Dependent French Door Oven

Almost two years ago I wrote about the French door oven from BlueStar Range. For it’s new 2009 collection, the 30″ and 36″ have an updated look and dependent French doors. “Now when you open the left door on the 30” and 36” ovens, the right door will open simultaneously. This is an incredibly useful feature in commercial kitchens as it allows you to use your left hand to open the doors and your free hand to place food in the oven – we’ve now brought the same concept to the home chef,” says Mike Trapp, BlueStar’s Vice President of Operations.

“You can avoid reaching over a hot oven door since the French doors open easily with a simple pull. And for people with disabilities, a French door oven set lower to the ground allows easy access to the oven.” says Trapp. Removing the hazard of leaning over a hot oven door also makes it easier for mothers who have little helpers. (I remember my Grandmother having a fit when I was young and wanted to bake my grandfather a Birthday cake.)

Additional product features include convection oven cooking, a full extension oven rack, a heat assist element for quick start-ups, and 3,000 BTU of additional power. The wall ovens operate on either gas or liquid propane.

Customers can order the ovens in 190 different colors, at no extra charge. Custom colors are also available.

If you are not sure which color to choose, check out the series on GOLDNOTES about color for insight and inspiration or consult with Rachel from Hue Consulting and Maria from Colour Me Happy.

Retail prices range from approximately $2,520 to $8,732.

Single Wall Oven

“It is not the form that dictates the color, but the color that brings out the form.” -Hans Hofmann

June 30, 2009

Tord Boontje 2009 Collection for Bizassa

I’m a huge Tord Boontje fan and was very excited to find pictures of furniture pieces he designed for Bizassa Home.

The Digital Memories Collection contains three new pieces inspired by the shapes and colors of nature. The tile patterns are named Summer Trees, Dark Waters and Night Vision.

The mosaic pattern on the Night Vision commode (right) echoes an amplified image of a pixelated black and white photograph. “We use digital images from cameras and video to capture moments of life, these become our memories. The collection…is based on the idea [that] images…trigger memories when you look at them” says Boontje.

June 25, 2009

The Next Kitchen Trend

With consumers favoring more stream-lined Kitchen Designs,
look for manufacturers to start offering more appliances and
electronics in modular sizes.

This picture from the Electrolux Pan-European Design family
shows how the manufacturer has unified it’s brand by sizing it’s
LCD television to integrate with built-in appliances. The
television housing matches not only in size but also in finish.

While it is unlikely that a designer will ever be able to combine different manufacturers and be able to get the finishes to match; I do look forward to seeing the various combinations larger manufacturers will start to offer.

June 18, 2009

Viking Recalls 45,000 Refrigerators

Viking Range Corporation, of Greenwood, Miss., is recalling45,000 Built-in Refrigerators because the door can detach and hurt consumers. Broken toes and fingers have been reported according to the CPSC.

The 48″ and 36″ Stainless Steel Refrigerators were sold from July 1999 through April 2006.

Check your refrigerator for the following model codes.
To avoid injury from the door sheering off, consumers are urged not to use the product if the door is loose, sagging or not sealed properly and contact Viking for a free in-home repair. If your door appears stable you may continue to use cautiously.

Call Viking toll-free at (888) 345-2650 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET