"Being wired in and connected is integral to your home," he said. "Power plugs now have USB ports in them, you've got wireless internet in every room, speaker amplification in every room.
"In some cases there is a fireplace you can control with your iPhone, you can control the lighting with your iPad."
Home intelligence company Fibaro offered customers the convenience of controlling their whole home remotely, said New Zealand director Johnny Corry.
"It's a central control system that can connect to anything in your existing house: lighting, heating, alarms, garden irrigation systems, electric blinds and windows, cameras.
"If it's powered we can control it."
Mr Corry said the firm, one of half a dozen offering such services, first appeared at the show in 2011, but demand had grown significantly each year.
Also growing in popularity was custom printed wallpaper and glass, where people can use their own photos or designs to be reproduced for their homes, said Mr Blomfield.
Other unique features of this year's show was a Smeg fridge competition, where four contestants had put their own spin on the retro appliances for the public to vote, a range of home improvement seminars and gardens landscaped by industry leaders.
Auckland Home Show
• Today until Sunday at ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane.
• Hours: 10am to 9pm, but closes at 6pm on Sunday.
• Tickets: $16 for seniors and adult tickets purchased online, or $18 at the door.
• Children under 18 free.
• $10 for patrons with building trade IDs.
• Parking: $6 cash only at Alexandra Park.
• More info: aucklandhomeshow.co.nz.
