If it’s cooking in my kitchen it’s likely to be a ham and cheese Hot Pocket or a Tombstone pizza. Quick, easy, and … YUCK. If I had more time to plan and prepare a real, honest-to-goodness meal, I’d dump my old standbys faster than a bad boyfriend. I’m pretty sure my guilt over poor meal choices resonates with many families. Sadly, we are a time-crunched, stressed-out society that opts for frozen over fresh. But there’s hope. Manufacturers of kitchen appliances, both big and small, are developing technology that may ease the burden of meal preparation for families and provide new, innovative tools for cooking healthy, delicious food without having to spend hours in the kitchen. Smart, Internet-enabled appliances are trending, so check them out in our exclusive coverage in “The Connected Kitchen.”
You’ll read about other home technology trends in this issue, including systems that allow your house to make decisions on its own in “The Learning House,” and products that are enabling homeowners to live in their homes independently as they grow older. You’ll see two homeowners—one who spent a little (“Smart Home Trend: Aging in Place”), the other who spent a lot (“Baby Boomers Automate for Retirement”)—who created home environments that are able to cater to their needs as they age. Although the trends covered in each affect a different aspect of a homeowner’s life, the theme is recurring: They’re all solutions for saving time and leading healthy lifestyles.
If you haven’t jumped on the healthy lifestyle bandwagon yet, your self-improvement journey can begin elsewhere. By implementing simple, affordable enhancements to your home you can change the way you live, relax, and enjoy the time you spend there. Upgrades to your home’s lighting and thermostats can have a dramatic impact, as you’ll see in “6 Ways to Maximize Your Home’s Lights” and “Saving Energy, Room by Room.” And if it’s music that soothes you, you’ve probably heard about Sonos—the system that’s taking the whole-house music industry by storm. Hear from the source as to why its wireless audio system has become so popular among homeowners. Marketing exec Eric Nielsen reveals “Sonos’ Secret Sauce.”
No matter how long you plan to live in your home—or how you intend to use it—it makes sense to incorporate smart home technology … and keep abreast of the trends poised to shape your home environment. Who knows—with so much help provided by the technologies in your home, you just might be destined for culinary greatness. Bon appetit!
—Lisa Montgomery
lmontgomery@ehpub.com
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