Sunday,
June 24, 2007
Italians Design Circular,
Compact, Attached to Ceiling, Movable Kitchen - Really??
The
ANNOTICO Report
A
Kitchen that you take with you when you move, circular in shape, compact, and
hangs from the cieling ???????
Leave
it to the Italians to craft the best of contemporary design for kitchens every
time, and the latest from Giugiaro Design doesn
The round island
shape (photo) is called Flux and is planned, as are all European kitchen
cabinets, to move with the homeowner. It is designed to be fixed to the ceiling
and contains a place for many of the key jobs in a good working kitchen.
For washing and
food prep there is an integrated sink. "Integrated" is one of the new
buzz words in the design of appliances that means the item is fluid in
appearance. For instance, an integrated dish-washing machine means that there
are no dials or buttons for operating the appliance visible on the outside so
that the appliance blends in with the rest of the cabinetry.
This island is
super-accessorized and features a washing area integrated into the countertop,
a wall-mounted faucet, a cutting board, snack top, knife holder, electrical
outlets, lighting, an outlet for a juicer and an induction cooktop.
Everything
revolves around the totemlike stem in a way that
makes it possible for several people to work at the island at one time. It is
possible to accommodate the food preparation, dish washing and cooking in one
sleek shape. This design would be ideal for modern loft living, where the
functional circle could be placed anywhere in the space, or for a one-room
vacation home.
High-tech
materials are welded together in what is described by the designers as "a
new kitchen for contemporary, trendy environments, with soft, sinuous
lines." The body is aluminum melamine, and stainless steel is used in this
hard-working and practical idea. The eating surface is offered in melamine or
in a more organic wood butcher-block version.
Scavolini, one of the largest
kitchen companies in
It is possible to
copy the concept of the design, even if you can
Nothing bulky
will do, so be prepared to pay a little extra for the smallest size model of
dishwasher or cooktop. Products that are in less
demand usually cost a bit more, and in the
Some
manufacturers offer a two-burner add-on unit that could be the tiniest way to
build-in the cooking function. Small convection/microwave models are made by
virtually all microwave manufacturers.
As urban living
and downsizing grow ever more desirable and second homes more prolific, many
more slim-sized appliances will be brought to the American marketplace from
both Europe and
Christine Brun, ASID, is a San Diego-based interior designer and the
author of "Big Ideas for Small Spaces." Send questions and comments
to her by e-mail at cbaintdes@hotmail.com.
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