By Helen Siwak
The kitchen is the heart of the home,
and the centre of our households, where an infinite amount of meals will be created, consumed and cleaned up. We make memories in our kitchens. We fight passionately and make-up. We love, cry and hug-it-out in kitchens. Plus, a lot of families hang out in the kitchen. Kids do homework while parents cook.
Whatever the reason for renovating this important space — be it a quick weekend refresh or a complete gut-and-go — the end goal is the same. The kitchen must be functional through informed design and stylish. It should be a place you want to be. After all, the kitchen’s primary function is for preparing and cooking meals and many times what looks amazing in a magazine isn’t what will work in your space or for your family.
As Western Canada’s largest independent appliance retailer, Trail Appliances offers over 50 quality brands and a team of product experts who are appliance specialists. Whether you are looking to replace your appliances or to build your dream kitchen from scratch, this capable team can help you find what fits your space, and on a budget you can afford.
In our showcase kitchen renovation, Trail chose a combination of the Meile and three Sub-Zero units most suited to reflect a west coast lifestyle that includes healthy eating and entertaining.
…suited to reflect a west coast lifestyle that includes healthy eating and entertaining.
Keeping it Chill this Summer
The Sub-Zero Built-in Freezer provides more than ample room for your summer gelato fixation with 15.3 cubic feet of space and a dry, frigid climate to guarantee your flavours stay fresh. The “max ice” feature will make you a superstar at the blender when your patio party hits its stride.
Speaking of parties, the Sub-Zero Built-in 30” Wine Cooler preserves and protects up to 86 bottles of wine, and has two roomy refrigerator drawers to store your charcuterie board must-haves, like artisans cheese, olives, preserves and refreshing sparkling water and beer.
Sub-Zero units are generally available with left and right swing, and stainless steel panels or custom cabinetry panels to blend seamlessly with your cabinetry.
The 30” Integrated Refrigerator Column provides well-organized room for fresh fruits and veggies from the farmers market. The magnetic door seal system locks in cold, and a microprocessor precisely controls temperatures. The crisper and deli drawers form a lower-temperature zone ideal for produce and meat.
Let’s Get Cooking
Gas, electric or induction? The choice is personal, though you don’t often hear of people switching from gas to electric. Trail chose the sleek and efficient Miele KM 6386 Induction Cooktop for our showcase kitchen.
Did you know that with gas you lose about 40 per cent of your heat when going from burner to pan, but with induction heat, you lose less? This stylish 5-zone cooktop can bring a pot of water to boiling faster than a gas range and has the exclusive Direct Select Plus feature that lets users easily select power settings and times. The remote handheld control for the Best Cirrus series ceiling hood ensures that your cook area is ventilated, safe and well-lit with six LED bulbs. Your smoke alarm can rest easy with this combination in your kitchen.
Baking Up Some Magic
Whether you fancy yourself a foodie or are looking to
recreate your favourite restaurant dish at home, a
convection oven will cook faster, more evenly,
brown better and save energy.
Miele makes some of the world’s best known and respected convection ovens and this double stack of Pureline M Touch units — the H6880 BP convection and the DGC6800-1 steam-convection oven — are perfection. Both units come with many features, including MasterChef automatic programs and wireless roast probe. Add an ESW6880 Gourmet warming drawer and, in addition to keeping prepared dishes warm, use it to proof bread, and to defrost and slow cook meat and poultry.
The Convenience
of EasyControl
The sheer convenience of a microwave should never be underestimated. With the Miele PureLine EasyControl, everyone who spends time in your kitchen will have the power to prepare everything from popcorn to pork roast.
Time for Coffee!
The kitchen is also where our most revered ritual takes place — the creation of morning coffee. For many, it’s the first thing we think of when the alarm goes off, and with the Miele CVA6805 even the “so not a morning person” can create gourmet-level java with this built-in unit. Open the ComfortDoor, fill containers with your favourite beans, water and milk, close gently, choose a single or double shot, step back and enjoy.
The world of appliances is always changing, and because today’s are smarter and more complex than ever, a renovation may prove to be intimidating. Put your mind at ease and arrange to have the team at Trail Appliances meet with you and assist in designing a quality kitchen that enhances time spent in the heart of your household.
Works of Art