No room in the home symbolizes sanctuary and solitude like the bathroom. This sacred space serves as an escape from the impositions of everyday life and is home to some of our more intimate moments.
Yet, despite this room’s understated importance, most bathrooms remain exceedingly simple.
Below, we’ve selected smart home technology that will add intelligence (and possibly entertainment) to your inner sanctum.
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A Toilet for the 21st Century
The toilet is the centerpiece of the bathroom, and yet so many bathrooms house the standard commode: crude constructions of porcelain and plumbing, when there are much better, and brighter, options out there.
Presenting the Numi toilet, by Kohler
This top-tier throne comes tricked out with all manner of advanced toilet technology, including a motion activated cover and seat (never touch a seat again), three separate bidet water spray patterns (pulsate, oscillate, wave), and multiple heating options (seat and feet).
Moreover, the Numi appears eager, or at least enabled, to turn your toilet time into a one-person dance party with illuminated panels that can cycle through seven different programmable color option, and—the coup de grace—an audio system capable of playing FM radio stations and mp3s via bluetooth, SD card or aux cable.
Price (on Amazon): $4,525.00
Cleanliness, Comfort, Cold Drinks
If the toilet is the bathroom’s centerpiece, than the bathtub is its soul.
The tub, when done right, is a cauldron of comfort and cleanliness.
Enter Aquapeutics' Freeport Luxury Whirlpool Tub.
Equipped with four adjustable body massage jets, 12 whirlpool bubble bath jets, and seven small water jets, the computer-controlled Freeport is no slouch when it comes to providing comfort.
More:Adding Audio to Your Smart Home
What separates the luxury aqua lounge from the competition is its host of additional amenities, including underwater mood lights, radio, a waterproof LCD flat screen...and built-in fridge. Yes, you can enjoy a nicely chilled Champagne while soaking, resting your bubbly beverage on the bathtub’s marble wine desk between sips.
Heaven is a place on earth.
Price: $3,699.00
Save Water, Save Time with a Smart Shower
In the dark old days, the environmentally conscious homeowner would need to invest in a low-flow shower head to curb their water consumption. While a nice gesture to Mother Nature, the low-flow experience is anything but satisfying.
Fortunately, we live in a glorious future where EvaDrop has developed an environmentally inclined, intelligent shower system that any consumer can appreciate.Prepping for your day while the shower heats up? No worries. The EvaDrop will reach your desired temperature and switch off the flow. When you’re ready to wash, the flow will return, at the pre-programmed temperature, with a single button push.
The EvaDrop also employs a sensor system to judge a user’s distance from the shower head and adjust water flow accordingly. Up close? Enjoy a hearty stream. Out of the shower head’s range? The flow will drop precipitously.
More:Keeping Connected Through the Intercom
Perhaps the best part of the EvaDrop, which is available for pre-order now, is what it doesn’t do—namely require you to purchase a new shower head. Yes, the EvaDrop works with your existing, preferred shower head, occupying the space between the shower and the wall.
And for those with ambitious environmental goals, the EvaDrop app will let you track shower time and water usage.
Price: $199
Weight, Weight Do Tell Me
Those looking toward self-improvement, or simply to stay informed, have a strong ally in the sleek and smart Withings Body Cardio scale.
Promising a full body composition, daily if desired, the Withings Body Cardio informs you of your weight, fat mass, muscle mass, water, and bone mass.
But that’s just the beginning. The device, which can recognize up to eight different users, offers a new measurement, pulse wave velocity.
For all its forward-thinking fitness technology, Body Cardio’s wi-fi and bluetooth capability gives it a flair for fun as well. Step on your scale and get the daily weather. Or start your coffee maker. Or tell your Numi toilet to change the lighting and start playing music.
Price: $179.95