by Debbie L. Sklar

There was a time when a simple white convention oven was all the rage. But not anymore. From innovations in style and technology, to an emphasis on energy savings, today’s kitchen is anything but average. “The amount of changes in appliances in the last five years are equal to the amount of changes in the first 35 years I was in the business,” says Bob Baird, divisional merchandising manager of appliances at Home Depot.

Go Smart
Because appliances are designed with the consumer in mind, some new kitchen devices, known as smart appliances, share one common goal: to maximize the little time some of us have to spend in the kitchen. Take the TMIO Connect Io™ Intelligent Oven™, for example. According to Kitchens.com, a consumer information site on kitchen design, the Io uses remote connectivity-based technology that allows the consumer to operate it using the Internet or cell phone. Don’t have enough time to wait for that casserole to bake? Let the oven start cooking for you while you are away. Simply program the cook time remotely. To add to the convenience is a built-in refrigeration system to keep your meal fresh until you give the Connect Io™ the go ahead. Of course, the oven comes with embedded controls if one must resort to cooking in the kitchen the traditional way.
Jennifer Jones, who owns a DreamMaker franchise in Fallbrook, points to the new TurboChef Speedcook Oven as another appliance that cooks food the smart way. TurboChef can cook food 15 times faster than conventional ovens. So instead of waiting three hours to cook a 12-pound turkey, this oven can do the job in 42 minutes. “It’s these types of appliances that are incorporating technology to meet the needs of a busy lifestyle,” says Jones, whose company is a full-service remodeling outfit.

Design Meets Function
Whether green design or functionality, some appliances are making waves not for their outrageous features, but for their pragmatism. Indeed, novel gadgets aside, performance is one feature that can’t be overlooked. “Functionality is really important,” says Jones, “so that when people cook things, the food is going to come out the way they want it to.” Thus the introduction of ranges that go above and beyond the call of duty, such as Dynamic Cooking Systems’ slow simmer burners designed to perfectly heat delicate sauces and homemade soups. Then there’s the induction cooktop, which uses magnetic fields to heat the iron in metal cookware. Sean Ruck, manager of public relations and editorial services for the National Kitchen & Bath Association, explains, “It only heats up the pan or pot that you put on the cooktop, whereas a gas or electric stove would be heating up the area around the pot as well.” Whether sautéing garlic or frying meat, cooking becomes more dependable because the whole pan is heated evenly throughout. But there are secondary and tertiary benefits too: once the pan or pot is removed, the cooktop is cold to the touch; and “since there isn’t any preheating going on, the energy savings is in the instant heat,” Ruck adds.
In fact, many designs, while still keeping up with the latest in style and form, inherently save energy. Dishwasher drawers, for example, are half the size of regular dishwashers, if one were split in half horizontally. So getting two dishwasher drawers takes up the same amount of space of a regular dishwasher, but gives the consumer options. If you only have four dishes, two cups and two pots to clean, then one dishwasher drawer will suffice. And as Ruck points out, that’s where the energy savings is. “Using just one of the dishwashers is going to use less water.” Similarly, Home Depot’s Baird says that the refrigerator with a refreshment center – in which there is a small door that can be accessed on the outside of the fridge for your beverages – is not only convenient, but also cost effective. “It’s much more energy efficient to access drinks through the small door.” Opening the bigger door comes with a hefty price tag compared to its smaller counterpart.
Yet to go green the foolproof way, look no further than an energy star rating. According to GE’s web site, by choosing energy star qualified products, the typical household can conserve energy and save up to 30% on energy bills – about $400 per year. Not to mention that the average refrigerator manufactured prior to 1993 uses as much energy as two GE Profile ArcticaTM energy star fridges.

The Finishing Touch
From hidden appliances to specialty items, a brand new kitchen isn’t complete without some custom options. Depending on your space needs or design preferences, these add-ons give your kitchen a personal touch.
You can take just about any appliance and blend it seamlessly with your kitchen cabinets. What’s more, many appliances are going the way of dishwasher drawers, and becoming what’s known as hidden appliances, which can have stainless steel or panelized finishes. Sharp recently released the microwave drawer, a pull out drawer that can be mounted in the center island. And just in case the fridge is filled and the oven in use, it is equipped with additional pull out refrigeration and warming drawers.
Jones stresses that where specialty items are concerned, almost everyone wants a wine refridgerator. “The GE Monogram Collection came out with an amazing wine fridge that allows you to keep the whites at one temperature and the reds at another temperature, and it even tells you when you need to refill.” Built-in espresso machines that can make everything from a latte to a regular cup of coffee by simply pushing a button are also making their way into high-end kitchens.
For the kitchen multi-tasker who prefers to wash, chop and toss in place, the KWC Waterstation is the perfect solution. The faucet turns a complete 360 degrees and the unit features multiple sinks, cutting boards, waste management and storage to make meal preparation not only easy, but also nice and tidy. Available as a freestanding unit, a built-in corner unit or a built-in counter unit, the Waterstation can be integrated into almost any design.
So if you’re in the market to upgrade appliances, you’ll find lots of options that match your particulars. After all, with today’s technological advances and cosmetic overtones, you’d be hard pressed not to.