What’s Your Appliance Style?

Choosing your kitchen appliances is one of the most important decisions you can make in your kitchen decor. Classic finishes like stainless steel or white will withstand years of design trends. Either one works equally well in a country kitchen or a modern loft, giving you some “wiggle room” when defining your personal style.

Here’s a guide to help you determine what appliance fits your style and needs the best.

Small families and singles can choose multi-purpose appliances like food processors, blenders and grills to save money and reduce clean-up.

• Countertop appliances like a toaster oven and a Kenmore Microwave make it fast and easy to create small meals that taste like they came from the oven.
• Drawer dishwashers are a great option because they require less space and better accommodate smaller loads of dishes.
• Stackable appliances like laundry pairs, dishwasher drawers and freezer/refrigerator combos, as well as rollaway islands, help maximize space in small kitchens.

Large families should look for appliances that save time.

• Grills, multiple drawer dishwashers, large-capacity laundry pairs and smart refrigerators can be lifesavers when family time is at a premium.
• Look for ranges that help speed up mealtime, like new models with burners that can bring a pot of water to boil very quickly.
• Convection ovens make it easy to bake multiple items at the same time without sacrificing flavor, texture or moisture.
• If space is not an issue, you might want an all-refrigerator model like the Kenmore PRO, with 16.5 cu. ft of refrigerator-only storage.

Frequent entertainers should consider some of the most up-to-date kitchen features to help make each party a success.

• Beverage centers and large-capacity French door refrigerators store trays of food and large amounts of ice to keep food and beverages flowing.
• Give the host a hand with warming drawers that keep appetizers ready.
• A single or double drawer dishwasher in the kitchen, butler’s pantry or bar makes it easy to clean small loads throughout the night and avoid towers of dishes at party’s end.

Going green
Making environmentally friendly changes in the home is one of the easiest ways to reduce your spending and make the world a cleaner place.

• Refrigerators with in-door ice and water help you avoid excessive opening and closing throughout the day.
• Convection ovens reduce energy use by decreasing cooking time and allowing you to cook multiple items at once.
• Induction cooktops only heat the pot, not the stovetop, keeping surfaces cool and reducing the temperature in your kitchen.
• Be sure cooking appliances are well ventilated to avoid overheating the home and causing unnecessary work for the air conditioner.
• A dishwasher that automatically selects the ideal amount of time, water and power for each load will conserve water and energy and provide maximum cleaning. Check out Kenmore Elite dishwashers with Ultra Wash HE.
• Choose a high-efficiency, large-capacity laundry pair to reduce the number of loads, and the amount of water used per load.
• Always buy ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. They will save you money over the life of the appliance.

What’s helped you determine your appliance style? What questions do you have?