Trends

3 Appliance Trends Defining the Post-Pandemic Kitchen, According to Experts

Forecasters and kitchen specialists reflect on the lifestyle and aesthetic trends defining today’s appliances
Kitchen appliances including oven stovetop refrigerator in warmtone kitchen with leather counter stools
The global pandemic played into appliance trends this year, as people spent more time focused on cooking and entertaining at home. Among the most sought-after appliances are those that boast professional-level performance. Gaggenau wall ovens and cooktops, like those seen in this Chelsea pied-à-terre designed by Bryan O’Sullivan, have been favorites among designers seeking high-caliber appliances.Photo: Helen Cathcart

Many of us have become better acquainted with our kitchens in the past year or two than we ever could have anticipated. But like any relationship, the more time you spend together, the more you become aware of what you love—and what you don’t.

“During the COVID-19 quarantine period, people started to cook again, and really live in their kitchens,” says Frank Christensen Egelund, owner of Vipp Kitchens. “This sparked a renewed interest in the space, and there were many home extensions directly connected to kitchen expansion and increased functionality.”

Open-plan layouts and second “mess” kitchens or butler’s pantries are undoubtedly in favor, but what appliance trends have our renewed relationships with our culinary spaces wrought? Read on for thoughts from Christensen Egelund; Sarah Housley, WGSN’s head of consumer tech; and interior designers Amy Kartheiser and Peti Lau.

Out of Sight, But Top of Mind

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In an effort to minimize visual clutter, many homeowners are turning to secondary prep spaces where small appliances and other necessities can stay out of sight. But this strategy doesn’t work across the board: For some, the space is simply not there, while others need essentials closer at hand. In those cases, designers are finding other ways to satisfy the quest for aesthetic serenity.

Kartheiser is a big fan of the appliance garage: built-ins that hide high-traffic appliances like toasters and coffee machines, while also keeping them readily accessible. “People don’t want their kitchens to feel appliance-heavy, with big stainless steel appliances everywhere,” she says. In a recent project, she used antique mirrors on the built-in side-by-side refrigerator and freezer, so that it looked more like a piece of furniture than an appliance.

For appliances that can’t be sequestered, subtlety is key. “At the luxury level, smart kitchen tech that is embedded into surfaces so that it becomes ambient—from invisible cooktop hobs [or burners] to smart oven hoods—is a key trend we’re seeing,” Housley says. “People want the impression of tech that ‘just works’ and is there to serve them while not being hyper-visible. We call this mindset ‘shy tech.’”

Another among today’s appliance trends? Sophisticated smart appliances, Lau says. “I’m seeing fridges that are integrated with touch-screen systems that are also accessible by your phone,” she explains. With them, clients can manage a kitchen seamlessly by keeping track of expired foods, writing grocery lists that can be accessed by smartphone, and even discovering new recipes online. “There are even fridges that have a feature where the fridge door allows you to see inside with a push of a button.”

“During the COVID-19 quarantine period people started to cook again, and really live in their kitchens,” says Frank Christensen Egelund, owner of Vipp Kitchens. One of the brand’s sleek designs, above, reflects the current favor for tidy kitchens, where appliances and visual clutter are hidden away.

Photo: Courtesy Vipp

Longing for Longevity

We’ve had plenty of recent reminders that climate change needs immediate attention, so it’s no surprise that sustainability is a chief concern for consumers. “‘Less but better’ seems to be the mantra with clients interested in longevity,” Christensen Egelund says. “We see a clear trend line going from the desire to have many large appliances to fewer and smaller ones that can easily do the job—appliances that are sturdier and have tool-like functionality that will patina well with use and engagement.” He adds that Vipp uses only Miele and Gaggenau appliances in its kitchens because both brands focus on efficient, high-quality products that will last for decades.

Housley has noticed that homeowners are increasingly seeking out low-waste, low-impact tools that complement a more sustainable lifestyle. “There is a growing emphasis on sustainable appliances designed for the kitchen,” she says. “Brands are increasingly looking to appeal to this purpose-driven consumer with smart products that enable them to decrease waste easily and efficiently. This has meant focusing on creating a pleasurable user experience with design-led products that will look good in the home.”

The high-end home recycling appliance Lasso, for example, processes seven of the most commonly used materials for recycling in 5 to 15 minutes, while the Lomi processes compost on your countertop (while helping keep unwanted odors and pesky flies in check). Housley also sees potential in 3D food printers like Foodini as “a compelling consumer use case in reducing food waste.”

In the home of photographer Douglas Friedman, the modular kitchen by Vipp has Gaggenau and Liebherr appliances.

Photo: Douglas Friedman

Going Pro

Since we’re putting our kitchens to work—in many cases, trying to fill the void from a year-plus without restaurant access—it makes sense that people are opting for commercial-grade appliances. This is especially true of fridges, but with all that banana bread we’ve collectively been making, we’re also taking our ovens more seriously. “People are doing the dual oven range, the electric oven, so that their baking is perfect, and then a gas oven so they can cook in different ways,” Kartheiser says.

Likewise, 2021 might just be the year of the steam oven. “It’s the foolproof cooking appliance that even novice cooks can use,” Lau says. “The ability to cook food perfectly, yet keep nutritional value [intact], is really a game changer. And air fryers are amazing and cook much faster than a regular convection oven.”

And finally, though not technically appliances, Kartheiser says that galley sinks—that is, basins that have been kitted out with cutting boards, culinary prep stations, and other accoutrements—are quickly becoming must-haves. “I’ve been seeing them in all my clients’ kitchens lately. They’re definitely a luxury item.”

A Gaggenau range keeps a low profile in this contemporary kitchen.

Photo: Courtesy Gaggenau