6 Trends in Kitchen and Laundry Appliances for 2021
Steam functions, drink systems and hygiene elements are featured in products introduced at the recent KBIS trade show
It’s no surprise that 2020 changed how many homeowners think about and use their homes. And product manufacturers took note, as evident in new features for kitchen and laundry appliances that debuted during the 2021 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. An attention to hygiene and a focus on at-home beverage experiences are two examples. Here you’ll find those features and others in appliances available now or coming soon in 2021.
Sharp’s SuperSteam built-in wall oven offers super-heated steam at temperatures of 485 degrees Fahrenheit. That means you can brown meats, caramelize sugar and grill foods without smoke. The appliance also offers regular steam temperatures and can function as a convection oven.
The steam bake option is good for making bread, while the water bath setting is good for things like pudding. A removable water reservoir means the oven doesn’t need special plumbing.
The steam bake option is good for making bread, while the water bath setting is good for things like pudding. A removable water reservoir means the oven doesn’t need special plumbing.
The LG Studio Styler steam closet also doesn’t require plumbing. It’s designed to fit into a walk-in closet or laundry room, and now has increased capacity for up to five hangers, so you can refresh and deodorize more delicates and clothes between washings. It also helps sanitize items such as outerwear, pillows and stuffed animals and reduces allergens.
Monogram’s Statement 30-inch steam oven helps retain the flavor, color and nutritional value of foods — beyond just vegetables. It also helps you cook fluffy rice and grains, revives leftovers and is a companion for other cooking methods by applying steam during convection baking, broiling and roasting.
2. Going Out at Home
Many of us miss getting out of the house for a glass of wine, cocktail or fancy coffee. Some new appliances help re-create the flavors — if not the experience — at home.
For example, Plum’s integrated wine dispenser offers a sleek design and the ability to hold two opened bottles of wine for up to 90 days so you can have a glass of wine at the touch of a button. Using artificial intelligence, it also automatically identifies varietals and chills the bottle to the proper temperature.
Many of us miss getting out of the house for a glass of wine, cocktail or fancy coffee. Some new appliances help re-create the flavors — if not the experience — at home.
For example, Plum’s integrated wine dispenser offers a sleek design and the ability to hold two opened bottles of wine for up to 90 days so you can have a glass of wine at the touch of a button. Using artificial intelligence, it also automatically identifies varietals and chills the bottle to the proper temperature.
GE Profile’s Opal 2.0 nugget ice maker lets you have “good ice” at home for your cocktails or mocktails. Designed to fit on countertops and low enough to clear cabinets, the device makes one pound of chewable nugget ice per hour and holds up to three pounds. It comes in stainless steel and black stainless steel finishes and has built-in Wi-Fi that lets you set the ice-making schedule via an app.
If you like lattes and other coffee drinks, Miele’s CM6 MilkPerfection countertop coffee system allows you to control the quantities of water, milk and froth at any point in the preparation. You can also store your preferences in a user profile, so your significant other will magically know exactly how you like your morning caffeine.
Signature Kitchen Suite’s new undercounter wine refrigerators protect bottles from vibration, temperature fluctuations and excessive light exposure. Bottles are also stored at optimal humidity, like a European wine cave. The 24-inch, panel-ready refrigerator holds 41 bottles and comes with an app that helps you manage your collection.
The Dacor 24-inch integrated wine dispenser uses argon gas technology to store four open bottles for up to 60 days without a loss of flavor. Two separate temperature zones let you keep two bottles at one temperature and two bottles at another. The appliance comes in graphite stainless steel or a silver stainless steel finish and can sit flush inside cabinetry.
3. Health and Hygiene
These days homeowners are more conscious of health and hygiene at home. Beko’s French door refrigerator features technology that maintains temperature and humidity, keeping food fresh longer than a standard refrigerator, and has a natural light simulator, which mimics the photosynthesis process to help fruits and vegetables retain their nutrients.
These days homeowners are more conscious of health and hygiene at home. Beko’s French door refrigerator features technology that maintains temperature and humidity, keeping food fresh longer than a standard refrigerator, and has a natural light simulator, which mimics the photosynthesis process to help fruits and vegetables retain their nutrients.
One common complaint with front-load washing machines is that moisture tends to linger longer and create mildew and unpleasant odors. This leads many owners to leave the door open after each load.
GE’s new UltraFresh front-load washer seeks to solve that issue with a design that wicks away water at the end of each cycle and offers a venting system that pulls in outside air, removing moisture from the door, gasket and basket. The washer’s blue gasket, soap dispenser and drain pump are made from Microban, a material that helps prevent the growth of bacteria.
GE’s new UltraFresh front-load washer seeks to solve that issue with a design that wicks away water at the end of each cycle and offers a venting system that pulls in outside air, removing moisture from the door, gasket and basket. The washer’s blue gasket, soap dispenser and drain pump are made from Microban, a material that helps prevent the growth of bacteria.
