Today’s kitchen is responsive. It will assist the homeowners where needed (meal prep, laundry, cleaning, maintenance), but according to Kate Bailey, senior director of category management for Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, the futuristic kitchen will take care of itself – and take care of the homeowners before they even voice their wants and needs.
As she put it, “Today’s kitchen trends reflect the rapid changes in technology, globalization and climate, as well as homeowner habits and behaviors.” So, here are a few innovations that are helping to push our lives closer to that of a television sci-fi show.
Adopting IoT in Today’s Kitchen
In the kitchen, ovens, refrigerators, faucets—anything with a Wi-Fi enabled sensor can become a part of the IoT to make lives smarter, easier, greener, safer and healthier. For example:
- Adopting IoT tech in the kitchen provides nutritional information or access to professional cooking demonstrations on built-in screens or automatic appliance upgrades.
- IoT tech detects hazards and other indicators of an accident or injury.
- The devices can communicate potential risks in real-time by transmitting an alert to the homeowner’s mobile device.
- Some IoT-enabled programs can automatically shut down a threat without human intervention. For example, a faucet shuts off once a certain amount of water has flowed to prevent flooding.
More Intelligent Smart Tech
We can already peek into our refrigerators remotely, but what if, in the future the appliance keeps track of what’s inside with bar-codes and pressure sensors? Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, this same appliance may one day be able to analyze contents, suggest, and perhaps even order, delicious ad healthy groceries. Of course, the refrigerator will communicate with the stove to ensure the homeowner can prepare the food!
A Sustainable Kitchen Ecosystem
Scientists and environmentalists have known for years that energy-efficient, high-performing homes use fewer resources and the kitchen of the future will be no different. Soon appliances will be able to run on more sustainable energies, creating situations where a solar powered smart ecosystem can not only save money, but also potentially make money for homeowners by selling excess energy back to the grid. Likewise, composting and smart indoor vegetable and herb growing appliances will be no longer be for early adopters but will be considered the norm.
Cuisine Inclusivity
“There are so many ways of life that are being celebrated every single day,” said Rydhima Brar, interior designer and founder and creative director of R/terior Studio. Brar, who is Indian by birth and grew up in Kuwait, recently spoke about designing kitchens for homeowners who enjoy preparing Indian cuisine involving many oils and spices at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery’s event series, Together by Design.
“[In the U.S.], what I see over here is that many Indian families end up having an additional kitchen over or in the garage and not using their kitchen for fear of staining or introducing aromas into other areas,” said Brar. The future kitchen will have durable, stain-resistant surfaces. With high-performing HVAC systems that provide proper kitchen ventilation and air filtration, the kitchen of the future will provide homeowners with fresh filtered air that increase indoor air quality for the entire home.
High Tech, Low Touch
In the future, hands-free fixtures and voice-activated solutions will be considered the norm to limit exposure to viruses and bacteria and increase safety and good health. They will no longer be luxury items. And they won’t just be relegated to faucets and toilets, as touchless and intuitive lighting solutions, appliances, knock-front drawers and panels, automatic lid opening and self-cleaning features will all feature in the future kitchen. The best part—homeowners won’t have to sacrifice style.
Integrated, Design-Conscious Cabinets and Appliances
To appeal to a wider audience, manufacturers are offering easier ways to customize and personalize the adoption of smart home tech, and this means making cabinets and appliances that blend seamlessly into the design of a home. Some even offer homeowners the ability to select top-of-the-line materials and finishes to give their smart appliances the personalized look that fits their needs. In other words, homeowners will no longer need to adopt an ultra-modern décor to incorporate the convenience.
Universal Kitchens
Designers have discussed universal design for many years, which itself was an evolution of accessible design. Aimed at increasing the quality of life (mentally and physically) for a wide range of individuals and abilities, the future kitchen will balance function, safety, and aesthetics to create a functional space for everyone including those with disabilities, the elderly, children and anyone who may use the space. This approach not only creates an accessible multi-functional kitchen with convenient features for a diverse group, but it reduces the need for future modifications.
Multi-Tasking Hub
As more and more homeowners attempt to juggle multiple roles and responsibilities in the home, the kitchen will need to incorporate products that help them do the same.
Guided assistance, meal planning, self-cleaning, voice control and appointment reminders are all welcomed in the active household. Many future kitchens will include “stations” for kids’ virtual learning and an added focus on the attached mudroom.
Sometimes overlooked, the mudroom is now getting more attention because of the increased focus on hygiene. Since this is a transition space from the outside in and you don’t want germs entering your home, it makes sense to think about the functionality of this space. This is especially true for families with essential workers who are at a higher risk for COVID-19 exposure. To minimize the spread of germs, homeowners are creating inviting spaces, complete with a washer, dryer and utility sink, where they can carefully and safely transition from the outside world to the privacy of their homes.
Another version of this article previously appeared on KBB Online.