KITCHENS & COMPONENTS Liam Carter


Repenic expands its smart home collection with design at its heart


Editor Matt Broughton talks to Liam Carter, Product Manager at Repenic, about the company’s expanding range of switches and sockets, its approach to smart home design and plans for the year ahead.


F


or Repenic, 2026 has been a year of broadening its offer. Having


established itself in specialist lighting controls, the UK-based brand has expanded into a coordinated collection of switches and sockets, giving homeowners and designers more scope to create a consistent look throughout the home. The move followed conversations with


customers undertaking whole-house renovations, who wanted more than an individual lighting control. They were looking for a joined-up design across the electrical fittings in their interiors. “In August, we introduced smart and


conventional toggle switches, rocker switches and sockets to complement our existing dimmer range. Homeowners and designers can now choose functions to suit different rooms while maintaining a consistent aesthetic,” says Liam.


Making smart technology part of the interior Repenic’s approach is based on the idea that connected technology should complement a room rather than become a visual distraction. Its products combine metal finishes and familiar tactile controls with smart functionality, aiming to make technology feel like a natural part of the interior scheme. “Smart-home technology has advanced, but


its design hasn’t always kept pace. Many devices still look utilitarian, out of place where materials, textures and details have been carefully considered.” That philosophy is reflected in the Zigbee


Smart Socket, which brings several functions together in a conventional wall fitting. It features two independently controlled mains outlets, individual energy monitoring and dual USB-C charging, with up to 30W fast charging when one USB-C port is used. Through a compatible Zigbee 3.0 hub, users


can control connected appliances remotely, set schedules and monitor energy consumption, while retaining physical switches. The socket is available in four finishes, including solid brushed brass and brushed stainless steel, to coordinate with the wider range. The intention is to provide additional


functionality without changing the familiar way people interact with a socket.


22 BKU NOVEMBER 2026


Choice, control and personalisation The wider Zigbee Smart Switch collection includes rotary dimmers, toggle switches and rocker switches. Repenic is also putting emphasis on flexibility, allowing customers to combine compatible controls on a single faceplate and personalise the appearance through different finishes and details. For example, a matt black faceplate can be


paired with a brass rotary knob, offering scope to coordinate electrical fittings with other materials and finishes in a room. Liam believes this degree of choice is important


because no two homes are quite the same. “Good design should offer freedom, because


every home has its own character and routines.” The functionality extends beyond individual


fittings. Repenic’s smart switches support multiway control, allowing lighting to be operated from different locations. This gives designers and homeowners greater flexibility in how lighting is controlled around the home, without relying solely on a single switch position.


Looking ahead Having expanded its switch and socket portfolio, Repenic is now exploring how its products might connect with more aspects of the home. Areas under consideration include wireless controls, sensors and other connected electrical


accessories, alongside a more unified approach to setting up and using the products. Rather than simply increasing the number of


products available, Liam says the ambition is to develop connections that make the overall experience more useful. “What excites us isn’t simply developing


more products, but building meaningful connections between them: more responsive lighting, simpler daily routines and greater control over living spaces.” He also wants to encourage designers, installers


and homeowners to think about electrical fittings earlier in a project, alongside decisions about lighting, cabinetry and materials. These details can have a significant influence on the finished interior, but are not always considered at the outset. For Liam, feedback from the people using and


installing the products is an important part of the development process. Practical experience can highlight issues that may not be apparent during the design and specification stages. “We welcome readers’ ideas, experiences and


frustrations. What works? What could be better? What do you wish existed?” It is an invitation that reflects Repenic’s wider


approach: developing products around the way people want their homes to look and work, while keeping design and everyday usability firmly in focus.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44