Remodel Trends

No room in the house has more hot new products from which to chose than the kitchen. From state-of-the-art storage to high-tech appliances, you’ll be amazed at all the fantastic bells and whistles available for the proverbial heart of every home. Here’s a sampling.

1. Better storage. Merillat’s CornerStore, an appropriately named corner-access cabinet, allows you to store
more items, to easily view what you’ve got and to quickly access what you need. Drawers are positioned in the center and offer two sizes for flexibility. Two pullout pantry trays flank the drawers, each with an adjustable center shelf to accommodate a wide range of items.

2. For outdoor kitchens. The Evo gas-powered Affinity 30G Elite Cooktop – not unlike a nonstick frying pan – makes outdoor kitchen entertaining easy. A stainless-steel drip pan surrounds the underside of the cooking surface while separate spillover trays are concealed in slide-out drawers.

3. Induction cooktops. Induction cooktops, which use relatively new technology, are the fastest-heating and most energy-efficient cooktops on the market. They use 50 percent less energy than gas cooktops and boil water 50 percent faster. Plus, induction cooks with magnetism, not heat, so the burner stays cool to the touch. The model shown is from IKEA.

4. Integrated design. Some homeowners like to show off their high-tech appliances. These days, however, many kitchens are sporting a more seamless look because the appliances are integrated into the overall design, virtually concealing them from view. IKEA cabinetry, for example, can cover a dishwasher so the appliance isn’t as obvious.

5. Saving energy. The Whirlpool Gold Resource Saver double oven boasts a SteamClean option and an Energy Save mode in both the upper and lower ovens. Best of all, you can bake two dishes at the same time using different temperatures. TimeSavor Plus true convection cooking provides faster, more flavorful results—and an eco-friendly Schott Ceran cooktop plus a hidden bake element make it easy to clean.

6. Storing wine. Wine cabinets are all the rage. If you’ve got the space, you can buy an under-counter unit that’s 15 to 24 inches wide or a large freestanding cooler with one or two temperature zones. If you’re space-challenged, Liebherr has introduced a new built-in-the-wall wine cooler that stores 18 bottles.

7. Healthier cooking. Cooking with steam is a healthy new option. Miele steam ovens are constructed with an external steam generator outside of the oven cavity, which gives you greater cooking capacity and keeps the temperature at a constant level. The steam surrounds the food from all sides ensuring the food is heated rapidly and is sealed instantly to retain all the vitamins, color and flavor. Plus, cooking times are reduced so your meal is ready more quickly and energy consumption can be kept to a minimum.