KBIS Primer - Viking TurboChef Double Oven

With KBIS just a couple of weeks away, it's time to finish up my appointment making and get my dance card filled up. With the combining of the International Builder's Show(IBS) and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show(KBIS) in Las Vegas this year, many of the old brands that were mainstays at industry shows have picked back up and decided to join the party.

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Viking Range at KBIS.

Since the Viking restructure, new products have reappeared in the Viking catalog and it's not a moment too soon. The once mainstay had slipped the appliance ranks and with some new leadership, they're poised to make a run back to the top. The new Professional TurboChef Double Oven is just the beginning.

This is on my list of KBIS must-sees. 

According to Viking, this oven cooks FIFTEEN TIMES FASTER than a traditional oven. 15! I don't even know how to put that in to real life numbers.

It's about time that the big boys in appliances come back and showcase what's new... It's super impressive when they show up and have something awesome to share. Viking is winning. 

I'll let you know how it looks... Think it will be bad if I show up with a meal ready to cook at the booth?

Kitchen Color by Number - Antonio Lanzillo and Pantone

I love colorful spaces, and designers willing to go bold always catch my eye. Recently, Antonio Lanzillo and Partners showcased a new set of kitchen appliances and accessories spectacularly colored as Pantone swatches. Check it out:

via Antonio Lanzillo

Pretty awesome, huh?

Not sure that I want Pantone numbers on all my stuff, but what a neat showroom idea... special order in all colors? Very cool.

Reader Question: Dishwasher Dilemma

It's always nice to have someone help out with some content for the blog. Thankfully, there are tons of great blog readers and occasionally I'm able to answer some questions and share some thoughts.

Today's question is one that designers are hearing more and more and appliance companies have stepped up to the plate with some solutions.

"I can't bend over to load the bottom rack of my dishwasher because of chronic back issues. I don't want to give up using the dishwasher altogether but what can I do to prevent running nearly empty loads of dishes? My husband and I are planning to build a house and we need some advice. Help?"

Between homeowners with back or neck issues and those just getting a bit older, the bottom of the dishwasher can be problematic.

Designers are more cognizant of designing spaces that are ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and feature spaces and appliances that lend to ease of use and allowing homeowners to gracefully age in their homes without making drastic construction modifications. 

Planning on the front end is key! 

I love dishwasher drawers. Problem is, with a stacked dishwasher drawer that's only 24"(that's standard dishwasher width) wide, you still have that pesky bottom drawer. 

Fisher & Paykel recently released their DishDrawer Wide. It's a magical 36" wide!

Now before you ask why the 36" measurement is magical, it'll hold 9 place settings of dishes!

Tons of adjustable(and folding) racking, accommodations for stemware and only using 3.5 gallons per cycle are just a few of the features. 

Hopefully this helps with your dishwasher dilemma. If you have trouble bending over and want to maintain a large dishwasher, the Fisher & Paykel DishDrawer Wide is an easy choice. 

Coox Concept - Future of Cooking?

I love concept pieces... Cars, appliances, phones, on and on. It's always refreshing to see what creative folks can come up with to solve a need in a specific area.

The Coox cooking concept came from the mind of Antoine Lebrun a couple of years ago and was presented as part of an Electrolux design challenge. 

Let's take a look:

Cooking on the go? The first thing I thought of when I saw this was how I like to iron clothes. I set up my ironing board squarely in front of what ever show is on the tube and iron away. With the Coox, I could saute' while watching Maury- Just wheel that bad boy right to the living room!

via

See the guy reclining in the right hand corner? That's totally me. Ha! 

So what do you think? Perfect for tailgates? Outdoors? While watching the television?

Miele Futura Slimline Dishwashers

Bigger is not always better. Many home products and appliances have grown(literally) in past years and even though we are seeing a trend toward smaller homes, there are still a limited amount of quality appliance products that are truly small-home friendly.

