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Buying a New Appliance for Your Kitchen? Read This First!
We'll guide you towards the right appliances that strike the perfect balance between style and function
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Whether you’re starting from scratch on a kitchen renovation project, or you’re simply updating an existing one, your appliances are the driving force behind the hub of your home and will determine its success as a functional working space as well as a stylish, up-to-date scheme. Therefore, choosing the right appliances that meet you and your family’s needs, while operating smoothly and efficiently, is essential.
Before deciding on what appliance to buy, there are several things to consider. Evaluate how you use the space, what activities take place there and who will be the main users. Then there’s the size to think about, how much room you have to play with and what layout will work best for your needs, while incorporating a working triangle into the plan will make it super-practical.
With so many factors to take into consideration, we reached out to the experts behind the innovative Scandinavian-inspired appliances at ASKO to help us navigate the appliance minefield and what we should be looking out for when we shop.
Before deciding on what appliance to buy, there are several things to consider. Evaluate how you use the space, what activities take place there and who will be the main users. Then there’s the size to think about, how much room you have to play with and what layout will work best for your needs, while incorporating a working triangle into the plan will make it super-practical.
With so many factors to take into consideration, we reached out to the experts behind the innovative Scandinavian-inspired appliances at ASKO to help us navigate the appliance minefield and what we should be looking out for when we shop.
Cooking
Key considerations… Are you a household that enjoys cooking from scratch and getting everyone involved, from peeling the carrots to stirring the pots? Or maybe you’re more a family of convenience, always on the go and looking for easy-to-heat-up options?
However you cook and eat will determine what oven and cooktop you should go for. If you’re short on space and time, a combination microwave oven should get you by, while you can then site a separate cooktop in the most convenient spot. Alternatively, a freestanding cooker complete with hob, oven and grill will make a fabulous all-in-one cooking station for big kitchens and keen home cooks.
Worth investing in… a pyrolytic oven that self-cleans by using high temperatures to reduce food scraps, grease and oils to a fine ash. It does all the hard work for you while you put your feet up, and keeps your cooker feeling newer for longer.
Key word to know… An ‘induction’ cooktop offers quick and precise heating. Only the area that is heating becomes hot so the rest of the cooktop is cool enough to touch – a great option for households with children due to the safety factor. A residual heat indicator then advises when it is safe to touch or clean the surface.
Key considerations… Are you a household that enjoys cooking from scratch and getting everyone involved, from peeling the carrots to stirring the pots? Or maybe you’re more a family of convenience, always on the go and looking for easy-to-heat-up options?
However you cook and eat will determine what oven and cooktop you should go for. If you’re short on space and time, a combination microwave oven should get you by, while you can then site a separate cooktop in the most convenient spot. Alternatively, a freestanding cooker complete with hob, oven and grill will make a fabulous all-in-one cooking station for big kitchens and keen home cooks.
Worth investing in… a pyrolytic oven that self-cleans by using high temperatures to reduce food scraps, grease and oils to a fine ash. It does all the hard work for you while you put your feet up, and keeps your cooker feeling newer for longer.
Key word to know… An ‘induction’ cooktop offers quick and precise heating. Only the area that is heating becomes hot so the rest of the cooktop is cool enough to touch – a great option for households with children due to the safety factor. A residual heat indicator then advises when it is safe to touch or clean the surface.
Refrigerating
Key considerations… Space is key when it comes to choosing the right fridge. Big families that do lots of home cooking will need plenty of fridge and freezer space, while couples, or families that don’t cook frequently, won’t need so much. Then there’s extras like outdoor refrigeration to consider – crucial if you love to entertain or enjoy al fresco dining through the warmer months. Wine storage is also ranking high on people’s renovation lists as more of us love to stay at home to entertain.
Worth investing in… a design that offers dual refrigeration by properly closing off each section so the perfect environment can be provided for different foods.
Key word to know… a ‘convertible’ drawer is a compartment of the fridge that has separate temperature controls. One day it can be a freezer drawer, the next, a drinks fridge. The choice is yours depending on what you need when.
Key considerations… Space is key when it comes to choosing the right fridge. Big families that do lots of home cooking will need plenty of fridge and freezer space, while couples, or families that don’t cook frequently, won’t need so much. Then there’s extras like outdoor refrigeration to consider – crucial if you love to entertain or enjoy al fresco dining through the warmer months. Wine storage is also ranking high on people’s renovation lists as more of us love to stay at home to entertain.
