5 Smart Home Products That Keep the Tech in the Background
Alongside growing interest in wellness and resort-inspired living, homeowners are prioritizing convenience and simplicity in their projects. These recent smart home product releases deliver that convenience without making the technology the focus of the room.
A Wooden Door That Opens Itself
Built in collaboration with Doma, this smart wood door from Door & More features smart technology built directly into the structure. The door recognizes occupants and opens and secures itself automatically, with a real-wood face that shows no surface-mounted devices. It runs on Power over Ethernet or via a low-voltage line from a nearby outlet; a backup battery keeps the smart functions working for up to 30 days during an outage.
A Drawer That Wirelessly Charges Phones Out of Sight
Rather than asking families to disconnect entirely, the InFocus Drawer from Fabuwood gives phones a dedicated place to wirelessly charge, out of sight and out of immediate reach.
Developed with FreePower, the drawer seamlessly incorporates free-placement wireless charging technology into Fabuwood cabinetry with a larger goal to help minimize time spent on phones. Devices charge wherever they are placed in the drawer, without messy wires or charging pads.
A Smart Toilet Designed for Traditional Homes
While some smart toilets can be clunky or feel too modern, Kohler’s Claude Smart Toilet, created with Studio McGee, is specifically designed for transitional and traditional homes. The one-piece toilet comes in a bright White and Dune, a warmer, off-white color (a two-piece version doesn't offer the smart features). Trip levers are available in four metallic finishes.
Despite its traditional design, the toilet is packed with smart home features. It offers front and rear wash modes with warm water. A self-cleaning function uses UV light to automatically clean the cleansing wand surfaces, and the bowl is automatically misted before use for more effective rinsing. Other features include a motion-activate open and close function, LED lighting to illuminate the bowl at night, and automatic flushing.
A Leak Detector That Can Shut Off the Water
The Phyn Protect leak detection system helps protect against costly plumbing issues by giving homeowners real-time updates on leaks, frozen pipes, and water usage. The system installs on the home's main water supply, and from there, its flow, pressure, and temperature sensors monitor plumbing throughout the home. When it detects a major leak, the system can shut off the water. Phyn Protect also connects to Wi-Fi and can be accessed through the Phyn app on both iOS and Android.
A Fridge That Automatically Dispenses Ice and Water
The Midea Smart French Door Refrigerator features OneTouch AutoFill technology that automatically senses a cup or bottle and uses sound detection to fill it just right. Dual ice makers create both cubed and crushed ice. The fridge also features Smart+ Cooling technology for consistent temperature, and Wi-Fi connectivity and a mobile app that allows owners to adjust settings and monitor performance from anywhere. The fridge is also designed to be quiet, with an advanced inverter compressor that balances cooling with energy efficiency.
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cosentino_dekton_pietraAbout the Author
Catherine Sweeney
Catherine Sweeney is the associate editor for Pro Builder and Custom Builder, where she creates both digital and print content, including Pro Builder’s daily e-newsletter and various news stories for both brands. Before joining Endeavor, she began her career in local journalism, later pivoting to the commercial real estate industry where she worked for several years as a reporter and editor.
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