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Integrated appliances such as this refrigerator and accompanying refrigerator drawers are popular because they blend in seamlessly. Photo courtesy of Sub-Zero & Wolf

By Renee Houston Zemanski

Appliance Heaven

If you've shopped for kitchen appliances lately, you know that the selection is almost overwhelming. Appliance choices have gone beyond color and size; they now include a variety of options and styles. According to our local experts, appliances are becoming more sophisticated and greener (no, not avocado green). While professional-grade kitchen appliances are still the rage (the HGTV network calls it the “prosumer” look), energy efficiency, speed, and control are also big buzzwords for the kitchen enthusiast today.

One new trend is the introduction of speed ovens—ovens that cook foods in an average of one-fourth the time it takes in a conventional oven. These ovens use high-powered halogen lights to cook the food. The ovens cook the surface of the food rather than waiting for the air in the chamber to heat up. The best way to describe them would be conventional ovens without the preheating and the wait. Manufacturers that carry these ovens include TurboChef and Sharp.

Warming drawers are also becoming very popular and, considering today's family lifestyles, it's no wonder. The radiant heat, along with humidity controls, in these drawers keep dishes deliciously warm and moist for hours. So you can make dinner, head to the soccer game, and still eat together later. Wolf and many other manufacturers are now offering these convenient options.

Induction cooktops are also all the rage because they are energy efficient and safe to use. The cooktops actually stop producing heat when you remove the pot or pan. The ceramic top ranges operate with electricity and a magnetic field, which interacts with any cookware that has magnetic capabilities to activate molecules (think high school chemistry). This offers you greater control over what you're cooking. Consumers are also interested in high-end cooktops sporting six to eight burners, star burners, and titanium griddles.

While new can be great, serious cooks are still purchasing from a Swedish manufacturer that's been around awhile—Aga Ranges continues to gather a strong following. Aga ranges and ovens cook with cast iron, which retains heat, and a patented burner, which heats it. A temperature regulation system continually transfers the heat to the ovens and hotplates at precise, preset levels, so you don't even need to preheat your oven.

The refrigerator has grown up, too. People are finding that ENERGY STAR refrigerators are more efficient, and bottom freezers are becoming the standard. Refrigerator drawers are also on the list of must-haves for kitchen aficionados. Speaking of refrigeration, many people are now installing wine coolers in their kitchens. These mini-refrigeration units can keep wines in their prime, functioning like a wine cellar.

Now that you've cooked your meal, how do you clean up? With the latest in dishwashers, of course! Look for dishwasher drawers that you can use to clean one small load at a time. Full-sized models now sport adjustable racks, delay starts, and half-load capabilities among their options.

Faucets and sinks have become professional-grade, too. Restaurant- style sinks, spouts, sprayers, and pot fillers are now at home in many kitchens. And don't forget hot water and chilled water dispensers built right into your kitchen sink.

While stainless steel still steals the spotlight (say that three times fast), integrated looks—refrigerator and dishwasher cabinet doors that match the kitchen cabinets—are also very popular. Appliances that come in bright colors such as red and cobalt blue can be found in showrooms too, but local experts say that most people opt for integrated or stainless.

Yes, appliances aren't boring anymore. So hey, even if that soufflé doesn't turn out just right, your kitchen will still look great.

Home & Style Contributing Editor Renee Houston Zemanski is patiently waiting for her antiquated appliances to die so she has an excuse to purchase cool new kitchen “kandy.”