Smart Tech for the Home Doesn’t Have to Be Ugly

Whether you love midcentury modern or are (still) obsessed with checkerboard everything, we found some smart gadgets that’ll mesh with your aesthetic.

Jan 16, 2024 - 15:17
Smart Tech for the Home Doesn’t Have to Be Ugly

Whether you love midcentury modern or are (still) obsessed with checkerboard everything, we found some smart gadgets that’ll mesh with your aesthetic.

Smart devices are integrated into every product or process you can think of, from ordering groceries to turning on the air-conditioning before you come back to your place. But too often aesthetics are an afterthought. Not for us. No matter what kind of residence you have, we have you covered with design-conscious devices that are as concerned for your decor as they are functional. Here are our recommendations for a few specific types of home.

The Japandinavian Cabin

Whether you’re in the Catskills or Joshua Tree, your style lives somewhere between Kyoto and Copenhagen. Your minimalist house or meditative cabin is just the right amount of rustic but with clean lines, well-honed details, and only the essential furniture. If your favorite color is blond oak or maybe charred wood, you’re probably a Japandinavian, and while too much tech is never a good thing, some amenities are essential for well-appointed minimalism. We’ll suggest a wood-wrapped portable speaker that works as well for NPR as it does for John Cage. Air filters keep cedar scent in and allergens out. And sensor-activated bird feeders keep feathered neighbors coming back. It’s everything you need for thoughtful—but not totally disconnected—living.

Is it a lunch box? A picnic basket? A sleek, unobtrusive storage solution for your various bits and bobs? No, it’s a powerful speaker, cloaked in dark oak, bright woven caning, or aluminum mesh and pretty enough to display with pride.
Like an integrated appliance, this air purifier is covered with a wood panel that comes in finishes such as oak, gray, and espresso. The customization doesn’t stop there; you can choose from four filter types to keep the nasties at bay.
Solar panels on your roof would muck up the minimalism, but if you want to keep your iPhone working by harnessing the power of the sun, this charger sticks to a window, works like a dream, and looks a bit like art.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Smart Tech for the Home Doesn’t Have to Be Ugly
Related stories:

Read More at Dwell