From Functional to Fancy

Customized appliances offer new options for homeowners to express themselves

BY ELLIE ROTHSTROM

As every homeowner knows, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Custom cabinetry, creative backsplashes and countless options for counter surfaces offer a multitude of ways to create a unique look. But don’t underestimate the intriguing — and functional — contributions appliances can make. From glass-paneled refrigerators and colorful customizable ranges to hidden dishwashers, appliances can lend a special flair to the kitchen.

Though stainless steel still dominates the appliance market, due to its versatility and classic look, Steve Ellis from Fred’s Appliances says several brands offer nontraditional options for consumers wishing to brighten up their homes. Speciality brands such as Smeg and Elmira Stove Works have offered retro, unique and colorful designs for years. Also unique but much less retro, Samsung’s Bespoke line features glass-paneled refrigerators in a variety of colors — buyers can get all one color or mix and match to suit their desired color palette. GE Cafe also offers a selection of finishes from matte white to matte black, as well as bronze, brushed copper and pewter handles for a variety of custom arrangements.

“One of my favorites, if you’re doing high-end, is True Refrigeration,” says Ellis. “With those guys you can do brass hinges, copper hinges, with pewter fronts on them — I mean there’s some really, really custom stuff that you can do. And Blue Star is another company you can do that with gas ranges,” he adds.

Ellis says over the years the team at Fred’s Appliances has helped buyers with a lot of customized refrigerators, even including a chalkboard finish for children to write on. One of his most impressive recent designs — and a dream setup for busy parents — featured an entire wall of built-in column refrigeration, with a 36-inch refrigerator, freezer and wine cooler.

Dishwashers that open with a drop-down door can be outfitted with panels to blend in with cabinetry. Or drawer dishwashers can offer a clever solution to unobtrusively hide rows of dirty dishes.

Range hoods are another area of the kitchen where design may specify something that blends in or a dramatic custom treatment that will serve as the kitchen’s focal point. No matter the design, Ellis says it’s possible to find the “guts” to make a hood functional. “I did a house, actually it was a lake house… and we did this liner, but it was the bow of a boat,” says Ellis.

Not only are companies producing new options in aesthetically pleasing

Samsung’s and customizable appliances, there are also advances in function for early-adopter consumers. LG now offers a range with a three-part stove top, featuring induction, gas, electric and a sous vide machine all in one. Appliances may also feature remote connectivity. “People can use it from their phones, I can preheat my oven, all that kinda stuff. Which is pretty awesome, but there are more things to fail,” says Ellis.

He’s developed a general rule of thumb: “The smarter the appliances, the more chance of failure for sure. The dumber they are, the longer they typically last,” says Ellis. “But I love the technology and what you can do. I have a steam oven in my house, and I love it.”