I am still feeling inspired since I have attended KBIS, the premier Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas. The hot topic at KBIS was how technology is impacting kitchens and baths. Advances in technology will continue to evolve and shape the future of how we live but I found it interesting to see how it is transforming the way we live in our kitchens and bathrooms.

When I think of technology and our homes, I instinctively think of a smart-home. Control4 is an operating system that integrates with our every-day items that we already use and love. Control4’s Smart Home operating system can pair with over 13,500+ products including technology that you already own (including Amazon Alexa or Google Home devices). By pairing with existing products, this eliminates the need to replace existing devices and encourages the addition of smart home experiences in more homes.

With Control4, you can customize your smart home experience tailored to how you live. This includes controlling your television, automated window treatments, security system, HVAC system, lighting, and so much more.

Imagine — waking up in the morning, clicking a button that says, “Good Morning” which will help get your morning routine started by triggering your shades to open, the curtains to push back, the tv turns on, and initiating your smart shower. Wouldn’t that be sweet?

What I love in particular about Control4’s OS is that it also consolidates the number of devices and remotes we have. Instead of having multiple remotes to control separate devices (including your tv), Control4 marries all previous tasks into one streamlined remote and/or tablet. Now you can instantly view the status of your security system, smart door locks, lighting, and appliances on one screen to control.

So now that we know that Control4 can seamlessly connect and operate over 13,500+ products that we own; let’s talk about smart appliances!

Thermador is one of the leading luxury kitchen appliances brands which has revolutionized the way we cook and entertain with cooktops, steam and convection ovens, column refrigeration, and more. Thermador is not only led by innovation but elevating our lifestyle without compromising on design.

Thermador Steam Convection oven. Photography by Petra

At KBIS, Thermador announced the launch of the Home Connect app which connects to all of their smart appliances and can be operated by by voice control and link to a number of smart devices, including Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and others..

Now you can check the status of all your Thermador appliances at any time, any where. Monitor internal temperature of your refrigerator, confirm the oven is off, and check much more from the palm of your hand and guarantee peace of mind. With this technology, you can preheat your oven from a distance (or your Tesla) and send recipe instructions and tutorials to your appliance directly from the palm of your hand.

One Thermador appliance that caught my attention was the steam oven (with that beautiful backsplash from Tilebar) which has the largest internal capacity than any other on the market at 30” capacity. What does that mean to you? It means that you can cook an entire 14 lb. turkey in 90 minutes!!

Photo by Amanda of AMA Designs & Interiors

During my experience at KBIS, I have learned so much about the power of steam and how it could improve our cooking, well-being, and our bodies (more on that later).

If you are unfamiliar with steam convection ovens ovens, steam provides heat without sacrificing moisture or flavor, so food turns out crisp on the outside and moist on the inside–even after reheating. Often preferred by professional chefs, steam ovens produce dishes with unmatched texture, appearance, and of course, taste.

Aside from creating unparalleled meals from home, you can also cook your dinner and dessert at the same time since there is no flavor transfer in steam baking. Now, that’s multi-tasking!

For those of you who stress about over-cooking your food, fear no more! With all Thermador appliances, you can pair your appliance with your smart devices to receive notifications when your meal is ready to serve.

Now instead of asking, “Is dinner ready yet?”; you can ask, “Who is coming over?” … and please, I hope you invite me!

As a busy entrepreneur, meal prepping and cooking sometimes gets cut short with my schedule. With Thermador’s technology and smart-appliances, I can see how beneficial this could be for my lifestyle as well as the lives of many others, including parents and homeowners who love to entertain.

Since I had mentioned the benefits of steam ovens, what about steam showers?

Things were too steamy to take a photo in the steam room but here’s the designhounds and I hanging out in the hottub afterwards.

During my stay in Las Vegas, I was fortunate enough to experience steam therapy first-hand with our sponsor Mr. Steam . The designhounds influencer team and I spent the evening learning about the benefits of steam by heading to the spa for a memorable presentation in a steam shower. This experience was not only enjoyable but beneficial to understand the power of steam therapy.

Believe it or not, I have never used a steam shower before…. but now that I have, I want every shower I own or design to have steam!

This experience came at the perfect time as I was arriving from a 6-hour flight and carrying my heavy luggage through the airport, so my body was definitely stiff. Plus, that day was the first day of the tradeshow which involved A LOT of walking; 10,000+ steps to be exact. To say my body was “stiff” is an understatement.

Designed by Erica Islas of EMI Interior Design

There are 40+ benefits to steam which you can read about here. In short, steam can improve your respiratory health, skin health, physical health, and well-being. As I enjoyed our session in the steam shower, I could literally feel the soreness in my legs and the tension in my shoulders melt away. When I got out of the steam room, my body felt limber and ready to rock!

For those of you with resolutions of getting in shape this year — listen up. Steam can boost your metabolism. On average, studies have shown that 150 calories can be burned in a 15-minute session at 114 degrees Fahrenheit. I don’t know about you — but if you told me to sit in a steam room and do nothing for 15 minutes that I would lose weight; I’d jump to the opportunity.

The great news is that ANY shower can be transformed into a steam shower with some clever tweaks. Now you can turn any bathroom in your home into a spa-like oasis.

How does steam integrate with technology?

With Mr. Steam’s iTempo, you can control steam, AromaSteam, and ChromaSteam systems to create a personalized wellness center with an elegant and easy to use interface.

Optimize your steam shower experience by connecting your Amazon Alexa device with the SteamLinx Mobile app. Now you can start and stop your steam shower, adjust temperature, and the duration with the tap of a finger on your mobile device or verbal command with Alexa.

As you may know, I am certified in Design Psychology and Feng Shui, so I love the combined benefits of aromatherapy, chromatherapy, and steam therapy in one seamless interface. This system creates the ultimate transformative experience. However, Mr. Steam does have other systems if you only want the steam experience. The control panels are just as sleek and easy to use as the iTempo Plus.

As a design professional, I am continuously learning about new products and advances in the home industry so I can share this information and help more people. If you are interested in smart-home technology and other products mentioned, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to send me a message with any questions that you may have.