Key Takeaways:
- Connected bath solutions are steadily gaining popularity and interest in the custom integration (CI) channel.
- Newer connected bath solutions now integrate with popular control platforms like Control4, with more integrations planned.
- Consumer interest in wellness solutions still stands strong, provided they are connected and can be made to fit in with the flow of their lifestyle.
Dollar per square foot, the kitchen and bath are the two areas of the home where the most money is often spent for renovations, however, for integrators looking to break into these areas, they aren’t always the most technologically profuse spaces, which has, historically, made them a difficult segment for integrators to really own. That could all be changing, however, and quickly, as connected bath solutions made plenty of rumblings, both grand and quiet, during the recently concluded 2026 CEDIA Expo.
Where the Connected Bath Shone at CEDIA Expo 2026
For attendees at this year’s CEDIA Expo, there is a non-zero chance you heard about the literal and metaphorical splash made by Kohler at this year’s show, and that was despite the company’s exhibit showcasing only a single solution: the Anthem+ smart shower system.
Kohler was not the only connected bath brand at the show, however, as part of my presence at the show involved a chat with the U.S. President of Thermasol, a spa and wellness brand who was also at the show, not exhibiting, but meeting with integrators to gauge sentiment their own connected bath and spa solutions. And based on initial feedback, it seems that they, too, have been receiving a lot of interest.
Why Connected Bath Solutions Are Garnering Renewed Interest from Integrators
One thing to note with Kohler’s Anthem+ solution is its scalability, being able to incorporate multiple water sources based on the desired design of the shower itself. Photo by Nick Boever
Some may not know that this was not the first time Kohler made an appearance in the channel, with the company exhibiting at the 2023 CEDIA Expo held in Dallas, Tex., though the company’s reception then caused nary a ripple aside from the novelty of a kitchen and bath brand exhibiting at an integration tradeshow. So, what changed since then?
In my talks with representatives at the show this year: a lot. In fact, the 2023 outing gave Kohler the insight it needed to break into the channel, that being that if it was going to bring technologically advanced bath and shower components into the channel, it needed to be able to connect with many of the popular control systems.
And therein lies the secret sauce that has caused integrators throughout the channel to perk up at the prospect of these solutions. Rather than keeping these as standalone systems, companies like Kohler and Thermasol (the latter of which is being guided by a former Lutron representative) have finally made it so smart spa and bath solutions can be controlled just like everything else in an integrator’s portfolio.
The revelation was so profound for one dealer at Kohler’s booth that they even asked how feasible it would be to set up an Anthem+ shower in their showroom for clients.
Consumer Interest in Wellness Never Left the Channel
Something else worth noting here is that consumer interest in wellness never really left the channel. If you look at lighting, that’s basically the selling point of the product nowadays. The limit of wellness for integration, however, has largely been what is capable of being controlled by today’s platforms. Lighting and shading: easy! HVAC: challenging, but not impossible. And–until recently–shower…what?
The fact that the bathroom, a hub for wellness rituals, is one of the most profitable segments of design should highlight how much homeowners are willing to spend on this type of wellbeing boost. Again, though, until recently, the only component integrators primarily sold that contributes to this narrative, has been lighting.
Now picture this: a client likes to take a nice, relaxing shower after their workout. Through some technological magic, an integrator makes it so when they shut off the lights in the workout room, an automation gets trigged that starts prepping the shower so that, by the time they’re ready to hop in, the integrated music is playing, the steam is ready; all they need to do is turn the shower on.
That’s not hypothetical; it was an example given to me at the show of something that’s already been done using the Anthem+ system on Control4. Homeowners have always wanted this capability, that’s the rub (or I guess scrub in this case). Imagine being able to draw a nice, steaming bath before you even walk in the door after work so you have instant comfort waiting for you. It’s that same idea, and Kohler has already hinted at expanding this control capability to some of their other bath products, like, say, the Stillness tub.
Could This Be the Push That Gets Integrators to ‘Own the Bath’?
Photo by Nick Boever
I feel as though every time a segment opens in CI, there’s a push in marketing language to get integrators to “own the ‘x,’” though, in this case, I feel as though it may be more warranted. With the shower and bathtub being such central figures within the bathroom, the fact that integrators can own this specific fixture, along with lighting, has the potential to give them far greater ownership of this space when it comes to specifying product.
And the fact that brands like Kohler and Thermasol have seemingly struck gold with these products and are looking to expand these capabilities into other water fixtures means that we could have a whole suite of connected water products for the professional smart home around the corner. Baby steps, though.
One thing integrators will need to be wary of here is that, as with lighting and energy management before, operating in this new segment will require certain partnerships. Make nice with the local plumber: they could become your new best friend if you want to start selling smart showers and smart saunas.
The good news that, in the case with Kohler, they’re already partnered with the CEDIA channel in providing opportunities to integrators. In the case with Thermasol, they’re being headed by a former CEDIA channel employee who’s no stranger to the challenges and needs of integrators, making both brands well positioned to help guide the more adventurous into this emerging product segment.
Where Integrators Will Want to Keep Tabs
For the editors at CE Pro, our keen interest will be in how this initial interest pans out over the next few years. In the case of lighting and energy management, plenty of integrators have leveraged both as a means of getting an early in on projects with builders and designers. Could connected bath solutions such as the Anthem+ facilitate similar plays? Only time will tell.
We’ll also be interested in seeing how designers react to these products, as, lighting control has been widely embraced as a net positive for how it has the potential to impact enjoyment of design. There’s a chance that same level of enjoyment can be had with an exceptional shower experience.
