Pull The Plug On The Old Gear

The Age

Wednesday October 22, 2008

Andrea Jones

Andrea Jones looks at how high-end appliances are turning kitchens into the coolest room in the house.

WITH so many kitchens designed as open-plan in modern homes, it's no surprise that appliances have become showpieces - a new form of status symbol. Naturally, the big brands have caught on fast, releasing yet more innovative products that combine ease of use with sexy design.

"Consumers these days are 10-fold more educated than they were six or seven years ago," says Simon Hodgson, director of the Kitchen and Bathroom Designers Institute. And hungrier for top-end design. Kitchen designers report that at the top of many renovators' lust-lists is an integrated coffee machine - one that sits in the wall to cap off that sleek bank of European appliances.

According to the Housing Institute of Australia, the average cost of a kitchen renovation in 2006-07 was $27,000. This means many of the new status appliances take up a sizeable chunk of a renovating budget. We asked the experts if there is a rule of thumb on how to sensibly divide your renovating budget.

Mr Hodgson says there are four basic parts to the kitchen. "You've got trades like plumbing and electricals that are a given cost - you have to get them done. And then you've got cabinetry, benchtops and appliances, and each of these three costs can vary enormously depending on what you choose. There is no magic formula. Certain people will get an advantage out of buying the best appliances; other people will get social standing. Whatever people get has got to work for them."

Here are some of the most sizzling releases of this year.

Cool fridges

What can't a family fridge do these days? It can make ice, it has an LCD TV. Pretty soon it'll be mixing cocktails. Elite brand Liebherr has combined all of its whizz-bang technology into an integrated model that has separate temperature control zones, promising to triple the shelf life of food. The interior has LEDs so it looks as bright as your supermarket fridge compartment. And we love the automatic closing door: the perfect foil for teenagers who like to stare into a fridge as if it's a television. The complete fridge-freezer costs around $5499.

If you loved the flexibility of Fisher & Paykel's compact DishDrawer dishwashers, then how about its new CoolDrawers? You can have one as a freezer and others at different temperature settings for different foods. Most of all, they're for small spaces. There's a rise in small fridges for use as "breakfast fridges" in family kitchens so that milk and other items can be grabbed without disturbing the constant temperature of the fruit and veg. If you're really decadent, how about a CoolDrawer integrated into your patio barbecue? From $3499.

Sizzling cooktops

Gaining popularity are induction cooktops, which are faster and more energy-efficient than gas or electric options. An induction cooktop uses high-frequency magnetic fields to create heat in the pan so the cooktop around the pots remains cool. The downside is you'll need to invest in induction pots and pans, so add that to the price.

The latest induction option looks like a ceramic dish perched on your benchtop, albeit a pricey one. Electrolux's Aurora Illuminated Cooktop ($9999) has a clean white surface. Without a flame to indicate when it's on, a white light illuminates the perimeter when it's in action.

For traditionalists, Fisher &Paykel's Izona CookSurface is gas cooking souped up for the 21stcentury. When not in use, it's a flat, black ceramic surface - much easier to clean than standard gas jets. At the push of a button the pan supports rise like something from a sci-fi movie. From a practical perspective, the new technology in the gas jets has greater control over the gas flame. Yours for $3999.

Roaring rangehoods

Of all kitchen gadgets to get a makeover, this is the rangehood's year, with an array of stunning designs hitting the market. But are they essential? Hodgson is not sure. "My own feeling is that you cook to create a sense of pleasure," he says, with the smell of a slow-cooking dinner being part of the anticipation of a great meal. Still, not all cooking smells are welcome, so check these three top-line releases.

The Star, resembling a disco mirror ball, won a new product design award at DesignEX earlier this year. Its innovative technology banishes the need for a fat exhaust pipe and brings ballroom glamour into the kitchen. Or perhaps you're the practical type who takes one look at the multiple glass beads and wonders how to clean off any cooking grease. Rest easy, they clip off and pop in the dishwasher. At $3999, it comes at a black-tie price. Star's manufacturer, Elica, is redrawing the look of exhaust fans now they can be freed up from venting through a pipe. It has hired B&O designer David Lewis to create looks that appear more like expensive furnishings than factory exhaust fans.

The pick of Elica's glamorous releases is the Twin rangehood, which looks like a designer downlight suspended over your kitchen benchtop. It's $3299.

There's a more conventional style that is just the ticket if you find meal-time inspiration in watching Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson. You can now watch while you cook, with the Ilve Vela rangehood, which has an LCD screen at the front of the outlet pipe. At $5990, it's quite a gourmet indulgence.

Stockists

Elica: 1800805300,

integratedappliancegroup.com.au

Asko: 1300002756,

www.asko.com.au

Fisher & Paykel: 1300650590, fp.com.au

Liebherr: 1800685899,

andico.com.au

Electrolux: 1300363640,

electrolux.com.au

Ilve: 98092122 and 98092155, ilve.com.au