Often times, the impetus for beginning a kitchen remodel is the simple fact that the appliances are in the process of a slow (or sometimes fast) death. Only one burner works on the range, the shelves in the refrigerator are broken, or the oven stops altogether. A journey to the appliance showroom gets scheduled.

	Top left, Gagganeau combination steam and convection wall oven; above, Thermador convection microwave speedcooking oven; left, Bosch range with warming drawer.
	Left Gagganeau 12” deep fryer; above, Gagganeau steamer.
	Sharp electric range with microwave drawer.
	Miele Coffee system.
	Concept by Faber

The world of appliances is going through an incredible change. No longer is a range just four burners and an oven. Ranges now include warming drawers and microwaves. Ovens can also include steam control or offer the option of faster cooking through the interaction of high-speed air and radiant heat. Food preparation is no longer regulated to the cook top — steamers and fryers are available, which can be installed away from the main cooking surface to create separate working station. Barista-quality espresso machines can be built-in to custom cabinets with one-button push for the finest espresso available.

New from Gagganeau is a combination steam and convection wall oven. In one unit you can cook a 12-pound turkey, boil pasta, create breads only available at a fine bakery or reheat Chinese food with no loss of moisture or flavor. By controlling the amount of steam (from 0% to 100%) introduced to your cooking, your food will be moist and crusts will be crisp. With the added option of misting, yeast breads will take on qualities only found at artisan bakeries. This is a multi-use item that will refresh leftovers, bring breads and rolls to just-baked freshness and will even warm your plates.

Jennifer Brunson with Echelon Home Products, who represents Gagganeau and Thermador (among other appliances), says that this unit is great for the client who cares about healthy eating, “since steamed food retains most of its nutrients and vitamins and uses little or no oils.” It is also a wonderful cooking item for those who want to reduce their reliance on the microwave as the refreshing option “takes only twice as long as a microwave and your reheated lasagna noodles won’t get hard, nor will the cheese get rubbery.”

For those who lead a busy life (and who doesn’t), Thermador has created an oven that cooks up to 50% faster than a conventional oven. “Its combination wall oven incorporates microwaves with convection cooking for food that cooks quickly, that is not only moist, but more flavorful,” according to Derek Berg of Basco appliances.

Short on space? Sharp now offers an electric range (cook top and oven) that has a built in drawer microwave. The drawer concept for the microwave allows food to be stirred without having to remove the hot dish from the unit. Bosch offers a freestanding range that incorporates a warming drawer below the oven.

Enjoy a nice cup of espresso or latte in the morning? How about a built-in coffee system that allows you to steam your milk at the same time your espresso is brewing? Miele has improved its already successful coffee system with the new CVA2650/2660 Coffee System by having the system offer up to five different types of coffee at your disposal. Prefer French roast for your latte while your spouse prefers Italian? This unit offers you the choice without adding the beans every morning. Truly an item of convenience if your first stop of the day is to your corner barista.

Ventilation, while not the sexiest item in your kitchen, is the most overlooked. Faber has created a completely novel approach to ventilation through the Concept by Faber. This item raises ventilation to an art form. Instead of a down-draft or up-draft unit – the Concept is placed on the wall behind the cooking surface where “air passes through the narrow slots” on the panel, “acquiring speed and causing an area of low pressure, which, in turn captures more air.” The innovative design has won numerous awards for design excellence and new product design.

With all new appliances comes a learning curve. It took my family almost one year to learn how to integrate our second sink into our daily life. But with perseverance and desire, these appliances can save you time and help you to create more nutritious meals. So, when shopping for your new appliances, don’t overlook the new kids on the block

Robin Rigby-Fisher is a Certified Kitchen Designer and principal designer for Pegasus Design, Inc., a residential space planning design firm in Portland, Oregon. Robin can be contacted at 503-630-3395 or logon to www.pegasusdesign.net.