Q & A on Induction Range Availability

Q.

Peggy

I found you when I googled kitchen appliance blogs.

My wife and I are designing a house and we only have space for a range rather than separate oven/cooktop.

My wife likes cooking with gas but we recently had to delete the LP gas tank and associated piping due to budget concerns and now are hoping that there will be an induction range on the market when our kitchen is installed (probably June 2008).

I have spent a fair amount of time searching but I have not found a single integrated induction range (w/electric oven) on the market.

Are you aware of one that is available or imminently available? Thanks.

Frank

A.

Thanks for your question Frank.

Doing a quick, cursory search on Google doesn't divulge much. And the Diva de Provence induction ranges are out of most people's affordability range;-D

But why are you so set on a range? A cooktop with oven below is definitely do-able and then you can buy each for the features you like. The installation is also sleeker and easier to keep clean.

Here is a GE setup:
























I would definitely consider that option, unless you are willing to wait...And I wouldn't hold your breath if I were you.

Europe definitely has them, but demand would have to be great to start seeing them here.

Peggy


Peggy

Hugely helpful. Thanks for the amazingly quick response! We have a GE gas range now and it has been a serious service problem (4 service calls in 3 years-all related to the gas oven portion) and will probably steer away from GE but I will explore some combos. Our allowance is $2500 and we maybe could stretch a little but I didn’t think we could afford separates (and maybe we can’t) but I will start searching. Thanks again.

Frank

A.

I just grabbed the GE image because it was the first one I came across.

Check Sears, theirs might be in the more modest range. Induction is definitely a high-end option.

I did notice that Consumer Reports had a review on induction cooktops. Those are likely to be US-made and modestly priced, because they never review the good stuff that comes from Europe.

I recommend electric ovens for the self-cleaning feature. It's worth its weight in gold!

There is also the issue of a difference in the cost of your cabinets; because you will need at least a cabinet front to mount the oven into.

Peggy

Q.

Hi Peggy, I'm the wife of Frank. I could go with either form factor. What I'm really wondering about is your opinion of induction cooking in general.

Do you like it? Is it responsive enough? Can you get a really low simmer? A really kick butt boil? Any precautions? I know about the cookware.

Ellen

A.

Honestly Ellen, I have never used it. I am only going by what I have read; because all of my clients, for years, have gone with gas cooktops...And I have gas myself.

Once you settle on a product, I would seek out the distributor in your area and go in with your favorite recipe and ask to cook on a demo unit. Most distributors have live products in their showrooms.

Please share with us what you select and how you like it down the road.

Peggy

Dishwasher with a Difference

SMEG (Italy) has come out with a really different dishwasher that may be useful for those "unusual" situations:

It is 36" wide, 22-53/64" high, and 21-21/32" deep...The first, to my knowledge, horizontal dishwasher.




















The drop-down door seems to be articulated; so that it doesn't protrude so much, but instead, folds on itself.

It also has an interior light...unusual.

The STO905U dishwasher is available in the USA and Energy Star rated.

Peggy

FIRE!!!! and How to Deal with One

I have had two home fires over the years:
In the first, my detached garage burned down after I discarded some two-day-old charcoal from the grill, and the second resulted from my using a blowtorch to burn off old paint around the exterior of a window.
























I also almost lost a brand new kitchen I designed when the homeowner removed a teakettle from a halogen burner and went to answer the phone. When he returned the wall cabinet to the left of the cooktop was scorching. Fortunately he had a 36" hood over a 30" cooktop, or he would have returned to a full-blown fire...Lucky for both of us. Phew! Ever since I have related that story and encouraged clients to buy only halogen cooktops with a limiter that turns the burner off when a pan is removed.






Most home fires start in the kitchen. As a kitchen designer, I can tell you we are haunted by the possibilities. There have been many times over the years when I have refused to design or draw something a client wanted because it was a fire hazard.




















I would rather resign a commission and leave the job than expose myself and my clients to fire hazards.




















I received this link today, from the San Mateo County Fire Service. There are great tips for reducing fire danger in the kitchen and dealing with a fire if one happens.

Read and be safe.

Peggy

Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The latest statistics from NFPA say that one out of every three home fires started in the kitchen and more than 100,000 fires a year were related to cooking.

Here are a few safety tips to remember:

Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food. If you must leave the the room even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

Keep cooking areas clean and clear of combustibles (e.g. potholders, towels, rags, drapes and food packaging).

Keep children away from cooking areas by enforcing a “kid-free zone” of three feet around the stove.

If you have a fire in your microwave, turn it off immediately and keep the door closed. Never open the door until the fire is completely out. If in doubt, get out of the home and call 911.

