For builders, kitchen design is more important than ever before. According to the 2016 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, 45% of respondents said they spend three to four hours a day in their kitchen cooking, socializing, and entertaining.
Additionally, two-thirds (66%) of homeowners and 86% of parents surveyed in the latest Whirlpool Smart Home Survey say it is likely their next appliance purchase will be a smart appliance. Home builders can benefit from offering these appliances to buyers, and they can find further success by partnering with product manufacturers that focus on purposeful innovation that resonates with consumers.
At Whirlpool Corporation, innovation is a core competency among its 70,000 employees worldwide. The company continues to reimagine standard household appliances, redefine consumer expectations, and provide enduring value for builders. The Whirlpool Smart Home survey reveals that nearly four in five homeowners feel that the ability to start and stop appliances, check the status of the product, and/or adjust performance remotely are the most valuable features in a smart appliance.
These features are found in many new products on the market. For example, the Whirlpool Smart Kitchen Suite is introducing new and easier ways to control appliances. Features such as Scan-to-Cook, an anticipated industry first and PCBC Parade of Products award-winner, will send the right directions, temperature, and cooking time settings for many frozen foods straight to the appliance from the Whirlpool mobile app*. Scan-to-Cook settings can be customized to remember specific preferences. With the Smart Front Control Range, consumers can set and adjust temperature, time, and cooking mode through their voice-controlled smart home assistants.
The latest Whirlpool French Door Refrigerator provides a solution to a common kitchen problem. While the refrigerator door is typically warmer than the rest of the fridge, most families tend to store milk and other beverages in the door for easy access. The new door-within-door design features a “Cold Space” that keeps milk and other drinks cold. This appliance received honors in the 2017 CES Innovation Awards in the Home Appliances category.
Whirlpool Corporation believes the most powerful innovations are inspired by human needs. If it doesn’t provide a real consumer benefit, it’s not included the end product. Purposeful technology adjusts to common behaviors, activating shortcuts and solutions so people can get back to the things that matter most.
*Wifi & App required. Features subject to change. For details and privacy statement, visit whirlpool.com/connect.
