Designing a Kitchen for the Real World
www.yahoo.com 2007-11-29
During the past few years, TV and cable design shows have bombarded consumers with exciting kitchen remodeling plans and information about amazing and innovative products. A new suite of appliances, the GE Caf series, brings many of these innovations into the kitchen. Each appliance is free-standing and does not require extensive built-in installation.
With the increased interest in food and cooking, the kitchen now plays a larger role in the home. The average square footage of a home in 1950 was 1,366, and the kitchen averaged 90 square feet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2004, the average size of a home was 2,349 square feet with the kitchen taking up a whopping 285 square feet of the total -- a growth rate of 216 percent.
Consumers are looking for more integration, more space and more high-end features in their kitchen remodel, according to the April 2007 issue of Professional Remodeler magazine. The biggest trend in kitchen design involves opening the room up to the rest of the home. The desire to integrate the kitchen with the rest of the house supports its changing role - from a utilitarian cooking space to the center of activity in the home.
Many people are upgrading their kitchens to reflect their interest in cooking and desire to entertain while capturing the ambience of a restaurant-quality kitchen.The new GE Caf suite of appliances was designed not only for those who love the look of stainless steel-wrapped technology, but also for those who love to cook and entertain.
Professional Remodeler also reports that homeowners are approaching their appliances differently - consumers are focusing on the function of the appliances, as well as aesthetics. They want to make sure the appliance they choose will get the job done. Energy-efficiency also affects consumers' choices, the magazine reports.
The GE Caf series is an affordable stainless steel suite that comes with all the performance features home chefs expect.
Both of the series' gas and dual-fuel ranges feature five burners and two ovens. An 18,000 BTU dual stacked burner provides both power boiling and precise simmering at temperatures as low as 140 degrees. The cooktop also includes a fifth oval center burner with a griddle accessory. The range includes an extra-large self-cleaning convection oven, as well as a lower baking oven that can also act as a warming drawer.
The Cafe dishwasher and refrigerator are Energy Star-rated appliances. The dishwasher holds
(editor : jane)
