Home All-Stars: Kitchen Innovators

Linda C. Lentz

01/01/2006

Bulthaup b3 Kitchen
Designed by Herbert Schultes, this groundbreaking system elevates the concept of kitchen furniture to un­charted structural heights. Attempting to achieve “more with less,” Schultes fashioned a functional in-wall steel skeleton that supports and suspends the cabinets up off the floor. At the surface, an ingenious rail system integrates wall panels, storage, appliances and lighting. Always pushing the envelope when it comes to materials, Schultes maintains a linear clarity by using the thinnest of stone counters and veneers in white glass, anodized aluminum, stainless steel, wood, bamboo and lacquer.

Bulthaup, 800.808.2923, www.bulthaup.com

Bosch Integra 800 Dishwasher
At 44 decibels, this minimalist clean machine is said to be as silent as you can get. The Integra 800, the latest in a series of dishwashers valued for their extremely low-energy, -water and -noise levels, is at the top of the new line introduced by Bosch in its quest to maintain cutting-edge performance and design. Upgrades include top-flight digital features, such as an advanced Sensotronic technology that assesses how dirty the dishes are and automatically adjusts wash time, temperature and water level accordingly; concealed controls; and–because the unit is so unobtrusive–a unique InfoLight that beams from the bottom of the dishwasher to the floor when it is operating. (Click image to enlarge)

Bosch, 800.944.2904, www.boschappliances.com

Miele Built-in Coffee System
Thoughtful innovations are few and far between, but Miele, the tony German manufacturer of residential and commercial appliances, could not have been more perceptive when it pioneered the first CVA615 built-in home coffee system in 1999. Its cool good looks, ease of use and installation flexibility guaranteed its instant success. Now the company stands to outshine the inevitable competition it spawned with its Gen Y model, the CVA2000–the world’s first built-in capsule coffee system. Designed for those who prize instant gratification, this Jetson-worthy machine features a Cappuccinatore for frothed/steamed milk and a rotating carousel holding 20 Nespresso capsules. And all it requires is the push of a button. (Click image to enlarge)

Miele, 888.346.4353, www.miele.com

KitchenAid Stand Mixer
When asked to suggest a name for the prototype of this ubiquitous stand mixer after giving it a trial run, a 1919 housewife replied, “I don’t care what you call it, but I know it’s the best kitchen aid I ever had!” Flash forward 87 years, and the KitchenAid stand mixer–fine-tuned in the 1930s and early 1940s by renowned industrial designer Egmont Arens–maintains its superlative reputation. Of course, occasional changes, such as the powerful 5- and 6-quart Professional Series and color options, assure its classic utilitarian good looks and superb performance are always au courant. (Click image to enlarge)

KitchenAid, 800.541.6390, www.kitchenaid.comGaggenau EB388 Built-in Oven
Designed by Detlef Unger of the Stuttgart-based Delta Design, this über-sleek, extra-large 36-inch-wide oven has had a long run as the top choice of architects, designers and design-conscious cooks since it first appeared in 1987. Indeed, with only one cosmetic tweaking in 1996, it has endured the test of time and remains the first and only oven of its size that can be positioned under a counter with ease–leading the competition with its generous width and versatile installation options. The oven also introduced such culinary features as com­bination cooking with convection and hot-air broiling ­systems, interior temperature probes, baking stones and built-in rotisseries. (Click image to enlarge)

Gaggenau, 800.828.9165, www.gaggenau.com

La Cornue Chateau Range 
Albert Dupuy, a discerning gourmet and artisan determined to construct the best stove in the world, developed this gas-fueled oven–the first designed for home use that utilized the principle of cooking with circulating hot air–in 1908. Ninety-eight years later, this classic range is still custom-made in France and comes in 26 colors and finishes, including the Jaune Provençal (Provençal Yellow) selected by Claude Monet for his family home at Giverny. Custom hues and numerous trim options are also available, as well as a variety of burner configurations, vaulted gas ovens and electric ovens. (Click image to enlarge)

La Cornue, 800.892.4040, www.lacornue.com

KWC Domo Classic Semi-Pro Faucet
Inspired by the overwhelming acceptance of high-tech gear for the home, this Swiss manufacturer of residential and restaurant equipment (which introduced the original pull-out spray in 1957) modified several heavy-duty commercial components to develop another first: the semiprofessional faucet. Featuring the long coiled spray head and high arc tap chefs favor for quick preparation and cleanup, this scaled-down version of the faucet is made of high-test stainless steel and has such pro essentials as a water hammer arrester (that prevents the banging sound caused by rapid use) and a 180-degree swivel spout. (Click image to enlarge)

KWC, 877.592.3287, www.kwcfaucets.com

Sub-Zero Built-in Refrigerator/Freezer
In the late 1950s, this family-owned manufacturer developed the first built-in cabinet-flush refrigerator and freezer to accommodate the needs of designers specializing in the revolutionary “total kitchen concept.” The idea took off, and the Sub-Zero–whether customized with wood or laminate to match the cabinets, or outfitted with stainless steel panels–became the de rigueur fridge for upscale kitchens. Some of the company’s most recent benchmarks include a wine storage system and its integrated point-of-use 700 Series, which features freestanding refrigerator and freezer drawers. (Click image to enlarge)

Sub-Zero, 800.222.7820, www.subzero.comThermador Wall Oven
Founder Bill Cranston revolutionized modern kitchens when he created the first built-in wall oven in 1955. Upping the ante, his young company then developed the double wall oven in 1956. Black glass was added in 1965. In 2005, Thermador has produced the 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Wall Oven (available through 2006), designed to celebrate these extraordinary culinary and design achievements. This 30-inch model features a dramatic black-mirrored exterior, 4-cubic-foot oven capacity, precise temperature-controlled meat probe and the company’s proprietary Personal Culinary Assistant one-touch operation. (Click image to enlarge)

Thermador, 800.656.9226, www.thermador.com

Viking Professional-Style Freestanding Range
The brainchild of viking company founder Fred Carl Jr., the original Viking commercial-type range was brought to market in 1987 to avert the hazards and installation pitfalls of true commercial cooking equipment in the home. Slimmed down and simplified, these hefty stainless steel ranges maintained the power of their institutional siblings, yet offered user-friendly features, such as in-the-oven broiling, an automatic ignition, enough insulation to keep the surface and the room cooler, and even a selection of colors. Now offered in sizes ranging from 24 to 60 inches in all-gas, electric, dual-fuel and self-cleaning versions, Viking is almost generic for the product category it created. (Click image to enlarge)

Viking, 888.845.4641, www.vikingrange.com