When remodeling a kitchen, one of you biggest investments should be your appliances. There are so many brands, it is hard to know what to choose, but be sure to consult a qualified appliance showroom, not your local hardware store. Better yet, let your kitchen designer guide you to the showroom they use. This will provide a much smoother process for the designer, and will benefit you too. The designer gets the benefit of working with the same appliance dealership and sales person, who knows her clientele and what they are looking for. This way your designer can call in advance of your appointment (the mark of a good salesman is one you need an appointment to see) and let the sales person know a bit about your project, and most importantly, your budget. You are benefited several ways. First, the sales person already knows some of the details of your project, and you don't have to repeat yourself for the umpteenth time, and knows what kind of appliances to show you. Second, the sales person will have an idea of what your budget is for appliances, and because of his relationship with your designer, will not try to bully or over sale you on more expensive items you don't need. Shopping for appliances this way benefits everyone, and will take a lot of stress off the consumer.
There are literally hundreds of appliance manufactures, and it would be impossible to list them all, so to try to help keep things simple, the comparisons in this article will be mostly on American appliance companies from low-end to high-end. For ease of comparison, all appliances will be quoted in similar styles and stainless steel finishes.
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As the time of year changes into Fall, I start thinking about soups and stews. My crock pot is something that I get out and start using again. Typically, in the summer time I do not use it as often since it is so hot outside. If you are in need of a crock pot, the KSC700 slow cooker from KitchenAid has all the features necessary to prepare a meal. My favorite feature is that it is dishwasher safe though usually these pots are very easy to clean. It has a timer with automatic shut-off or it can switch over to a warming mode. There is nothing like starting the week on a Monday and coming home to a kitchen full of aroma and knowing the fact that your meal is prepared! KSC700 comes in cinnamon, black, and stainless steel and retails for $129 here.
Some meals were meant to be cooked on an electric griddle. Take breakfast for instance. Eggs, bacon, and pancakes are perfect candidates to cook on a griddle surface. Most stove cook tops do not come with a griddle surface since these are often installed in a home by the builder who usually selects standard appliances. The electric griddle here is made by All Clad who is a household name that most of us are familiar with. The biggest thing for me in electric cook top surfaces is their ability to be cleaned. I had owned a George Foreman grill many years ago and frankly it was a nightmare to clean. The instruction video shows that there is a hole on top of the griddle where you push all of the drippings into which collects into a small tray. The tray is dishwasher safe. The cook top can be cleaned with a damp paper towel or cloth. Price: $299. Product: here.
In a previous post Furniture Fashion started preparing you for the colder weather and presented a few room radiators, some of which doubled as towel racks. Here is a much more modern and interactive version by Runtal Radiators that allows you to create the look that suites your interior décor. The "Puzzle" designed by Claudio Colucci for Runtal has wood or Corian plates surrounded by tubular steel that conducts heat and warms the immediate environment. Each Puzzle radiator comes with a variety of colorful plates that allow you to change up the look from time to time fulfilling Colucci's plan of "maximum flexibility" of the object. Available in 660 to 1970mm Height and 500 to 770mm Width Via
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A departure from the typical metal toaster, this model manufactured by Russell Hobbs adds an interesting twist as it is constructed from glass. In addition to its glass walls, this toaster features a slimmer design while still being able to accommodate four slices of bread. Price: £69.99. Available: here.
