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Monogram French door wall oven from GE; Horizon range hood from Falmec. FEBRUARY 2015 | 23 Appliances F or all homeowners and designers, 2015 will be the year to add the latest appli- ances featuring state-of-the-art technology, elegant design and European- influenced units that will be the envy of the neighbourhood. "From what we are seeing, at least in the builder channel, there has been increased interest in induction cooking for multi-unit residential construction," says Michael Gnat, regional manager for Midnorthern Appliance. "Developers are also continuing to push for solutions to integrate more appliances into smaller spaces, which creates a really interesting challenge. Part of the answer to this call is European appliances that have been designed for diminished footprints, yet still maintain efficiency and elegance." Gnat notes the other big thing that's going to be happening is the technology in smart appliances that can be controlled by handheld devices or remote devices. "These are already being tested and built in Europe and that system is coming to North America," he says. "An example of this is the ability to turn on your oven before you get home so it can start preheating. Right now, a manufacturer like Miele has the technology in its appliances that would notify you if something goes wrong, such as a washing machine leak. It will automatically send the message through Wi-Fi to Miele's service to say, 'Hi, I'm the washing machine at 123 Sesame Street. We need service here.' Miele would then contact you to let you know the washing machine just told us it is not working." Gnat adds, "While green has been the common denominator for builders and developers across the country, I think you're going to see the word smart be paral- lel with green." B.C.-based Pacific Specialty Brands (PSB) is a leading distributor of European Appliances and has seen this growing demand for more advanced compact European appliances. PSB distributes high-end brands including AGA, Blomberg, Euro Trim, Faber, Fagor, Fulgor Milano, Fhiaba, Heartland and Marvel. "These brands bring refreshing ideas and European flair and design to Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest," says Minh Prak, marketing manager at PSB. Fhiaba's range of integrated, built-in and free-standing refrigerators and wine cel- lars for example, add value in terms of technology, design, flexibility and quality. Fhiaba's advanced electronic technology manages and monitors the entire refrigerator operations, while the digital displays show the actual temperatures of the Fridge, Fresco and TriMode compartments as well as the date and time, thanks to the RealTime Clock system. Through the soft-touch control panel users can access the interactive menu to select the several available functions and customize the operation of the refrigerator, according to personal needs. The user is alerted of any uncommon situation through text messages appearing on the display. Continuing with premium high-end products, Miele is introducing its pro series of ranges early in 2015, says Glenn Anderson, president and general manager for Edmonds Fine Appliances and Y. Franks. "This pro range series is called the Gourmet Center because for the first time within the chassis of a pro range, there is a speed oven included and a small warming drawer," he says. "The 48-inch model has M-Touch controls, similar to an iPhone and could include a grill or griddle set between the six burners. Many of the high-end ranges we offer have either six or eight burners, giving them a professional quality look. They are stunningly expen- sive and stunningly good." With two locations, Y. Franks takes care of installations for the majority of the West Vancouver district and the new Edmonds Fine Appliances showroom, located in downtown Vancouver, provides products to west side Vancouver homes and high- end multi-residential projects. "The new showroom has become a good place for the architecture and design community to bring their clients, many of whom are based in the area. Having both locations for our store has worked out very well. Currently we are working on the Vancouver House project, which is a Bjarke Ingels designed building on the corner of Beach Avenue and Howe Street that has a 2018 completion date. In terms of iconic landmarks, the Vancouver House would be it." Distinctive Appliances brings a new level of elegance and technology to the kitchen with the Falmec range hood. "This is one of the quietest hoods on the market, yet it is also affordable for most customers," says Jean-Yves Deschenes, training director for Distinctive Appliances. "This unit is 86 per cent quieter at only 42 decibels at 315 CFM. It is designed with new materials that contain the natural noise produced by the movement of air, allowing further noise reductions for a quieter kitchen." Italian-based Falmec collaborated with specialized laboratories to develop the new NRS (Noise Reduction System) project. In particular, the study of fluid dynam- ics, performed with a highly innovative software program, was applied to the hood and its exhaust system. That enabled them to achieve an optimization of reduced airflow turbulence, thereby eliminating any type of resistance – the main cause of operational noise. The other continuing success story for Distinctive Appliances is the Fhiaba Columns fridge and freezer models. Available in either 24-, 30- or 36-inch-wide and 84-inch-high models, customers can mix and match the units to fit any sized kitchen and maintain a high-end look. "This design has become very popular because people can have specific spaces for each product, depending on their needs," says Deschenes. "These units are on the high-end, but this is probably the nicest refrig- eration product set available on the market." As the culinary world continues to grow in popularity – from cooking TV shows and food trends to top restaurants – foodies and families alike are looking to try out their own gastronomy skills at home. This influence of the professional chef on consumers inspired GE Appliances to introduce the GE Monogram French door wall oven. "GE Monogram is a recognized brand for consumers who actually use their appliances," says Philippe Meyersohn, general manager, marketing and train- ing at GE Appliances in Canada. "We are excited to bring this unique product to the Canadian market, with chef-inspired design and cooking features fit for the pros, but created for use at home." Get Smart Technology is radically changing the world of appliances by LAURIE JONES

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