Get the Charcoal Out

This blog, coming from Minneapolis based Warners’ Stellian, points out quite rightly that the grilling season arrived early – along with the mosquito season—this year thanks to a very mild winter. Nobody is complaining about either and this blog offers some good tips to get your grill ready to kick into warp speed before the really warm weather hits. http://blog.warnersstellian.com/ Older posts show how to get your microwave smelling fresh as the proverbial spring daisy and how to get the most efficient use out of your stove.

Mother’s Day

Those of us  lucky enough to have a wonderful Mom who doesn’t wear Prada or Jimmy Choo but LOVES her kitchen gadgets should check out these appliances found on an Australian blog.  You might think about picking up one of these instead of that scentless bunch of grocery store daisies.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13, this year. Don’t say we didn’t give you any warning.

French Doors on a Refrigerator

I bet when you read the headline you were thinking, “Hey! That’s kind of a cool idea: a refrigerator with two doors and panes of glass to tempt you into eating those leftovers”   Well the new GE French Door model refrigerator due out this summer is not quite as revealing as the French Doors to your patio, but it is generating buzz among kitchen remodelers and homeowners looking for the latest in kitchen appliance design and technology.

It’s sexy and has all the tech bells and whistles including an on-door auto-fill water/ice dispenser. That’s right, no hands. Just place the glass and it will be refilled with no spillage. “So what?” you may be thinking, but wait. How about dispensing hot water for tea and instant oatmeal?  Yup, it does that too.

Thanks to the Appliancist blog for sharing this story.

http://www.appliancist.com/refrigerators/ge-french-door-refrigerators-2012.html

Why Stainless?

Every home remodeling show you go to seems to feature stainless steel appliances.  They are the most sought after appliances for consumers and interior designers.  Ever wonder what the attraction of stainless steel appliances is? Here are a few reasons why stainless steel appliances are the best choice for kitchen remodeling projects:

Design neutral: They fit with any color palette and this versatility gives kitchen interior designers greater freedom.

Easy to clean and maintain: Wet and wipe, stainless steel appliances couldn’t be simpler to keep clean.

Long lasting: Stainless steel appliances won’t fade or discolor.  That white refrigerator you bought ten years ago probably isn’t exactly white any longer and if you have a bunch of kids, there are probably finger prints galore if you look real close around the handle and edge of the fridge.

Buyer neutral: Stainless steel appliances are most acceptable to home buyers. They generally eliminate potential objections a home buyer may have when considering a property.

Hygienic surface: Stainless steel appliances are the most hygienic surface.  Stainless steel is non-porous which resists germs and bacteria better than other materials.

More places to check out stainless steel appliances and their advantages include:

• Overtstock.com http://www.overstock.com/guides/top-5-advantages-of-stainless-steel-appliances
• ChemistryAbout.com http://chemistry.about.com/cs/metalsandalloys/a/aa071201a.htm

On the Positive Side

The upside of a down economy is that more and more homeowners are taking a good look around their nests and reassessing. Maybe our frenetic penchant for buying up has tempered a bit and started us thinking that “with a little elbow grease, I could (fill in the blank) ________________.”
a) take out this wall and expand the kitchen;
b) replace the appliances and get a whole new look;
c) repaint these cabinets and change out the handles with something fun
d) completely transform this kitchen!
It’s easier and more economical than you think, and there is a world of fabulous, fun, affordable design out there to help ignite your creative burners.
Kitchen Design Ideas http://www.kitchenimproved.com is one such repository of innovations for the heart of the home.

Design Sponge blog features spaces, places, and a whole lot more

A design blogger we love is Grace Bonney who writes Design Sponge  which is updated as many as 8 times a day. (This is one tireless writer with a fantastic eye.) Bonney was named a “Martha Stewart Living for the Millennials” by the NY Times. Read about her and check back often to this delightful blog  http://www.designsponge.com/about

Some recent “Before and After” posts by Kate Pruitt include fantastic pictures that show inspiring transformations. Don’t know about you, but earning a living all day often leaves me longing for a creative project, while lacking the energy that creativity usually demands. That’s why Bonney’s blog is such an inspiration. The woman is a tireless hunter/gatherer of all things design.

