Bertazzoni and Sub-Zero Wolf At CES 2012

Italian cooking appliance maker Bertazzoni was recently recognized for its Built-in Design Series, winning the prestigious CES 2012 Innovation Award for its Built-in Design Series double oven.

The Ovens are designed to combine the company’s traditional craftsmanship and design with precise, innovative controls inspired by the iPhone. Another look at the photo and you will see the handles are molded Venetian Glass – very luxurious.

Here’s a link to a great post about Bertazzoni from Dwell.

Wolf Appliance was also a 2012 Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Award Honoree for its E Series wall ovens, with enhancements that allows connectivity to home automation systems for more features and convenience. It features a dual convection logic control system and a touch control panel with LCD display.

The same home automation connectivity was added to Sub-Zero built-in refrigeration, which is also an Innovations Award Honoree.

Sadly, I cannot find more information on the home automation connectivity so I’m hoping a press release will be out soon.

January 10, 2012

Samsung Appliances at CES 2012

The South Korean electronics maker unveiled many new products at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas but only one was a smart phone.

Samsung unveiled their SMH2117S over the range microwave which is the first microwave with an LED light for lighting the cooking surface below. The lamp uses less than a tenth of the power consumption (2.4W/1EA) of conventional incandescent (40W/1EA) or halogen (20W/1EA) cooktop lamps.

An Eco Mode saves up to 40% in energy by turning the display off when not in use. The microwave also has a porcelain enamel interior, which the company said makes it seven times more scratch and rust resistant than other microwave interiors.

In addition to being a microwave and a hood, the new SMH2117S is also a convection oven and a toaster oven. This is going to be a huge space-saver for many home owners.

Samsung’s RF4289 and RSG309 LCD refrigerators are designed to be the first refrigerators with kitchen-relevant apps on a WiFi-enabled 8-inch LCD touchscreen. The Grocery List app will allow consumers to create their own highly personalized shopping lists at the touch of a button, while the Facebook app will provide instant access to consumers’ newsfeeds.

I personally don’t stand too much in front of the refrigerator so I think the Facebook app is pretty much a useless gimmick. Depending on how far away your refrigerator is from your prep area or the range; looking at online recipes on the door panel may be inconvenient as well.

While both of the previous appliances won awards at the show, the appliance that stole the show is new WF457 Front Load Washing Machine. This washer is not only the industry’s largest washer it offers never before seen Smart Control technology.

Through a WiFi network and a smart phone application, users can monitor cycle selections, remaining time and finishing alerts, as well as remotely start or pause the washer

The WF457 washer is also the first from Samsung to feature SpeedSpray, which delivers a cleansing shot of water with dissolved detergent and then a rinsing shot for improved rinsing performance. These result in a cycle time that is up to 25 percent shorter compared with conventional washers. In addition, Samsung‟s Smart Care system makes user manuals obsolete by quickly diagnosing washer issues and sending alerts to consumers‟ smart phones.

The washer and matching dryer is said to be available in Onyx or White this Spring at major retailers.

April 9, 2009

Detergent Smuggling

I read a recent article about residents in Washington State going to Idaho to purchase detergents after a ban was placed on detergents containing phosphates.

Phosphates are a concern in consumer products because when they end up in streams, lakes and rivers (they aren’t easily removed in waste water treatment plants), they promote the growth of algae, which sucks up oxygen, stealing it from other animals and organisms in the water.

Phosphates in detergents tie up water hardness minerals (primarily calcium and magnesium) so the minerals won’t interfere with cleaning or deposits on surfaces. Phosphates also help keep food soil particles in suspension after removal from the soiled surfaces and prevent their redeposition.

Residents say that the greener alternatives – Seventh Generation, Ecover, Palmolive Eco+ and Trader Joe’s, – just don’t clean as well.

The Washington Lake Protection Association thinks part of the problem may be the hard water and is encouraging consumers to install water softeners.

Here’s a few highly rated phosphate-free detergents that may do the job.

Bi-o-Kleen Automatic Dish Soap
“A phosphate-free alternative with natural corrosion fighters that requires no pre-washing of dishes.”

Method “SmartyDish” Dishwasher Cubes
No toxic chemicals, no bleach, no phosphates just naturally derived biodegradable ingredients in pre-measured tabs.

February 18, 2009

Flea Market Ideas

If you love finding new ways to use old things, you’ll enjoys these two creative ideas from the Better Homes and Gardens Do It Yourself Website for repurposing items you may have lying around or can easily find at a salvage sale.

Inserting heavy-gauge wire mesh in a painted door and suspending it from the ceiling with metal chains creates additional storage for pots and pans.

Turning an old light fixture on its head and filling it with fresh flowers creates an electrifying display. If the collar on your light does not have this attractive patina paint it with metallic paint to achieve a bronze or copper patina.