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Engineered for Savings
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Inch by InchWhen space is tight, choose the right appliances and cabinets to help ease the squeeze. Kitchen space is at a premium in all housing types, from trendy urban condos and lofts to spacious single-family homes in suburban communities. The reasons differ, but the same space-saving strategies apply. These include maximizing every bit of storage space and considering smaller or multipurpose appliances.In condos and lofts, the problem is that, although space is tight, buyers want all the conveniences of big-home kitchens, according to Marni Hale, marketing relations manager for BSH Home Appliances, the Huntington Beach, Calif.-based company that manufacturers Bosch, Thermador, Siemens and Gaggenau. In recent years, kitchens in single-family homes have been requiring more and more space because most families are using them for more than cooking. “People are using kitchens as living spaces versus a utility area just for food preparation,” says Paul McCormack, senior marketing manager for appliance manufacturer Miele. “They want work spaces for homework and bill organization, comfortable seating for guests, as well as islands and entertainment areas.” Appliance Solutions
Called “Integra Collection Refrigeration,” the collection will debut at the International Builders’ Show in February 2007. It includes dispenser freezers, beverage centers, and two- and three-door bottom freezer units. Refrigerators come in 24-inch and 30-inch widths, while freezers are available in 18-inch, 24-inch and 30-inch models. The collection also includes an 18-inch dishwasher, which is ideal for kitchens in apartments and condos where a standard 24-inch model eats up too many valuable inches. Another way to save space is with multifunctional appliances. For example, Miele offers a “speed oven” that consists of three ovens in one: a convection oven, a microwave oven, and an oven that combines the best of microwave and convection cooking together to cook food in less time. The speed oven is about the size of a large microwave — inches smaller than a standard oven, McCormack says. “The multipurpose appliance saves space because you don’t need a variety of appliances,” he points out. With that in mind, Miele also developed a multifunctional coffee system that makes coffee, cappuccino and tea, as well as plain old hot water. “Imagine all the appliances you could throw out if you had this product,” McCormack says. “That's enough room to fill a cabinet.” Using Space Wisely Builders should also look for ways to use their existing spaces more wisely, says Michelle Coates, group product manager with ClosetMaid. “Our research has shown people are using kitchens for a lot of different activities. Their storage needs have changed because they’re storing different items than they were in the past.” In addition to needing storage space for traditional kitchen staples like spices, canned goods, dishes, and pots and pans, most people now want space in the kitchen to store medicines, vitamins and mail. “You have to find ways to store and access everything,” Coates notes. For example, the space in the back of base cabinets is rarely used, Coates says, and vertical space — the space high up in the cabinets or closets — isn’t used to its best advantage. “A lot of people don’t use the back of their [base] cabinets because of accessibility,” she adds. That’s why ClosetMaid introduced ProCuisine, a do-it-yourself cabinet organization line for lower cabinets and pantries. Currently there are 14 products in the product line ranging from $19.99 for a sliding spice rack to $89.99 for larger items. In markets where buyers can choose from a number of new homes, builders offering these storage and appliance solutions demonstrate how their smaller kitchens can live larger — or their larger kitchens can live smarter. |
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