Awards for the Home industry and Japanese minimalism in the bathroom. September 2026 brings two pieces of news that show where the bathroom fittings market is heading: on one hand, a new independent awards program is emerging to recognize innovation across the entire home furnishings segment, and on the other, one of the sanitary giants is betting on small but carefully designed accessories. Here's what it means for the industry. Warsaw Home Bathroom · weekly review · 2026-09-18 01 · Awards and Recognitions Home Innovation Awards launches - bathroom and wellness on the podium. On September 17, the winners of the first edition of the Home Innovation Awards [1] were announced - an independent awards program covering the entire home furnishings sector, from kitchen and cleaning, through space organization, to bedroom and bathroom. The Best Overall Home Innovation award went to SimpliSafe, the Home Innovation Company of the Year title went to Avocado Green Mattress, and the Home Innovation Solution of the Year award was given to Sonos. Ecobee was honored as Home Sustainability Company of the Year. In the bedroom and bathroom category, winners included Quince (bedding product of the year), Purple (pillow of the year), and Eight Sleep (product of the year in the sleep comfort category) - showing that the organizers treat wellness and rest as a natural extension of the bathroom zone. As Travis Grant, the program's managing director, pointed out, the home has become more multifunctional and important to users than ever before, and the awards are meant to spotlight the innovations that genuinely improve quality, safety, and everyday comfort. For manufacturers and distributors in the bathroom industry, this is a signal that it's worth keeping an eye on this initiative right from its first edition - new, well-designed awards programs quickly become a benchmark for brand building and customer communication. 02 · Product News TOTO bets on accessories: L Series takes on the Indian market. The second story takes Warsaw Home Bathroom to India, where TOTO India has unveiled its new L Series bathroom accessories line [2]. That's as many as 19 products - towel holders, glass shelves, soap dishes, toilet paper holders, and toilet brushes - priced from 1,600 to 12,000 rupees. The brand consistently leans into a minimalist aesthetic inspired by Japanese design: the form is meant to be clean, the function obvious, and the whole collection easy to integrate into a cohesively designed bathroom. The new line complements TOTO's earlier sanitary ranges and fits into the season of interior refreshes ahead of the holidays - a time when Indian consumers are eager to invest in home finishing details. As Shiozawa Kazuyuki, Managing Director of TOTO India, noted, every accessory element is meant to play a specific role in building a cohesive and comfortable bathroom experience. This is yet another example of a broader trend: for years, Japanese sanitary manufacturers have been developing not just their flagship products - ceramics or fittings - but also full accessory ecosystems that let customers complete a bathroom's look down to the smallest detail. It's a segment that is just as visible at trade fair booths in Europe, where customers are increasingly looking for "complete" solutions rather than standalone products. What does this mean for the industry? Both stories, though seemingly unrelated - a global awards program and a local product launch - point in the same direction: the bathroom is no longer treated as a separate, technical room, but is becoming part of a broader story about comfort, wellness, and the aesthetics of the entire home. Companies that understand this are already building an advantage today - whether through participation in new industry programs or through the consistent development of product lines. Want to see live how these trends translate into the offerings of sanitary, furniture, and wellness manufacturers? Join Warsaw Home Bathroom at Warsaw Home Bathroom - the International Bathroom Equipment Fair, where you'll meet brands building their position in the very spirit of award-winning innovation and carefully designed details. Invitation From award-winning wellness innovations to carefully designed bathroom accessories - you'll see the very same trends live at Warsaw Home Bathroom. There you'll meet sanitary, furniture, and finishing manufacturers who are building their offerings in the spirit of functionality, aesthetics, and attention to detail. Save the date and find out who is setting the direction for the bathroom industry this year. Warsaw Home Bathroom - Targi Łazienkowe Footnotes.

SimpliSafe(R) launches Video Doorbell Series 2 to help stop crime before it reaches your front door. Sep 15, 2026, 09:15 ET New video doorbell combines 2K clarity and a head-to-toe view with AI-powered detection and live agent intervention BOSTON, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - SimpliSafe(R), maker of award-winning smart home security systems, today announced the SimpliSafe(R) Video Doorbell Series 2, its most advanced video doorbell yet designed to help stop crime before it starts. When paired with SimpliSafe(R) Active Guard Outdoor Protection, the new doorbell brings live agent crime deterrence directly to the front door. The Video Doorbell's AI-powered camera can detect potential threats and alert live, U.S.-based security agents, who can see, speak to, and attempt to deter potential intruders and package thieves. SimpliSafe's agents can use the camera's video, two-way audio and loud siren to help prevent crime - all while requesting police dispatch and capturing video evidence.[1] "We believe that a video doorbell should do more than simply record what happened and alert you after the fact," said Rebecca Zavin, Chief Product and Technology Officer, SimpliSafe. "With Video Doorbell Series 2, we're expanding our portfolio of products that can help prevent crime. This is another step toward making home security more proactive, giving homeowners greater confidence that their home and loved ones are safe, even when they're away." See Every Detail. Protect What Matters. With sharper video, smarter detection,[2] and instant alerts, the Video Doorbell Series 2 helps customers stay informed and in control the moment people or packages arrive.[4] When paired with SimpliSafe(R) Active Guard Outdoor Protection, the doorbell enables trained security agents to remain on alert and take action to keep package thieves and intruders away before an incident escalates. The Video Doorbell Series 2 delivers enhanced 2K resolution and an expanded head-to-toe view, providing a sharper, more complete picture of visitors, package deliveries and other activity at the door - day or night.[2,4] The doorbell's enhanced two-way audio makes it easier to communicate with individuals at the doorway, while up to five seconds of pre-event capture records the moments leading up to an event for fuller context on what happened.