Kitchen makeover in 2020? Here are the appliances and gadgets that should be on your wish list.
There are two rooms that really sell houses according to Forbes: these are the kitchen and the bathroom(s). Old fashion arrangements can scare away potential buyers and make YOU fall out of love with your own home. With a kitchen makeover, you have the opportunity to really put your stamp on the heart of the house, and add some serious value to your property. If you have something like that planned for 2020 then you need to do it right and bring the latest appliances in.
Kitchen makeovers cost. But you get a pay back.
A well appointed kitchen with up to date decor is always a winner. If you are looking to increase the value of your home substantially and are in no hurry to sell, updating the kitchen before you put the house on the market is a really smart move. As a developer, you will want to install appliances that will help you market your home better.
Where you cannot afford to go for a full remodel and have no plans to move, you can repaint cabinets and change the hardware (these Buster & Punch are currently trending). Still, you will want to make sure you choose products that will last long, and with technology features to make sure they still seem relevant in 5 years time.
This blog post will cover:
Internet of Things - smart appliances
Wireless connected hoods
Less Noisy Hoods
Steam Ovens
Combi Ovens
Food Waster Disposers - keeping waste away from the landfill
Integrated Worktop phone chargers
Make your kitchen tech-smart
Have you come across the term Internet of Things (IoT)? This is the network of appliances (and more) that have connectivity to the internet, enabling them to upload and exchange data as well as to be accessed remotely (e.g. through your phone). For example, a fridge that can connect online, allowing you to order groceries in just a few taps.
Imagine how frustrating it is when different mobile phone brands have different software (or even hardware: chargers!). The same goes for kitchen appliances. AEG, however, as a premium member of the All Seen Alliance, is helping spearhead the broadest, cross-industry open source effort to advance the IoT.
This means that their products will be compatible to those of other brands within ASA, making them far more attractive in my view and a long term investment.
Smart Hoods
As for existing technology? Take the AEG intelligent Hob2Hood system: as soon as your AEG Maxi-sense hob is turned on, a wireless signal is sent to the hood, automatically measuring the right amount of extraction needed to keep your kitchen free from vapours and steam. That means your kitchen doesn't have to turn into a steam room while you are away from it.
And if you do not have the space for a hood, you can combine an induction hob and an integrated extractor into one single product. The new AEG ComboHob is the answer to designing a stylish, modern kitchen as it can be placed anywhere. Islands are THE must have in a modern kitchen according to Houzz, so why not include one there!
Less Noisy Appliances
You can keep the noise level under control with AEG’s most advanced SilenceTechTechnology to date: you can extract at the hood’s maximum power points and the noise level will still be reduced down to the lowest number of decibels – allowing you to entertain or work around the kitchen without any distractions.
With more experimental at-home cooking on the rise as well as trends around food provenance and sustainability, the new AEG Mastery Range aims to satisfy those looking for the ultimate responsive cooking experience to take taste further.
The AEG Mastery Range includes:
a first of its kind Comfort Lift dishwasher, designed to gently lift the lower rack to a more convenient working height for easy loading and unloading;
a Sense CookPyro Oven that acts as a sous chef, allowing you to cook restaurant quality dishes such as perfectly cooked steak;
a CustomFlex fridge freezer with door storage that can be customised to your needs; an intelligent Hob2Hood that automatically adjusts to your cooking activity on the hob so you can concentrate on the task in hand, and
a ComboHob which connects an induction hob with an integrated extractor - perfect for those who don’t want or have space for a full hood.
I had the chance to try this new range (along with my sister) when it first launched at Taste London while making the most delicious sausage rolls guided by Great British Bake Off (series 5) finalist Richard Burr and private chef and author Kathy Slack of Gluts and Gluttony. You can see what went on in this little video.
Steam Ovens
Steam ovens are the latest "IT" gadget for cooking and baking. According to this Forbes article: "Steam ovens keep more nutrients in your food, keep its colour better, and eliminate the need for oil. Steaming also prevents cross-flavouring, so you can cook a salmon and chocolate torte at the same time without getting a fishy dessert."
With added Steam Function you can get really creative – from brilliant bakes to perfect roasts. Moisture is added to the oven as your meal cooks, which means you can prepare soft bread or deliciously moist cakes with ease.
If you decide on a steam oven, ensure that you get one with a water reservoir or you will need to have the plumbing in place to allow for water connection (easier for a kitchen extension, less so for a kitchen makeover).
Popular Steam Ovens
Combi-Ovens
Space saving! Combination ovens do exactly that: combine two different types of oven in one. You can find a conventional oven combined with microwave (handy!) or you can go for a combi-steam one that will help you defrost foods as fast but can't make microwaved pop-corn for you!
My preference for some time has been to have a combi-microwave one, as this means you save the space on your worktop and have a more streamlined look (especially if you go for a double oven at eye level).
Popular Combi-Ovens
Food Waste Disposers
7.3 million tonnes of food waste ends up in landfills each year where it emits harmful greenhouse gasses. Instead of going to landfill, food waste can yield valuable biogas and other vital soil nutrients which can be recovered at the wastewater treatment plant. Fitted neatly under your sink, a food waste disposer effortlessly grinds food waste into small particles that can be flushed away for processing at the local wastewater treatment plant.
Popular food waste disposers
InSinkErator Evolution 200 Premium Food Waste Disposal, .75 HP -- Perfect for Large & busy households - £399 and with 6 year warranty
Evolution 150 Premium Food Waste Disposal
Worktops that charge your phone
Running low on battery and not sure where your charger is; or simply hate seeing the cables all around the kitchen? You could integrate a wireless charger in your worktop so that your phone is charged through inductive charging. The safe technology has been around for time. Its use can be seen in many consumer electronics such as Electric Toothbrushes and Kettles.
This £25 charger Pad can be embedded in the Table or work surface. No wires to be seen - the phone can be charged just placed on the right spot on the work surface/ table top to receive the charge. The system will recognize when it needs to transmit power to your device. A small “tone” will indicate that your phone of table is in the right position. How perfect is that!
Note: you need to ensure that your phone is compatible with wire-charging.
The benefits of using an integrated surface charger:
Seamless integration into the countertop
No wires
The look of your beautiful worktop is not altered
Buy wireless chargers for worktop fitting
