Design
Invisible Induction Burners and Magic Vacuums: 8 Home Innovations Worth Getting Excited About
Stop what you’re doing! I have an urgent message for any and all folks currently considering a new build, remodel, or full gut renovation. There have been some massive home innovations and advances in the home field over the past few years that I simply MUST share with you. Today, I’ve pulled eight of my favorite recent inventions – we’re talking deeply-discounted custom masonry, drywall advances that cut install time by 50%, and vacuums that appear and disappear like magic – that I’m dreaming of adding to my own home one day. Can I share with the class?
Home Innovations For Masonry: Monumental Labs
I present this mind-blowing startup to you in the hopes that you might need to commission a stone ornament for a building, or that perhaps you might be in the market for a custom marble sculpture. (Whom amongst us isn’t, you know?) I KID, I KID. But Monumental Labs is the real deal – they’re on the frontlines in the war against bland, lifeless, dull, throwaway architecture.
Here’s the deal: by pairing robots with skilled stone-carvers, the team at Monumental is working to reduce stone fabrication costs by up to 90%. Said another way: they’re making beautiful construction affordable again.
They’re already taking on fabulous projects, like the library facade at Benedictine College and the stunning balconies at the Villard Houses in New York City. Soon, they’ll be able to create whole buildings from stone – just like the good ol’ days. If I ever build a house, this team will be my first call.
Home Innovations For Drywall: Muddskip
If you’re taking on a new build, repairing drywall after electrical or plumbing, or framing up some new walls (be gone, open concept!), you’ll be glad this one is on your radar. Muddskip reduces the time it takes to finish walls by 50% or more. You read that right: FIFTY. PERCENT. OR. MORE!
This product has been winning awards left and right at major building shows this year – it reduces waste, eliminates the need for sanding, works with a ton of different substrates, and can even strengthen your joint compound of choice (therefore increasing the joint flexibility and reducing the number of cracks in the future).
To hammer it home: Muddskip can knock a whole week off a whole-home framing project, can deliver a superior product and finish, and may even help you reduce those labor and material costs. If your contractor isn’t familiar with the product, be sure to throw it on their radar. I’m sure they’ll thank you!
Home Innovations For HVAC: Quilt
After witnessing the Quilt in action at Brady’s house (scroll to photo #11 for some familiar faces!), I’m certain that this is the only mini split unit I’d ever consider putting in my home. It’s actually a beautiful product, which is something I never dreamed I’d pen about an HVAC method I’d formerly seen as clunky, obtrusive, and a necessary evil.
The difference? Quilt is tiny – less than 8 inches tall – and endlessly customizable. It can be painted, wallpapered, or even covered with chic wooden paneling (that’s what Brady opted for in his mid-century house, and it’s actually visually harmonious!).
There are a ton of other perks, like the ability to choose different temperatures in each room, and it’s also the most efficient ductless heat pump on the market. Emily installed a unit in her gym – you can read her in-depth experience here – and loved the product so much that we’ve turned to Quilt as the HVAC solution for our 1850s guest cottage renovation.
Home Innovations For Smart Charging: FreePower Wireless Charging
Hear me out: what if you NEVER had to worry about charging your devices again? What if you didn’t constantly leave the house on 6% battery because you forgot to plug in your phone? (Just me?)
Now, imagine that wireless charging technology has been seamlessly integrated into your kitchen countertops, your bathroom vanity, or even your nightstand. There’s a lot of magical technology at play here – everything from integrated copper cables to a proprietary light that will indicate where you can charge your devices – and it’ll even optimize charging of your devices, to boot.
It’s an elegant, smart way to reduce visual clutter and to eliminate the need for an endless collection of fraying, easily misplaced USB-C cables. You can bet that if I’m ever renovating, FreePower will be making an appearance in nearly every room. (Maybe I’ll finally be able to leave the house with a phone that isn’t on the verge of shutting down immediately!!!)
Home Innovations For Magical Cooking: SKS Invisible Induction Stove
Let’s stick with this magical, invisible technology for a second and take it one step further: AN INVISIBLE INDUCTION BURNER. That’s right: in the near future, your porcelain ceramic countertop might be able to do double duty as a cooktop – no traditional range required.
It’s not on the market yet – just making the rounds at builder and trade shows – but it’s living proof that we’ve entered an era of rapid technological development in the home space. High-end kitchens of the 2030s will look nothing like the kitchens we idolize today. Are you ready for the paradigm shift? Would you consider an invisible induction range in your island?
Home Innovations For Paint: Sherwin-Williams Emerald Symmetry
I’m going to level with you: I didn’t know that there could be innovation in the paint space. I figured that every brand had its own special formula, and that once it’s been set, it just…exists forever? It’s a blind spot. I didn’t know that these brands (like Sherwin-Williams) were constantly working to develop better products!
But develop a better product, THEY DID. A few of you might remember that a 2024 trip to Antarctica turned me into a nutcase about nature (still going strong, 2.5 years later) and really transformed my attitude towards everything I bring into my home. Enter: Sherwin-Williams’ new Emerald Symmetry paint, which is a sustainable, plant-based (!!!) formula with zero VOCs. The paint offers the same industry-loved color and coverage that professionals expect from the big SW, but it’s better for the planet.