Always keep an oven mitt and a lid nearby. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan (make sure you are wearing the oven mitt). Turn off the burner and slide the pan off the burner.
Never pour water on a grease fire. If the fire does not go out, get out of the home and call 911.

If an oven fire starts, turn off the heat and keep the door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothing. If the fire does not go out, get out of the home and call the fire department.

To avoid the accumulation of grease, always clean the vent screen above your stove. You can put these in the dishwasher! If you cook frequently with oils, butter, and grease, make sure to clean it at least once a month.

Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and learn how to use it.

FAB Retro Fridge From SMEG

The refrigerator is always a problem in a 50's retro kitchen.

There just hasn't been a great solution UNTIL NOW!

SMEG

They've nailed it. Even down to the ice cube tray (You can always hide an icemaker in the pantry).

Peggy




















FAB28UVR


50’S Style Refrigerator with ice compartment,
Pastel Green, Right hand hinge
Capacity 9.22 Cu. Ft.

REFRIGERATOR:
Antibacterial interior
Interior light
3 adjustable glass shelves
1 bottle storage shelf
1 fixed glass shelf
1 fruit and vegetable container
1 dairy box

DOOR:
2 adjustable covered bins
2 bottle storage bins
4 adjustable bins
2 egg bins

FREEZER COMPARTMENT:
1 Ice cube tray

Energy consumption: 305 kWh/ year

Dimensions (h x w x d ) 57½ x 23⅝ x 27½ inches

FAB28UOR - Orange, hinges on the right
FAB28UOL - Orange, hinges on the left
FAB28UVER - Lime green, hinges on the right
FAB28UVEL - Lime green, hinges on the left
FAB28UNER - Black, hinges on the right
FAB28UNEL - Black, hinges on the left
FAB28UROR - Pink, hinges on the right
FAB28UROL - Pink, hinges on the left
FAB28URR - Red, hinges on the right
FAB28URL - Red, hinges on the left
FAB28UBLR - Blue, hinges on the right
FAB28UBLL - Blue, hinges on the left
FAB28UPR - Cream, hinges on the right
FAB28UPL - Cream, hinges on the left
FAB28UAZR - Pastel blue, hinges on the right
FAB28UAZL - Pastel blue, hinges on the left
FAB28UVR - Pastel green, hinges on the right
FAB28UVL - Pastel green, hinges on the left
FAB28UXR - Silver, hinges on the right
FAB28UXL - Silver, hinges on the left

Skip the Extended Warranty on Appliances

This article appears on K+B DELTAVEE.

Peggy

Thursday, November 15, 2007
J.D. Power: Extended Warranties Not Needed for Appliances

About 25% of consumers buying a major appliance also get an extended warranty, although appliance reliability seems to make that unneccessary, according to a new study by J.D. Powers & Associates....

Kitschy Kitchens: Kitschy Kitchen #14

Kitschy Kitchens: Kitschy Kitchen #14

This IS a Kitschy Kitchen, but I RANT about appliances too.

Peggy

Time to BUY Appliances

Cruising through Appliance Advisor today, I note that many appliance manufacturers are planning price increases in January and February of '08.

If you have a need, better buy now.

Peggy

ISE For UK Appliances

Blog buddy Majjie pointed me toward this UK site, ISE, for a look at a real effort toward creating green appliances (UK only right now).

A group of engineers got together and created a company that markets ENDURING appliances. Appliances designed to last 20 years or more.

What a GREAT IDEA!

I must say that my Miele appliances (dishwasher and oven) are approaching that (they are 18 and going strong); as is my Dacor cooktop; though I have replaced the white burner grates a couple of times.

Peggy

Appliances that last longer

Independent Service Engineering (ISE) was formed in January 2006 to produce long life span domestic appliances.

We believe that environmental damage in the East is primarily caused by factories making products for consumption in the West. If the products we buy last longer the need to produce new ones is reduced and so is the environmental impact.

To this end we chose partner factories from across Europe to work with our panel of engineers to produce our own brand of domestic products with maximising lifespan in mind.

Our machines are built to the highest standards, with long guarantees (underwritten with AXA). They are designed to be easy to repair by local independent repairers who are trained and equipped by us with spare parts supplied to them with no mark up ; thus making out of guarantee repairs good value relative to a replacement.

We intend to reduce global CO2 emissions by shrinking the UK domestic appliance market and encouraging repair over replacement. Not very attractive if your business relies exclusively on the sales of new products, therefore you will not see ISE in convention electrical retailers.

If you need to change one of your kitchen appliances consider ISE and break the cycle of needless consumption.

