Kitchen Geek Chic

Do you want to know a secret? Even design professionals get a little bit intimidated by the ever-flowing font of newer, chicer and more efficient kitchen gadgetry. Every time I begin a new kitchen project, I am amazed at how much has changed since the last one--there is always so much to learn. That's why I rely on my appliance expert (and secret staging weapon), Dave West at Friedman's Appliance in Pleasant Hill, CA.


Besides the sheer coolness of being a company with a long and storied history, Friedman's Appliance is also the newest go-to showroom for chic, high-design appliances you won't find anywhere else on display. I stopped by last week for a visit and asked Dave to show me his favorite new kitchen toys. After painfully narrowing it down, we decided on five showroom stars that are designer-, chef- and gadget-geek-approved.


1. "Single" Double Oven. Talk about adding modern features to an older kitchen! This oven is a stager's dream! The magicians over at GE have found a way to fit two ovens into the space of one (that's Dave in the photo). My realtor clients will love that I can add a feature line-item "double oven" to their listings' flyers without tearing out any walls or cabinets. Can't wait to use it.


2. Shirestone Countertop, as seen in Friedman's SubZero's "Living Kitchen". The Sub-Zero Living Kitchen is incredibly sleek and impressive. All appliances are live and active, ready for cooking demonstrations. And while I love the plethora of refrigerators (like shoes, a girl can never have too many), the most interesting element of this space is the giant plateau of a countertop island. It's made of Shirestone, which is basically poured concrete, except better. It never needs to be sealed, is 15 times as strong as cement, and comes in limitless colors. As in, match your countertop to your wife's eye color, your car color, or even the color of the sky at sunset in Hawaii. Dave can't wait to accept your color challenge....


3. Liebherr Wine Refrigerator. I L.O.V.E. this refrigerator. It's not that there is anything functionally better about a wine refrigerator within a regular refrigerator. It's just something about containing all of your refrigeration needs into a single, beautifully designed rectangle that makes my little designer heart just flutter. Don't you just love those Germans?


4. Miele Steam Oven. Yes, steam. Quickly, conveniently and impressively (party trick, anyone?) steam your chicken, fish and veggies. Or serve the most elegantly fluffy hot dog buns ever.



5. The La Cornue. I suppose technically it is a "range", but don't dare to call it that inside the Friedman's showroom. There, it is referred to simply as "the La Cornue". And truly, it is in a class all its own. Entirely handmade in France, this lovely kitchen centerpiece starts at $29,000 for you penny-pinchers and goes all the way up to $150,000 for the uber-fabulous version. Stop by the showroom to take it for a test drive.


I'd like to invite all of you to stop by the showroom sometime soon and see the many, many truly cutting-edge (sometimes mind-blowing) displays. Email Dave ahead of time (below) and he'll be thrilled to show you around. Also email him to inquire about any of the products you see here.


Have a great week!

Email Dave West @ Friedman's Appliance: west.david.m@gmail.com