Remodel Trends: Home Appliances

Induction and steam are the two biggest trends in major appliances. Steam in dishwashers is used to loosen grease and food particles to allow the dishwasher to do a better and more efficient cleaning job. Steam in dryers helps refresh clothes and de-wrinkle while steam in ovens provides healthier meals and keeps foods moist. Some ovens use steam in the cleaning cycle to help dissolve baked-on food splatter.
Juan Ibanez
First Coast Supply

What I saw at the Kitchen and Bath Trade show (KBIS) in Atlanta this last May was polished nickel faucets and cabinet hardware. Polished nickel is a warmer color than the old polished chrome of the 1980s. I’m also seeing a lot of quarter sawn-oak cabinet doors with a shaker or simple frame style. Many of my clients refer to this look as reminiscent of an old English pub. Quarter-sawn is a technique that cuts the log in such a way that the grain of the wood is straight and more predictable than the conventional cut of a log. Quarter-sawn wood is a premium product but worth the extra money. Also, the new GE Advantium Oven is one of my favorite appliances. It eliminates the need for a warming drawer and is also a microwave your kids can use. Most appliances are stainless. Wood-paneled refrigerators are taking a back seat to the timeless stainless-steel fronted appliances. Finally, by far the most popular new spaces in the kitchen area are coffee stations with built-in espresso and latte baristas and wine grottos with caf?tables or wine-tasting seating.
Kristi Wyndham, CKD
Kristi Wyndham Designs

Homeowners that don’t have gas capabilities in their homes are excited to learn about induction cooking. Most of the higher-end manufacturers such as Wolf, Viking, Thermador and even Kitchenaid have come out with induction cooktops, which use magnets instead of heating elements and offer instant hot and low temperatures much like gas. This product has been out for a few years, but has been catching on more as homeowners are looking to renovate their kitchens and stay in their existing homes.
Crystal Coons
Ferguson ENTERPRISES

Dual-fuel ranges with easy-to-control gas cooktops and even-heating electric convection ovens are creating quite a buzz. Homeowners are wowed by products like the 48-inch, dual-fuel Bertazzoni range that offers a high-end commercial look and quality as well as sleek European-styling for 30-50 percent less than comparable brands. The range’s cooktop has six gas burners and a stainless-steel electric griddle while the main oven features true European convection and an electric broiler. And for optimum flexibility, the second oven has a special low temperature.
Michael Setzer
Setzer’s & Company