About ISE

Kitchen-exchange: Fitting a Dishwasher Where None Exists

Kitchen-exchange: Fitting a Dishwasher Where None Exists

Keeping a Cooktop Clean and New-Looking

I have a habit that some might call obsessive, but as a result my cooktop looks almost new after 18 years of use.

I cover my unused burners every time I cook on the cooktop.

I keep a length of foil, long enough to cover two burners, folded in half; and an old pie pan on the rollout shelf next to my cooktop (I have four burners).

Whenever I am going to use the cooktop, I get them out and cover the burners I don't plan to use.

I can then saute to my heart's delight and not have a big mess to clean up when I am done.

Because of my habit my cooktop doesn't get, or need, much scrubbing and remains shiny clean.

I save time and effort in the bargain.

Try it and you'll see what I mean.

Peggy

Regressing With Stainless Steel

Laurie Burke has a SCOOP over at Kitchen Design Notes about the new Blue Star wall ovens. Way to GO Laurie!

I was interested in one statement by Keith Wolf, BlueStar's Vice President of Marketing:

"Consumers appreciate the ability to express themselves through the color of their kitchens/ranges; we’re also hearing that some consumers find the colored ranges easier to keep clean than stainless steel."

People seem to have forgotten how hard stainless is to get and keep clean. They lock themselves into the idea of stainless and don't consider anything else.

Stainless steel is either polished or brushed. Each iteration has its problems:

Polished stainless steel is very easy to scratch and mar and the scratches don't come out. I have seen brand new polished sinks with scratches in the bottom that make them look old and mis-used. The material is so delicate that you can scratch it with a fingernail.

People, please don't buy a sink you can scratch with a fingernail. It will never survive the first pot you scrub.

Brushed stainless sinks get residue marks from lime and other chemicals in the water. Keep a spray bottle filled with vinegar to attack the buildup before it gets out of hand. Better yet buy a solid surface sink in a color that blends with your stone countertops and stop scrubbing forever!

Brushed stainless steel rangetops get oils and stains in the tiny brush grooves that are almost impossible to remove. If you don't Bon Ami them right away they become permanent with the next cooking task.

Brushed stainless refrigerators always look fingerprinty and hoods are impossible to keep shiny and clean looking.

Seems to me that homeowners are having to work WAY harder than they used to, just to keep their stainless appliances looking acceptable.

Part of the idea in getting a new kitchen is to make cleaning easier.

The stainless revolution has taken us backwards.

Peggy

Ahh Binova

Italian cabinet maker Binova SPA also does wonderful cooktops, both integrated into its stainless countertops or recessed into other surfaces.

The one I especially like is the in-line model from their Fires Line.























A cooktop like this can be installed forward in a standard depth countertop; or toward the rear to keep little fingers away; or in the middle of an island, with access from both sides for two cooks; or in a shallow depth counter, where no other cooktop would fit.

OK U.S. manufacturers...Where is ours?

Peggy

The Death of Stainless Steel?

I agree that stainless steel will soon be gone...Or so expensive that it's out of reach.
I just read this in Appliance Advisor: (July '07 entry)

Stainless Steel: Another Fine Mess for this Beloved Industry
The industry has its buttocks in a bundle over the catastrophic rise in the cost of 304 stainless steel. (When in doubt, blame the Chinese).
And you won't believe what is being considered as options to stainless:
-Lower or secondary grades of stainless (magnetic and non-magnetic grades)
-Faux stainless (photo laminates on cold rolled)
-Increased use of glass
-Even plotting a way back to a time when porcelain enamel on cold rolled were de rigueur. Oh to be back to those simpler times.
Its ALL on the table.

What are you doing to reduce your brand's exposure to 304 SS? Answers with "Brand-name withheld" is acceptable but not preferred.

It's time for it to go anyway.
I think the glass is an excellent alternative.

Peggy

Blomberg, the New Dishwasher in the USA

Dishwasher shoppers will be seeing a new line of European products in U.S. stores this fall.

Blomberg, a 60 year old European company is introducing its line of dishwashers to the U.S.

The venerable name was bought out at the turn of the 21st Century by Turkish white goods giant Arcelik.

All Blomberg products are now manufactured in Turkey.

Blomberg dishwashers are Energy Star rated, with stainless steel interiors and triple insulation for noise reduction.

Models are available in black, white, stainless and integrated designs.

It'll be interesting to see how they match up with popular brands like Miele (long my favorite dishwashers).

My research on the web shows they review well...Though their web site leaves much to be desired.

Peggy

Leggo My EVO!

The EVO Affinity 30Ge Built-In Presentation Cooking Station is the genuine boy toy of appliances.

What man of the house wouldn't love to hold court over this massive circular gas griddle for a Sunday morning pancake extravaganza?

