Flush-Mount Outlets: BOCCI 22 vs Smoothline, and Where to Place Them
An electrical outlet is one of the few elements in a designed space that almost no one wants to look at. The cover plate, the visible screws, the slight protrusion from the wall — for decades it's been the part of the room everyone agrees to ignore. Flush-mount outlet systems remove the cover plate entirely, leaving only the operative component (the outlet face itself, or a switch, or a USB-C port) visible at wall level. The result is power and connectivity that disappear into the architecture rather than competing with it. This guide covers the two systems Casson carries — BOCCI's 22 system and DesignMod's Smoothline — and where each belongs.
What is a flush-mount electrical outlet?
A flush-mount outlet is installed directly into the wall such that its face sits level with the surrounding wall surface — no protruding cover plate, no visible mounting screws, no hardware framing the receptacle. The electrical box and the operative components are recessed into the drywall during construction, then finished into place using standard wall-finishing techniques. Once installed, only the outlet itself is visible.
Because the system requires placement of the electrical box during the drywall installation phase, flush-mount outlets are practical only as part of a renovation or new-build project. They cannot be retrofitted into an existing finished wall without opening the drywall first. Installation requires both an electrician (for the wiring and code compliance) and a drywall installer (for the finishing work that integrates the outlet into the surrounding surface).
Which flush-mount system should I specify?
Casson carries two systems, with quite different design intentions and price points. BOCCI's 22 system is the high-end option — a fully integrated electrical accessory line with a patented spring-loaded mounting mechanism, designed to disappear completely into the wall. Smoothline by DesignMod is a more cost-effective system that uses standard electrical components behind a flush fascia plate, with the cover treated like part of the wall (paintable, wallpaperable, or stainable wood).
BOCCI 22 System
The premium flush-mount system, designed by the Vancouver-based studio behind some of the most recognized contemporary lighting in North America. The 22 system uses a patented spring-loaded barrel mechanism: a receiving structure is mudded directly into the drywall during installation, and operative components — outlets, USB-C ports, switches, dimmers — pop into the barrel when the wall is finished. The result is total flush integration with no visible mounting hardware. Available in three colours (Almond, White, Black) chosen to recede into typical interior surfaces. Components are individually selectable, so a single wall position can be specified as exactly the connection types needed for that location.
View the BOCCI 22 System
DesignMod Smoothline
A simpler, more cost-effective flush-mount approach. Smoothline is a UL-approved fascia plate system that fits over standard electrical outlets and switches, leaving a thin flush surface flush with the surrounding wall. The fascia can be painted, wallpapered, or specified in stainable birch — meaning the cover treatment can match the wall behind it almost invisibly. Available in drywall-mount and wood-mount systems, with the wood version suitable for installation in stone, marble, and other hard surfaces. Because Smoothline uses existing electrical components, the per-unit cost is significantly lower than custom systems — a useful option for projects where flush outlets are wanted across many positions but a fully bespoke system is out of budget.
View Smoothline
Where should flush-mount outlets be placed?
Outlet placement is one of the parts of a renovation that's easiest to get wrong and hardest to fix afterward — the wiring is already in the wall by the time the finished room is in use. The four considerations below are worth thinking through before the electrical drawings are finalized.
Know the code
Building codes set hard rules on outlet placement, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms where water and electricity coexist. Among the most relevant: face-up (horizontal) outlets are not permitted in kitchens or bathrooms — they collect water and pose shock risk. Outlets in these rooms must also be GFCI-protected (ground fault circuit interrupter), and must be a code-mandated minimum distance from sinks and water sources. Major appliances generally require their own dedicated circuit and breaker. Verify current local code with your electrician before finalizing any placement plan.
Plan for charging stations
Phones, tablets, electric toothbrushes, razors, video game controllers, robot vacuums — the number of items in a household that need overnight charging has multiplied steadily. Hidden charging locations save the visible space from being colonized by cables: an outlet inside a medicine cabinet for an electric toothbrush, an outlet in a kitchen drawer for tablets and phones, an outlet inside a closet for a robot vacuum dock. None of these need flush mounting (they're already hidden), but specifying them at the design stage saves the daily friction of where-do-I-plug-this-in.
Match outlet height to use
Standard wall outlet height in North America is 12–18 inches above the floor — appropriate for floor lamps and vacuums, awkward for everything else. For outlets used while standing (a hair dryer in a bathroom, a stand mixer in a kitchen, a lamp on a side table), specify outlets at counter or working height instead. For outlets used while seated (charging at a desk, a reading lamp by a chair), match the height to the work surface or chair arm. The general principle: figure out who will use the outlet and from what posture, and specify accordingly.
Specify for tomorrow's appliances, not just today's
Outlets are most useful where they're used. The corollary: appliances arrive after the renovation is finished. If a wine fridge is on the long-term plan, install the dedicated circuit and outlet now. If the morning routine involves a particular blender or coffee setup, specify outlets near the cabinets where those appliances live. Adding outlets after drywall is finished is expensive and disruptive; adding them during construction is cheap and invisible.
What do I need to know before specifying flush-mount outlets?
Four practical considerations before the order goes in.
Budget tier. BOCCI 22 starts at approximately $135 CAD per outlet, with additional costs for installation tools and templates. Smoothline systems are meaningfully lower per unit because they use existing electrical components behind the fascia. For a kitchen with eight to twelve outlets, the total project cost difference between the two systems can run into the thousands. Both look excellent — the choice is design intention and budget, not quality.
Wall material. Drywall is the default for both systems. For installation in hardwood, stone, marble, or other hard surfaces, BOCCI's alternative mounting system and DesignMod's wood-mount Smoothline are both compatible. Verify the wall substrate at the design stage so the correct system version is ordered.
Colour and finish. BOCCI 22 components come in Almond, White, and Black. Smoothline fascia plates are available with black detail rings to match standard outlets, or in stainable birch for wood-toned walls. The fascia-as-wall approach means Smoothline can also be painted or wallpapered to match the surrounding surface exactly.
Installation tools. The BOCCI 22 system requires a one-time removal tool that's used across the entire project regardless of how many outlets are installed. Smoothline installations may require specific saws or routing templates depending on the wall material — talk through the requirements with your contractor before ordering. The Smoothline router template and BOCCI 22 removal tool are both available through Casson.
Flush-mount outlets are a renovation-stage decision — they need to be specified before drywall is hung, and they need to be coordinated between electrician and finisher. For installation guidance on related wall-mounted hardware, see our guide to installing on walls. For more on BOCCI as a Vancouver design house, see our Canadian Design guide.
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