In 2021, I built what I hoped would be my ideal smart kitchen. Three years on, I love how my new kitchen has made cooking more enjoyable and creative — but at the same time, the technology hasn't completely fulfilled its potential. Here is a look at the appliances I added, what's great about them, how they've helped me streamline my cooking, and what I would like to see in the future that will make the connected kitchen really smart.

Initially, I had dreams of creating a space that would make cooking for my family of four easier and more fun, plus stretch my culinary skills. From meal planning and grocery shopping to prepping and cleaning, I wanted the futuristic kitchen of my dreams. 

My home has an expanded galley kitchen measuring about 150 square feet, quite small for South Carolina. My main goals were to maximize cupboard space while cutting down on counter clutter and squeezing in as many high-tech appliances as possible. Here's what I ended up with — and how well it all worked.

The smart oven range: Thermador Pro Harmony range

Thermador, which is owned by Bosch's parent company, BSH, is recognized as one of the top prosumer ranges out there. I've always fancied myself as something of a home chef, and this was my dream oven. With this choice, I was prioritizing features like excellent baking, roasting, and broiling over ovens with a camera in them. I also valued innovations like its star-shaped pedestal burners with extra-low simmer capabilities. 

I got all of that — and more. The oven's Home Connect app offers remote control, monitoring of temperature with a built-in probe, and the option of voice control with Alexa and Google. Today, I have just about mastered controlling it with my voice, which is handy when I want to turn the oven off from the couch. (Although I am still stymied by the oven's insistence that I turn its knob to Remote Start to use any of these functions.)