A good friend of Cupboards, Paul Anater from Kitchen and Residential Design shared some awesome information last week on the Futura Series of dishwashers from Miele. The technological advances from Miele in Futura Series is nothing short of remarkable. From capacity improvements to completely blowing away efficiency markers, the Futura really has set itself apart. Take a look at Paul's post- he covers lots of the technical specs.

One of the shining features of the Futura Series is option to have a Slimline model. Trimming down the standard 24" model to 18" without sacrificing capacity is an amazing feat!

Are you counting dishes? Think there'd be no room in a dishwasher that's only 18" wide? 

The silverware tray on top is a convertible of sorts, accommodating a variety of utensils and flatware. The upper tray is also adjustable for varied heights.

The Slimline Futura is available in both a prefinished  door(above) or a fully-integrated version(below).

While perfect for condos and apartment living, I think the Miele Futura Slimline is also ideal for small families. There doesn't seem to be a better model for efficiency! 

Next-Gen - Mono Dishwasher

With the movement toward smaller homes and smaller spaces, it's only sensible that appliances follow suit. One of the proto-types out now for small living dish washing is the Mono Dishwasher. Designed by Daniel Simonini, the Mono is suited for singles or couples as well as office situations.

The Mono can hold four plates, four glasses and place settings of silverware- perfect for a small family! 

Perhaps the best feature of the Mono is that the pressurized water not only cleans the dishes but also powers the internal battery... No power cord!

Check out this video that shows some of the inspiration behind the Mono.

What do you think? Pretty sweet, huh?

Making Cool Air Cool - Foliage Air Conditioner

During a recent Electrolux Design Lab, designer Rami Santala submitted the alternative to ugly, unsightly in room air conditioners. The stunning results makes one wonder why advancements haven't been made sooner.

Aptly named Foliage, this window sill air conditioner harnesses solar energy just as a plant would(through its "leaves") and powers a base unit that produces cool, clean air.

Inspired by average houseplants, the Foliage air conditioner requires no electricity. Talk about being green!

It's refreshing to see such a smart approach to interior air quality. I am curious to know just how effective the unit is- if Foliage works half as good as it looks, it's gonna be a cool summer!

Would you have one?

You Want This: GE Monogram 30" Refrigerator

On a recent trip to New York, I had the privilege of spending some time at the GE Monogram Design Center in Manhattan. The 4000 sq. ft. New York City-themed showroom is fearlessly led by Paula Cecere(who was kind enough to give me a personal tour on virtually no notice).

How Paula and her team get any work done is beyond me. The showroom is full of stunning kitchen set-ups with every foodies dream appliance suite. I'd spend all day making pies.

There was so much to see(and so little time), but one Monogram appliance really stood out among the rest...

via GE

The 30" Refrigerator and Wine Reserve is the result of GE's smart thinking and being aware that more and more people are living in smaller spaces but don't want to sacrifice having nice things. 

The fully integrated styling allows a seamless installation and fully built-in look. Here they are in the Monogram Design Center...

What's that middle drawer, you ask? Freezer and ice. So what's the big one on the bottom?! 

It's the only convertible you can brag to me about and me actually be impressed. Ha!

The bottom drawer is a multi-use space that can be set from -6 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit expanding the cooling or freezing zones at the switch of button. Pretty sweet.

On top of the awesome design, convertible drawer, glass door option and perfect installation appearance, the Monogram 30" refrigerator is the first to use the R600A refrigerant. The new refrigerant has a lower global-warming impact than common refrigerants  in the industry. Additionally, the 30" Monogram will use cyclopentane to blow the insulation in to these units, compared with previously used higher-emitting HFC foam-blowing agents. All around, a better deal.

If you haven't checked these out for yourself, do so now. Also, follow Paula and her team on twitter- Always great information there.

Thanks again to Paula for hosting me at the GE Monogram Design Center in New York!

#WordlessWednesday - Stacked for Convenience

Well... just one word...

Wow.

