Cooking with taste: well designed household appliances

In the past electrical kitchen appliances were a treasured status symbol for the modern household and a symbol of progress. Nowadays, however, they are not particularly valued as gifts in that electronic kitchen products have become cheap mass-produced articles, a development which is generally also reflected in their design. In design-conscious households we therefore tend to find retro design, vintage products or functionally designed professional equipment for the catering industry.
However, where are the household appliances of today which will blend in with a modern design kitchen? We've been doing some research for you and have found them.

Under the art direction of Dieter Rams, who joined Braun in 1955, the German electronics manufacturer became famous for its clean-lined, minimal product design. The 1960s saw the development of the Braun Toaster HT 1, designed by Reinhold Weiss. And even if the current Braun products to some extent lack the decisive design criteria of that era, a remarkable product range consisting among other appliances of a coffee machine and a toaster has recently been developed in cooperation with Joe Ducet.

Until recently Brunch by Jasper Morrison was available with a toaster, a matching electric kettle and a coffee machine by Rowenta. The electric kettle has a plastic exterior around a metal shell, making it hygienic and easy to clean. Those who own this stylish brunch set may regard themselves as fortunate, because the series is no longer being produced.

For KRUPS Konstantin Grcic has designed a waffle maker and a sandwich toaster which have the look of professional restaurant equipment. In addition the KRUPS crepe griddle has such a minimal design that together with the raclette grill it could easily fit into a laboratory as an experimental arrangement - or even into your 'molecular kitchen'.

Alessi has always represented good design in the kitchen. Whereas other manufacturers engage designers for an individual product or a design line, in the case of Alessi design has always taken priority - which has in no way affected the functional efficiency of its products. Cooperating with designers who take a conceptual approach takes experience. In this respect Alessi has decades of experience to draw on - coupled with a tradition of marketing products in terms of their design qualities and thus turning them into icons.

For Alessi designer Stefano Giovanonni has created the 'Mami' range, which is sure to appeal not just to mammies but also daddies with a taste for a modern design. The electric scales in the Mami series are made of stainless steel and have their display on the front lip of the stainless steel surface.
Alessi doesn't just work with designers but also with architects such as David Chipperfield and Wiel Arets. For the company the latter has created an electric kettle which makes a strong impression with its simplicity. Hot.it is cylindrical in shape and its principal feature is the contrast between shiny stainless steel and matte plastic in black or white. The mix-it mixer, also designed by Wiel Arets, is made of the same material.

The water boiler “THE KETTLE”, which heats up water by induction, is a prototype stemming from BASF’s “Heat” project. The concept comprises unconventional design ideas for household products with new shapes, thanks to the high-temperature resistant and transparent Ultrason®. Consequently, the prize-winning prototype of such a water boiler no longer needs a handle as it can be touched – even when the contents are hot – without the risk of causing burns. Through its transparency, which affords a clear view of the boiling water, the device looks more like a decanter than like a traditional water boiler.

Accordingly they do still exist, those kitchen appliances which you don't need to hide away somewhere in a cupboard and which definitely won't lead to disappointment if given as a seasonal present. And this year good design for the kitchen is sure to find a place somewhere under my Christmas tree.