The kitchen has always been the heart of the home, but over the last two years we’re pretty sure that most of us have spent far more time than ever in our kitchens.
Every year, home technology becomes more innovative and convenient, and this year is no exception. Modern-day kitchens are no longer just defined by your choice of colour and style of your cabinet doors; instead by the huge number of helpful features that can be integrated inside them. This might be new technology, appliances, or some more modern quirky features.
The recent explosion of new products and innovative features available have transformed our kitchens from a practical area to more of a living space. When deciding on your new kitchen it’s worth taking some of these ideas into consideration to see whether they’re the right choice for you and your family. They could make your life easier and your home more enjoyable.
Here are a few of our favourite options for your perfect new kitchen.
Smart fridges
Real-life appliances are catching up with celebrity favourites with the smart fridge. Smart fridges are not only a fun bit of tech, but they’re also a potential real advantage in your kitchen. The features and functions vary by brand and model, but they can be used to, for example, tell you what food you have inside your fridge while you’re out food shopping, so you know what you need to buy.
Other things a touchscreen fridge could include is – Looking up recipes and having the fridge read out the steps while you cook, setting food expiration dates and sending notifications about using food while it’s fresh, and being able to look inside without opening the door. There are also some family organisation options including co-ordinating your schedules, uploading photos, sending family members notes, leaving messages, and casting from a smart TV elsewhere so you can watch TV on your fridge.
As well as having the incredible touchscreen, you can also use the smart fridge features to customise the temperature in different drawers or compartments, use the interior fridge cameras to see what you have in, alert you when the water filter needs to be changed, and switch the ice maker on or off from your smartphone.
Yes, you can probably live without these features for now, but this is how most technology that we use every day started – we all thought it was a bit pointless and now we can’t live without it!
Smart fridges started out quite expensive, but as with most appliances, the prices have reduced as more brands and models have become available. We particularly like the Samsung RS6HA8891SL.
Motion sensitive taps
You may wonder why you’d ever want automatic sensor taps in your kitchen. Sensor operated taps use state-of-the-art design and technology to gain a huge advantage over manually operated models as they reduce water usage because they only work when the user’s hands pass over the sensor. Because you don’t have to adjust the flow and temperature every time you use the tap, you’ll save water, energy, and money. Once in use, the water will typically flow for 30 seconds so you don’t need to worry about children flooding the room when unsupervised!
They also improve hygiene because there’s no need to touch the tap before or after washing hands. Accessibility is an important factor if you suffer with painful hand conditions such as arthritis, or other dexterity issues. Motion sensitive taps remove this issue completely, and prevent scalding for those with sensitive skin.
If you like to keep your home clean and tidy, you’ll be interested to know that pre-setting the flow rate also prevents user from selecting a flow rate that’s too powerful, which helps to reduce splashing and means that the bathroom stays cleaner.
This means they’re an attractive feature and a good investment. We particularly like the Franke Atlas and Icon tap.
Samsung AirDresser clothing care system
If you have a separate utility area, and you enjoy the feeling of controlling your environment via your smart phone, then this could be the perfect addition. Samsung’s SmartThings app also enables you to look after your wardrobe no matter where you may be – all you need is WiFi or mobile signal. You don’t even need much garment care knowledge, as this clever machine will recommend the best option for you.
The Samsung AirDresser uses new technology to refresh and keep your clothes clean between washes. It’s a bespoke unit that will JetSteam your clothes, blasting hot steam through the hangers. JetSteam can clean items ranging from tops to tea towels and toys via a hot steam wash. Why would you need this? Well, it gets rid of any unwanted smells and germs, and provides 99.9% sanitisation with the sanitise cycle. It keeps your clothes and garments clean and fresh, whilst removing wrinkles. Anything that involves spending less time ironing has got to be a winner in our eyes.
There’s also a cooler temperature, HeatPump Drying setting to dry clothes gently but quickly, so you don’t have to risk putting your delicates in the dryer or hanging them over a radiator.
It also doubles up as a dehumidifier when the door is open, removing moisture from the air.
Sweepovac KickVac built in vacuum cleaner
Instead of having to haul out your heavy hoover every time you spill some crumbs in the kitchen, you can just sweep them towards the Sweepovac, turn it on with your foot, and watch the mess get magically sucked away in a couple of seconds! A safety cut out ensures that the vacuum turns off after 10 seconds, which helps conserve the life of the motor as well as energy.
This fabulous kitchen addition hides underneath one of your kitchen units and lets you know when it needs you to change the bag inside. It collects all the dust and dirt that a Roomba or broom can’t quite get to, but it stays out of sight and easily accessible. It’s perfect to help you avoid bending if you have mobility issues, and doesn’t need any maintenance. It also has a two-year guarantee.
This thing is fantastic. It’s simple, it’s powerful, and you don’t need to ever use a dustpan again. You may even be able to get rid of the crumbs before the dog eats them!
If you’d like to discuss using any of these items in your home, or you think it’s time to remodel your kitchen (with or without the latest technology) please get in touch with our friendly team. We’ll be happy to advise what’s best for you and your circumstances and tastes.