Design changes in appliances industry reflect trends in modern life, and these trends influence new products unveiled by manufacturers and, ultimately, which models consumers select for their homes. These trends are reflected in where appliances appear in consumers’ homes, and the consumers’ desire for integration, flexibility, and efficiency.
Appliance Designs Throughout the Home
Recent buying trends suggest that consumers believe appliances are not just for the kitchen anymore.
The recent trend of “appliances outside the kitchen” has increased in popularity. Home designers and renovators are designing California Kitchens (smaller versions of kitchens) throughout the home and including and not limiting these kitchens to media rooms and master suites. Outdoor kitchens are also following a similar trend. To react to this popularity, appliance manufacturers are highlighting indoor appliances as well as a full array of outdoor appliances to fulfill the consumers’ whole house appliance needs.
Integration – putting it all together
Today’s kitchen designers are looking for integration of various tools. Today's customers are much more interested in purchasing a suite of appliances in their kitchen and are much more cognizant of having a consistent look throughout their cooking space. This is in contrast to a few years ago, when customers would match different looks and finishes. To that end, many luxury appliance manufacturers can offer customers a consistent look not only throughout their kitchen but into outdoor kitchens as well.
Integration in the appliance industry has progressed to allow consumers the opportunity to provide a built-in look for their appliances. This “built-in” look allows the consumer to place their own custom panels on refrigerators, dishwashers, under counter refrigeration and wine storage. Custom panels can include chalkboards, vintage cabinetry and even personalized artwork allowing the consumer to make a statement within the inspirational cooking space. One manufacturer has even taken this to another level by providing a dozen plus colors for the consumer to make their statement in the kitchen.
Flexibility in cooking styles
Another trend reflected in design, highlights manufacturers combining high performance commercial styling tailored to specific cooking techniques. Induction cooking is a product of this design desire. With induction cooking, a magnetic field instantly transforms the cookware into the heat source - and an extremely efficient one, at that. Manufacturers argue that their use of these new commercial-grade technologies in residential settings ensures professional power, reliability, and more precise control.
One another new piece of culinary technology offers added versatility and choices for food preparation: Combination steam / convection ovens offer the dual power of two cooking techniques - both steaming and convection in the same unit – for added cooking flexibility.
Steam cooks gently and quickly while retaining nutrients. Convection circulates hot air with no direct heat. In model designs, often several cooking functions offer different combinations of these cooking styles, while electronic displays provide precision control of all the professional features.
Efficiency
Appliance manufacturers are recognizing the high-pace feature of modern living. In response, manufacturers are creating appliances that cater to consumers’ desire for fast, yet healthy foods. New appliances are highlighting meal preparation shortcuts but are providing families a healthy meal together that they can enjoy together.
For example, a new piece of culinary technology, the High Speed Convection Oven, combines intense heat circulation with microwaves to cook up to 80% faster than conventional ovens. People preparing food on a deadline can grill, roast, and bake rapidly without sacrificing any flavor or texture.
By Laura Herriot
Milestone Distributors, Inc. |