All the world's a stage and I can think of lots of past clients who would jump at the chance to have this in their kitchen...even if just for show.

Peggy

Abbaka Custom Hood Liners

Abbaka, the Danish maker of FABULOUS range hoods has introduced new liner/blower systems for wood and other hoods.

They incorporate fire safe commercial stainless steel baffle filters, and are stocked in standard widths of 36" - 60" for 2 week delivery. 4 weeks for custom sizes.

Peggy

DANGER! 42,000 Thermador Ovens Recalled

I found this today after receiving a post from an anonymous reader purporting to be a former employee of Thermador/Bosch/Gaggenau/Siemens conglomerate BSH.
"Anonymous" claimed that BSH was experiencing major problems with components in all their products and not standing behind them.
Before I post such inflammatory accusations, I would be interested to hear from owners of appliances from these companies.
How about it?
Having problems getting your Thermador, Bosch, Gaggenau or Siemens appliances serviced?
Or are parts failing prematurely?

Peggy

Ovens recalled by BSH Home Appliances Corporation
Product Liability Recall
August 22, 2007
Product Liability | California
Huntington Beach, CA - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with BSH Home Appliances Corporation, of Huntington Beach, California, today announced a voluntary recall of Thermador(r) Brand Built-In Ovens.

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

The name of the product is Thermador(r) Brand Built-In Ovens...

Thermador Ceramic Cooktop Recall

More disturbing news about Thermador products.
Here's a link to their recall page.

Peggy

Thermador® Ceramic Cooktops Recalled by BSH Home Appliances Corp. Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Product: Thermador® Brand Ceramic Cooktops

Units: About 2,000

Manufacturer: BSH Home Appliances Corp. of Huntington Beach, Calif.

Hazard: The cooktop can come on by itself when switched off, creating a potential fire hazard if flammable items are left on the cooktop...

The Most Eco-Friendly Cooking is...INDUCTION!

I just came across a blog wherein the authors, Ian and Jo Ludlow, claimed the induction cooking was "about 90 percent energy efficient as compared to gas and electric radiant".


Now this statement flies in the face of everything I've ever learned about electric powered cooking. I knew that induction was a more efficient way of cooking with electric...But more efficient than gas??? How could that be?

So I got on my researching horse and Googled "Induction Cooking Efficiency".

Up popped a university study, by students Kristin VanderLinde, and Ting Ei Su, at Michigan Tech College of Environmental Studies. Sure enough it's true!
Here are Kristin and Ting's conclusions:

"The induction cooktop is a very practical device and can be used for any cooking application. It cooks food just as well as any comparable system but in a safer, more energy efficient manner. Protecting the world's environment and conserving resources is currently an important concern, and the induction cooktop is probably the most environmentally sound cooking device on the market, as it releases no fumes or chemicals into the air and uses no irreplaceable fossil fuels. Anyone thinking of purchasing a new stove should consider investing in an induction cooktop."

Not only is an induction cooktop far more energy efficient that the alternatives, but it is SAFER! And safety is always a top concern for kitchen designers. The last thing we want is for a kitchen we've designed to go up in flames. It's also CLEANER! Nothing wrong with that either.

"the induction cooktop is extremely safe. There is no risk of fire if food or grease overflows from the pan, no risk of burns from touching the cooktop surface, and no worry about dangerous fumes from gas or other cooking fuels."

I think this statement is a little over the top because grease can always combust into flames if the pan is heated enough. But still...Safety will get me every time.

Then there's Wikipedia:

"Induction cookers are considerably more expensive than traditional cookers, but consume half as much electricity as electric cookers and are more efficient in heat transfer, achieving an absolute efficiency of 84% in US Dept of energy tests (compared to a typical 40% for a gas cooker).[citation needed]"

Looks like it's time to start encouraging my clients to switch to induction.

Peggy

Mama Mia! Meneghini!

I've just come across Meneghini Refrigerators from Robey's in the UK.

Another reason to envy those Brits. Look at this stuff!

Peggy


"Meneghini ice-chests create a magical atmosphere in the kitchen environment with aged cherry wood and walnut, Lebanese cedar, mahogany, pine and chestnut finish. Lacquered wood versions include over 500 RAL satin colour finishes as well as white.

The unique solid brass handles and hinges can be supplied either polished or satin finished, or chrome plated and then polished or satin finished. The ice-chests of course can be handed either left or right hand opening. In the larder version, the shelves are glass and an internal light is fitted.

Optional extra electrical appliances such as coffee makers, microwaves, combination ovens or ice makers can be fitted with the Cambusa range."

