Having a re-fit downstairs. What snazzy things do I need to bring it into the 21st century?

[donkeysandzebras]

We live in an ugly 70s house which has no character but it very easy to live in. We've been here for over 5 years and are finally in a position to do the "nice to have" bits of work - replace the flooring & the doors, sort out the fireplace - all aesthetic stuff but which I think could really change how the house feels and looks.
Whilst we're at it, I feel as though we need to bring it up to date gizmo & gadgetry wise. What is good? And why? Neither DH nor I have a clue or interest and don't really know where to start.

When we did this everyone told us to get a Hive heating system... don't do that.

DH loves that he can check the temperature at home when we're on holiday. But I've yet to fine a sensible use for it that can't be achieved with a thermostat and timer.

Nest heating and a Ring doorbell? Although we have both and I hate them!

On a more boring note, channeling in cables would make a real impact esp if you have a wall mounted telly etc. It’ll look cleaner and crisper.

We had new sockets put in downstairs and my dh insisted we had USB points in the sockets in kitchen too. I rolled my eyes initially as couldn't see the point but it's really handy when cooking as I can charge my phone without using a plug.

Zip tap in the kitchen?

Two dishwashers so that one’s clean, one’s dirty and you don’t have so much faff of transferring dishes to cupboards?

Yes, we have USB sockets in all the sockets in the house and it's dead handy.

USB-C ports in the sockets. We've just replaced both our phones and both charge off USB-C, not USB.

Internet TV in the kitchen to keep me company when cooking :) Ideally on some sort of bracket or flippy down gizmo.

Yes usb ports in the sockets are great.
If doing electrics then lots and lots of sockets everywhere and also the little 5amp sockets you control from the light switch for lamps.

dafspunk

I roared out laughing at your two dishwasher suggestion. Soooo lazy but such a fab idea

Quooker boiling water tap - would never be without one again.
TADO home heating system - runs on your smartphones, turns heating off when house is empty and on again when you are coming home (uses witchcraft I think). You can also run it on a schedule and turn the heating on remotely to keep the cats warm when you are away. Much better than nest and hive IMHO.
have doors that are near a corner of the room rehinged if necessary so the hinge is in the corner. You may also need the light switches moved to the other side of the door, but get all the electrics redone while you are at it.
at least twice as many power points as you think you could possibly need, and echo the USB advice above
Drawers in the kitchen, not cupboards, wherever feasible
If you have an open fire have it so the chimney can be blocked off when it's not being used or it sucks all the warm air out of the room
Get the phone/broadband point moved to somewhere sensible and chased in if it currently terminates in the hallway.
I could go on forever....

Definitely the USB plug sockets.

We have a lighting circuit in the sitting room which allows you to plug in table lamps and turn them on and off at the wall with a normal light switch. You have to change your lamps over to a special three pin plug but that's easy and the plug is about 50p. I love it because I hate the light that the big ceiling light gives off, but our sitting room is fairly big and going round switching all the lamps I need off individually is a pain!

I was dubious when DH said he wanted it when we refurbed this house, but if we do another refurb I want it through the majority of the house!

Ah, crosspost with @PlayingForKittens!

Also, I saw someone on Instagram put in a new kitchen and they had a big yet fairly shallow cupboard with shelves and plug sockets for toaster, blender, etc. Basically all of the small appliances you usually have on the worktop but all tucked tidily away in a cupboard. I want that next time too!

They are great aren't they househunt. We have them in the living room and all the bedrooms have one by the bed for bedside lamps.

I don't really know what else I'd put in. This house was a total refurb but we are very low maintenance and low tech really. A few years ago the thing to do was get cables for everything to future proof but these days everything is wireless so as long as you have lots of plug sockets you are fine. We had lots of sockets put in behind where we were planning to put inbuilt shelves so now the shelves are in they were built with the cupboard at the bottom backless so all the cables for the Sonos and speakers, the tv etc are hidden.

Thanks for all of these suggestions. I've particularly noted that you can't future proof a house as we just don't know what the future will actually bring.
The kitchen isn't being touched in this refurb. That was done a few years ago and would get the MN seal
of approval as I have one of those units with all of the small appliances plugged in

Underfloor heating if feasible is just the nicest thing- I love it.

Flying I prefer to think of it as efficiency but either way, glad it’s tickled you

Charging point in a cupboard for your cordless vacuum cleaner? One in a bathroom cupboard for charging a shaver or electric toothbrush.

One of my favourite things in my house is a switch just outside the bathroom which lights up a tiny waterproof spotlight that shines on the loo.

If you go to the loo in the night you use this one and don't have to switch on the main bathroom bright lights and wake yourself up! It's good to leave on for guests too.

Ooh @donkeysandzebras sorry for the highjack, but any chance you could share a photo of your appliances cupboard? I'm planning the kitchen for our self build at the moment and that sounds brilliant! Thanks

Following on from fabulous, my late 80s house has a light switch in the kitchen that turns on only one light in the massed downlighter - enough for foraging.

Not gizmo, but put in plenty of floor level sockets/USB ports, build for age, so you aren't upon ladders changing lightbulbs. This applies for future limited mobility which may not be age-related, and also looks better. Overhead lighting: shite.

I'd be wary of getting rid of landline phone outlets. Twice in the last month, I've had friends who rented and needed ASDL (Australia), with no landline connection, because, er... everything's wireless now.

Always have a backup plan.

Another one asking ever so nicely for a picture of the appliance cupboard please

We have Sonos speakers (and the rest of the bits) wired in. Means you can play music etc in any room just from phone which is nice.

Motion sensor lights in places like utility room is great. No need to find switch when you go in with full hands and no problem with people forgetting to turn lights off. Works well in loo as well.

Dafspunk Does anyone really have two dishwashers? I imagine both mine would be clean or dirty at the same time!

When we had a new kitchen built I had a drinks fridge put in. I love it as it saves any drink taking up room in the main fridge. Not just alcohol in there, but soft drinks, water etc. Don't know if this is very 21st century, but it has been very useful, especially this past summer. Nothing quite like knowing I've always got a bottle of chilled white to hand.