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