Fashion has always been central in home and appliance design. This year, fashion definitely doesn't mean style over substance. There are a few themes running through home appliance trends in 2017 and they're all good news for customers who expect that expensive consumer goods should be both beautiful and useful.
Eco-Friendly, Energy Efficient Washing Machines
When it comes to washing machines less is more. That's less water, less electricity and minimum use of detergents and softeners to give the best possible results. Washing machines that feature a drawer that allows you to add that forgotten sock, or those that offer two drums so that two different types of laundry can be dealt with at the same time are just two recent innovations. Smart washing machines include sensors which adjust the program according to the material, type of detergent or the size of the load and of course everything can be monitored and controlled through app.
Many new washing machines and dishwashers are integrated appliances, which fit seamlessly into a high end kitchens, while the recent attention paid to reduction of operating noise mean that these modern appliances are, above all, discrete.
Smart Hobs and Ovens
Energy efficiency is as strong a theme for cookers as it is for laundry appliances. Induction hobs have been around for a while now and are popular because of the speed at which they heat up. Recent models inspired by the touch and swipe features of smart phones put fine control literally at your fingertips and makes the use of these hobs both simple and intuitive.
Moving from the stove top to the oven, the kitchen appliance trends of 2017 combine style with practicality. The french door wall oven produced by GE looks great and is perfect for narrow kitchens where the traditional fold down door takes up too much space. The unit is also equipped with bluetooth, and can be controlled remotely. All this is just the start of what looks to be a growing trend. Coming soon to an oven near you, expect to see a smart device that will read the bar code on packed food or link up with recipe apps and select the correct settings to ensure that food is perfectly cooked.
The Fridge that Helps You Run Your Life
All the major manufacturers are moving into the smart appliances market, recognizing that modern families need all the help they can get. Perhaps the ultimate example of the connected kitchen appliance can be found in the Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator.
No less than three built in cameras take pictures of the inside of the unit every time the door closes. If you're in the supermarket and can't remember if you need more butter, just access the latest snap on your smartphone. The hub also allows you to connect to recipe sites, order groceries by mastercard, or create a shopping list which syncs between your mobile device and the fridge. As if that wasn't enough, the built in touchscreen on the front of the Hub includes apps that allow it to function as a family calendar, photo album, whiteboard for messages and much more besides. It looks like the days of the fridge magnet might be numbered.
Blasts from the Past
If all that technology is a bit too much for you, you'll be glad to know that appliance design trends of 2017 aren't entirely focused on the future. Retro appliances are still very now. SMEG continues to lead the way, with an ever increasing range of 1950s themed fridges but vintage style cookers are in style too. To be right on trend mix the old and the new, a vintage looking cooker, with a modern extractor hood gives you a statement kitchen that looks great and works perfectly too.
