THE KITCHENISTA

Expert advice on kitchen design,
trends and innovation

Posts Tagged ‘kitchen appliance’

Two Steps Closer to Buying a New Kitchen

26.08.2011

We all dream of buying the perfect kitchen, but sometimes we can’t imagine how it would work in our space. Or worse still, don’t know whether it’s within our budget.

Fortunately, the clever chaps at Magnet have created a new online application that allows you to quickly find your ideal kitchen, visualise it in your kitchen space and then calculate a guide price in just two simple steps…

STEP ONE

Choose your dream kitchen from the extensive range to suit any taste.

You can shorten the list by choosing either modern or traditional, and narrow it even further by selecting your desired cabinet finish such as gloss white, matt coloured, light wood or dark wood.

STEP TWO

Select your shape and finishes

Answer four easy questions: Is your kitchen L shape, U shape or Galley? Do you want laminate, wood or granite worktops? What appliance pack do you want? Finally, do you require installation?

The Kitchen Calculator will now use the information to create a bespoke kitchen and provide an estimated cost. Users can save or print off the design and take it to their nearest Magnet showroom to make their dream a reality.

Well, you can’t get easier than that!

Magnet Loves… The New Electrolux Cooker Hood

23.03.2011

We love contemporary design, so when we saw this uber modern Cooker Hood by Electrolux, we were just blown away!

The lampshade-styled cooker hood hangs directly from the ceiling so it will have extra impact when placed over island units.

The EFA50700 is available in stainless steel, white and black which so you can select the right tone to match your kitchen.

As well as it’s striking design, it also boasts three levels of extraction, a charcoal filter and an aluminium grease filter to purify the air while you cook.

And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also two choices of lighting: two 20W halogen lights can provide a bright, clear light or opt for four 40W lights for a more ambient atmosphere.

We’d love to see one of these hanging in our kitchen!

Guide to Buying a Built-in Oven

15.02.2011

Creme Lineaire Bank of ovens

The oven is integral to any kitchen so when it comes to buying one, you need to make the right decision.

But what should you be looking out for? What do you need to know? Check out our indispensable guide to buying an oven.

Firstly, always consider oven usage. For a person living alone, a single oven will most likely suffice. But if you have a family or enjoy entertaining you should choose a double oven as they provide the additional cooking space needed for entertaining or special occasions.

Steam ovens offer a number of benefits including the retention of vitamins and minerals in food while

cooking. However, steam ovens cost considerably more than a standard oven so unless you’re a fanatic cook or extremely health conscious, the money could be put towards other accessories such as a combi-microwave or wine cooler.

When installing a built-in oven, the height is determined by the position of the grill, known as ‘Eye

Level Grill’. This makes for easy access to both the grill and oven, and reduces the risk of injuries and spillages if you’re bending down to get food in or out.

One of the great things about a built in oven is that they give you the freedom to install the hob anywhere else in the kitchen. This means you can be even more adventurous with your kitchen design.

The hottest trend for this year is for a ‘bank’ of ovens. Rather than choose a double oven, the more aesthetically pleasing option is to install two single ovens adjacent to one another. You’ll find that manufacturers are now designing their kitchen appliances with this in mind by making sure that the control panels line up horizontally. You can also pick and choose appliances, such as a single oven situated next to a combi-mircrowave.

If you’re short on space, opt for a Hotpoint Openspace. This new appliance has revolutionised kitchen design as it offers 30% more space than a typical single oven, and comes with a dividing shelf so it can be used like a double oven.

And don’t forget about self-cleaning ovens – they are already huge in Europe, particularly France, so it’s only a matter of time before they catch on over here too!

Mount your Apple iPad in your Kitchen

21.10.2010

Apple iPad

We love our kitchen gadgets, that’s why we were delighted to see this new Cabinet Mount for the Apple iPad.

This amazing device by Griffin means you can access recipes, watch videos or listen to music whilst you potter about in the kitchen. And when you’re finished with it, you can tuck it neatly away under the cabinet, out of harms way.

The arm rotates 360 degrees and moves front to back 90 degrees, which means it’s very mobile.

The device can be mounted on the front, side or under the kitchen cabinet and we hear that installation is pretty easy – and it comes with all the instructions and hardware that you might need.

It’s custom designed to ensure your iPad will stay secure, and because it’s elevated, it’s safe from the usual kitchen spillages.

We think this is a great idea and can’t wait to get our hands on one!!

How long will your kitchen appliance last?

14.10.2010

If you’re thinking of buying a new kitchen, you want to invest your money in something that will stand the test of time.

We all know that trends come and go (while some seem pretty timeless!) but have you ever wondered how long your kitchen appliances will last?

Of course there’s no sure fire way of knowing exactly how long each brand or model will last – as it will depend on how much they get used over the years.

However, The National Association of Home Builders (in the US) tracks exactly this sort of information.

Last year, along with the Bank of America, research was carried called the ‘Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components’.

So, what did it find? Well here’s what you can expect…

  • Units: 50 years
  • Kitchen worktop (natural stone): Lifetime
  • Worktop (marble): 20 years
  • Dishwasher:  9 years
  • Disposer, Food Waste: 12 years
  • Tap:  15 years
  • Microwave Oven: 9 years
  • Electric range: 13 years
  • Gas range: 15 years
  • Refrigerator: 13 years

Of course these are only averages so there’s no need to panic if your fridge is 12 years old!!

Click ‘n’ Cook

13.08.2010

Kitchen gadgets should be about making your life easier and this one definitely does.
The Click n Cook is a spatula system which ensures that all your cooking utensils are in one place. The set has a storage block that holds five detachable spatula heads – depending on which one you want to use simply attach the handle!
The spatulas include a classic flat spatula, a long, flexible fish spatula, an extra-wide spatula perfect for flipping burgers, a mixer and a spoon – ideal for pasta. There’s a spatula for every need, meaning you can whip up any meal in a flash.
Not only is the Click n Cook handy for cooking but it looks pretty stylish too – each spatula is colour coded and displayed in it’s angled, stainless steel holding block.
So there’s no more messing about trying to find a spare utensil – they’re all in one place and handily displayed for quick and easy access!