Beyond the Basics

Just as the kitchen has gotten increasingly personalized, so, too, have appliances. Specialty appliances, in particular, appeal to those seeking out ways to customize their kitchen to meet their specific needs, interests and passions. From specialty coffee aficionados to fine wine collectors to gourmet chefs, consumers want appliances that can help them transform their homes into places that speak to who they are, and how they live, prepare meals, relax and entertain.

Of course what works for one client, or one design, may not work for another, which is why flexibility – in both appearance and function – remains key.

Manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News say the key driver for the specialty appliance market is the need for appliances that work for how consumers live.

“A major consideration when designing appliances is to ensure they fit into consumers’ lifestyles rather than consumers altering their lifestyle to fit an appliance,” says Scott Davies, product manager for Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Inc., in Huntington Beach, CA.

Jennifer Uihlein, president of the Milwaukee, WI-based U-Line Corp., agrees. “Today’s homeowners want their homes to fit their lifestyles. Extra amenities are being incorporated throughout the home to make living and working in every space more convenient, more comfortable and more enjoyable. Specialty appliances provide the added convenience of cold beverages, snacks and more anywhere inside or outside the home where you might entertain guests or spend time with family and friends,” she says.

“The need to add just the right specialty appliance is often based on the aspiration to create a better living environment,” says Gerry Reda, senior v.p./sales for Marvel Industries, in Richmond, IN. “People enjoy creating an ideal lifestyle, one that balances comfort with entertainment. Consumers, and the professionals who design for them, are consistently seeking something better, the design ideal, that wonderfully meets both family and entertainment needs.”

Lifestyle choices are also affecting the outdoor segment, manufacturers say. “We’ve seen a tremendous growth in our outdoor refrigeration business and I think that is because people want to live their life outdoors as well as indoors,” says Jeff Wimberly, director of sales and marketing for Perlick Residential Product, in Milwaukee, WI.

Pete Georgiadis, president of the Chicago-based Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, agrees that the demand for true outdoor kitchens – and by extension, outdoor kitchen designers – is rapidly growing. “There is a huge increase in outdoor cooking and entertaining. In the last five to 10 years, you’ve seen a lot more people spending a lot more time outdoors, and entertaining a lot more at home,” he says.

These lifestyle trends, and the interests of the end user, help determine which products are most in demand, say manufacturers.

“Clearly our coffee systems are directed at coffee lovers, but our steam ovens are great solutions for anyone with a healthy lifestyle mentality,” says Matthew Kueny, senior manager of product development at Miele, in Princeton, NJ. “Steam cooking provides great results without oils and fats, and can be a great tool for people concerned about their health and well-being.”

Drawers are also still in high demand, whether it be dishwasher drawers, refrigeration or warming systems. “The clear ergonomic benefits of drawer systems create a lot of demand for these products,” says Davies, adding that for many manufacturers, this is new territory for appliance design. “Having been manufacturing our drawer dishwasher for over 11 years now, we are able to learn from our experiences and incorporate these ideas into future drawer products,” he says, using as an example the firm’s new CoolDrawer, which can be changed at the touch of a button to operate as a freezer, chill drawer, fridge, pantry or wine drawer, therefore adapting to the client’s lifestyle.