[3] The new doorbell also adds dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) for more flexible connectivity. Featuring Smart AI, the Video Doorbell Series 2 can detect people, packages, and vehicles (vehicle detection coming soon).[4] Customers can use customizable Activity Zones to focus on the areas that matter most and ignore the ones that don't, like road traffic or neighboring yards. The Video Doorbell's sleek design pairs a black front-face housing with a white LED ring for maximum contrast, while color-coded status lights distinguish when a monitoring agent (amber) or homeowner (blue) is speaking so there's no ambiguity when the camera is active. Sized for standard 4-inch vinyl siding, included adapters enable flush, adjustable mounting on most homes without custom fitting. The Video Doorbell's UV and weather-resistant matte finish helps prevent fading over the device's lifespan. The Video Doorbell Series 2 was also designed with privacy and customer control in mind, including clear controls over what is recorded and shared. Through the SimpliSafe App, customers can customize their camera settings and alerts and, with select monitoring plans, choose whether to create a library of familiar faces that help SimpliSafe's professional monitoring agents know who should be expected to be on their property, such as an in-law, a neighbor, or a dog walker.[5] Pricing & Availability The SimpliSafe(R) Video Doorbell Series 2 is available now for $199.99 at SimpliSafe.com and at select retailers. The Video Doorbell requires a SimpliSafe(R) Base Station and Keypad and an existing wired doorbell setup with a mechanical or digital chime and a compatible transformer. The Video Doorbell Series 2 can be used as part of a SimpliSafe security system with or without a professional monitoring plan. To access SimpliSafe(R) Active Guard Outdoor Protection, customers can choose between two monitoring plans: Pro ($49.99/month) and Pro Plus ($79.99/month). Additional details about SimpliSafe monitoring plans can be found here. SimpliSafe's Privacy Promise can be found here. [1] Requires professional monitoring plan with SimpliSafe(R) Active Guard Outdoor Protection and the Video Doorbell Series 2. [2] Compared to the SimpliSafe(R) Video Doorbell Pro. [3] Available on all paid plans except Standard. Up to 5 seconds of pre-event video capture. [4] People and package detection are available on all paid plans except Standard. Vehicle detection is coming soon, also to paid plans except Standard. [5] Available with Pro and Pro Plus monitoring plans. Customers in restricted areas (TX, IL and Portland, OR) are still able to use SimpliSafe(R) Active Guard Outdoor Protection. Face matching will be disabled and agents manually review to determine if there's a match to a saved familiar face. About SimpliSafe SimpliSafe fundamentally changed the alarm industry, pioneering a new way to make home the safest place on earth for everyone. Founded in 2006, SimpliSafe is celebrating its 20th anniversary, growing to protect millions of people while remaining committed to its founding goal: to make every home secure. SimpliSafe has been named the number one home security pick by several highly esteemed publications and has been named a Best Home Security System by U.S. News & World Report for 8 years running. Learn more about SimpliSafe's advanced home security products and services at SimpliSafe.com. SOURCE SimpliSafe

This doorbell camera lets a human security guard watch your front door. SimpliSafe brings its Active Guard live monitoring to its new video doorbell. by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Sep 15, 2026, 6:36 AM PDT If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Image: Simplisafe Jennifer Pattison Tuohy is a senior reviewer with over twenty years of experience. She covers smart home, IoT, and connected tech, and has written previously for Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, BBC, and US News. DIY home security company SimpliSafe is bringing its AI-powered proactive security feature to the front door. The new SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 launches today for $199.99 and works with the company's Active Guard Outdoor Protection (starting at $49.99 a month). This combines AI analysis with live agents to detect potential threats and respond proactively. When the camera detects suspicious activity - using a combination of on-device AI, cloud-based computer vision, and facial recognition - a SimpliSafe monitoring agent can drop in on the camera to "see, speak to, and attempt to deter potential intruders and package thieves," according to the company. Image: SimpliSafe The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 is a wired doorbell with 2K resolution, a 10x zoom, a 150-degree head-to-toe view, two-way audio, and a built-in siren. It has smart alerts for people and packages, up to five seconds of pre-roll video, and supports dual-band Wi-Fi. The doorbell requires a SimpliSafe base station and keypad and works with any monitored SimpliSafe plan. It can also be used with a self-monitored plan with video recording. Active Guard was launched in 2023 on SimpliSafe's indoor camera, arrived on outdoor cameras in 2024, and is now available on the company's newest doorbell camera. The feature is opt in, and the agent can only view live footage when the system is armed and has been triggered. Active Guard requires a Pro or Plus SimpliSafe monitoring plan starting at $49.99 a month. In addition to potentially deterring intruders, SimpliSafe says the system can provide emergency services with more accurate information. The company has published a privacy page detailing how the system works, including that the footage is encrypted (at rest and in transit, not end-to-end) and that it "won't share camera footage with law enforcement unless required by law." Color-coded LED status lights on the doorbell indicate when a monitoring agent (amber) or homeowner (blue) is speaking, and you can create a library of familiar faces so the monitoring agent doesn't scare the bejeezus out of your dog walker. Ring offers a similar proactive security feature called Virtual Guard that works with its Ring Alarm system for $99 a month. Having a human be able to see and verify whether there's any actual danger at your home and potentially act on it has value, especially if you live in an area where false alarms incur fines, but for most people this feels like overkill. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. * Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Sep 14 8 Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Sep 11 25 Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Aug 26 5 The Verge daily. A free daily digest of the news that matters most.