CES is just as well-known for its visionary high-end tech as it is for introducing new consumer-level products.
This year, one of the first truly big-ticket items to catch our eye was Kohler’s $16,000 smart bathtub. It will be available later this year, but as we’ll see, you’ll need to rip out your entire bathroom and start again in order to accommodate it.
Introducing the Stillness Bath
“Stillness” might be a bit of a misnomer for something that costs the price of a car and requires you to smash up your house. However, once the stress of the renovation is complete, there is no denying that the Stillness Bath will offer a genuinely unique bathing experience.
Designed to replicate the feeling of a Japanese bath, its aim is to create a spa-like experience in your bathroom. It uses light, fog, and aromatherapy to achieve this. Water fills from the bottom of the unit rather than the top, and there is a wooden moat that catches overflow and sends it back inside the tub.
Of course, the Stillness Bath is also “smart.” You can set the depth and temperature of the bath remotely, then instruct it to start filling with water. All the controls are done via the accompanying smartphone app.
And the Bathroom Remodeling?
Sadly, the Kohler Stillness Bath is as far from “plug-and-play” as it is possible to be.
According to the manufacturer, the rest of the room will need to be designed around the bath in order to install the grate and circulation system.
If a remodel is out of the question, there are cheaper, freestanding versions of the Stillness Bath available. You lose some features, but they start at around $6,000.
What Else Is New From Kohler at CES 2021?
Kohler has expanded the rest of its luxury smart bathroom appliances at CES 2021.
Also new is a touchless bathroom faucet and toilet (a follow-on from 2019’s touchless kitchen model). Both are a nod to the ongoing pandemic, and you can be sure that “touchless” products will continue to be a theme as the week goes on.
The toilet will start at $600, with a premium version costing $1,000. Pricing is not yet confirmed for the faucet; it will not be available until the second half of the year.
A smart water monitor completes the lineup. It will scan for leaks using pressure wave analysis and can instantly shut off your supply when one is detected. It will cost $600 and is expected in the second half of 2021.