Need Compact Appliances for a Small Kitchen? We Have Some Ideas
Once upon a time, fitting out a small kitchen with good-looking compact appliances was a chore, but today things are drastically different.
Appliance manufacturers have developed compact appliances that are, in some cases, cooler than their full-size cousins.
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Designed for smaller spaces, the 18-inch dishwasher features a stainless teel tub and has a memory feature that remembers the last cycle users ran and starts it with the push of a button. Add on a dishwasher panel kit to match the look of your compact dishwasher to the rest of your kitchen. It is Energy Star certified.
You can blame it on move toward urban living. Yes, COVID-19 may have disrupted and soured the taste for moving into cities, but experts don’t expect this blip to last. Eventually, the move toward urban centers will restart. Earlier this year, the American Institute of Architects published a report indicating as much.
“Throughout this pandemic, home has become a refuge for some Americans,” the report says. “For others, home has become a more complicated place, particularly for the millions of Americans who live in a multifamily building. According to the National Multifamily Housing Council there are approximately 21 million apartment units in the United States of which 6.4 million have more than 50 units in the building. With 68% of people expected to live in urban areas by 2050, according to the United Nations, multifamily buildings will continue to be essential, especially because they are often more affordable accommodations.”
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This 24-inch freestanding range offers four elements, 1.9-cubic-foot oven, and adjustable leveling legs. It provides different cooking controls such as bake, broil, preheat, electronic clock, and timer. Other features include an interior light, Speed Bake Convection, and an indicator light that lets you know when the oven is heated, even after it's switched off.
Urban living isn’t the only driver for more compact appliances. Online appliance retailer AJ Madison says that before the pandemic, multi-generational living was on the rise with at least one-in-five American households living with multiple generations under one roof.
“The main reason for this growing trend is that families are discovering economic, safety, and social benefits to cohabitating in the same residence,” AJ Madison says. “As families look for creative ways to adapt to life during COVID-19, many homeowners are transforming their residences to accommodate extended family members, functional gathering spaces, accommodations for guest privacy, and aging-in-place.”
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The new bottom-mount refrigerator/freezer is an optimal compact living solution, the company says. Available in 24- and 30-inch models, the unit is perfect for smaller spaces that can’t accommodate separate columns for refrigeration and freezing. As with other Fisher & Paykel cooling solutions, this new design features the brand’s ActiveSmart and Variable Temperature Zone technology, which aid in energy efficiency and food preservation.
AJ Madison says there is a wide range of small-space appliance packages to choose from, and families can have a complete kitchen in less than eight-feet of living space. Some top products include the Bosch 500 Series BORECTWODWRH866 five-piece kitchen package and the Miele MIWADREL1 side-by-side washer and dryer set, the company adds.
New Zealand appliance brand Fisher & Paykel says it offers three products for pros seeking options for city-dwellers or small homes: 24- and 30-inch bottom-mount refrigerator/freezer; 30-inch wall oven; and single dishwasher drawers.
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The new Professional Series 24-inch built-in wall oven comes in an XV configuration with a redesigned user interface, handles, knobs and a panorama window. The cavity has the largest usable space in its category, the company says. It features edge-to-edge interior glass, soft-motion hinges, easy-to-clean enamel, anti-fingerprint stainless treatment, and optional telescopic glides.
Premium brands, such as Sub-Zero, have had compact appliance options for many years, but those offerings were more limited in range. But in recent years companies such as Gaggenau, Bertazzoni, Blue Star, Thermador, Verona, Liebherr, and more have expanded the depth and breadth of the category.
But now entry and mid-priced makers, such as GE, Frigidaire, Beko, Summit, and Beko are getting in on the act. This year at the International Builders Show, multifamily builders (or those specializing in small or tiny homes) got an up-close look at the Whirlpool Corp.’s Small Spaces Suite, which includes all the appliances you would expect in a full-service kitchen: 24-inch refrigerator/freezer, 24-inch electric cooktop, 18-inch dishwasher, and 24-inch wall oven.
“With full-size features and exceptional performance in a smaller package, the small spaces appliance suite from Whirlpool brand will help transform the way small spaces are designed, built, and renovated,” the company says.
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The brand’s small-space appliance package includes all the essentials for meal prep, storage, and cleanup, including 24 inch counter depth bottom-freezer refrigerator (b11cb50sss), 30 inch electric cooktop (nem5066uc), 24 inch speed oven (hmc54151uc), under cabinet range hood (duh30252uc), and 18 inch fully integrated built-in dishwasher (spx68u55uc).
The MIWADREL Side-by-Side Washer & Dryer Set runs on standard 110-volt plugs so it can be installed anywhere with a water connection. Its 24-inch size make it a great addition to any closet, master bathroom, or even under the kitchen counter, AJ Madison says.
With controls conveniently situated on the appliance, the 200 series cooktops offer efficient design for compact living. The cooktops range from 12 to 36 inches, with gas, induction, and specialty modules. Designers may also joining units for a modular option.
The 24-inch Combi Steam Oven includes two oven racks, one telescope rack, a baking pan, and soft-close hinges. Offering a 7-inch colored touch panel, the oven comes with a blue-enamel interior that is resistant to high temperatures, easy to clean and boasts a 2.16-cubic-foot cavity.