Familiarity Breeds Contempt

Well, it's about time that someone realized that slapping a small interactive display on the front of a major appliance was nothing more than an exercise in frustration. We squint, unsatisfied, at tiny screens for hours at a time, usually engaged in something far less detail-oriented as following a recipe—why think such a design is desirable? The Vision oven features a full-door, 19-inch screen that's easily readable from a comfortable distance. And it's not limited to instructional videos; a camera lets you keep an eye on the oven interior from the comfort of your electronic device of choice. hoover.co.uk

Super Kitchen

During last week's London Design Festival, KitchenAid revealed a series of concept kitchens. This one, by Ellen Bernhardt and Paola Vella, is my pick of the lot. The pole-based system could be installed in virtually any space, as it's not dependent on walls. The brass supports are fitted with tinted-glass shelves, lending a note of color to the kitchen. The name—La Super Leggera ['The Super Light']—could refer to weight, massing, or even be an artistic reference: doesn't the design bear a certain resemblance to a musical staff? kitchenaid.com

Cue the 'cue

Defying the calendar, we'll have a summer-like weekend, with temperatures close to 90ºF. Let the cookouts continue, I say! Made of Corten steel, this durable design will easily make the transition into fall [whenever it should arrive]. It's offered as a standalone model, or with one or two oak shelvesone or two oak shelves. The pedestal opens to store fuel, whether wood or briquettes. attika.ch

Summer is Fleeting

This portable grill has two lids—one a bamboo cutting board, the other a poly storage tray—that clamp to the top of the fire box with trunk-like latches. Compact and modern, the Cube comes in four colors. everdurebyheston.com

Celestial Design, Day Three

This clever [and good looking] device makes dining off the grid both simple and satisfying. Load up the food tray, slide it into the borosilicate cooking tube, and close the curved stainless steel reflector panels around it. Even on a cloudy day—or during an eclipse—the oven can steam, fry, bake, boil, or roast a meal using no fuel other than solar energy. The GoSun Sport can reach 550ºF in minutes, making it hot stuff, indeed. gosunstove.com

Hot Stuff

I'm envious. Just introduced in EU/UK [there's an impending difference, now, isn't there?] markets, the SmartLine collection is the latest modular offering for cooking appliances. Combine gas hobs, teppan yaki or BBQ grills, and induction burners in sizes and configurations to suit your culinary—and your kitchen—style. A notable improvement upon earlier versions of this concept is the integral downdraft vent. Now a self-contained unit, it can be placed as needed within the cooking array. When opened, its retractable cover protects gas flames from being extinguished—a problem previous generations of the design frequently failed to address. miele.com

An Appetite for Al Fresco, Day 4

It's a pity that this long, lean grill is only a concept design. Built to run the length of a traditional biergarten table, its linear form lets everyone in on the grilling action. Bratwurst enfilade, anyone? isabelle-enders.de

An Appetite for Al Fresco, Day 3

Since it's produced by a manufacturer of camping equipment, the Garden Table has some inherent pluses: it's lightweight, sturdy, and can be easily moved. A more unexpected bonus is its elegant aesthetic and functional design; wood-slat modules enclose a variety of cooking elements. snowpeak.com

An Appetite for Al Fresco, Day 2

While it shares the same contact-grill cooking principle as the egg/hot sidewalk trope [which is applicable on this first day of August], the OFYR is far more refined. Food is placed on the outer ledge of the wood-fired brazier, where it sizzles until done. ofyr.nl

Pretty, Dirty Laundry

The knowingly-named Anfibio sink and under-basin storage unit are sufficiently stylish to be installed in a bathroom; the functional aspects of their design are up to the rigors of a laundry room. Matteo Ragni's creation is a multi-functional fixture that doesn't tip its aesthetic hand. azzurraceramica.com

Clean[ing] Machine

I know: This looks like a computer mouse has been dropped in the sink. But the Dolfi ultrasonic washing device is specifically designed for submersion. By emitting ultrasound waves in the water, it triggers a process called cavitation, where [paging Carl Sagan] billions and billions of incalculably tiny bubbles are generated that softly, safely, and thoroughly clean fabric. The product name, by the way, references dolphins, who use ultrasound to communicate with one another over great distances. dolfi.co

Independently-Minded Design, Day 3

Designed, engineered, and assembled in the US of A, this washer and dryer—specifically, their control panels—are wrapped in the flag. In true American spirit, the manufacturer will donate $40 from the sale of each Patriotic laundry pair to Rebuilding Together, a non-profit organization that brings volunteers and communities together to improve the homes and lives of low-income homeowners. kenmore.com

Independently-Minded Design, Day 2

A bipartisan appliance [it can be hinged either on the left or right side], this refrigerator also reflects an open-mindedness to international trade: it's made in Italy. So felice indipendenza and a happy Fourth to all! smegusa.com

Put Your Feet Up

Dear readers, I hope your holiday weekend is as restful as that spent by the Maytag repairman in 1986. See you next week!

Hot Shot

Such a genteel outdoor kitchen design! No greasy BBQ cart or rickety structure to distract from enjoying al fresco cooking. [You might ask why I'm featuring such a summery environment before Memorial Day; we are experiencing a premature heat wave, with temperatures in the 90ºs, and it just seemed appropriate. Or maybe it's wishful thinking.] Situating the hearth at standing height is a stroke of genius, and continuous counters ensures prep work is convenient.

Open Door Policy

And here's a little something for the absent-minded among us. This clever door-within-a door feature [aka, 'AddWash'] is quite the convenience. Previously, closing the door on a front-loading washer had a sense of terrible finality to it, knowing it would be impossible to toss in an errant sock or towel. No more! samsung.com

Why We Have Earth Day

I've collected hundreds of vintage ads featuring kitchen and bath accoutrements in order to provide a steady stream of fodder for our Flashback Friday posts. Reviewing them for this Earth Day edition, I am astonished to report that none of them—spanning more than a century—focus on any type of energy-saving attributes. Instead, the emphasis is on convenience, speed, or capacity. So today I present one of the most egregious examples of conspicuous energy consumption I have on file. Made in 1934, this three-door monster is testimony to how far we've come in our awareness of efficiency.

Coming Clean

The dark abyss under the kitchen sink has gotten a bit brighter, and the sometimes odoriferous drain is sporting a citrus scent, thanks to the Fresh Kitchen food disposer with its automatic fragrance function. Let fashion or fragrance guide your decision on which color-coordinated unit to install; it's offered in lemon/yellow, orange/orange, and lime/green. A matching sink baffle is available, too. insinkerator.com

Clearing the Air

For years, downdraft ventilation was sidelined as a less-than-effective technology with limited applications. The common complaint: to efficiently evacuate cooking vapors, the vents had to pull so much air that they would extinguish gas burners. Now, re-engineered downdrafts have wafted back to the scene, frequently integrated [as seen above, often quite stylishly] into flame-free induction cooktops. jennair.com

It's Not Just for Popcorn Anymore

As we are extremely invested in the world of kitchen appliances here at KBCULTURE, I'm sharing this video as a sort of public service. As you may have noticed, there has been a recent interest in the capabilities of the microwave oven. Watch and learn....