Connected Kitchens Make Smarter Choices

We live in a world where tedious tasks can be done with just a few taps on a screen or using voice commands with your digital home assistant. For cooking enthusiasts, Smart Kitchen technology is now just as important as the type of countertop you remodel your kitchen with. From the coffee pot to the refrigerator, kitchen appliances have become smarter, more efficient and are more prevalent in kitchens throughout the United States.

Let’s look at some statistics

Grand View Research recently published a study showing that the global market of smart kitchen appliances is worth 9.87 Billion USD in 2019. Furthermore, experts expect this number to grow 19.1% from 2019 to 2027.

Basically, an effective connected kitchen design integrated into your home goes beyond having an Instapot, a coffee maker and Alexa standing by. It appears that a Smart refrigerator has become “The Smart Hub”. Networking that refrigerator with your digital home assistant like Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s Home Assistant is a great step in the right direction in achieving a connected kitchen design that is poised for the future. To pre-heat your oven in advance of your arrival home would require an oven that allows for programming or can receive commands from a mobile app. These modern kitchen design features are already here today and go way beyond a few sleek kitchen cabinets with hidden hardware.  

Traditional Kitchen vs Smart Kitchen

Many of the luxury kitchen appliance manufacturers like Wolf, Sub-Zero and Viking are slower to develop these smart appliances, but they too are making strides to compete with LG, Samsung and Jenn-Aire. The traditional kitchen designer that remains naïve to the advances made in smart kitchen design concepts will find themselves missing out on what homeowners are now demanding for their kitchen designs. Kitchen designers that embrace the technological advances will reap the rewards of new business from younger homeowners that grew up with the digital transformation. 

There are skeptics when it comes to smart kitchens, so we wanted to settle this once and for all. Smart kitchens are for the well to do. Even the humblest kitchen can benefit from a connected kitchen design. Kitchens that have smaller real estate devoted to it are being equipped with smart technology. Nearly 90 million US adults now have smart speakers in their homes. That is one-third of all US consumers. This wave has turned into a tsunami. This traditional kitchen designer has been developing connected kitchen designs that include Alexa for a few years now and believes her motto of redefining design has been enhanced with smart technology.

Designing Your Kitchen With Clean, Modern Lines

Farmhouse kitchens are known for their well-loved clutter and antique paraphernalia. Tuscan kitchens are filled with scattered bottles of vinegars and olive oil, and hanging bundles of dried herbs. What do these two kitchen styles have in common? The cabinets may have more details in the trim, woodwork and hardware. Often there is wallpaper, window treatments or tile patterns that include traditional flourishes for style. There may be an island that is likely to be a focal point in the kitchen. The overall look of these kitchens these types of kitchens is comfortable and lived-in. There is nothing wrong with such a style, but there is a more modern movement of homeowners that are designing with clean lines in mind.

Simple and Clean

Just what does a modern kitchen without the traditional flourishes offer that would appeal to those wanting to design a new kitchen? How about a neat, well ordered, lower maintenance kitchen where food preparation and the people in it are the main event. Modern kitchen design is especially attractive to working couples or singles that like the feel of a spacious and orderly kitchen.Light color cabinetry with clean lines, unpretentious finishes and simple hardware can set the stage for a wonderful evening of cooking or entertaining.

Streamlined Design

Modern cabinetry is easier on the eye and to keep clean. A single, straight run of cabinets and sleek stainless steel appliances are popular modern kitchen design features. Or, for a more streamlined look, you may be interested in press-and-release cabinets and drawers, which require no handles at all. Good kitchen island design incorporates not just a place to cook, but also an attractive place for guests and family to gather while you cook, and may be one of the most important areas your design. Sometimes the kitchen island can double as the dining table for couples on the go.

