and ask to receive weather and traffic reports. Better yet, it’s able to connect to your coffee machine, thermostat and other smart devices in your house to get your day started off right.
IN THE BATHROOM
5- The Toilet
The best part is: Numi has a heated seat and foot warmer that adjusts to your comfort level.
The Kohler Numi toilet will literally make you skip to your loo. This royal flush is complete with the most luxurious toilet technology there is. As a WaterSense-labeled toilet, Numi uses at least 20% less water than standard toilets, but still flushes perfectly. The motion-activated cover and seat engage sensors to raise and lower the seat so you don’t need to remind anyone to put the seat down. You can even adjust water temperature and pressure to your taste. And, if you fear any unfortunate fragrance, a deodorizer pulls air through a powerful charcoal filter that does the job for you. The best part is: Numi has a heated seat and foot warmer that adjusts to your comfort level.
6- The Shower
The Hydrao smart shower is equipped with LED lights that indicate how much water you’ve used.
While the French may not be known for their affinity for bathing, the latest in smart shower technology comes from French company Hydrao. The Hydrao smart shower is equipped with LED lights that indicate how much water you’ve used. First, connect it to your iPhone or iPad to set it to three alert intervals. The showerhead will then light up in three different colors to let you know when you’ve hit each level. These easy reminders will help you in your effort to save some water.
7- The Scale
Its easy-to-read LED display and disc-shaped sphere also give it the sleek look appropriate for the scale of the future.
The Under Armour Healthbox features a smart scale, fitness tracking band, and heart rate monitor that can track weight and body fat percentage for up to 8 different users. The scale’s auto recognition system is so smart that it even knows when you step on it. Its easy-to-read LED display and disc-shaped sphere also give it the sleek look appropriate for the scale of the future.
IN THE KITCHEN
8- The Refrigerator
Family Hub makes it easy to order groceries or search for recipes right from your kitchen.
What’s for dinner? Why don’t you ask … your refrigerator? Oh yes. The Samsung Family Hub refrigerator has three built-in cameras that take a photo every time the doors close. Use your phone to check out what’s inside to stock up on all the necessities, without buying duplicates! The large touch-screen at the front also syncs everyone’s calendars, can send you notes from wherever, and even adds photos. With its app capabilities, Family Hub makes it easy to order groceries or search for recipes right from your kitchen. Plus, if you’re looking for some company in the kitchen, it will let you stream your favorite music or TV show.
Its custom cooling technology lets you choose between five temperature settings, while its triple cooling system uses three evaporators for precise temperature and humidity control. This way, you can keep food fresh for longer.
9- The Slowcooker
You can also regulate temperature, cook-time or on/off switches from your phone.
In these fast-paced times, slow-cookers are a lifesaver. The Crock Pot slowcooker with WeMo technology allows you to adjust your cooking setting from location so that dinner is cooked to perfection when you arrive home. Once you connect, you are able to adjust the settings to your changing schedule. With the free WeMo app, you can also regulate temperature, cook-time or on/off switches from your phone.
10- The Frying Pan
After syncing with your phone, the sensor can send visual and audio notifications that tell you when to flip your food over, add ingredients, or stop cooking.
Imagine having your own personal sous-chef to tell you exactly when the pan is hot enough, when to flip its contents, and when your meal is cooked to perfection. The Pantelligent smart pan does just that. Its hidden sensors measure temperature from the moment that food touches its surface. After syncing with your phone, the sensor can send visual and audio notifications that tell you when to flip your food over, add ingredients, or stop cooking.
11- The Oven
Its environmentally friendly steam clean setting cleans moderate build-up in the oven to prevent the need for harsh oven cleaner or high temperatures.
Who says you need to be home to cook a home-cooked meal? With the Dacor Discovery IQ oven, you can control the oven from remote locations using your phone. A 7-inch LCD screen acts as both a control panel for the oven and a wifi-connected tablet. Feel free to open your favorite cooking apps, search for interesting recipes, or even check your email for that family favorite your Aunt sent you last week. This oven will also send you an alert at the end of the cooking cycle, or keep food warm at a preset temperature until you’re ready to eat. And, not only does the oven have standard baking and broiling settings, but it also boasts 4 fans and 10 alternate cooking modes, plus a dehydration setting to make delectable raw cuisine. Once you’re all finished, its environmentally friendly steam clean setting cleans moderate build-up in the oven to prevent the need for harsh oven cleaner or high temperatures.
12- The Fork
It has a built-in vibration motor to send out notifications and flash lights when it detects that you’re eating too fast
This connected silverware product is ironically a great way to disconnect at mealtime. The Hapifork uses a capacitive sensors and built-in vibration motor to send out notifications and flash lights when it detects that you’re eating too fast. It helps to control your food intake, teaching you to eat more slowly so you can enjoy every bite.
13- The Countertop Oven
The oven can do anything from bake cookies to make pizza and roast veggies.
Breville’s Smart Oven Pro ensures even cooking for a nicely finished meal. With a conveniently small size that can fit on any countertop, this machine automatically adjusts its independent heating elements to find the ideal temperature and time for every dish. It’s so smart, it even remembers the settings for the next use (even if you don’t!) The oven can do anything from bake cookies to make pizza and roast veggies. It even has a slow cook function designed for longer cooking times under lower heat.
14- The Waffle-maker
Its genius design automatically calculates the cooking time, depending on what waffle style or color you’re looking for.
Breville also makes a Smart Waffle Pro. Turning sticky batter into crispy, golden waffles is an art that Waffle IQ has mastered. Its genius design automatically calculates the cooking time, depending on what waffle style or color you’re looking for. Just pour in your mix and the waffle-maker will do the rest.
Rebecca Leffler is a Paris-based writer and journalist who, after a career as the French correspondent for The Hollywood Reporter and as a film critic on Canal+, traded red carpets for green smoothies. She’s written five books about healthy lifestyle from Paris to NYC and beyond, including Très Green, Très Clean, Très Chic: Eat (and Live!) the New French way with plant-based, gluten-free recipes for every season, and most recently Le Nouveau Manuel de la Cuisine Végétale. Rebecca has pioneered the “vegolution” in Paris, where she continues to organize events focusing on healthy eating, yoga and la vie en rose… And green! You can keep up with Rebecca on Instagram!
