Dacor's Voice Activation Oven App

I’ve written about Dacor’s Discovery iQ line before and received great response. Now instead of a new appliance, Dacor is showcasing a new remote App update designed to add voice activation either in person when the cook’s hands are otherwise occupied or via phone for the on-the-go chef.

The iQ Controller and iQ Remote app, which works with both Android and iOS, allows you have the oven preheated and ready for use as soon as you get home via a simple voice command from your car over Bluetooth.

“The modern home chef values the convenience that connected kitchen appliances provide, which is why we strive to offer smart features like Voice Activation and ongoing software upgrades that will actually improve the overall cooking experience.” – Chuck Huebner, Dacor CEO

Dacor’s 48-inch Discovery iQ range will retail for $12,000, with a 36-inch model priced at $9,000. No pricing information was available for the Discovery iQ wall ovens.

A featured call the Discovery iQ™ Recipe Box allows users to easily store recipes found online directly to the smart range and ovens. The Dacor cooking guide is intuitive and eliminates the guess-work a chef might have trying a new food or recipe.

About Dacor:

American made, family-owned Dacor has been designing and manufacturing luxury kitchen appliances for three generations. Dacor provides a full line of innovative products designed to appeal to a broad segment of the luxury kitchen appliance market. Dacor is proud of their products and innovations, but places the most emphasis on their company value, which is the foundation of Mike Joseph’s leadership – To honor God in all that we do by respecting others, by doing good work, by helping others, by forgiving others, by giving thanks, by celebrating our lives.

January 18, 2015

Fiora Shower Pans

European minimalist shower trays that mimic stone are now available in the US.

The pans are manufactured by Fiora Bath Collections, located in La Rioja, Spain, renowned for the design and manufacture of furniture, mirrors and accessories for the bathroom. Coastal Shower Doors will be introducing the pans at KBIS Jan. 20-22 in Las Vegas.

Flora has patented a new concept in shower flooring based on the use of an artificial stone called SILEXPOL. This new material has anti-slip and bacteriostatic properties, qualities that have proven to be highly desirable to the European audience.

“We expect Americans to not only love the design, but also appreciate the nanotechnology that goes into making the trays water repellent and the maintenance easy and safe,” Patrick Cobb, national accounts for Coastal Shower Doors

While I’m not sure if the full line up will be available, the pans are offered in two patterns (regular and brick) with fourteen colors in each.

One of the new features of the Fiora SILEX shower tray is its adaptability and flexibility to fit into any decor theme, whether in residential or commercial applications. Moreover, two of the trays within the SILEX collection, Extra Flat made-to-measure and Framed made-to-measure, can be adapted to spaces that are not rectilinear or have obstructions such as columns.

If you are not building a new home, careful planning will be required to lower the floor in the shower area if you desire the flush fit. If you are currently living in a condo, you may need to become besties with the neighbors below you to rework the drain and the trap.

January 4, 2015

Kook by Karim Rashid

His designs are famous for their natural soft lines and attention to detail. His work is globally recognized, as it speaks a universal language of beauty. Karim Rashid, a Canadian Industrial designer, is the designer behind the concept kitchen Kook for Rastelli Cucine. Rastelli Cucine is an international kitchen company launched in 2014 by ARAN Cucine owner Renzo Rastelli. Kook was first displayed at EuroCucine 2012 by ARAN Cucine.

“I take a minimalist approach in my kitchens, preferring to create a clean striking surface that is punctuated by splashes of strong color. For the Kook kitchen I wanted to create an innovative design to turn even the most challenging culinary endeavors into pure aesthetic pleasure”.

Rastelli Cucine showed Kook again at Salone del Mobile 2014. Rastelli Cucine strives to create contemporary inspiring designs that are ergonomically, environmentally and emotively superior. Collaborating with designers like Kiram Rashid enables Rastelli to promote the best of Italian Design standards. The Kook Kitchen is strong in both design aesthetics and functional storage. The extra deep work surface incorporates a cooktop and a sink with matching cutting board that conceals the opening for a continuous surface. Motorized shutters hide kitchen clutter behind the angled face. Glass shelves are lit with LED edge lighting and a colored LED lit strip accents tip-on style lower cabinets. Ovens are placed in tall cabinets with pocketing Corian glass panel doors for concealment when not in use. The dishwasher is fitted with an angled front to match the slanted profile of the cabinetry. The refrigerator starts at counter height with storage below. I prefer the Kook Kitchen with the taller elements – blame it on my North American desire for storage. I’d specify the units not to be unfitted because dirt can collect in the gap between the units.

December 3, 2014

Bowl Bathroom Collection

French design firm Arik Levy Studio has created the Bowl bathroom collection for Spanish bathroom brand Inbani. The collection which launched at this year’s Salon de Mobile in Milan mixes cage-like structures with ceramic and marble placing emphasis on the juxtaposition between positive and negative space.

“These are products born, imagined, conceived, engineered, crafted and made for you to feel good.”

Arik Levy conceived the Bowl Collection as a “piece of jewelry that pursues the preciousness of every little detail that makes each object ”

The Bowl Collection is a progressive design intended to break away from mainstream products in gives designers new approach in “thinking and visual design.”

The thin metal elements of the Bowl collection are available in White, Copper and Colored lacquers.

I prefer the look of the copper wire for the Bowl collection. The white looks a little cheap to me. The first image shows what appears to be a toilet but there is not one in the catalog at this time. I may be too practical in my thinking but I can imagine that if the pedestal sink does not have constant TLC, it would start to look grimy in no time. What do you think?

Category: ADA