7 High-Tech Kitchen Appliances You Need Right Now
Including a machine that keeps wine on tap
Drool-worthy kitchens are often filled with gorgeous colors, countertops and, well, what else exactly? Many of those rooms aren't just pretty; they're also pretty functional, with smart home appliances and electronics that can make even the most mundane everyday task more convenient.
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Here are seven real-life kitchens that are tricked out with a serious dose of techy goodness.
Rachel Cericola is a freelance writer who lives in the perfect spot in New England, convenient to both Boston and Providence. Follow her on Twitter at @rachelcericola.
Smarter Living
The winner of the 2017 HGTV Smart Home has a kitchen with USB outlets, remote-controlled skylights, a Bluetooth speaker, a touchless faucet and smart lighting. But the crown jewel of the room is undoubtedly the Samsung Family Hub smart refrigerator, which uses a touch screen and Wi-Fi to manage groceries and schedules, display photos and recipes, stream music, and more. Better yet, its three cameras allow users to peek into the fridge right from their phones.
Photo: © 2017 Scripps Networks, LLC. Used with permission; all rights reserved.
The Sky's the Limit
Everything's bigger in Texas, including high-tech amenities. The kitchen in this 7,000-square-foot penthouse uses Control4 smart home system technology to merge lighting, music and even the ice maker into the Control4 T3 Tabletop Touch Screen, a single control panel.
Photo: Jim Stone
Happy Together
This family loves spending time in the kitchen and stays in touch with what's going on by checking in on the status of their GE Profile refrigerator, dishwasher and range from their phones. The fridge also adds in Amazon Alexa voice control, so they can call out to heat up water for tea and coffee, which is available through the Keurig system right on the door.
Photo: GE Appliances
Must-See TV
As the heart of the home, the kitchen is the perfect spot for a TV. These owners picked Séura's waterproof model, Hydra, a 27-incher that can withstand splashes and be sponged down after getting spattered with batters and sauces. It's also available in a variety of finishes, including stainless steel.
Photo: Séura
Pour House
This Washington, D.C.-area home has vino on demand, thanks to Case Design/Remodeling. The company installed the Dacor Discovery WineStation, an automated wine-dispensing system that can draw the perfect pour from up to four bottles. And don't worry about wasting a drop; the system's temperature controls promise to keep those leftovers fresh for up to 60 days.
Photo: Case Design/Remodeling
Bright Ideas
House Beautiful's 2017 Kitchen of the Year belongs to a family with eight school-aged kids, so you know it's got to be filled with more than just eye candy. Designer Jon de la Cruz at DLC-ID outfitted the room with 10 of Leviton's Decora Smart with Apple HomeKit technology light dimmers, which connect to Wi-Fi for control via iOS devices and Siri voice control.
Photo: John Merkl
The Great Outdoors
Forget outdoor dining. New Jersey's Electronics Design Group put a whole kitchen outside, complete with speakers, a porch heater and a weatherproof SunBriteTV. That HDTV can sit outside year-round, but when the family wants to take in a little scenery, the Nexus 21 motorized lift pulls it into a cabinet with the touch of a button.
Photo: William J. Psolka