Hi Everyone,
I hope you’ve been enjoying our slow but steady reveal of our new home! I’ve had so much fun (virtually) inviting you all in to see the space, and I can’t wait to show you the rest. There’s still so much in store, so stay tuned.
Since moving into our new house, we’ve made it a point to add some modern tech here and there to make our lives easier and more efficient, and I have to say it’s made all the difference. I mean… did you SEE our magic Christmas tree wand over the holidays? It was quite possibly my favorite home gadget ever. Ha!
But in all seriousness, a well-connected home makes life that much easier when you’re rushing in and out with a busy schedule—even if that just means investing in a high-tech coffee maker. Not to mention, the latest tech ensures that your home is up-to-date and will grow with you into the future. And to be honest, some of the latest technology is just plain fun! So with that in mind, let’s talk about the 10 home gadgets you need right now…
1. Amazon Echo (a.k.a. Alexa), $99.99
The Amazon Echo has been the talk of the town for some time now and for good reason! “Alexa” can do everything from turn your smart lights on and off by voice command, play any music you want to listen to, call your contacts, tell you about the weather, play Jeopardy! with you (yes, really), and even control some thermostats—the list goes on and on. Plus, it’s super sleek and the second generation model comes in five different colors and styles to fit in with the décor of your home.
2. Nest Learning Thermostat, $225.99
Nest is amazing in the aspect that it learns from your daily temperature habits, meaning it can actually help make your home more energy efficient. It also works with the Amazon Echo, so you can control it with your voice. Besides, it’s just leaps and bounds more attractive than old, traditional thermostats, don’t you think?
3**. Philips Hue White Smart Bulb Starter Kit,** $66.97
Remember the days of “The Clapper”? Think of these sort of like that, but WAY more advanced (and less annoying to turn on and off). Instead of clapping to turn your lights on and off, you can install these smart bulbs around your home and control them with Alexa, Nest, Google Home, or the Philips Hue app, just to name a few. They even offer a 4-bulb starter kit with color ambience compatible bulbs, AND because they use about 80% less power than a traditional bulb, they can last for several years. Well worth the investment, if you ask me…
4. August Doorbell Cam Pro, $199.99
Whether you have an alarm system or not, having a digital doorbell with a camera is a must. It’s a super easy way to see who is at your door through your phone, and this model even lets you talk to visitors through the doorbell and keeps video recordings for you to see later. Plus, it improves the safety of your home with its night vision cam and automatic motion sensor that turns on a floodlight to deter any dangers that could be approaching your door late at night.
5. August Smart Lock Pro + Connect, $249
If you want to go one step further with your August doorbell, you can get the smart lock to go along with it. It fits over your existing deadbolt, so you can remotely lock and unlock your door even when you’re away to let guests you know inside (or lock your door if you forget!). Plus, this one can also be controlled with Alexa.
6. Nest Protect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector, $119
If you love the technology of Nest to control the temperature of your home, then you definitely need its smoke and carbon monoxide counterpart too. Instead of trying to guess what confusing beeps mean, this detector speaks to you so you know exactly what’s going on. It can also communicate with other Nest devices in your home so you’re fully connected.
7. Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker, $125.26
If you especially love enjoying a hearty steak at home, then this kitchen gadget is for you. Instead of cooking on the stove or grill, you simply seal your meal in a plastic bag, drop in a pot of water, then attach the precision cooker and let it tell you exactly when your meal is ready. No more dry, overcooked, or undercooked dinner!
8. Behmor Connected Temperature Control Coffee Maker, $169.99
This coffee maker is more than just a “smart” gadget. Its settings are totally customizable (you can even adjust your altitude), plus it can pre-soak your coffee grounds, and offers precise temperature settings. You can start your cup of coffee right from your phone each morning, and rumor has it that makes one of the most consistently amazing cups of coffee you can get at home.
9. iRobot Roomba 690 with Wi-Fi, $318.74
Vacuuming may be one of the least fun chores on the planet, and a quality robo-vacuum keeps things tidy on a day-to-day basis. This model from iRobot connects to Alexa and Google Home, and it can pick up everything from full-size Cheerios to tiny particles of dust.
10. Sonos One Smart Speaker (with Alexa), $199
If you want to eventually build a full audio system around your home, then this gadget is the perfect place to start. Not only does it have the Amazon Alexa built in already, but it offers great sound quality and can be wirelessly connected to multiple speakers around your home so you’re never away from your music.
What gadgets are must-haves in your home?
Share them with me! I’d love to hear your recommendations.
Cheers,
xx
GM
Photos: (Header and Second) GrayMalin.com