Early reviews of the new product are glowing. To be fair, I’ve only ever used Sherwin’s paint (Pueblo in my living room, Evergreen Fog in my hallway), but I CANNOT WAIT to tackle my next project with this new formulation. I love when brands work to make more sustainable products!!!
Home Innovations For Smart Energy Use: Span Panel
As it turns out, being a nutcase about the environment spills over into my energy usage and consumption. Span is a re-imagined electrical panel with a twist – it can unlock whole home, room, and individual appliance data to help you save money long-term.
Imagine knowing exactly how much your kitchen lights or your bedroom fan costs each month. Imagine getting a heads-up that an appliance is on the way out, because it’s pulling more power than average. Imagine being able to show your kids that leaving everything on or plugged in really does make a difference!
The best part? You can control your home from anywhere. And with a battery, you can even choose which rooms receive power during an outage. These puppies run from $2,550 to $4,100, but can help save thousands in energy costs long-term. As a big ol’ data nerd, the Span panel is at the top of my wishlist.
Home Innovations For Cleaning It All Up: Chameleon Retractable Central Vac
Also at the top of my wishlist? A CENTRAL VACUUM. To me, this is luxury. If you’re not familiar, a central vacuum is like a big, built-in house cleaning system. In most cases, you simply attach a hose to a motor – far easier than lugging a plug-in (or even a cordless!) vacuum around, but in Chameleon’s case, the whole thing is self-contained. You simply yank a hose out of the wall, vacuum the mess, let it retract, shut the panel, and BAM. Clean room.
As the recent inheritor of two cats (bringing my total to three) and a small jungle’s worth of plants, I find that I’m constantly sweeping and vacuuming up fur, tracked litter, and soil. And a cordless vacuum is sufficient for those tasks, sure – but it also needs to be docked, charged, and schlepped. I dream of the day when I could simply open a panel on the wall and have an industrial-strength vacuum cleaner at my disposal. IT’S ON THE BUCKET LIST, BABY! (The list is pretty boring, if I’m being honest.)
What say you? Do any of these strike your fancy? Are you eyeing any cool new home inventions, products, or services? A GAL’S GOTTA KNOW! Let’s chat? xx
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: A Genius New Design Product: Introducing Quilt Mini Split
I don’t normally enjoy any of the remodeling content, but I LOVED this. Monumental Labs is SO cool. Totally fallen down the rabbit hole there. Love the Span Panel. Love the paint. Please, more of this type of educational post!
Ooh, the Span panel has gone on my wishlist. We have been discussing converting to a heat pump and the possibility of a whole-house battery backup and this seems to be something that could work together with those things. Definitely a significant investment but hoping the cost continues to go down over time. Also very into the integrated wireless charging system, filing that idea away for an eventual kitchen remodel.
I think it is hilarious that central vacs are trying to make a come back. We had one in my childhood home. I have defined memories of my father grumbling about it.
Omigosh same. It was perpetually clogged and never really worked all that well and you had to haul out the bulky hose anyway.
I grew up with a central vac system and it worked beautifully! Up and down stairs, any floor of the house… it was a dream. It was also integrated under the kitchen cabinets so that all you had to do was sweep the kitchen debris under the counter, kick the toe switch that turned the suction on, and the dust pile disappeared. Magic.
THIS IS MY DREAM!
My only issue with the integrated countertop stuff is, what happens when it stops working? Do you have to rip up the counters to fix/replace it?
shockingly, it seems pretty simple to swap out the charging unit if it malfunctions! i guess it’s milled into the stone (or whatever material you choose) and then you can replace the actual device itself with just a few simple turns of the screws. definitely one of the more thoughtful integrated applications i’ve seen!
This was my question, too! I have not been impressed with the longevity of any of our appliances but love the idea of an invisible stove and chargers.
More of this please! Excited to try the Emerald Symmetry paint in my next project!
Love your posts, Caitlin! Appreciate your help keeping us abreast of the cool new stuff
Ohhhh more please… So interesting to hear about new innovations on the renovation front and file them away in my brain, even if I never use them. Would love to see an update like this as often as is workable!
Such a cool list!!! I would have never heard of these otherwise and Benedictine is here in KS!!
I have one of those vacuums and it is The Best Thing Ever. Works like a charm. I Love It!
LOVE a Caitlin post! I always learn so much!
Everyone should be using the newer Broan Recessed Ventilation Fan Light, 70 CFM in bathrooms. UL Listed for use over tub or shower when connected properly to GFCI. No more ugly bathroom fans!
I first saw the Free Power Wireless Charging at KBIS in Las Vegas two years ago. It’s amazing!
I hadn’t heard of SKS until this post, but both TPBTech and Invisacook have had invisible induction solutions available for at least a few years now and they seem to get pretty good reviews from the folks who have them.
I would love to have the Span electrical panel, I’m going to ask my electrician about this. I want a Quilt, but couldn’t find a dealer in my area to price them house. In our area, mini splits are the number one new construction heat source and I want a prettier option. I already want an Invisacook cooktop, so those have been around for a while and on my list. I love the round up!