A is for Appliances
Welcome to the first post in our series, “The ABCs of Home Remodeling.” Throughout this series, we hope to educate and inform our readers on a variety of home remodeling topics, presenting ideas and answers to frequently asked questions for your own home remodeling adventures. Each article is intended to give a high-level overview of different remodeling terms and project details, and will often include photos of actual projects. Shall we get started?
A is for Appliances – Part I: Cooking and Ventilation
Today, we begin a discussion about kitchen appliances, specifically those used for cooking and ventilation purposes. Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about refrigerators and dishwashers, those will be discussed in part II of this post.
Often considered the heart of the home, the kitchen is where many of our projects take place, and one of the most important parts of a kitchen remodel are the appliances. Homeowners rely on their appliances to complete a number of tasks for them in the kitchen, and it is important for them to select appliances that not only look nice in their spaces, but ones that they can rely on to accomplish tasks quickly.
When selecting appliances, there are three very important factors to consider:
Function(s)
Features
Finish
There are so many options in home appliances today, it’s hard to narrow down the buying options. One good place to start? Determine what functions you would like your appliance to serve, besides the obvious. Would you like…
To control your oven from your phone so you can preheat it on your way home from the store?
Your range hood to vent air outside, or simply re-circulate the air while trapping smoke and contaminants in the filters?
Simplicity or high tech?
With so many choices and options, you can select features that are important to you, like a stove with a grill or griddle built in, or appliances that carry the ENERGY STAR® rating. Finally, any good kitchen design will incorporate coordinating appliance finishes into the overall concept, whether you choose black, white, stainless steel, or other finish options.
Appliances By Function
There are a number of kitchen appliances designed for preparing and cooking food, and a wide variety of options for each of those appliances.
| Cooktype | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | - Visible flame makes it easy to gauge heat - Can quickly raise and lower the temperature |
- Harder to clean than most electric models |
| Electric | - Smooth, easy-to-clean surface | - Takes longer for the burners to heat up and cool down |
| Induction | - Heats faster, but stays cool to the touch - Energy efficient |
- Requires special cookware |
Ovens
Wall, dual, single, slide-in, drop-in, freestanding-- there are many types of ovens to choose from-- and each one will give your kitchen a variety of ways to prepare your food while offering a different look. If you’re someone who entertains frequently, or your home is the holiday hot spot for the entire family, you might consider choosing dual ovens. Maybe you love cooking but have a hard time bending down to put food in and take it out, so wall ovens would be the perfect addition to your kitchen. (And who wouldn’t love to avoid bending down??) Don’t love the idea of spending hours scrubbing burnt-on lasagna off the bottom of your oven? Maybe a model with a self-cleaning feature would be just the ticket.
Speed Cookers (AKA, Beyond Microwaves)
Speed cookers have been built around several cooking technologies from steam to UV/Microwave, the most common form being microwave ovens. Speed cookers can either be standalone, or combined with range hood to create an over-the-range unit. Standalone units can be simply placed on the counter; others can be integrated into the design of your kitchen by building cabinetry around them, or hiding them behind an appliance garage.
Ventilation (I.E., Range Hoods)
Range (or exhaust) hoods are the perfect combination of design and functionality, offering you a way to show off your style by incorporating them as a featured element in your kitchen. Range hoods typically come in four styles:
Under-cabinet
Wall-mounted chimney
Island hood
Downdraft
You have the option to place the hood almost anywhere in your kitchen, as long as it is properly ducted to the exterior. It is important to have a hood over any cooktop to reduce airborne grease, steam, odors, or smoke by evacuation and air filtration.
There are so many options available when choosing appliances. You may find it comforting to know there are experts who can help you find the perfect combination of function and design for your newly remodeled kitchen. We hope you have enjoyed the first installment of our series, “The ABCs of Remodeling.” Please check back for the second part of our appliances discussion where we talk about refrigeration and cleanup.
