Household Appliances: What’s Trending Now?

from Michiana House and Home January 2022

Home Security System Highlights

By BethAnne Brink-Cox, House & Home feature writer

There is something about a new year that makes you want fresh beginnings everywhere. It’s the reason so many people join a gym or start a diet.

But maybe what you’d rather do is treat yourself by fixing up the heart of the home: your kitchen. And you don’t have to do a remodel to achieve that. You can buy new appliances, get that stove you’ve always wanted, or a different style of refrigerator than you’ve ever had before. Or is it time for a dishwasher?

Joyce Watkins, of Mid-City Supply Company, Inc. in Warsaw is ready to help you do just that. We’ve seen so many looks and styles through the years–from the avocado and gold of bygone days to stainless steel and granite, or everything white, or all-black appliances. What’s new?

Watkins said it’s all about the colors and finish these days.”Our Cafe Line has been very popular, due to the finishes they offer.” Watkins added that one of the best ways to refresh your kitchen is to install new countertops, a new sink and faucet–maybe a kitchen island with your sink or cook surface in it? and replace existing hardware on your cabinetry. Those, too, can be curated to your taste–bronze, copper, brushed stainless or matte black, depending on your desire to have them stand out or blend in.”

These days, appliance collections offer beautiful shades of color–green and blue, to name just two–and they are customizable, so you can create exactly what you’ve always wanted. Instead of bright walls and white appliances, you can reverse that style, order a bright yellow stove,and make yourself smile every time you walk into the room.

Whirlpool.com

While you can buy or order a single appliance, you can also get a complete package–refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and over the range microwave–by KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Bosch, and many other manufacturers. Bob Miller’s Appliances and Mattress Showroom, South Bend, offers such packages.

Steam ovens are on the rise, and are a great method for healthier cooking. Refrigerators are offering glass panels for doors and drawers, as well as multiple temperature zones for optimum food storage. And Bluetooth and WiFi options are very popular, all of which go hand in hand with a smartphone.

Want to rid your house of disposable water bottles? Consider a built-in water filtered dispenser. Speaking of built-ins, how about a food sealer? Just a few months ago, we acquired a refrigerator/freezer that is unlike any before–you can flip a switch so it’s entirely a refrigerator, OR a freezer. It has come in very handy at certain times of the year, depending on food storage needs!

Maybe the space age kitchens we saw in the old cartoons are more a part of our daily lives than we had realized?

Of course, as we’ve been seeing for some time now, there are delays in delivery, due to the manufacturers, material shortages, and lead times.

Be sure you’re prepared for that when you’re planning your new look, and allow that extra time. Most places are short handed, as well, so be realistic when determining installations.

Watkins said, “Mid-City Supply Co. does stock quite a few plumbing fixtures, along with the most popular finishes and styles.” Ordering from catalogs and suppliers is always an option, but Bob Miller’s cautions that you should call for availability of the items(s) you want. So start your planning early! n