Rather than adding technology for novelty’s sake, many of this year’s debuts focus on reducing daily frustrations. Refrigerators improve visibility deep inside shelves, dishwashers accommodate reusable bottles and straws, and laundry systems are designed to better tackle pet hair and bacteria. Built-in cameras and AI-assisted features are also evolving in meaningful ways, letting homeowners check inside refrigerators remotely or monitor food as it cooks without opening the oven door. Much of the new technology is designed to work out of sight, automatically handling tasks with little to no effort from the user. The latest launches also point to a broader shift toward practical performance, including professional-style induction expanding into compact homes and outdoor spaces.
Here’s a look at the appliance innovations and trends shaping kitchens, laundry areas and other hardworking zones of the home in the year ahead.
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7. Invisible Induction Cooktops
SKS — formerly known as Signature Kitchen Suite — made a splash at KBIS with this kitchen island with a hidden induction cooktop and pop-up downdraft ventilation system. When not in use, the vent is flush with the countertop and the cooktop blends in with the counter’s wood grain finish, leaving a nearly seamless expanse of functional prep space.
This island is still in development, but invisible induction technology is already available to consumers. For example, the already-available outdoor Cosmopolitan kitchen from Danver, which was also on display at KBIS, is prepped to fit Invisacook induction burners.
While invisible induction admittedly is more niche and high-tech than some of the simple features mentioned previously, as it becomes more widespread, it could be a game changer — particularly in compact kitchens, since it effectively reclaims a cooktop’s width of countertop.
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