Design Hole: Trends: Colorful Kitchens

Jennifer at Design Hole blogs about the beautifully hued appliances on the market today and asks if the reader would spring for such strongly colored statements in their own kitchens?

I think that there will always be a market for the unique and unusual in the high-end kitchens of the rich and famous.

Of course, for the rich and famous to re-redo their kitchens, when they tire of their flame-colored Lacanche Ranges, it is a small thing.





























For the rest of us though, I think we will stick with our white, black and stainless, and matching cabinet panels.

Those of us who started in the business of kitchen design when homeowners were replacing the turquoise and pink GE kitchens of the 50's and 60's, remember how glad they were to swap them out for something more "homey" and comfortable...something that makes you glad to come home and relax.

Our color preferences are coming from the young these days. That's good. But the young don't stay young, and their preferences change from bold to sedate when they realize that home is about the people in the home, and not about their surroundings screaming at them.

Again, I reiterate that focal point appliances are great. I LOVE them. They just need to be in context with the focal points created by your designer. Otherwise your eyes will google out of your head every time you enter your kitchen ;>D

Peggy

New French Door Oven from American Range

This new single convection oven is really a great concept.














It's especially useful and safe for wheelchair cooks, because they won't have to dodge around the open oven door.

Comes in cool colors too.
Thanks to Ann Porter, CKD, of KitchAnn Style for pointing me to this.

Peggy

e*Vents Customizable Hoods

This Colorado hood maker has some unique and usable canopies that can be customized with faux paint or tile, etc. to make a one of a kind hood.

Executing a design for a site-built custom hood can be problematic for many contractors. Not all will have a "finish guy" on staff to take on such custom work.
e*Vents offers an orderable solution to the problem.





"We also offer our exclusive ‘lumaboard’™ range hood bonnets in any style, size, and shape. These ‘ultra light’ ‘non-combustible’ bonnets mount easily to any wall surface or are completely suspend able above any island format at any
ceiling height.

Our ‘lumaboard’™ products consist of a layer of gypsum wallboard bonded to an aluminum shell.

You finish with texture, paint, slate, tile, or wood trim. Or add a stainless or copper trim package and you’ve got the perfect design solution for any décor."

Very useful.

Peggy

Appliancist

Here's another "new to me" appliance web site called Appliancist

They show a blog-type series of reviews and photographs of major and countertops appliances with clickable categories to narrow your search. Many appliances are European, so I think they may be based there, but they show U.S.-available products as well.

It's fun to see what Europe is doing appliancewise. I think they are ahead of our doddering U.S. companies right now.

I particularly like their trends categories, where you can review the latest and greatest.

Peggy

Great Article on Appliance Colors

I just came across a great article by Susan Serra on DesignTalk about Choosing Color for Appliances. Great advice!

I think the new accent colors available in focal point appliances, like ranges, are wonderful.

I'm not so sure about colors for the rest of the appliances in a kitchen.

Dacor recently came out with some lovely, color-drenched dishwashers. But I don't think I want to draw attention to the dishwashers in the kitchens I help plan. Just their locations, usually on one side of the sink, would tend to "unbalance" the design. I'd have to give some real thought as to how, or why, to make a dishwasher a focal point.


Focal points are very important elements of design to a kitchen designer.

We need to create them, emphasize them and not make too many of them.

The most commonly used focal point in a kitchen centers around a sink and window.

If the kitchen has no other focal point, the sink is usually centered on a main window. It is important to create visual balance around a window and to let the window "breathe", with enough wall space on either side that it doesn't feel "pinched". Visual balance can be equal sized cabinets. Or it can be items with similar weight in the space, cabinets on one side and a painting or shelves on the other. Balance doesn't have to mirror so much as it has to feel right to the viewer.

The other focal point that I very often use is a ventilation hood over the range or cooktop.

In this kitchen remodel, I used an Abbaka Facets hood with brass trim on an old brick chimney that was formerly hidden behind plaster. The strong, rough brick contrasts with the painted cabinets to create the focal point. The hood accents the brick.

A secondary focal point is the sink area with a recessed open shelf cabinet and mullion door cabinets of equal size on either side.

There are so many wonderful hoods out there these days, from stone to sleek brass. The only limits are the budget and adventurous nature of the client.

Peggy

Top Cooktop Reviews

I've just discovered a great resource for appliance info at Appliance.com, the very useful site of Home Appliance Magazine. They've got reviews of specific popular appliances. Now you don't even have to haul your favorite pan into the showroom with the working kitchen!

Check out Gourmet Guru Appliance Ratings to see if they have reviewed in your needed category before you shop!

And, if they haven't done what you need yet, why not send in a request?

