AV in the Toilet: High-Tech Commode Sales Surge
Home technology surrounds us: from UHD video systems to wireless audio distribution to connected appliances. But according to a recent article from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, we can expect technology to get a little more personal and whole lot more moving. Welcome to the high-tech toilet age!
According to a 2016 Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, one-fifth of homeowners renovating and replacing a toilet are choosing a model with at least one high-tech feature; the most popular features being self-cleaning, motion-activated covers and built-in night lights. However, options such as warm air drying, heated seats, ambient lighting, and music streaming are becoming much more popular.
For example, the Kohler Numi (reasonably listed at $7,013) integrates an interactive touch-screen display and built-in Bluetooth for audio streaming while you're physically streaming.
Toto, another high-end manufacturer, offers similar features with prices splashing as low as $4,000.
According to Kamran Zand, broker and owner of Luxury Estates International, installing a high-end toilet doesn’t necessarily increase the home’s value, but it does potentially help when selling the home.
For all of us AV professionals out there, it looks (or smells) like we have another point of integration when designing the smart dwelling. Granted, we're no stranger to the bathroom--after all, we've seen distributed audio and mirrors with built-in displays in the bathroom for years--but smart toilets are sure to plop us on a new plateau.
