Our #ProjectLakelife Kitchen- My Favorite Appliances
As we continue our #ProjectLakelife Renovation, the kitchen is at the top of my priority list. Appliances play a huge role in my kitchen design, as it should in every kitchen. I recently traveled to Orlando, Florida for KBIS 2022 where the competition amongst the luxury appliance brands was fierce. In this installment, I’m sharing one of my favorite appliance brands and the huge way in which they showed up to KBIS to assert their dominance.
Hi everyone! As I’ve shared, we are renovating the house that my husband and I recently purchased and there isn’t a room that isn’t getting some love. But of course, the kitchen is at the top of my list and the one that I’m most anxious to complete. To that end, I’m focusing several of my updates on this oh so important room in the house.
I recently traveled to Orlando Florida for the 2022 KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) and IBS (International Builders Show). This is honestly my favorite trade show of the year. I’m truly like a kid in a candy store and I get the chance to connect with my design besties from all over the country.
Over the past several years, this show has become the battle of the appliance companies. Gone are the days that you just go down to Sears and pick out your suite of Whirlpool, Kenmore or GE appliances. There are so many other American and International players in the appliance space now that are bringing so many more options to the market. And if you’re building a custom home or undertaking a significant renovation, you’re likely considering appliances from some of the luxury manufacturers. And these manufacturers are in a fierce competition to bring to market the most innovative technology and jaw dropping styling! I could write for days on all of the players, but I’m going to focus on two of my favorite companies.
Monogram Appliances always knocks it out of the park at their KBIS booths creating an experience like no other and this year it won them the KBIS Best Booth Award. There was such a frenzy about this space that there was a waiting line to get in!
Villa Monogram, the Monogram KBIS booth destination showcased the brand’s latest innovations and collaborations in a variety of luxury living scenarios.
Villa Monogram Farm incorporates Monogram’s new 30” Fully Integrated Wine Sommelier and Monogram 30” Smart Flush Hearth Oven
Villa Monogram Mountain showcases the new Monogram Rotisserie Oven.
Villa Monogram Beach features the 30” Smart Electric Convection Single Oven and the 36” Integrated Panel-Ready Column Freezer and Refrigerator.
In addition to the Villa Monogram vignettes showcased above, Monogram also launched it’s first Designer Collection. Renowned interior designer and Monogram Creative Director Richard T. Anuszkiewicz created the collection in collaboration with the brand. It showcases two aesthetics, Brass and Titanium, and incorporates beautiful custom furniture style hardware. Another ingenious design detail were the 96” tall brass and titanium refrigerator column panels. With so many new homes being built with 10’ ceilings, these taller panels are a much better scale!
It was such a sexy look (and who ever thought I would use the word “sexy” when talking about appliances! Just look at the gorgeous hardware!
But Monogram is also about more than just looks! I did a hands on training session with them in their Chicago showroom a couple of years ago and I was very impressed by their technology and the breadth of their various options. We recently completed our studio kitchen and incorporated Monogram appliances so that we could share some of their more innovative designs with our clients and visitors.
We installed their 5-in-1 smart wall oven with Advantium Technology, their 30” integrated glass door refrigerator with the two convertible drawers at the bottom and their 36” induction cooktop. I wanted to highlight some of their more unique offerings so that we could bring our clients options that they didn’t normally think about. We’re in the process of planning an event where we can hopefully show off the muscle of this 5-in-1 oven with a live cooking class. If you’re not on our email list, you should join now so that you’ll be sure not to miss an invite to this event or any of our other regular events.
Well, that takes care of one working kitchen for me! At least I can go to the studio and cook on my Monogram induction cooktop! Now, if only I could get my kitchen finished at #projectlakelife. As I said above, Monogram is one of my two favorite appliance brands. Join me next time for a spotlight on the other brand and the one that I’ve chosen for my own home. I’ll also share some of the great new award winning introductions this brand brought to KBIS 2022. After everything I discovered at KBIS, it makes me want to design a whole new house just to be able to use all of these great products.
JSI Raves: Thermador Ushers In A New Era Of Luxury at KBIS 2018!
The iconic appliance brand, Thermador, announced the unprecedented launch of 300 new products and unveiled it's impressive Home Connect technology. After touring the Thermador showroom at KBIS, I've highlighted just a few impressive new entries into the field.
