Adding Value

Specialty Appliance Trends at a Glance

• There is a definite increase in demand for specialty appliances by upscale consumers for use throughout the home, including wine chillers, built-in coffee makers, flexible dishwashers (such as countertop or in-sink models), and anything with drawers – warming drawers, refrigerator drawers, microwave drawers, etc.
• Specialty appliances are not just about their functionality, designers believe, but also a way consumers make a lifestyle statement.
• Specialty products are moving out of the kitchen and turning up all over the upscale consumer’s home – in morning kitchens, entertainment centers, home offices and wet bar areas.
• Location flexibility in the kitchen and beyond is one key to the demand for specialty appliances.
• Specialty products are proving to be versatile in order to accommodate a variety of demands in various locations.
• The demand for specialty appliances as drawers is huge, as this offers both point-of-use functionality and design flexibility.
• Built-in coffee makers are becoming very popular, with options that run the gamut from espresso to cappuccino to specialty coffee drinks involving multiple ingredients.
• Specialty appliances are helping to “clean up” the kitchen visually by eliminating clutter.
• Stainless steel and black are still popular color choices but manufacturers are seeing a small surge in the use of bold color as an added design statement