Automation Meets Innovation in the Newest Kitchen and Bath Products

If there’s one trend that was obvious at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Builders’ Show (IBS) this month, it’s that manufacturers are thinking outside of the box. They’re asking, “Why do we always do something this way, and what would happen if we used new technology to do it this way instead?”

It’s the kind of forward thinking that results in improved products for consumers — beauty and function in one package.

Take the standard lowly closet with its high, nearly unreachable upper shelves — especially challenging if you’re not so stable on step stools or use a wheelchair.


Häfele’s new remote-controlled wardrobe system solves the problem.


It descends slowly from the top to midlevel …


… then drops a final foot or so, so that garments are within easy reach regardless of your mobility. This isn’t something everyone needs, but it could make a huge difference for some.


Another example: Legrand’s square outlets and electronics with square switches instead of rectangles.


How about a pop-out outlet with plugs on three sides, in the same space where you would usually get just two? Other receptacles offer USB connections, and all have clean, contemporary lines.


Legrand’s nightlight turns on as it gets dark and then pops out and detaches to become a fully charged flashlight. It’s clever for kids and emergencies, though I wonder how quickly kids would lose it.


Tired of clogging up counters with devices and marring backsplashes with outlets every few feet? Legrand’s undercabinet system puts outlets, speakers and an iPad holder in arm’s reach under upper cabinets. It’s a thoughtful solution to managing technology.


Many people use their garages for more than parking cars, so Whirlpool has come up with an innovative Gladiator line of products designed for garages and other unheated spaces. The Chillerator refrigerator sits on casters for easy moving, and keeps things cold even with fluctuating exterior temperatures (something most standard fridges are not designed to do). We also appreciate the tire tracks on the door.


Gladiator also includes options for laundry areas that expand the possibilities of what utilitarian spaces can look like. Its cabinets and other accessories can be installed quickly, using a wall-mounted hanging system, and can be moved easily to other locations where the hanging system is installed. Lower cabinets are on casters, so they can be rolled to new areas. It’s good to see a well-thought-out system that addresses a specific need.


It’s also exciting to see design that goes into new territory. The Intrigue range hood by Best is indeed intriguing, and has beautiful lines. It’s Italian-made, and somehow that curved exhaust is able to achieve 460 cubic feet per minute of airflow.


Best’s Harmonia range hood is touchless — you just wave your fingers in front of the lit panel to control the unit. (Great for dirty, sticky fingers.) It even has a self-diagnostic feature that lets you know if the venting it’s connected to is sufficient for operation.


Aesthetic improvements are also welcome in the bathroom. The industrial grab bar has been completely reenvisioned as part of Invisia’s line of universal bath accessories. The bench seats, including one designed for a shower corner, are made from ipe. The gracefully curved grab bars are functional and attractive.


This assistive device for the toilet is particularly well designed; you can stow the grab bar upright when it’s not being used.


Mirrors with integrated lighting were ubiquitous at the show. (This one was at the booth shared by Toto and Villeroy & Boch.) Available in medicine cabinets too from a variety of manufacturers, integrated lighting is definitely something we’ll be seeing more of this year.


Speaking of lighting, Toto has added an ultraviolet option to its Neorest toilets; it disinfects when you flush.


Another example of toilets going high tech: The Geberit in-wall-tank toilet now comes with infrared dual-flush operation. Wave your hand in front of the long light for a long flush or in front of the short light for a short one.


And if high tech isn’t for you, maybe high design is. Geberit also offers what may be the most interesting flushing mechanisms on the market.


Small and relatively inexpensive changes can also yield great results. Jeld-Wen took the standard flush door — a staple in millions of homes — and jazzed it up with a series of sublime vertical inlays. The company currently makes it to serve its Asian markets, with options for black or metal inlays, and displayed it at the IBS to see if there might be interest in the U.S. I say yes to this, and to manufacturers’ continuing efforts to build intriguing new products that make our homes more beautiful and functional.


The newest products tend to be more expensive, and some won’t catch on and become widely used. Custom products like this Chevington Val Divia copper tub will always cost more. But pushing the limits of imagination and technology will mean improved and affordable products for all of us over time.

More: Standouts From the 2014 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

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