Modern kitchens have become as much our social hangout as our cooking hangout…which means appliances must prove visually impressive – as well as functional. To this end, manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure their designs epitomize the upmost height of modernity, yet still offer compatibility across the range so that an oven, hob, extractor and microwave all coordinate in look, colour and control systems. In recent years appliances and their control systems have become increasingly minimal in look; buttons and switches are smaller and fewer, appliances and their handles are slimmer and more streamlined, and colours are available as an exact match with furniture. And of course, appliances have undergone a Smart Revolution, whereby Smart technology is no longer considered a luxury, but essential for kitchens. Modern kitchen appliances can now use you home WIFI to connect to an app on your tablet or smartphone so you don’t even need to be home to switch on your oven or dishwasher!
An oven is integral to any kitchen and whilst for some clients, simplicity is paramount, others desire an oven incorporating the latest technology, bringing a wealth of new possibilities to the way that they cook. At Victoria Kitchens we can talk you through the different types of oven available, including conventional fan, double, multi-functional, and steam ovens. We have ovens of varying capacities and available in a multitude of dimensions; this brings flexibility in your choices, and is especially useful if your kitchen is quite small. And if you are looking for added extras, we have pyrolytic self-cleaning ovens, ovens to cook your food in half the time, or smart features which let you turn on the oven and set the temperature via voice-activation or your smartphone. Integrated recipe functions will even calculate the right oven temperature and cook time, and switch the oven off once finished; such Smart technology is the perfect solution if you lack confidence in cooking.
Whether it’s an integrated, freestanding, top-load, or semi integrated machine, Victoria Kitchens can ensure your chosen washing machine, dryer, or washer/dryer can be easily installed in your home. And even if you have very limited space or a complicated design problem, our team will work with you to find the most appropriate and convenient solution.
We can advise on the perfect capacity appliance with efficient spin speed, high class energy rating and minimal water consumption. And of course, you can now connect your washing machine to your phone through your WIFI so you don’t even need to be home to switch it on, pause it, or change the wash cycle’s setting. Apps will alert your phone of any maintenance issues such as a blocked filter and how to fix it without calling an engineer. Smart washing machines will also automate the correct dosage of detergent and fabric softener based on the load, and some machines can even now dry clean your clothes without the need of water or detergent.
Extraction systems remove moisture and odours via ducting to an outside wall, whereas re-circulation systems can be fitted anywhere. Through the course of your design meeting, we will explain the pros and cons of the different systems and determine which type of extractor is best for your home, based on where it will be situated. We can also explore the design choices available for each.
For an extraction system we can offer advice on ducting kits and extraction rates. Alternatively, for a re-circulation system we can talk you through the filtration options and maintenance of your cooker hood. We also recognize that noise can be a nuisance, and particularly in open plan settings. In solution we have a select choice of models which are as quiet as possible, even when operating on high extraction rates.
