If you really like gadgets, then they’re rarely confined to one room in the house. But rather than have your place look like a server room or some kind of 1960s NASA operations center, you really should do it with some style. Remember, you want just as many “wows” to come from how cool it looks as for what it does. BBGear will be talking about how to equip your place with the best features and best-looking appliances and toys.

The first room we’ll look at is the kitchen, since it’s where every get-together ends up anyhow. I won’t be recommending specific products, but pointing out some of the available features and options available to you. The kitchen is a good place to start since most of us only see the kitchen appliance section on the way to something else. When I decided to stop one day (OK, when my wife made me stop one day), I was surprised at how cool some of this stuff was.

Refrigerator: French doors are in. And they’re also in many colors, including the very macho jet black and titanium. For most guys, these new fridges make a lot of sense because they place the freezer below the fridge cabinet. Why is this better? Less leaning down to see what’s in the fridge. You open the double doors, and right there, in your face, is all your food in its 37-degree glory. Given, it will probably be a bunch of beers, leftovers, and a box of baking soda, but at least you won’t have to hunch your back to see them.

But that’s not the cool tech part. Oh no, Chester. French door fridges are just in vogue. Now, you can get them with TVs built into them. And on some, it’s not just a TV. These bad boys are touchscreen internet appliances. Some even keep track of your grocery list, or allow you to view pictures on the same screen. So besides being able to place your grocery (or take-out) order right from the fridge, you can also chuck all those little magnets. More tech, less clutter. You win. LG was the first to introduce these features, and some of the bigger names are catching up fast. If you’re in the market for a new ice box, check it.

That space above the oven: Putting in a microwave isn’t just easy, it’s smart. Counter space is much more attractive than a giant appliance. But you already know that. What you may not have heard of by now is the combination convection oven /microwave. For about $100-150 more than a standard microwave, you can add a fan-enhanced oven that cooks as evenly as a standard oven, but at microwave speeds, with an estimated 20-30 percent decrease in cooking time. And the less time you spend cooking, the more time you can spend, well, cooking. GE has led the charge here with its Advantium line, but you can find others for less.

If you’re looking to upgrade your regular oven, some newer ones also offer the convection feature, often called something like “Fast Bake.”

Speaking of ovens: Imagine having a hot meal waiting for you when you got home, even if there was no one there to cook it for you. Some of the newest, technology-rich ovens available feature advanced temperature and timer controls that allow you to put a cold entrée in, keep it cool all day, and start cooking it before you come home so that it’s ready when you walk in. If only you could call it from your cell and tell it you’re going to be late. Maybe next year. 

Now mind you, these bad boys aren’t cheap, and aren’t something you’ll find at Best Buy or Sears, but it’s the closest we’ll get to Rosie from The Jetsons for quite a while. This eliminates the “I can’t wait 2 hours once I get home for dinner” excuse that keeps the kids of the owners of the local Chinese restaurant and pizza joint in Gucci sunglasses and private schools.

Dishwashers: These modern kitchen stand-bys have come a long way, too.  They range from ones with built-in garbage disposals (no dish cleaning or pre-rinsing!) to aluminum interiors that make the ‘washers look as good open as they do closed. On some, you can’t even see the controls until you open it. Clean lines like that can’t be beat. Another great feature is the sanitize setting, perfect for making usable that plate of leftovers you left sitting out way too long. Ewww.

Coffee machine: You love your java, but not quite enough to make a whole pot every time, right? And instant coffee? Well, that’s just wrong. Consider one of the coffee pod machines on the market, like the Tassimo or Keurig. Not only do they make delicious, single serving cups of coffees, teas, and hot chocolate, they’re easy to clean and look sooooo much cooler than the big, ugly glass pot your Mom gave you when you moved in.

One step closer to the replicators on Star Trek. And for me, that’s a good thing.

TV: Now, if your kitchen is within the sightline of your family room or living room, which likely has a TV of its own, you really don’t need a TV in there. But rarely are gadgets purposes based on need. And if you’ve already fallen in love with the idea of the TV in the fridge door, you’re all set. However, there are some kitchen TV options you should be aware of so you don’t have to burn the chili because you ran into the other room to check the score. (Why you don’t have a TiVo for these moments is beyond me, but anyway…)

There are your flip-down models that hide under a counter. Personally, I’ve had really bad luck with these things dying on me after a few months of use. You can still HEAR it, but the little bulbs for the LCD screen burn out like that flickering one over your desk at work. So unless you’ve got super-hero-style night vision, you’re not seeing squat. And, at 7 inches or less, you’ll squint way more than you need to, even when it’s working. But remember the counter space you saved by moving the microwave? Perfect spot for a nice 15-inch flat-screen, and it’s already near an outlet. Sweet.

That’s it for kitchen tech. Next month we’ll tackle the bedroom.