Last week at the 2018 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando, Florida, Thermador, the iconic American luxury home appliance brand, announced the launch of more than 300 groundbreaking new products, the most significant launch in the brand’s 102-year history. As a member of the Modenus Blogtour team, I was there to see the unveiling of several exciting new additions to Thermador's repertoire.
Completely redesigned, the sleek new Masterpiece and Professional Collections deliver the seamless culinary experience consumers expect from Thermador. Both collections offer a seamless inset integration without a bulky frame and they're beautifully styled with metallic gray glass and sleek contemporary handles.
Thermador Masterpiece Series Oven
The new Freedom® Induction Cooktop offers the largest fully usable cooking surface on the market within its class. The entire surface can be used! This new cooktop offers more responsiveness, more flexibility and the first full-color touch-screen interface on an induction cooktop.
In the dishwashing arena, Thermador introduced their newest dishwashers featuring StarDry™ with Zeolite for a superior drying process without the use of chemicals, as well as the Star Speed® cycle which is the fastest hot water cycle in the industry at 20 minutes. One of Thermador's newest dishwashers is called "The Entertainers' Dishwasher". This dishwasher features a gentle cycle that won’t break or damage glasses, with a no-slip, soft rubber lower rack and adjustable stands specifically designed to keep stems secure. The rack stands are fully adjustable at multiple levels to accommodate different heights and sizes of your glasses. It can accommodate up to 26 large wine glasses. What a great addition to a butler's pantry!
Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop
In the dishwashing arena, Thermador introduced a suite of luxury dishwashers including the New Star-Sapphire™ Dishwasher. It's features include Push to Open, allowing you to either push or pull open the unit, as well as Thermador exclusive Star Glow, which illuminates the inside of the dishwasher in a variety of colors, so you can set the mood that matches the occasion. And, with the two-step StarDry™, Thermador delivers the only program that provides the ultimate drying, so all your place settings are ready for use after each cycle and you can get back to serving your guests. It also boasts the fastest hot water cycle in the industry with the Star Speed® 20 minute cycle.
Thermador's "Entertainers' Dishwasher" features a gentle cycle that won’t break or damage glasses, with a no-slip, soft rubber lower rack and adjustable stands specifically designed to keep stems secure. The rack stands are fully adjustable at multiple levels to accommodate different heights and sizes of your glasses. It can accommodate up to 26 large wine glasses. What a great addition to a butler's pantry!
Entertainer's Dishwasher
One of the most eye catching displays in all of KBIS was the section of custom paneled Freedom Refrigerators which come in a variety of sizes and configerations. These units accept any custom panel and for the show, Thermador outfitted their refrigerators with large panels wrapped in custom abstract art canvas.
Thermador Paneled Freedom Refrigerators
While I'm not sure I have a client bold enough for this look, the features of these units are the real story. You have the option of handle-less units with push latch openers that automatically close if left ajar. Inside, you have soft-close bins, including bins with Thermal Fresh humidity and temperature control. And no more dark corners, these refrigerators feature "theater lighting" in the form of LED panels from top to bottom.
Continuing to redefine the possibilities in the kitchen and beyond, Thermador also introduces the Thermador Connected Experience by Home Connect, an industry-exclusive app. Home Connect provides culinary assistance by partnering with Kitchen Stories, the unique app that provides you with recipes, wine pairing suggestions and video tutorials. It will allow you to remotely control your Thermador appliances through brand partners like Amazon Alexa or EVE, Tesla's connected vehicle software. Cut down on trips to the grocery store by letting Thermador's Home Connect and Amazon Dash inventory and replenish groceries as needed.
With this new launch, Thermador will be able to empower consumers to perfect recipes, enhance their experience with smart tools and provide expert knowledge that helps them reach their culinary goals. With the comprehensive collection of products, exceptional cooks can now choose from more options than ever before to perfect even the most adventurous recipes and elevate their culinary lifestyle.
If you're building a home or considering a kitchen remodel or update, I would strongly suggest that you spend some time getting to know Thermador. Personally, I want to pull out all of my appliances after seeing that exciting showroom!
Please note: According to FTC rules, I need to disclose that my trip to KBIS was sponsored. While I did not get paid for my time at KBIS, my hotel, airfare and some meals were covered. As I write about our sponsors I wish for you to know that I do not receive any additional monetary compensation for doing so. And please note, the views expressed in this blog are totally mine!
