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!).

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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?

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

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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