Around the Web

Sometimes people ask me what I read when I’m surfing the web. Here’s a collection of posts that I found worthwhile.

Over on Hadley Court, Leslie Carothers put together a great post discussing the true remodeling costs and important remodeling considerations for kitchens based on data from industry professionals, Houzz, and Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs Value Report.

The Founder of KBCULTURE.com, Leslie Clagett always covers what’s new in appliances and innovative technology. I liked her post showing GE’s new combination of their Café Refrigerator with hot water dispenser technology with a Keurig K-Cup Brewing System. I think we all like the idea of being able to remove one more appliance from the countertop area. Sadly, it won’t be available until later this year.

“As an innovator in the personal beverage system industry, Keurig is excited to partner with GE and to be the first to offer hot single-cup technology right from a refrigerator.”

In addition to Blogs written by designers, I also read Blog posts from manufacturers. I recently discovered that Systempool, part of the Porcelanosa Family, offers the new Attica shower enclosure collection.

A large part of the value of an Attica enclosure is the availability of customization. Systempool realized that not all bathrooms are shaped the same – some have sloped ceilings, steps or structural columns that have to be addressed.

Jeanne Chung is a gifted Interior Designer whose blog is titled Cozy•Stylish•Chic. Her posts are fabulous and I hope one day soon we will meet. (We’ve both been on Modenus BlogTour trips but not together.) I am sharing her post on 3 Must-Have Luxury Kitchen Appliances from Thermador.

My favorite of the three is the Freedom Induction Cooktop which is the first full-surface induction appliance with the flexibility of a natural-mapping user interface. This technology recognizes cookware size, shape and position, and delivers heat to these targeted areas (up to 13″ x 21″),while all other areas not in contact with a pot remain cool.

The new trimless model with first full-color touch-screen interface can heat up to four pots at a time. The 36″ cooktop is built with 48 individual 3-in. heating elements below the surface of the appliance, which translates to a 63 percent more effective cooking area on the surface.

April 6, 2014

Miele Generation 6000

Even if the Miele Booth at EuroCucina 2014 didn’t have tempting aromas of gourmet food coming from two show kitchens, I still expect it to be a popular exhibit.

The company is set to unveil new design features offering the ultimate in appliance individuality. According to Gernot Trettenbrein, Managing Director of the Domestic Appliances International business unit, this bold move is a step away from “off-the-shelf products.”

Discerning lovers of fine kitchens are simply bound to be inspired by the new design features – such as M-touch controls, and out-of-the-ordinary materials now offered for customized manufacturing.

The spacious Milan exhibit will cover the two design lines PureLine and ContourLine as well as showcase the Obsidian Black, Brilliant White, Havana Brown and CleanSteel stainless steel finishes.

For the first time, Miele will be presenting the entire Miele Generation 6000 Collection. This Miele product launch is the result of five years of extensive product development and embodies the “Design for Life” philosophy – each appliance is tested to last 20 years.

All Miele appliances flawlessly complement one another in form, function and materials and elevate the culinary experience – employing unprecedented convenience, performance and elegance. Included in the ground-breaking line are newly designed ovens, speed ovens, steam ovens, combi-steam ovens, coffee systems, and gourmet warming drawers

Eurocucina 2014 will run from April 8 until April 13. The Miele booth (Hall 9, Booth A02/B03) is part of a special show called ‘Technology for the Kitchen’.

Miele was founded in 1899 and has 8 production plants in Germany and one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania. thirds in Germany and is headquartered in Gütersloh/Westphalia, Germany.

With the single promise of Immer Besser or Forever Better, Miele is a premium appliance brand committed to the highest quality, performance and engineering.

February 8, 2013

BlueStar Wall Oven Recall

BlueStar gas-powered stainless steel wall ovens are being recalled by Prizer Painter Stove Works, of Reading, PA due to a fire hazard. This recall includes three models of ovens 24″, 30″ and 36″- wide units in both natural and liquid propane gas options.

According to the manufacturer, Prizer Painter Stove Works, some of the wall ovens may have been improperly installed and/or have damaged flexible gas appliance connectors. These ovens were sold nationwide between January 2008 and November 2012 or between $2,250 and $3,900.

Model numbers and date codes are located on the rating plate inside the control panel. You will need to open the oven door/s to access the screws on the bottom of the control to read the model information.

If your oven is part of this recall, stop using it and contact BlueStar for instructions on identifying affected units and to schedule a repair at (800) 449-8691, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday.

January 12, 2012

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.