Appliances to match a small footprint
As the footprint of urban homes continues to shrink, appliance manufacturers are working hard to design products that deliver highend performance in small spaces.
European companies such as Bosch may have an advantage, since large numbers of Europeans have lived in apartment-sized flats for generations, suggests Steve Preiner, director of marketing for BSH Group, which sells Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau products in Canada.
As an example, he points out that Europeans are long accustomed to compact washer/dryer sets and to duct-free condensation dryers, both of which Bosch brought to the North American market.
Smaller laundry sets are appealing to the growing empty-nest demographic, says Preiner.
“There are a ton of people who have sold the four-bedroom house in the suburbs and are buying smaller units downtown. They just don’t need a machine that can handle 25 pairs of jeans.”
Ductless condensation dryers have the advantage of not requiring a vent to the outside, so they can be placed practically anywhere in a home or condo apartment.
“They’re especially handy for retrofitting a repurposed building, and they make it easier to situate the laundry near the middle of the house or on a second floor, which has become a popular choice,” he says.
Ductless condensation dryers work like this: rather than being vented out a duct, warm air from the drum is passed through a heat extractor, so that the moisture condenses and is passed to a pump that the washer drains into.
When the technology was first introduced, there was some concern about longer drying time, but Preiner says that advances in condensation technology now mean that differences are negligible.
While Preiner concedes that some consumers may still need to get used to clothes not coming out of a condensation dryer scorching hot, he points out that the technology is easier on textiles.
“A conventional dryer can pump so much heat into the drum that it’s like baking the wrinkles or tangles in. That’s hard on the fibre and usually means more ironing, which isn’t typically a favourite activity,” he explains.
Ductless dryers are also extremely energy efficient, he says, because rather than heating air to blow over wet clothes, they extract water from fabric.
In the kitchen, ductless technology is a boon to those without space for a hood vent. Jenn-Air’s Accolade units sit tucked behind and below the cooktop, where the guts of the system are hidden.
When needed, and with the touch of a button, the vent rises 19 inches above the cooktop to capture smoke, steam and odours from cooking.
Increasingly sophisticated consumer tastes are also influencing style, size and design of such accessories as wine storage and refrigeration units.
Why devote precious kitchen real estate to wine storage in a small condo or apartment? Because storing wine properly and drinking it at the appropriate temperature enhances the experience exponentially, says Toronto-based sommelier Anne Martin.
Pricey vintages, she says, deserve the kid-glove treatment while budget-friendly wines will reach peak flavour under the right conditions.
The small-space wine cellar from Canadian manufacturer Koolatron that Martin owns and spoke about at a recent media event, creates the perfect conditions for storing wine, she says.
Koolatron units reduce vibration, which can occur when bottles sit next to a fridge or other appliance, and cause negative chemical reactions that affect the wine. They’re also darkened, as too much light can cause wine to age prematurely, and fade bottle labels. They also keep wine at the correct temperature; important, says Martin, because most people drink red wine too warm and white wine too cold.
“If red wine is too warm, it can get soupy and alcoholic, and when white wine is too cold, you lose the flavours and nuances,” says Martin.
Generally speaking, whites, rosés and sparkling wines should be served between 40 F to 50 F, while fuller whites and lighter reds are best at between 50 F to 60 F, and hearty reds at between 60 F to 65 F.
Small variables can make a big difference in enjoyment of the wine, says Martin.
“When you taste a good Chardonnay that isn’t freezing cold, it’s a really great experience,” she says.
Koolatron units, which are widely available at home retailers, have dual compartments so that whites and reds can be kept at optimal temperatures.
Martin thinks they’re ideal for small homes and condos.
“I have one in my kitchen, where I just slid it into a little corner. But some can even fit into a cupboard, and the six-bottle model could sit on a countertop.
“In fact,” says Martin, “you could put one almost anywhere.” More from Vicky Sanderson at thestar.com/life/vicky_sandersons_on_the_house. Also the DIY editor for Reno and Decor magazine, Vicky is on Twitter: @vickysanderson or email vswriter@sympatico.ca.