Miele’s updated WI washers come with an allergy wash and sanitize option, meaning clothes come out hygienically clean. The T1 dryers offer fragrance choices, which infuse laundry with a pleasant scent, while the steam finish preps clothes for ironing — or, in some cases, eliminates the need to iron. Both machines can be controlled remotely via an app.
4. Customized Appliances
BlueStar by Design already offers more than 1,000 colors for its appliances. Now the company will let you choose a favorite fabric swatch, artwork, photo, tile pattern or anything else you can dream up for your range or refrigerator panels. The panels come in a satin finish that’s easy to wipe down.
BlueStar by Design already offers more than 1,000 colors for its appliances. Now the company will let you choose a favorite fabric swatch, artwork, photo, tile pattern or anything else you can dream up for your range or refrigerator panels. The panels come in a satin finish that’s easy to wipe down.
Monogram’s Statement Collection pro ranges feature brass accents and muscular details. At night, you can customize the mood in your kitchen with different color options for the LED lights on the knobs and along the bullnose trim. (Think green for St. Patrick’s Day or a calming blue for a kitchen night-light.) You can also change the colors via a phone app.
The Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerators from Samsung have changeable front panels that let you mix eight colors and a choice of stainless steel or glass finishes for a custom look. Consider rose pink glass, matte black steel or something two-toned, as shown here. When your kitchen needs a refresh, an installer can change out the panels for a different look.
5. More Drawers
Many homeowners choose drawer storage for their lower kitchen cabinets, which helps bring items stored at the back of the cabinet box to the front for easier access. That desired function seems to be popping up in kitchen appliances now.
Fisher & Paykel introduced its Series 11 DishDrawer, which features a stainless steel interior, soft-close function, wine glass grippers and Wi-Fi capabilities. Another feature lets you knock the door to pause the cycle so you can add another item. There’s also a 60-minute wash and dry cycle for quick cleanup.
Many homeowners choose drawer storage for their lower kitchen cabinets, which helps bring items stored at the back of the cabinet box to the front for easier access. That desired function seems to be popping up in kitchen appliances now.
Fisher & Paykel introduced its Series 11 DishDrawer, which features a stainless steel interior, soft-close function, wine glass grippers and Wi-Fi capabilities. Another feature lets you knock the door to pause the cycle so you can add another item. There’s also a 60-minute wash and dry cycle for quick cleanup.
Sharp’s new smart convection microwave drawer oven combines sensor microwave cooking with dual convection fans that let you do turntable-free baking, roasting, grilling and air frying. Remote control comes via an app, and it’s compatible with Amazon Echo devices for voice-activated commands. Touchless opening is also available.
Signature Kitchen Suite’s dual refrigerator drawers allow you to select from six temperature zones. The drawers, which operate independently, can be zoned in temps ranging from pantry and fridge to freezer. Wi-Fi lets you monitor and adjust temperatures remotely.
6. Go Big or Go Small
Recognizing that kitchens come in all sizes and households have different needs, manufacturers are offering more choices in appliance widths.
Forza’s new 48-inch professional gas range has a single-cavity oven that measures a spacious 7.8 cubic feet, with 40 inches of clearance, meaning you can rotisserie a couple of Thanksgiving turkeys or bake 120 cookies at once.
Recognizing that kitchens come in all sizes and households have different needs, manufacturers are offering more choices in appliance widths.
Forza’s new 48-inch professional gas range has a single-cavity oven that measures a spacious 7.8 cubic feet, with 40 inches of clearance, meaning you can rotisserie a couple of Thanksgiving turkeys or bake 120 cookies at once.
Miele’s G 5000 dishwasher series includes an 18-inch SlimLine size, perfect for smaller kitchens or, for entertainers, as a backup to a standard-size dishwasher. The series, available in stainless steel, offers a 58-minute wash cycle and an auto-open function, which opens the door slightly at the end of the program for better drying.
Thor’s 24-inch gas range gives you a professional look and features — horizontal-lined, continuous cast iron grates and a high-intensity 18,000 BTU burner — but in a width that fits a compact kitchen. The oven is 3.7 cubic feet.
FIsher & Paykel’s new 24-inch bottom-mount refrigerator is also good for compact kitchens. The appliance includes ActiveSmart and variable zone technology, meaning temperatures, airflow and humidity levels are maintained for both the refrigerator and freezer. An internal water-dispensing option is also available.
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Many new appliances are using water vapor to get things clean. LG’s new QuadWash dishwasher features a TrueSteam function that blasts steam at the beginning of a cycle to loosen caked-on food, while another blast at the end of the cycle heats up the appliance interior to reduce water spots on dishes and glassware.
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