Have you seen Black Stainless?

For two years now, black stainless has been the industry’s strongest selling alternative for buyers turned off by traditional stainless because of its inherent fingerprints and smudges.

Black stainless is stainless steel, but it’s protective coat and modern finish resists the gooey smears and eyesores that can ruin the look of traditional stainless. And like traditional stainless steel, the black stainless matches just about every cabinet type without compromising modern style or even that professional look.

In the past, various alternatives to traditional stainless have fizzled out because they lacked the wow-factor or a healthy selection of models and features. But almost overnight, black stainless is enjoying support from Samsung, LG, and Kitchen Aid- and not just on their freestanding products or entry models. Black stainless is also available on wall ovens, professional hoods, and other built-in appliances.

Its darker hue is not as reflective as traditional stainless steel or as generic. It’s not industrial. It’s modern. Black stainless can be mixed and matched with traditional stainless or black appliances, chosen for an accent piece, or used to tie in other design materials in the kitchen. The hue is open for interpretation. Some have described it as a warmer option while others have praised it as more of a statement.

Stainless steel is not going out of style- it’s the color choice for more than 70% of new appliance purchases. But a shift in style and taste is certainly occurring. Fittingly, the last time multiple brands simultaneously supported a new appliance color was when traditional stainless steel was introduced.

If you love the look, but are tired of the upkeep that comes with traditional stainless steel, don’t write off the new black stainless. It maybe the alternative you’ve been waiting for.

Must-Have Smart Appliances from CES 2017

CES (Consumer Technology Association) 2017 Conference- the biggest, most highly-anticipated tech convention of the year- just wrapped up in Las Vegas, with smart appliances making a big splash with merchants, reviewers and consumers alike. Here are some of this year’s highlights- which ones fit best in the high-tech smart home of your dreams?

LG Smart InstaView Refrigerator

Move over, Samsung Smart Hub refrigerator- there’s a new kid on the block! Last year’s most talked-about appliance, the Smart Hub drew large amounts of praise from both consumer reviewers and tech critics, completely overshadowing LG’s InstaView offering on its latest, greatest fridge model. What a difference a year makes! LG came back swinging with the Smart InstaView Refrigerator (LFXS30796D), complete with a 29” touchscreen that is 7.5 inches bigger than the Samsung fridge display. Not only that, but this smart fridge has the amazing InstaView technology which allows the user to simply knock on the refrigerator door to have it turn clear, making the contents visible without the energy-wasting habit of letting the door hang open. Superior also to the Samsung smart fridge are the voice controls- LG’s model comes equipped with Alexa voice controls, making it compatible with the Amazon Echo and all other smart-home devices that use Alexa as their primary AI voice assistant.

Samsung FlexWash and FlexDry Laundry System

Finally, an answer to the prayers of people everywhere with tight living quarters and lots of laundry. The wizards at Samsung have engineered a two-in-one washer with a second, smaller compartment over the main one, allowing the user to wash two loads at once. The dryer, which is a separate machine, follows the same thought process, with two compartments to allow for drying two loads simultaneously. This could be the beginning of a whole new era in laundry technology! Follow our blog, and we will keep you updated when we will offer these products.

Whirlpool’s new Alexa Skill

Whirlpool used CES 2017 as the stage upon which to demonstrate its new Alexa skill, set to become available in early 2017. This skill will enable users of the Amazon Echo, Dot or Tap to ask Alexa to control several different Whirlpool smart appliances, performing tasks such as preheating the oven, setting a wash/dry cycle or timer, and many more practical applications. We will let you know when this is available.

If you are a tech enthusiast who is dreaming of creating your very own Home of Tomorrow, this is a great time to be alive! Share your favorite smart-appliance innovations in the comments section below.

Samsung Dual-Fuel Range Review

Are you having a tough time finding the perfect range to fit the needs of your kitchen?  Are you looking for a powerful solution that can handle all of your family’s cooking needs?

Introducing the Samsung NX58K9850SS Dual-Fuel, Flex-Duo, Slide-In Range!

This amazing Slide-In range from Samsung boasts some truly innovative technologies and ideas in cooking convenience. 

The powerful dual-fuel configuration offers a superior convection system in the electric oven, providing even heat throughout both oven cavities, while offering a powerful gas cook top.

This range can be used as a single oven, or a double oven, thanks to the unique flex-duo oven door design.  The removable barrier insulates the upper cavity, giving you true double-oven capabilities with dual temperature controls for both top and bottom oven cavities.  This unit boasts a large 5.8 Cu-Ft oven cavity when used as a single oven.

Up top you will see a cast-iron griddle and wok attachment, both are included.  A 22k BTU machined brass dual-ring burner sits up front to handle your largest cookware, but can also be used for a true simmer.

The sleek look and feel of the Samsung will enhance any kitchen, come see us today so we can help you select the best range for YOUR kitchen.

Thanks again, we’ll see you soon!

Contract Appliance

YOUR local appliance team, right here in Colorado!

Washer/Dryer Combos- the Future of Laundry?

If you live in a cramped space but still want to do laundry in the comfort of your own home, a washer/dryer combo may be a good investment for you. That’s right- you read it correctly. There is a single appliance that washes AND dries your clothes, saving not only space but also the cost of a second appliance. Tech giants Samsung and LG each have several models of washer/dryer combos on the market, and on the surface this appliance seems to be the greatest innovation since the chocolate-covered peanut butter cup. But how does this washer/dryer combo stack up against the traditional washers and clothes dryers that come separately? Let’s look at some pros and cons:

Pros

The washing and drying performance of the combo roughly match that of separate washers and dryers. You likely won’t be disappointed by the quality of clean you are experiencing with a combo.

You can use the wash and dry functions separately; they don’t have to be combined. In other words, if you are washing something that should be hung to dry, you can just do a wash cycle, which makes it just as efficient as a typical washer and dryer.

The purchase price and costs to run loads in the combo washer/dryer are virtually equivalent to owning and using a separate front-load washer and condenser dryer, so you’re not spending any extra money.

Though the drying capacity is limited, it mostly matches the average load size people use in their regular washers and dryers.

Cons

A combined wash/dry cycle can last from over 3 hours to over 6 hours, which is more than double the average wash/dry cycle of a normal load of laundry in a standard washer and dryer.

The dryer component of the combo washer/dryer can only dry around half the capacity of the washer. This means that for a full load, the whole thing will not likely get dry in one cycle.

Though they are touted for their space-saving features, some combos are still too large to fit under a bench, so you will need to check their exact dimensions prior to purchasing a combo for a specific location in your home.

Bottom Line

 In the future, washer/dryer combos may be the ideal solution for small homes with no room for both a washer and a dryer, as well as for individuals with mobility issues who have trouble transferring clothes from washer to dryer. It will be exciting to see what the future holds for the washer/dryer combo as technology continues to improve. Who knows? Maybe one day our grandchildren will laugh at our stories of the “olden days” with our separate appliances for washing and drying laundry!