The Kenmore Elite Electric Free-Standing Double Oven features tw…
The Kenmore Elite Electric Free-Standing Double Oven features two 4.2-cubic-foot self-cleaning convection ovens with hidden bake elements for increased capacity and easy cleanup. It offers self-cleaning porcelain racks with integrated handles to help consumers access food with an oven mitt. An oven lockout feature enhances safety. www.kenmore.com.
The built-in MicroDrawer microwave is a 24-inch-wide product tha…
The built-in MicroDrawer microwave is a 24-inch-wide product that is designed to be installed flush with cabinets. It features a 1.2-cubic-foot cavity, 10 cooking modes, and microwave sensor technology that eliminates the need to remove the dish from the oven to check, stir, or turn the food. www.thermador.com.
Courtesy GE
The company that introduced the DishDrawer (dishwasher in a draw…
The company that introduced the DishDrawer (dishwasher in a drawer) has updated the product with a new design and added features. Models now feature seamless cabinetry integration achieved by rear venting and a fully adjustable door option. All integrated models now include wireless remote technology, increased place settings, and improved wash, energy, and water performance. www.fisherpaykel.com.
The manufacturer is offering what it says is first-of-its-kind A…
The manufacturer is offering what it says is first-of-its-kind AquaLift self-cleaning technology on its latest line of freestanding ranges. Ovens feature an enamel oven coating, so homeowners use only low heat and water to release baked-on spills in less than one hour. Other features include convection fan and power vents to preheat in eight minutes. www.insideadvantage.com.
The manufacturer has revolutionized cooking with the FreeInducti…
The manufacturer has revolutionized cooking with the FreeInduction cooktop. Instead of dedicated burners on the surface, the unit uses 48 mini inductors to sense pots of any size and shape. As a result, it will identify the size and shape of any pan on the surface and activate only the zone underneath. www.gaggenau.com.
Outdoor living is still hot, but instead of the typical outdoor …
Outdoor living is still hot, but instead of the typical outdoor grill, give your buyers the Evo Affinity Classic flat-top unit. The manually controlled, gas-fired unit allows homeowners to prepare food directly on the cooking surface; it also allows pots and pans to be used in traditional stove-top cooking. It has a 30-inch-diameter, ceramic-clad steel cook surface that is heated by inner and outer gas tube burners. www.danver.com.
Part of the company’s new series of products enhanced with Sma…
Part of the company’s new series of products enhanced with Smart technology, this French door unit is equipped with Smart Manager, which allows consumers to use the refrigerator’s LCD panel or their smartphones to check the food items stored inside. The unit will also recommend dishes that can be cooked using the ingredients available in the refrigerator. It also offers online grocery shopping directly from the refrigerator’s LCD panel or smartphone. www.lg.com.
Perfectly proportioned for apartments and small kitchens, the To…
Perfectly proportioned for apartments and small kitchens, the Torre is a 24-inch-wide refrigerator that features a streamlined design that integrates well with cabinetry. The Energy Star-rated unit uses “no-frost” technology that keeps food fresher longer and an anti-bacterial cavity that maintains a healthier interior environment, the company says. It measures 79 inches tall. www.fagoramerica.com.
Steam is all the rage—whether it’s in the dishwasher or wash…
Steam is all the rage—whether it’s in the dishwasher or washing machine. It’s also hot in cooking, too. This Classic Steam Oven is a 24-inch product that offers touch pad controls, multi-lingual LCD display, a food-driven menu system, and automatic temperature settings, among other features. www.mieleusa.com.
The Maestro Series 30-inch wall oven offers broil and moist-assi…
The Maestro Series 30-inch wall oven offers broil and moist-assist cooking options; 3.5 kilowatt, high intensity ribbon broiler; and 3,100-watt dual bake element. The convection unit also offers an integrated rotisserie, six roller rack positions, and a glass touch panel. www.capital-cooking.com.
It’s hard to overestimate how important appliances are to a home buyer or to a consumer building a custom home.
As the kitchen has become the center of the home, kitchen appliances have become particularly significant—elevated to status-symbol level in some cases.
Even in the custom home market, clients who generally defer to their architects on most decisions tend to make appliance choices themselves.
“For some reason, people have strong convictions about them,” architect Donald P. Lococo, of Washington, D.C.-based Donald Lococo Architects, tells Builder.
The point is this: builders need to pay special attention to the appliances they use. Fortunately, the appliance category is not what it used to be. Products are much better than they once were, and even the lowliest brands offer Energy Star options. Technology moves fast, and it’s creating a raft of products with amazing features and capabilities.
Here are 11 that offer something special for consumers.
Nigel F. Maynard is a senior editor at Builder.
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Washington, DC.