Peggy

Gourmet Guru Cooktop Comparison

"We took four top-of-the-line gas cooktops for a test drive (Miele model #KM342, Thermador model #SGSX365ZW, Viking model #VGSU161, and Wolf model #CT36G) and focused on three purchase criteria: performance, appearance, and price."

Kitchen & Bath Search Engine

This is a BIG DEAL!

Here is another new site that may be indispensible for appliance shoppers and designers alike. It's called KitchenandBathSearch.com and is affiliated with industry magazine Kitchen & Bath Business.

"The search engine delivers quick access to relevant information on products, services, industry trends, news, showcases, design ideas, installation tips and other content."

The interface is kind of bare bones, so you may not realize the potential right away.

Here's an example of results on a search for "cooktops" .

KitchenandBathSearch.com was developed by Convera in collaboration with industry experts from Nielsen Business Media, including the editors of Kitchen and Bath Business magazine (K+BB) and the producers of the industry's largest tradeshow, Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and Conference (K/BIS). The vertical search engine serves a diverse professional industry of interior designers, architects, kitchen design specialists, custom builders and re-modelers.

"The kitchen and bath market thrives on the ability to provide professionals and consumers with information on innovative products, contextual design projects and design trends," said Cory Smith, vice president, Kitchen and Bath Group at Nielsen Business Media. "We are confident that the relationship with Convera will provide a unique user experience with deep and focused kitchen and bath content combined with leading technology making every search relevant and meaningful with maximum velocity."

Interesting. This is EXACTLY what I suggested to NKBA back in the 90's when I was Chair of the Technology Subcommittee...Unfortunately they got bogged down in issues of member or not and it never happened.

Well. Better late than never!

A "vertical search engine" like this will only bring results within the category it encompasses. Unlike a Google search that gives a lot of extraneous results you have to wade through to get what you want.

Peggy

Wowed by U.K. Extractor Hoods

I was reading an article by Majjie today,
UK Kitchen Design: 4. The Professional Look,
on creating a commercial-looking kitchen at all price points.

Great article Majjie!
I love the way she has included consumers of more modest means by suggesting ideas on how to get "the look" at lower cost.

Anyway, she pointed me toward a hood manufacturer's web site called Elica.

I was blown away by some of their original designs.
Some combine the lighting and hood in one beautiful whole.













Unfortunately you can only buy them in the U.K.
Bummer!

Peggy

UK Appliance Envy

In my cruising today I returned to Majjie's blog, where I found some very interesting appliances that are NOTHING like what we have here in the USA.



There is the Rangemaster Freestyle set of hob (gas cooktop) and a side-by-side PAIR of ovens. Too cool!



Or Brittania, with a whole range of ovens that would create a huge buzz in a kitchen here in the US.


Brittania also offers a cooker (range) for the multi-tasking cook with every possible convenience. Just count those knobs!

Or how about GE's Fusion rainbow of fridges?

Peggy

Green Cone™ Solar Digester

I've been meaning to put this up here for a bit.

Seems like a composter that replaces a garbage disposal and a trash compactor (don't put many of THOSE in any more), belongs on an appliance blog.



The Green Cone™ Solar Digester purports to compost kitchen waste including meat and bones, even raw meat.

If it really works, and you have a sunny spot in your yard, it looks like a real landfill-saver.

I'd be very interested to know whether it really does work.

Comments please?

Peggy

Create a Pizza Oven for Five Bucks!

Here's a great post from Curbly: Create a pizza oven for $5.00!

It works! And with your existing oven. What a great idea!

Peggy

Appliance Advisor

For those who are interested in the nuts and bolts of the appliance sales business, there is a wonderful site called Appliance Advisor that gives a real down and dirty view of that part of the industry.

"The electronic fish wrap for the appliance industry"
-Randy Rummel (ex)-President of DCS

There are innumerable resources there; for both consumers and designers:

Wanna look at every pro style hood known to mankind?

Recalls, rumors, Unilateral Minimum Retail Pricing, spiffs, a complete listing of appliance manufacturers web site links by category, it's all there.

Or how about The People's Cooktop Test for 2007?

Or Appliance Consumer Advisor that gives a rundown on all the online or magazine advisors such as Consumer Reports: "They do not review anything fancy. Strictly bread and butter big 6 brands plus a few more. Their system of blackened circles is a mite simplistic."

Have a look.

Peggy

I WANT one!

This new HP PC is the most promising result of a study by the Internet Home Alliance. They surveyed 1800 homeowners about home automation products they would like to see.
This thing is a TV, a PC, a touch-screen electronic calendar and so much more.

