The
Latest Trends in Kitchen Appliances
Whether
you are replacing a worn-out appliance or planning a full-scale renovation,
appliances that combine technology, ergonomics, and improved design
continue to top the must-have list. Bisque, white, or black appliances
are still popular, but a commercial-styled kitchen full of stainless
steel still leads the charge. Space-saving and energy efficiency remain
top concerns for homeowners everywhere, especially with the anticipated
price hikes in gas and electricity.
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Product:
Shallow depth appliances (refrigerators and ranges).
Description:Designed
to line up with the edge of countertops, these appliances offer
a clean look, plus add inches of space to the kitchen without
sacrificing capacity. Fits in most standard openings.
Manufacturer:
Most major brand names.
Price:
Depends on product, then varies by size, finish. Visit: Hamilton's Appliance, 503-656-0866 and Standard TV & Appliance,
503-777-3377. |
Product:
French door refrigerators.
Description:
Freezer on the bottom, two doors on top, available in a variety
of sizes and finishes, fits in most standard openings.
Manufacturer:
Most major brand names.
Price:
Starts around $1,500.
Visit: Hamilton’s Appliance,
503-656-0866 and Standard TV
& Appliance, 503-777-3377.
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Product:
Pellet grill (complements this year’s trend towards
firepits and outdoor kitchens).
Description:
Grill, barbecue, smoke, and bake all in one unit using wood
pellets, a clean-burning renewable resource. Multi-purpose units
lets you roast a turkey or bake apple pie.
Manufacturer:
Traeger.
Price:
Pellet grills range from $699 to $1,995.
Visit: Willamette General Store, 503-656-7344. |
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Product:
Retro-styled
appliances.
Description: Today’s modern appliances covered with a retro-styled shell,
perfect for adding that final touch to a mid-century kitchen.
Colors include red, robin’s-egg blue, white.
Manufacturer:
Elmira.
Price:
Depends on appliance, upwards of $1,000.
Visit: All-Ways Warm,
888-604-5280. |
Product:
Electric induction cooktop.
Description:
Electromagnetic energy offers faster heating times, uses less
energy than electric or gas cook tops. Easy-to-clean ceramic
glass surface, stays cooler to the touch. Stainless steel cookware
recommended.
Manufacturer:
Kenmore, Viking, and Wolf.
Price:
Starts at $1,499.
Visit: Sears, Hamilton’s Appliance, 503-656-0866
and Standard TV & Appliance, 503-777-3377. |
Product:
Microwave drawer.
Description:
Ergonomic and kid-friendly, this under-counter microwave
drawer offers the latest technology without stealing counterspace.
Manufacturer:
Sharp.
Price:
Starts at $849.
Visit: www.sharp.com
to find a dealer near you. |
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Bottom
Line
How much should you spend? There’s
no hard and fast rule, but 1.5% to
2% of the home’s value is typical
for many homeowners. So expect to
spend $1,500 for every $100,000. |
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Product:
Dual fuel range.
Description:
Pair the best of both worlds
with a range that has a gas cooktop and
electric oven. This option offers ultimate
temperature control and efficiency.
Manufacturer:
GE, Daycor, JennAir, Viking, and Wolf.
Price:
Upwards of $1,600, depending on manufacturer.
Visit: Hamilton’s Appliance, 503-656-0866 and Standard
TV & Appliance, 503-777-3377. |
Product:
“Quiet” dishwashers.
Description:
The latest innovation: dishwashers that make as much noise as
a refrigerator motor. These units combine nearly silent operation,
powerful features that leave dishes sparkling, and are designed
to save water and electricity.
Manufacturer:
Bosch, Integra Series.
Price:
Upwards of $1,600, depending on finish.
Visit: Hamilton’s Appliance, 503-656-0866 and
Standard TV & Appliance, 503-777-3377. |
Tip
No glass slivers in the fridge: Replace
standard appliance bulbs with safety-
coated bulbs. Now if the glass breaks,
the bulb stays intact. For these and
odd-sized, hard-to-find replacement
bulbs, call Sunlan, 503-281-0453.
Tip
Direct your buying dollars towards the appliances you will use
the most, says
Peter Sferle, sales, Standard TV & Appliance. The average
family uses its dishwasher once a day, the microwave six times,
and a refrigerator door is yanked open more than 40 times from
sunup to sundown
(and there’s still be nothing to eat!). |
VENTILATE!
The average
kitchen generates a gallon of grease per year. When you replace the
range, be sure to change the ventilation. Cabinets and work surfaces
will stay cleaner, and won’t accumulate that sticky film that
is a hallmark of an inefficient system.
Ventilation
units fall into two categories: Downdraft and updraft.
Downdraft
units are meant for use with residential-type, gas or electric cook
tops. They are not for use with high BTU cook tops. Downdraft units
should be 30” to 36” wide.
“While
downdrafts are perfect visually for island and peninsula cook stations,
they work better if the area for steam and cooking particles is limited
to a full backsplash and wall cabinets on both sides,” says Diane
Plesset, Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer. “That’s
because, without the backsplash, steam and particulates can escape
into the room.”
Updraft
units are more efficient for islands and peninsula cook stations because
the hood can collect and exhaust a high percentage of steam and particulates
as hot air rises. These are rated for high BTU cook tops. As for size,
updraft hoods should always be 6” wider than the cook top, to
“provide a wider collection area and minimize potential damage
to adjacent wall cabinets,” Plesset advises.
Whichever
style you choose, the bottom of the hood should be at least 30"
above the cook top.
Prices
vary depending on the unit, but a basic ventilator starts at $200.
Custom finishes, like stainless steel, wood or stone, start at $3,500.
Do
Your Homework when Replacing Your Appliances
The average
life of an appliance is 12 years, which means buyers fall into 2 categories:
Those who are remodeling and looking for the best product to fit their
needs, and those replacing a failed unit.
Don’t
let urgency force you into making a hasty decision, cautions Larry
Snider, co-owner of Hamilton’s Appliance, located at 19790 SE
McLoughlin, Gladstone, OR 97027 who can be reached at 503-656-0866.
Although most openings are standard, the existence of overhead cabinets
can impact choice. Sometimes “customers have to shrink their
desires to fit the existing opening.”
Consider
these factors before the ice cubes melt: Size of the old unit, opening
size, and clearance of overhead cabinets. This ensures that you choose
the right-sized product.
Built-in
stoves can also be limiting, Snider adds. Each manufacturer has its
own specs, so it’s generally not possible to drop a Jenn-Air
in the space where a GE used to be. Equally disappointing: The replacement
stove is nearly identical to the old model, which can make the kitchen
appear dated.
The only
solution here is to alter cabinet dimensions and surfaces. Instead
of whittling away at the problem, go with the short-term, inexpensive
fix and plan for your dream kitchen.
And do
your homework, Snider says. “You should be buying appliances,
not sold one. My suggestion is to shop where you can see a broad selection
of appliances and get a good explanation of what is out there.” |