Worth investing in… a design that offers dual refrigeration by properly closing off each section so the perfect environment can be provided for different foods.
Key word to know… a ‘convertible’ drawer is a compartment of the fridge that has separate temperature controls. One day it can be a freezer drawer, the next, a drinks fridge. The choice is yours depending on what you need when.
Cleaning
Key considerations… When choosing a dishwasher it’s all about finding the biggest model that fits your space and offers optimal performance, while using the least amount of water. Even if this happens to mean you can only squeeze in a slimline design, you’ll still be benefitting from this appliance’s convenience.
Worth investing in… models that use more stainless steel inside as well as out. Stainless steel outlasts plastic, it’s more hygienic, and it will look better for longer.
Key word to know… the ‘Sensi’ Clean Sensor detects dirtiness levels and adjusts the washing program and water consumption accordingly, saving you time and money.
Key considerations… When choosing a dishwasher it’s all about finding the biggest model that fits your space and offers optimal performance, while using the least amount of water. Even if this happens to mean you can only squeeze in a slimline design, you’ll still be benefitting from this appliance’s convenience.
Worth investing in… models that use more stainless steel inside as well as out. Stainless steel outlasts plastic, it’s more hygienic, and it will look better for longer.
Key word to know… the ‘Sensi’ Clean Sensor detects dirtiness levels and adjusts the washing program and water consumption accordingly, saving you time and money.
Laundry
Key considerations… When it comes to choosing a washing machine or tumble dryer, you have the choice of either top or front loaders. Your layout and family needs are likely to determine your choice, however it’s worth noting that front loaders use a lot less water, are better for the environment and some models offer a huge capacity of 10kg.
Worth investing in…sturdy legs that support the machine on all sides for ultimate stability and quiet operation. This is crucial in open-plan layouts where the laundry is part of the kitchen set-up.
Key word to know… ‘SteelSeal’ eliminates the need for a rubber seal around the drum that often traps grime and dirt, and needs replacing when it degrades.
More: Find out more about ASKO appliances here.
Your turn
Do you have a top tip for buying kitchen appliances? Share in the comments below.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Key considerations… When it comes to choosing a washing machine or tumble dryer, you have the choice of either top or front loaders. Your layout and family needs are likely to determine your choice, however it’s worth noting that front loaders use a lot less water, are better for the environment and some models offer a huge capacity of 10kg.
Worth investing in…sturdy legs that support the machine on all sides for ultimate stability and quiet operation. This is crucial in open-plan layouts where the laundry is part of the kitchen set-up.
Key word to know… ‘SteelSeal’ eliminates the need for a rubber seal around the drum that often traps grime and dirt, and needs replacing when it degrades.
More: Find out more about ASKO appliances here.
Your turn
Do you have a top tip for buying kitchen appliances? Share in the comments below.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
ASKO is an international brand with a full line of high-performance washers, dryers and dishwashers.
ASKO... Read More
ASKO is an international brand with a full line of high-performance washers, dryers and dishwashers.
ASKO... Read More
Open all your boxes when they are delivered to check them. We had a situation where we completed a major reno, the kitchen appliances were the last to be fitted and low and behold when we opened the box for the rangehood it was damaged and had obviously been installed somewhere else and resold (it wasn't an Asko). The "bad guys" didn't care about our issue and said it was "too bad, too sad" as we had purchased this 3 months prior. The issue is that the trades people and kitchen designers want the appliances on site so they know what they are dealing with but it can be months before they are installed. After much venting of spleens, they replaced it. But I won't shop there again. Needless to say, we have an Asko oven, induction cooktop and washing machine - and we love them! Pyrolytic ovens are a must. Be careful where you buy from, if we had chosen another retailer I don't think it would have been an issue. Check everything.
I recently had my perspective changed radically with regard to kitchens appliances. What I learned is that we generally use our ovens once a day and sometimes even less. The kitchen sink and tap, however, will be used by the average household up to 90 times in a day! In spite of this, we often approach the sink and tap as the poor cousin to cooking appliances. A quality tap and sink can make a huge difference to the functionality of a kitchen. Food for thought.
Ps. I had a similar experience with a very expensive toilet pan that was found to be broken when we opened the box a couple of months after buying it. Fortunately, the packaging inside the box had been deformed as well proving the toilet had been damaged in the box. Lesson learned though. Open boxes as soon as you take delivery of fixtures and limit the time they're on site to reduce the risk of damage.