Peggy

"HP’s TouchSmart PC is a modern-day digital blackboard that enables ‘walk-up computing’ and allows families to easily check and update their calendar, leave digital ‘sticky notes’ and access Internet information and their entertainment library with the touch of their finger. It’s essential in social areas of the home, such as a kitchen, and will transform how users enjoy their digital lifestyle."

Kitchen-exchange: Refrigerator: Cabinet Depth or Not?

Kitchen-exchange: Refrigerator: Cabinet Depth or Not?

Kitchen-exchange: Hoods, Noise and Venting Q & A

Kitchen-exchange: Hoods, Noise and Venting Q & A

Kitchen-exchange: Personal Secretary for the Kitchen

Kitchen-exchange: Personal Secretary for the Kitchen

Kitchen-exchange: How to Cook When Your Kitchen is Gone

Kitchen-exchange: How to Cook When Your Kitchen is Gone

Kitchen-exchange: KBIS2 Built-In Refrigerator by Bosch

Kitchen-exchange: KBIS2 Built-In Refrigerator by Bosch

Kitchen-exchange: Lusting After an Ecopod

Kitchen-exchange: Lusting After an Ecopod

Kitchen-exchange: KBIS4 Speed-Cook Oven

Kitchen-exchange: KBIS4 Speed-Cook Oven

Kitchen-exchange: KBIS3 Built-In Refrigerator Modules by Thermador

Kitchen-exchange: KBIS3 Built-In Refrigerator Modules by Thermador

Sun Oven

Here's an interesting way to do anything you can do with a conventional oven, at temperatures up to about 375 degrees, without using ANY Energy!

It's called a Sun Oven and works anywhere the sun shines. You can take it camping and make a meat loaf or bread. Or you can use it on those days when it's just too hot to turn on your regular oven.



At $259 it's not cheap, but if you discipline yourself (like Ed Begley Jr.) and use it, it will pay for itself and then some.

Peggy

Minimize the Risk of Fires with Electric Cooktops

One of my greatest fears as a professional kitchen designer is that a kitchen I have designed might go up in flames.

This is a very real possibility, but something I work diligently to avoid by counseling my clients on safe design practices for their kitchens and refusing to put my name and reputation on designs that might lend themselves to increased danger of fire.

The closest call I have had involved a client who removed a teakettle from a halogen burner, accidentally leaving it on while he answered the phone. By the time he returned the adjacent upper cabinet was scorched. And, GET THIS, the cabinet was 3" away from the side of the cooktop because I had specified a 36" hood over a 30" cooktop. Whew!

"An estimated 47,000 residential fires a year start on rangetops, injuring more than 2,400 people, killing about 80, and causing $135 million in property damage, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Many of those fires start when someone leaves the kitchen with food still cooking on the stovetop."

Here is a link to an article on ConsumerReports.org detailing a new device, the Watchdog, that may be of use to those of you with an elderly parent who may be at risk of forgetting something cooking on the rangetop. It'll probably drive them nuts. But it's better than losing them before their time.

Peggy

Buy a Cooktop. Your Stove Can Kill!

If the last stove you bought wasn't properly installed with an anti-tip device, you and your children could be in danger.

Today's typical free-standing stove, unlike the behemoths from days gone by, is so lightweight that it can tip over forward when somebody climbs on, or drops something heavy on, or falls on the open door. None of these are unheard-of scenarios. And you don't want to see the injuries that result either.

Peggy

"We're here today to discuss killer stoves - stoves in most American homes that manufacturers and sellers know are prone to tipping over and that have caused unconscionable harm for more than 25 years. These are ordinary, freestanding gas and electric ranges found in millions of American homes. Manufacturers and retailers have known for years that the stoves have a tendency to tip over when weight is applied to the open oven door. There have been numerous cases reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of death and injury from scalding and burns due to hot foods and liquids spilling from the stove top and from the crushing weight when the range falls over on top of the victim."

Appliance Cost & Where to Shop and Buy

Q.
At 11:57 PM 4/16/2007, you wrote:
Peggy:
We did as you advised and looked at appliances at Home Depo Expo Design over in Emeryville. I must confess I just about had a stroke when I saw the prices on those units. I guess if you haven't bought any appliances you're bound to be in for sticker shock. My guess if we bought near top of the line pieces that our cost would be about 8K.
Mel

A.
Never shop at Home Depot or Expo for items like this.
Their prices are always higher and their service always less than desired.
Appliance dealers will give you a better deal on a package of appliances.
And they will give you better service over the life of the appliance.

Appliances in San Francisco:
There's Cherins on Valencia or House of Louie Appliance Center
Many of my clients have bought from both with good results over the years.