Sophisticated Neutral Tones

Waterfall countertops on the island are a trendy design element. Natural surfaces are more monochromatic in a modern kitchen and we are seeing homeowners opting for slate, concrete, soapstone or simple quartz patterns instead of busily patterned granite or marble. Smart appliances can be common elements for some kitchen designers in central New Jersey. Just as with your kitchen island design, light color cabinetry and countertops can keep the look airy and polished. A run of travertine, single color glass tile, natural stone or continuing the countertop material creates a backsplash that complements the cool steel of built-in stainless appliances for a sophisticated, modern look, but don’t be afraid to ground the room with a hardwood floor in complementary warm tones. Ideas for designing with clean lines in mind are endless. Be open and explore a few modern kitchen design photos to see if this style appeals to you.

Kitchens Continue To Get Smarter

For consumers who are excited about the potential of having smart appliances as part of the kitchens in their homes, designing the right space is crucial with the functionality offered by smart appliances in mind. We recommend taking to the internet and checking out trend setting kitchen appliance brands by visiting Samsung’s Virtual Kitchen, LG home appliances to see what these connected devices can do. More and more appliances are being built with IoT features that allow them to be controlled from your tablet or phone.

Watch This Video of  Samsung’s Family Hub

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLcoTRMSvHk

Connecting Across the Kitchen

There are various options when it comes to kitchen designs with smart appliances but we are seeing the larger appliances using stainless steel and black stainless steel as the two primary colors. So, designers need to blend countertops, cabinets and flooring to offset all those shiny metal finishes. Smaller smart appliances such as coffee pots, blender, and microwaves are now available as smarter devices that take advantage IoT connectivity and digital syncing. These smaller pieces of equipment take on a more traditional look similar to older appliances, although we have seen some very futuristic coffer makers and sleek new dishwashers that show off the new technology contained within.

Modern Kitchen Design Features

If you appreciate the sophistication of a modern kitchen, you can find many ideas at your local kitchen and bath showroom or swing by the Miele Appliance experience in Princeton. Expect to see lots of reflective surfaces and high-tech materials that truly catch the eye. Bring a pair of sunglasses to reduce the glare. We have found that exotic woods can add extra luxury to a kitchen that is reflecting too brightly. Seating made of polished wood or Lucite is also a popular option. Your modern kitchen designer can make smart appliances look amazing with the right color stain on your custom kitchen cabinets.

Connected Appliances May Leave Your Home Vulnerable

Those who prefer something more traditional may want to tone down the shine. Too much connectivity to the internet may lend your home too accessible to unwanted virtual intruders. The kitchen should offer the family comfort and protection from a connected world but home network security should be considered carefully. Here is a list of 10 best practices for securing your home network.

1. Research the capabilities and security features of an IoT device before purchase.

2. Perform an audit of IoT devices already on your network.

3. Change the default credentials on devices. If the device you’re considering doesn’t allow you to change the default password, choose a different device.

4. Use strong and unique passwords for device accounts and Wi-Fi networks. Don’t use common words or passwords that are easy to guess, such as “password” or “123456.”

5. Modify the default privacy and security settings of IoT devices based on your requirements, not the manufacturer’s.

6. Use a strong encryption method when setting up Wi-Fi network access, like WPA2.

7. Because many IoT devices come with a variety of services (like remote access) enabled by default, be sure to disable features and services that you may not need.

8. Use wired connections instead of wireless whenever possible.

9. Regularly check the device manufacturer’s website for firmware updates.

10. Ensure that a hardware outage does not result in an unsecure state for the device.

Kitchen Design With Smart Appliances in Mind

In many cases, we design kitchens with modern appliances that function just fine without all that flash.We will feature both polished and casual elements for a beautiful juxtaposition of style. We may disguise your smart oven and hide your refrigerator behind a cabinetry finish, as well as recommend more complementary kitchen appliances. Open space and durable seating works well with a contemporary kitchen.

We encourage you to seek out reviews online and consult with your recommended kitchen designer that that you have selected for your project.

Take a look at this modern kitchen design portfolio here to help you stimulate ideas