High-Tech Kitchens

By Erin Hayes Burt

Photo Courtesy of Southwest Kitchen and Bath

Who wouldn’t love a new home with all of the latest technologies? Unfortunately, for most of us buying a new home right now isn’t a real possibility, so why not do the next best thing, remodel the most used room in the house, the kitchen. “It’s true what they say,” says Laura Wallace of Southwest Kitchen and Bath. “If you aren’t happy with your kitchen, you aren’t happy with your home.” 
 

If you haven’t checked out the latest kitchens recently you might be surprised by how much they’ve changed. People are adding everything from built-in dining space and storage to wine refrigerators, flat screens and Internet connections. “People want to be able to look up a recipe online, or use things like Facebook and Twitter while they cook. It’s really wild,” says Wallace. 

Especially here in Southern Arizona, where many people prefer to save the sit-down dinner for the outdoors, the formal dining space is getting the boot. Those previously underused rooms are making way for a larger kitchen with an island that has built-in seating. “People use the old dining area to make more room for their kitchen,” says Wallace. Elizabeth Spengler of Dorado Designs agrees. “Today there is much more emphasis on entertaining guests in the kitchen.”  

The most exciting new features are the ones that save time, space and energy, such as a trash cabinet that rolls out with space for two cans — one for refuse and one for recycling. Medallion Cabinetry makes a cutlery drawer that holds two sets, one on top of the other. Dual-zone wine refrigerators cool reds and whites at separate temperatures. Large drawers instead of doors on bottom cabinets save your back, while the new craze in microwaves is the microwave drawer — a microwave that fits under the cabinet, eliminating the risk of spilling hot plates of food as you reach up over your head. Dual dishwashers, including a full-size and a smaller dishwasher drawer, help families save energy by enabling you to wash smaller loads. Induction cooktops that direct heat into pans while keeping the cooktop cool to the touch are a favorite feature for those with small children. And parents with teenagers will really appreciate no-slam drawers and cabinet doors that put a damper on family drama. 

Kitchen remodels vary from total overhauls to simple cabinet refacing to just adding new appliances. Wallace recommends spending no more than 10 percent of the value of your home on a light remodel and 20 to 25 percent on a serious remodel. She also says not to piecemeal your updates to try to save money, or you could end up spending even more. “Many times people try to do things a little at a time — new appliances, then countertops, and then they realize they need new cabinets and it’s too late. And, many home builders don’t feature top-of-the-line cabinetry as a standard feature, so you’d want to look at replacing that before you make any decisions about flooring or countertops.”

As the kitchen gets more even more high tech, companies like Dorado Designs see more requests for personalized features. “The refrigerator is what people see the most use out of,” says Spengler. “But when you want to splurge, the built-in cappuccino machine is the ultimate.” Miele makes a built-in model that comes ready to connect to plumbing. “You just add the beans and get a perfect cup of espresso and steamed milk every time,” says Wallace, sporting a smile every coffee lover understands. 
 

Kitchens are definitely changing. So what’s in store for the future? “I think kitchens of the future will take the Internet one step further — maybe with touch-screen cabinet doors or countertops that are interactive, so you could look up a recipe or how to do something right there while you’re cooking,” says Wallace. Now if only someone would create a kitchen that could shop and cook by itself. Someday… 

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