Multimedia Hood

According to a survey conducted by the Internet Home Alliance 33% of homeowners watch TV in the kitchen.  43% of respondants want to watch TV in their ideal kitchen.

Siemans has come up with a new way to incoporate a TV and DVD player into the kitchen without sacrificing storage or work space.  Their 36″ avantGarde® multiMedia Hood incorporates a 17″ LCD with a sleek vent hood.

The 600 CFM fan is quiet (54 dB) so you won’t miss any of the action from your favorite program. 

Unfortuantely, the 51% of homeowners planning to include a TV in their kitchen remodel this year will have to make other plans for watching TV since the hood won’t be available until 2008.

Electrolux 57″ Outdoor Grill

If you love to entertain for the whole block then the Electrolux 57″ outdoor grill is for you.  This grill boasts two individually controlled 17,000 BTU companion sealed burners, a 20,000 BTU bottom infrared burner and 18,000 BTU back infrared burner capable of delivering heat in 6 seconds to sear in flavor, a deluxe rotisserie capable of handling 20 pound roasts and last but not least 5 main burners of 13,000 BTU each that deliver a whopping 65,000 BTU for a total of 85,000 BTU. 

Kohler Pedicure Spa

 Kohler’s new Pedicure Spa will make your home feel like a Day Spa.  This Kohler package is complete with a deep whirlpool footbath, a teak client chaise lounge, a technician chair and all the needed faucet/drain components.  The Pedicure Spa can be customized with your choice of layout and tile selections.  The only thing it is missing is the soothing music and the person to pamper your feet.

Jade French Door Wall Oven

My previous post about the French Door Wall Oven from American Range seemed to draw a lot of interest so I couldn’t wait to report the news that Jade Appliances is working on their own French door model for shipment in 2008.

The tandem doors open to 135 degrees on both sides, providing easy access.  The doors are also spring-loaded from the 90 degree position to the fully open position to ensure that they never close inadvertently.  The oven will have convection bake and broil capabilities with electronic controls and roller racks.
 

Seta Faucet

The Seta faucet is the most spectacular kitchen faucet I have seen.  Created by Bandini of Florence, the Seta combines refined aesthetics with the latest manufacturing technology.  The pure lines and shapes capture the demand for luxury and sophistication so highly sought after in today’s homes.

Get the Most Life out of your CFL

Here’s an excerpt from a great article about how switching CFLs on and off can shorten their life and how long you should burn your CFL.

“Switching CFLs on and off does shorten lamp life, but [the] conclusion that they need a three- to five-hour on-cycle to maintain a reasonably long life does not appear to be correct. Robert Clear, a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, told Enviromental Building News that it has been difficult to get data on this question, but a 1998 study of electronically ballasted CFLs found a 20% reduction in lamp life if the on-time was reduced to one hour. With significantly shorter on-times, the lamp life is dramatically reduced: with 15-minute on-time cycling, lamp life dropped 70% and with five-minute on-time lamp life dropped 85% (which brings the lamp life close to that of incandescent light bulbs). “This suggests that you should consider replacing incandescents with CFLs in any application where the lamp is on an average of [at least] about 10 minutes per start,” said Clear. He added that “every switch cycle is equivalent to about 6 minutes of lamp life. This means that you should turn a CFL off if you think it won’t be turned on again for another five minutes or so.” This approach should also maximize electricity and cost savings.”

Contemporary Bathroom Pedestals

WS Bath Collections Patio and Fontana Collections use exotic hard-woods to support elegant basins.

   

“A minimalist design, the Fontana has a simple strength that gives it a strong presence. The basin’s black velvet finish lends the perfect contrast to the warm wood pillar. Matched with wall-mounted faucets the water freely tumbles into the vessel like basin, blending gleaming metal, black ceramic, warm wood and the glittering shimmer of water. With a masculine essence and refined simplicity the Fontana Console creates a modern classic for the WS Bath Collections.

 The Patio Console offers a sculptural free-standing design with a contemporary edge. A free-standing pillar, the Patio Console flares up widely from the floor. The vibrant textured grain is then topped by a thin band of brilliant white ceramic. The rectangular basin seamlessly continues the geometric form for a single sculptural unit. Within the warm wood unit is concealed shelf and storage area. A distinctive modern design that rises from the floor to actively engage the space around it, the Patio Console by WS Bath offers a contemporary character unique within the Concert Collection.” –Trendir

I couldn’t have said it better.

Detergent-Free Washing Machine

A new washing machine from Haier, China’s largest home appliance manufacturer, is marketing the WasH20, which doesn’t use detergent to clean clothes. Instead, it breaks down water molecules into their OH- and H+ ionic components. The OH- acts a cleaning agent, attracting and retaining stains, while the H+ ions sterilize and clean the clothes.

The machine is only available for sale in France for the equivalent of about $1,000. No word on when it may become available in the States, or if it would sell for a similar price.

Only time my tell how effective this machine is at cleaning or if other brands will launch similar machines.

Daydreaming

I think most people fantasize about having their “dream” kitchen.  My dream kitchen would be on a yacht.  Here’s a picture of a beautiful Schiffini Galley Kitchen.  I really like the juxtaposition of the shiny black cabinets and the rich wood floor.  The corner sink gives more usable countertop space and the lights with the electrical plugs keeps the stainless backsplash uncluttered.

Villeroy & Boch SmartBench

Villeroy & Boch is producing fixtures strictly for the US market for the first time in it’s 259 year history.  One noteworthy item is the City Life Collection’s SmartBench.  A ceramic toilet is hidden in a wooden bench with an elegant frosted glass surround.  The hinged lid muffles the sound of the flush and conceals the toilet.  You could have a lot of fun with unsuspecting house guests with this item.