Smeg dishwasher

Like any professional, I am often asked during casual conversations how I would renovate someone's problem kitchen – "the cocktail consultation" I call it - but just as frequently I am asked what are the most over-the-top things my clients are putting in their kitchens. Over-the-top doesn't have to mean expensive; these are the best, most innovative and yet affordable new items we're using, and most are well within reach of anyone wanting to be on the cutting edge of clever kitchen design.

My current favorites are…

Lemans corner cabinet

1. The Smeg 90cm (35 5/8 inches) dishwasher. This new dimension dishwasher can be placed at the top portion of your base cabinets. It's longer in width and shorter in height than the conventional 24" dishwasher. The best feature is the ease of loading and unloading it without bending down. I'm always thinking of the "baby boomers" and more comfortable work areas in the kitchen. It's also very sleek and fully integrates with most cabinet door styles.


2. The "Lemans" corner cabinet. This cabinet is similar to a "lazy Susan" but finishes the task of obtaining items from a blind corner by bringing everything out of the cabinet in front of the user. It can carry up to 225 lbs. per shelf.

Pegaso Door

3. The "Pegaso Door" pantry cabinet. This door glides out to the side of a tall cabinet without the user having to step aside for the door to clear. It is especially useful in a galley kitchen where you have a small amount of space between your back the appliances or sink on the other side of the galley, or when working back-to-back with another person as you prepare meals.


4. The Miele "Speed Oven." This little 60cm (23 5/8 inches) workhorse is a microwave and a convection oven in one. This two-in-one appliance is both space saving and highly functional, perfect for a second oven that doubles as a microwave. You can actually microwave and roast at the same time, thus speeding up the cooking time. The speed oven is also very user friendly, with a control panel that is simple to understand and navigate.

Miele Speed Oven

5. The wall cabinet with fully lighted glass bottom shelf. This cabinet has a fluorescent light built in to the frosted glass bottom shelf that can be switched at the unit or at a wall switch. The light covers the entire bottom of the cabinet and illuminates the work area 90% more than conventional under-cabinet lighting, making it both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

If you have any questions about your kitchen, please email me at Arthur@chelseakitchens.com and I will answer in a future column.