3 appliance trends that will define kitchens
Housley has noticed that homeowners are increasingly looking for low-impact, low-waste tools that complement a more sustainable lifestyle: "There is increasing emphasis on sustainable appliances designed for the kitchen," he says, "and brands are increasingly looking to appeal to this goal-oriented consumer with smart products that allow them to easily and efficiently reduce waste. This has meant focusing on creating a pleasant user experience with products design that look good in the home."
The high-end Lasso home recycling appliance, for example, processes seven of the most commonly used materials for recycling in 5 to 15 minutes, while the Lomi composts on the countertop (while helping to keep staves off unwanted odors and pesky flies). Housley also sees potential in 3D food printers like Foodini as "a compelling consumer use case in reducing food waste."
For the Pros
As we're putting our kitchens to work—in many cases trying to fill the void of a year or more without access to restaurants—it makes sense that people would be opting for commercial-grade appliances. This is especially true of refrigerators, but with all the banana bread we've collectively been making, we're also taking our ovens more seriously: "People are making the double oven range, the electric oven, so that their cooking is perfect, and then a gas oven so they can cook in different ways," says Kartheiser.
Also, 2021 could be the year of the steam oven: "It's the foolproof kitchen appliance that even novice cooks can use," Lau says. "The ability to cook food to perfection, but still keep the nutritional value [intact], is really a game changer. And air fryers are amazing and cook so much faster than a regular convection oven."
And finally, while not technically appliances, Kartheiser says kitchen sinks—that is, sinks outfitted with cutting boards, culinary prep stations, and other accessories—are fast becoming must-haves: " I've been seeing them in all my clients' kitchens lately. They're definitely a luxury item."
Article originally published on AD USA.