If you want to travel to shop:
Try Standards of Excellence (either San Rafael or San Jose are closest).
If you buy in San Jose I have a certificate, good for a free 4-year extended warranty on a single appliance, I can send you.
Or Gary Seller's Atherton Appliance (this is where most of my clients buy)
3120 Middlefield Road in Redwood City
http://www.yelp.com/biz/HzM8-zbjRDqjHdSrnrVcEw
Be careful because there are two Atherton Appliances and the other (Atherton Appliance & Kitchens) is not the one.

Most of my clients spend between 10-15K for appliances.
You are not replacing your fridge, so your bill should be somewhat less.
My clients are cooks and they want the best equipment they can get...
Unfortunately It's pricey stuff.
The advantage to buying the best is it almost always lasts longer as well.

The thing you need to understand about appliance shopping is "spiffs".
Spiffs are rewards appliance salespeople get from manufacturers to encourage them to push their products.
They can be cash or trips, etc., and they are endemic in the appliance industry.
That's why salespeople will push one product line one week and another the next.

This can be very confusing for shoppers.
The places I recommended are not as "spiff-driven" as others can be. The salespeople are highly trained. And they show you all that is available and explain everything very thoroughly. So you can make an informed decision.
Have fun,

Peggy

New Broan Pro-Style Range Hood

Here is an impressive new 30"-60" range hood, in 24" and 27" depths, being introduced at KBIS in Las Vegas this month. It comes in both indoor and outdoor models.

Pity they don't offer fluorescent lighting as an energy saver option.

Broan has always offered the easiest to clean hoods, with nice smooth interior surfaces.

This sets the bar for performance hoods.

Peggy

The WP29 professional-style range hood from Best by Broan® features a seamless, welded design and large capture area for flawless performance and 316 stainless steel for a lasting finish.

• Curved, seamless welded design for a flawless appearance.

• Powerful yet quiet internal or external blower options with HVI certified performance.

• Bright halogen lighting; 4 - 50 watt in 30” to 42”, 6 - 50 watt in 48” to 60”

• Evolution™ baffle filters included; combines the benefits of baffle with mesh filter; removable grease rail makes cleaning easy.

• Variable speed and lighting controls with memory feature that allows you to maintain the last setting.

• Heat Sentry detects excessive heat and adjusts blower speed automatically.

• Optional decorative soffit flue cover: 6” and 12” high version for all widths.

• Optional decorative panel to cover the top of exposed hood or soffit flue covers are available in all widths.

• Deep hood enclosure for excellent capture; Silver-Ion coated stainless steel for easy cleaning.

Wonderful Stone Hoods are Eco-Friendly!

Stone Age Design’s Scagliola Stone Collection has been showcased around the world as the company crafts antique-looking fireplace mantles, range hoods, and architectural details. Scagliola stone has the look and feel of hand-carved quarry stone and the elegance of the Italian Renaissance, however is a blended stone made from crushed marble, limestone and travertine. These custom pieces are perfect replacements for expensive marble, granite, limestone and travertine.

Shown right is their Provence hood. Perfect for a certain kind of kitchen with a Tuscan flavor.

I have been looking for years for am artisan/supplier like this. One that makes a hood that is not too "heavy" looking. These are just right. Beautiful...and green too! What could be better?

Peggy

Everbrew Built-in Coffee Maker

This is a HOT new kind of coffeemaker that doesn't take up counter space AND doesn't use up electricity keeping the pot piping hot. The coffee brews directly into an insulated carafe. What a great idea!

For the past several years I have been brewing a pot of coffee in the morning and pouring it into a large thermal carafe, like restaurants use, to save energy...Looks like somebody has been looking over my shoulder!

This machine is even designed to filter the water. All you need is a cold water line and electricity and you are good to go.

Peggy

Everbrew Built-in Coffee Maker

New Kitchen and Bath Industry Search Tool

Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine has just come out with a search engine for results relevant to the kitchen and bath industry. It is a great tool for kitchen and bath designers, but also a real time saver for those planning a new kitchen or bath and searching for product information.

"The tool allows you to conduct searches in three different ways: You can choose to see only results from websites hand-picked by us. You can narrow your search to include only manufacturer sites, or you can broaden it to include the entire web. The first two options allow you to weed out all results not specifically relevant to the kitchen and bath industry. For example, a search for “Viking” will bring up information about the appliance manufacturer, not about the Nordic explorers. No matter how you search, results are grouped into three categories: Projects, Trends and How-to."

One caveat. To get relevant results for example, on a search for a bottom-freezer refrigerator, preface your search with U.S. as: "U.S. bottom-mount refrigerator" otherwise you will get worldwide results and refrigerators from the UK, etc., along with U.S. results.

This is great tool! Try it HERE at kitchenandbathsearch.com.

Peggy