#WordlessWednesday - How Dishwashers Work

Trip-Planning KBIS 2011 - Scotsman Ice Systems

If you've ever lived in the South, been to a Sonic Drive-In or a Parker's Convenience Store, you know what Chewy Ice is.

Some folks call it "nugget ice":

I have fond memories of this type of ice(it's made from water frozen in a refrigerated cylinder, then pushed through holes by an auger). It was the ice from my elementary school and church fellowship hall. I guess I just assumed that every one's school and church had the same ice we did!

Sonic Drive-In was an early adopter of Scotsman Ice machines and it's easily one of the best parts of a Cherry Limeade.

Word is Scotsman Ice will show a residential "chewy ice" machine at KBIS. Naturally, I'll be there. They better have samples. A 15" Brilliance Nugget Ice Machine will easily be one of the highlights of the show for me- can't wait to figure out how I can have one of these gems at home!

Scotsman Brilliance

Scotsman Ice Systems will be at booth C4222. Remember, if they have sample of that ice... I won't be too far away. 

Answer Time: Fagor Washer/Dryer Combo

Fagor

Well, there she is. 

I need some feedback on this combo machine... Do you have one? Spec them? Sell them? Hit me up- if it's good, bad or ugly I want to see it in the comments. 

I'm planning to go play with one myself soon and wanted to have an idea what others were thinking about it and if they had drawn an opinion about its merits.

For those of you that are as unfamiliar as I am, here are a few of the specifications:

• Available now at: livingdirect.com, ajmadison.com and build.com
  
• Model FAS-3612 X
  
• Washer-Dryer Combination Unit
  
• 220 Volts
  
• Variable Spin speed up to 1200 RPM
  
• Turbo-Time
  
• Interactive LCD:
  constant information about wash cycle
  -time delay
  - program duration and time remaining
  - selected functions
  - selected revolutions
  - intensive wash
  -extra rinse
  - easy iron
  
• 16 programs
  
• Anti-crease reversing system
  
• 180 Degree door opening 

In addition to these little nuggets, the entire unit is just 24" wide and the 33.5" tall(yep, it'll fit under a standard kitchen counter) and is VENTLESS!

So share, folks... tell me why I need to be using these(or not).

The William Cooktop

Sometimes I wish I could hurry myself in to the future and take advantage of some of the fun kitchen gadgetry that will surely be easy to find. The William cook-top is one of those items, and really doesn't seem that far-fetched.

Couple of fantastic options to The William:

-Uses 85% of the surface area as cookpace- Talk about efficient use of space... Can accommodate up to 21 different cook surfaces.

-Touch screen control with specific temperature controls and timers.

- Child-locks and automatic shut offs after a pot/pan is removed for 60 seconds.

Really, seems like the perfect cook-top.

Watch this vid:

I'll take two.

Piet Indoor Stove by Cavallius

Last night may have been the first night that I considered that we might need some heat in the house- it's late October and even though it has been unseasonably warm, it's time for the cool brisk nights of autumn to roll on in.

I am not a big fan of space heaters. Besides being dangerous and a power-drain, their often bulky and unattractive. Fredrick Hylten-Cavallius may have solved all of those issues.

His Piet Indoor Stove runs on ethanol so it gives off no smoke and the reflector/insulator back allows one to safely place the stove near a wall or furniture without immediate fear of an inferno.

I like it because it's pretty handsome. For someone without a fireplace(and without the desire to chop up a bunch of wood) this stove would fit nicely at my place.

Nice, huh?

photos via

Friday Find - La Cornue Grand Palais 180

The self-proclaimed crown jewel of the La Cornue of France line of cooking appliances doesn't disappoint at all. Stunning design and ultra-efficiency make this range the top of the top designer cook-spaces available. Weighing in at over 700 pounds, it's guaranteed to be the star(and center) of your kitchen!

all photos via La Cornue

La Cornue is available for purchase through a dealer network and most Williams-Sonoma stores. Check out the Grand Palais at the La Cornue website. This spectacular range starts at $46,000.