What's hot besides the Carolina sun? The latest innovations for your home

New technologies are making so much possible in homes today. Our little nests are getting greener and smarter, more durable, more functional and, yes, more unique and individual. Here are some of the latest new options for your 21st-century home.

Home automation and connectivity continues to grow by leaps and bounds. One of the favorite new products at this year’s International Builders’ Show (IBS) was the Eaton Home Automation Hub. This one device provides a control central for home automation and energy management. With the ability to integrate with popular smart home systems like Honeywell thermostats, Kwikset locks, Denon Heos music systems and Clare Controls security devices, homeowners can control myriad home functions with the touch of a button, by voice or even remotely.

Due on the market this fall, the new VELUX Active system allows homeowners to pair home automation with skylights to allow natural light and fresh air into homes. The system monitors CO2, humidity, and temperature, and automatically opens the skylights two-to-three times daily to remove stale, harmful air. The controls are operable by a smartphone app or with Apple HomeKit. It can also read local weather reports and open or close windows or blinds accordingly.

The new Onelink Safe and Sound smoke and carbon monoxide alarm can process voice commands and, with its location detection, alert homeowners of dangers in their area. It’s Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatible and also has the ability to connect with other hardwired home alarms and activate them when it detects danger.

Named Best in Show and Most Innovative Building Material Product at the International Builders’ Show, the AeroBarrier offers a breakthrough in passive home envelope tightness. Blown into a pressurized space, the AeroBarrier sealant particles are drawn to any leaks in the building envelope, until any hole is tightly sealed. This system increases energy efficiency and also reduces labor costs for builders.

The brand new patented-technology Retrax Solar Solutions feature preassembled solar panels that are easy to install and relocate. They won’t damage your roof, and they’re easy to remove when you move (or need roof repairs). Retrax panels come prewired and can be activated in less than 30 minutes and come folded up so they can be easily transported.

Another award winner at the IBS was the Ecobee smart thermostat. The newest version features a built-in speaker and microphone and can be controlled through a touchscreen, a smart device or by voice and pairs with Amazon Alexa and other far-field voice recognition. Ecobee’s signature room-sensing technology measures occupancy and temperature for maximum energy efficiency.

For those with a flair for drama, cement and porcelain graphic tiles are now available in hundreds of designs — from a black-and-white geometric to a Moorish mosaic to a classic Mid-Century Modern pattern. Whatever your style, there is a graphic tile to fit your vision. (And those bold patterns work great on kitchen backsplashes and bathroom walls, as well.)

While radiant floor heating is not new, recent advances have made it a more accessible option for homeowners. Radiant heating offers an even, comfortable, super-energy efficient heating option for your home, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. STEP Warmfloor features innovative solutions for new construction and also retrofitting existing floors. It can be installed under most floors, including stone, wood, engineered floors and carpet.

One of the hot new products for homes these days isn’t new at all, but it is being used in a whole new way: reclaimed wood — from old barns, warehouses, cabins and factories. Much in keeping with the Japanese aesthetic, wabi-sabi, in which imperfection is celebrated, homeowners today are creating focal points that feature the unique, even flawed, personality of reclaimed wood.

The latest buzz in home design is all about adaptability. Homeowners are looking at their use of space differently and builders are responding, not only with more options, but with rooms specifically designed for flexibility. What may function as a formal dining room today can easily morph into a playroom next year and a home office a few years later.

At the forefront of new home designs is multi-generational capacity. Families staying together across generations is on the rise in the U.S., whether it’s grandparents downsizing and needing the assistance of family close by, young couples just starting out, or in-the-middle families that want to be closer or can use the help — both financial and physical.

Advances in products built to withstand the elements are making extending your living spaces out of doors easier than ever. New sophisticated, low-energy heating units from Bromic Heating feature gas and electric heating systems, both portable and recess-mounted ceiling units, so you can live in your outdoor rooms year round.