We are very busy so I need a kitchen that works for our family.
When planning our renovation I have had a tendency to get off track and a bit starry eyed looking at some of the beautiful design options, especially for the kitchen. Custom built cabinets, restaurant grade appliances and wine cellars all looked beautiful in the decor magazines I scanned through. But then a friend who had recently gone through a kitchen reno gave me the best advice, “Plan your kitchen based on how you use it every day.” Of course.
Could my appliances be more than just a pretty face?
The truth is, I am no chef. My husband and I have busy jobs and two busy kids. We rarely entertain aside from hosting our family for the holidays (although with a more welcoming home I am hoping to do so more often). We cook simple meals but our growing and active kids are constantly hungry. This kitchen needs to be easily accessible to everyone and functional. However, I still want it to have an attractive aesthetic. With an open concept home the kitchen needs to be more than just a place to cook. So, I needed to find components that were both functional and fit in with our design.
I had thought that to meet our needs I would likely need to compromise aesthetics for functionality.
As I started to investigate options for appliances this became a priority. I had thought that to meet our needs I would likely need to compromise aesthetics for functionality. I was hoping to find a happy medium but knew that the functionality had to be my top priority. I had certain things in mind that were non-negotiable like water and ice machine on the fridge door, lots of storage in the refrigerator, a quick and quiet dishwasher, a gas stove and all items had to be easy to clean and energy efficient. Not a very romantic list, is it?
Now that’s smart! An ice maker that turns into an ice bucket.
I was lucky enough to spend a day at Whirlpool Canada. I had a tour of their showroom with some of their most innovative appliances showcased in a real kitchen environment and, I have to be honest, I was amazed. Appliances have come a long way since the last time I bought new ones. The focus on design was obviously a priority but without compromising the consumer’s experience. I was very interested in the new Whirlpool White Ice appliances but had some concerns that their sleek design meant they may not be the right fit for the home of a busy family. I could not have been more wrong.
Appliances have come a long way since the last time I bought new ones.
As we toured the kitchens and visited what soon be my White Ice appliances, I learned about Whirlpool’s philosophy of style and innovation. They actually design their products with the mission to simplify in both the presentation and the user experience. With an extensive understanding of how people work in their kitchens and what they want out of their appliances, Whirlpool has made strides in everything from environmental efficiencies to user experience.
Ain’t she purrrdy? And functional too!
Some of my favourite features include:
– The fold away shelf in the fridge to accommodate taller items – no more wine bottles on their sides!
– The fridge ice and water dispenser measures in ounces, cups and litres to make measuring for cooking a breeze.
– In the freezer their is a front area for storage of taller items such as pizza boxes.
– The innovative new Aqua Lift self cleaning system in the range uses water on a lower temperature to eliminate harsh odours and make the process more energy efficient.
– The dishwasher includes multiple washing options for heavy duty clean or the energy efficient EcoCycle as well as a Sensor Cycle that detects what is the best cleaning cycle for your load. Amazing!
After visiting Whirlpool I feel 100% confident that my new, gorgeous White Ice appliances will enable me to have it all, beauty and functionality!
What feature would you love to have in your kitchen?
This post was sponsored by Whirlpool Canada. All experiences and opinions are my own.
i’m going to start small and my feature would be counter space. i have a 2×2′ square that i use. the rest of the counter space is no where near the stove so it’s really inconvenient to even try. i usually take our bar stools and use them as little tables behind my when i work!
Ooh, I would loooove to have a full refrigerator and a full freezer – like two appliances side by side. I freeze a lot of fruit and baked goods and bulk meat, and right now my large freezer is in the garage so I constantly have to trek out there. Plus we eat a lot of produce and I find that even the huge fridge space in our Maytag wide-by-side is too small!
The remo is coming along nicely Jen! The dishwasher features you’ve mentioned would definitely be on the top of my list!
Kitchen appliances sure have come a long way! I remember the ones we had in my kitchen growing up. Aesthetic was never a consideration and that was obvious. But now appliances can be beautiful and really add to a room. I look forward to seeing your finished kitchen!