How to Automate Your House

We haven’t quite reached the Jetsons’ level of the fully automated home, but we’re getting there. “The Internet of Things” is more than just a fancy way of saying you can check what’s in your fridge from your tablet while sitting on the couch; it’s a new wave of enabling devices to actually learn how you live, then intelligently cater their behaviour to suit you. Here’s our round-up of technologies that promise to wirelessly provide domestic bliss.

1/ Philips Hue Connected Bulb

Automated lighting has come a long way since the days of The Clapper. Philips’ Hue LED lighting system lets you control the colour, brightness and timing of up to 50 bulbs from your smartphone. Program the lights to sync with your daily schedule, or choose from an array of “light recipes,” which can stimulate desired moods. When was the last time your table lamp cheered you up? $200, plus $90 per bulb. philips.ca

2/ Samsung French Door Fridge

Equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen LCD display, this appliance runs apps that will change your (culinary) life. Access recipes via Epicurious and use the Grocery Manager to check your food’s freshness from the supermarket. Never again will you wonder if the milk at home is expired. $3,000. samsung.com

3/ The Lynx Concept Grill

We know. The idea of a grill cooking your steak for you seems to violate the holy trinity of man, meat and fire. But rather than hijacking your cookout, Lynx’s smart grill acts like the sous chef you never had. It grills food based on voice commands, drawing on an online database to determine optimal cooking techniques, and shoots you a text when it’s done. Think of it as the KITT to your David Hasselhoff. $3,800. lynxgrills.com

4/ Panasonic 4K Viera Life+ Screen

Panasonic’s 4K ultra-HD Viera (available in 50-inch, 58-inch and 65-inch models) comes with face-recognition technology that learns what you like and displays personalized info—from show suggestions to daily news—whenever you turn it on. $4,000. panasonic.com

5/ Dacor Discovery IQ 30-inch Wall Oven

Dacor’s smart oven never forgets whether you left it on. Use Wi-Fi to download desired recipes and kick back as it takes care of the rest. Monitor your pot roast via smartphone or watch an episode of Iron Chef on the LCD screen while waiting. Best of all, you won’t be held responsible for how dinner turns out. From $4,500. dacor.com

6/ August Smart Lock

If you’re prone to misplacing house keys, the August Smart Lock is your techno-saviour. It senses your approach and magically unlocks your door accordingly. You can also send virtual keys to guests—and revoke them at any time lest they overstay their welcome. $200. august.com

7/ Honeywell Lyric Thermostat

The Wi-Fi-enabled Lyric adapts to your personal rhythm—using geo-fencing to track when the house is empty or when you’re on the way home—and adjusts the temperature accordingly. It also takes outdoor temperature, humidity and weather into account. $280. honeywell.com

8/ Sonos Wireless HiFi Music System

In times past, attempts to set up a home audio system often meant getting lost in a tangled maze of cables and wires. Not any more. Sonos’ wireless sound system unites your entire digital music collection in one app, allowing you to play different songs in every room via your Wi-Fi connection. Add up to 32 additional speakers to fill your home with impossibly clear hi-fi sound from a variety of sources (iTunes, radio, Spotify, Pandora, etc.). From $220. sonos.com

9/ Revolv Automaton Hub

The drawback to buying a slew of smart devices for your home is the need for several apps to control each compartment. Revolv’s automation hub alleviates that headache by allowing you to regulate all of your home automation products via a single, smartphone-controlled interface. Build your own Skynet. $300. revolv.com