Step inside LG’s self-contained Smart Cottage
LG has unveiled its modular Smart Cottage with gadgets and appliances for work and play. Could this streamlined way of living be the way forward?
Looking for the ideal home-from-home getaway? When life gets too hectic, retreating to the mindfully designed and sustainable LG Smart Cottage could be just the ticket.
It offers all the benefits of a high-tech smart home in a stylish, compact and eco-friendly solution and comes fitted with the latest gadgets and appliances.
South Korean electronics company LG is best known for its wide range of household appliances and high-end TVs.
The design of this self-contained smart home has been planned to work in harmony with over 14 of LG’s home gadgets and appliances.
It also has solar panels on the roof plus on-board heating, ventilation and air con. Here we explore inside this amazing space that is meticulously designed so you can work, think, play, relax and just be.
A small and sustainable space with big ideas
This self-contained compact smart home was a concept first announced at the IFA Consumer Electronics Trade Show in 2023.
The idea was to create an energy-efficient, comfortable and convenient dwelling that seamlessly merges space with smart home appliances and services.
The Smart Cottage is now a reality as LG launched it to market in Korea at the end of October 2024. LG is currently working to secure plans to bring the Smart Cottage to the US and European markets too.
Having seen and toured a Smart Cottage in Korea ourselves last month, we think LG has managed to wonderfully balance comfort, style and functionality with this ambitious design.
Created with sustainability in mind, the contemporary home comes complete with a generous solar panel roof to generate its own power supply.
It has fittings for water and sewage. Carefully considered lighting, an attractive decked patio and a smart lock on the front door are all features that further enhance its style and functionality.
Inside, there are 14 LG appliances that can be controlled with your phone or voice via LG’s ThinQ app.
“We aimed to create an iconic home with a fine and seamless design,” says Bruno Lee of LG Smart Cottage Company.
“Pursuing a lifestyle that takes a step forward with nature, we chose recyclable materials to benefit the environment and humanity.
“The Smart Cottage is a home that systematises a way of living that utilises natural (solar) energy.’
The open-plan living area in the LG Duo Smart Cottage features wall to ceiling windows that are shaded by folding privacy screens outside.
Go with the flow
The LG Smart Cottage may have a compact footprint, but this smart space is grand in design.
Its layout is streamlined and there’s no room for unnecessary clutter.
The results – while small in space – are refreshing with every square meter working hard. And while it may be called a ‘cottage’, the home is contemporary in design and focuses on connecting light, nature and space through its large windows.
It’s a far cry from your standard thatched cottage as the main body of the home is made from low-carbon steel with PVC material for the windows.
Inside is a steel and artificial marble kitchen with a light stone plastic composite floor – all of which look clean and eye-catching in design.
There are two size options to choose from. A single-floor ‘Mono’ home that is 26m², and a ‘Duo’, which has two floors.
The Duo (pictured here) has a 29.4m² ground floor and a 16m² upstairs bedroom area and totals 45.4m².
Upstairs in the Duo Smart Cottage, recessed lighting and two window panels in the roof help to open up the sense of space
The upstairs bedroom has an a-frame ceiling complete with recessed lighting and two long window panels.
These help to open up the space by adding light so it doesn’t feel too enclosed.
This bedroom area can be accessed via lofty cabin-style stairs located in the middle of the ground floor.
While there’s no room for more than a double futon, its fuss-free design may just make you sleep deeper.
The LG Smart Cottage Duo has an upstairs are that measures 16m² and has enough space for a double futon and side table
As you enter the Smart Cottage via the front door (with smart lock), you pass through a small hall that has enough space to kick off your shoes.
One big stride and you’re immediately in the main living area that comes complete with a LG StanByME Full HD smart touch screen TV.
This room is complemented by floor-to-ceiling windows that let natural light flood in when needed.
This light can be dampened by folding privacy screens outside, which comes in useful on a sun-drenched day.
At one end of the living area there’s a kitchen with carefully positioned appliances.
This includes LG’s induction cooktop, oven, refrigerator, water purifier, dishwasher and wine cellar that has space for up to 49 bottles of wine. So if you fancy a gathering, you’ve got provisions.
Every gadget in the LG Smart Cottage has its place including the LG WashTower that sits neatly opposite the sink that leads to the shower and WC
While the lower ground floor footfall is tight, the area looks surprisingly spacious due to the amount of light flooding into the room.
Leading on from the living and kitchen area you walk through a small galley-style wash area complete with sink and LG’s WashTower washing machine and tumble dryer.
This leads through to the bathroom that has a shower and WC (with heated toilet seat, naturally).
Around the perimeter of the Smart Cottage is a decked veranda with enough space to house a chair or park your bicycle.
To one side of the home is space for the battery storage and where any electrical hook ups can be hidden.
The number of solar panels you get on the roof varies depending on the weather conditions of each country, but the system is designed for a power generation capacity of approximately 3 to 4 kW. Enough to keep things running smoothly.
The low-carbon steel frame of the LG Smart Cottage looks stylish against the decked veranda
Perfectly positioned appliances and gadgets
Using LG’s ThinQ app, you can control and manage the appliances inside using your smart phone or voice and monitor usage in real time.
“For a smart and convenient user experience, all of the appliances inside connect seamlessly with LG ThinQ app,” says Bruno Lee.
“Via the app, you can effortlessly control each appliance, manage the entire HVAC system and monitor energy storage and consumption in real-time.
“LG ThinQ also connects to the Smart Cottage’s security-enhancing Internet of Things (IoT) accessories including cameras, motion sensors and smart doorbells.’
With your phone’s GPS, a function operated by the app can also trigger certain ‘smart routines’. So when you’re close to home the lights, TV and heating will turn on, for example, helping to make your return welcoming.
Appliance highlights include LG’s space-saving WashTower, which sits neatly between the living area and bathroom.
This stackable washing machine and tumble dryer comes with one central control panel and can be controlled remotely.
It has LG’s AI Direct Drive that analyses the weight and softness of your clothes so it can automatically work out the best cycle.
The LG tiiun is also a noteworthy gadget for anyone who doesn’t have much luck with plants.
This indoor gardening appliance provides the exact amount of light and water you need to grow vegetables and plants inside. So minimum effort for maximum results.
Solar panels sit neatly in the roof of the sustainable LG Smart Cottage
A place for everything
The convenience of the LG Smart Cottage is that it can be delivered ready-made and packed with clever gadgets.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to sidestep organising installation, suitable land and planning permission, but the fact that the Smart Cottage design is thought out for you means there is one less thing to worry about.
“In the Smart Cottage, we value the individual’s time,” says Bruno Lee.
“Rather than just focusing on physical size, we aimed to encapsulate the concept of minimal space necessary to provide rest and relaxation, aligning with human nature’s need for pause and comfort.”
With carefully planned gadgets and appliances, we think LG may just be onto something when it comes to making life simpler.
The Smart Cottage cuts differently to buying a home that you fill with gadgets, as it’s a home built around its tech where everything inside has space and purpose.
While it does come with some downsizing and the idea of letting go, this modular smart home might just offer the clear-thinking comfort we all crave now and then.
For more house tours take a look around our Grand Designs TV Houses.