The shots of Cassidy Hughes’s before and after London flat particularly caught my eye. You can read about it and see the before and after pix here: http://www.designsponge.com/2012/03/before-after-london-flat-makeover.html

Repair or Replace?

This question is one many families have trouble with when their appliances breakdown. The one you choose can often come down to personal preference or finances. So we found five questions you should ask yourself when put in this particular situation.

1. Is it really broken? Check the troubleshooting section of your manual for common problems. You may have a frayed plug, tripped circuit breaker, or a bad surge-protector outlet.

2. How old is the appliance and does it have a history of bad operation? If this is the first sign of trouble, explore your repair options first.

3. What’s the cost difference between repair and replacement?

4. How about those removal, installation and disposal costs?

5. Will energy savings offset the cost of a new appliance?

How Does America Rank Appliances?

J.D. Power and Associates wanted to know, so they recently conducted the 2011 Laundry and Kitchen Appliance Satisfaction Studies, measuring customer satisfaction in five categories:  washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and ranges.

Samsung was the clear winner in the washer/dryer categories based on six factors: ease of use, features, performance and reliability, styling and appearance, warranty, and price.  All scores are based on a 1,000 point scale and we’ve listed the leaders below. Find all the results at J.D. Power’s website: http://www.jdpower.com/news/pressRelease.aspx?ID=2011068

Clothes Washers:

1. Samsung: 834 points
2. LG: 827 points
3. Kenmore Elite: 825 points

 -Industry average was 783 points

Clothes Dryers:

1. Samsung: 830 points
2. Whirlpool Duet: 829 points
3. LG: 823 points

 -Industry average was 783 points

The kitchen appliance results were based on these six factors: performance and reliability, features, ease of use, styling and appearance, price, and warranty.  All scores based on a 1,000 point scale.

Refrigerators:

1. Sub-Zero: 834 points
2. Samsung: 820 points
3. LG: 790 points 

 -Industry average was 759 points

Dishwashers:

1. Miele: 814 points
2. Fisher & Paykel: 805 points
3. Kenmore Elite: 802 points   

  -Industry average was 760 points

Ranges:

1. LG & Wolf: Tied at 804 points
2. GE Monogram: 801 points

   -Industry average was 774 points

Thermador to Unleash New Era of Steam Cooking

The new 48 inch Thermador Pro Grand Steam is the world’s first appliance to offer seven distinct cooking options.  Those cooking options, including: steaming, convection baking, burner cooking, simmering, grilling, griddle cooking and warming.  The only thing it doesn’t do is prepare the food for you! The range sells for $13,995.

Cooking Innovation & Performance:

• The Thermador Pro Grand Steam Range, a large-capacity oven, a six-burner gas cooktop and electric grill/griddle option with pro coattitanium surface, plus a warming drawer.
• The fully integrated 1.4-cubic-foot steam & convection oven cavity is large enough for a 14-pound turkey, serving 15 people. (A 14-pound turkey takes only 90 minutes to cook in combination mode.) The steam oven offers 30 easy cook food programs, and its simple water tank design allows for convenient, spill-proof refilling, and eliminates the need for plumbing modifications during installation.
• The steam & convection oven enables cooking without using butter or fat, improves overall food quality and appearance, and preserves healthy vitamins and nutrients typically lost during traditional cooking methods.

Design:

• Highest-grade stainless steel construction and handcrafted in the United States with signature bull-nose design.
• Professionalseries handles and trim kits offer design consistency with any Thermador kitchen.
• New hydraulic soft closehinges prevent the slamming of oven doors and warming drawer.

For more information on the Pro Grand Steam Range visit www.thermador.com.

Bertazzoni Brings Elegance and Power to Your Kitchen’s Appliances

Bertazzoni brings the design and innovation of the Italian auto industry to your kitchen.  Using imaginative details and Milanese style, Bertazzoni gives every kitchen appliance a sleek, modern look.

These fast induction type appliances allow no waste of stored or residual heat.  This means all the energy is used to heat the pan, saving you time and money.  The cooktop pictured, the P30-4xx model, comes with touch controls and four heating zones.  Made of black glass ceramic this contemporary cooktop is easy to clean and use.  Bertazzoni freestanding and built-in models allow you to pick the oven that fits your lifestyle!

For more information check out their website:   http://us.bertazzoni.com/