The Australian market is often a trendsetter. As Jordan Rogers, Senior Category Manager at Winning Appliances, explains: "The way we live in our home is unique to our environment and culture and you could say that because of this, that Australians set trends, particularly for kitchen and laundry design." Here are our picks for the year ahead.
1. Integrated appliances
Integration - placing appliances behind cabinetry - will continue to become an increasingly popular trend, as more Aussies aim to create a smoothly uninterrupted kitchen aesthetic. Integrated appliances such as the Fisher & Paykel Column Fridge (pictured below) have become hugely popular, along with integrated dishwashers.
2. Attainable technology and automation
More leading appliance brands are embracing innovation, which means that even though design and quality will vary, there will be a more opportunity for Australians to enjoy the benefits of the latest technologies at a wider variety of price points.
Expect, for example, the increasing prevalence of automatic appliances, such as programmable ovens - like the ASKO 60cm Pyrolytic Built-In Oven (featuring 87 auto programs), the Smeg 60cm Dolce Stil Novo Pyrolytic Oven with Steam Assist and 50 programs, the AEG 60cm PyroLuxe Pyrolytic Built-In Oven with SenseCook food sensor (pictured below) and the V-ZUG 60cm Electric Built-In Combair Steam Oven with easy cook function.
3. Colour
Despite black being the favoured look for ovens, bold colours will become more popular, with Australians embracing bright hues to make a statement in their kitchens. Those that embrace this trend will look to the likes of Smeg, who offer beautiful coloured upright ovens (and dishwashers), while Abey, Oliveri and Franke offer taps and sinks in a range of colourful finishes.
4. Laundry Love
We predict more of a focus on the laundry this year, with Australians looking to upgrade and enjoy the latest programs and steam technology used by brands such as Asko, V-ZUG and Miele.
Wash technology has achieved amazing new standards - with hand wash functions, for example, letting you put high-quality, delicate silks into a machine. In addition, you can also expect new statements in laundry to be made with the release of Asko's stainless steel laundry appliances. 5. Food preservation
As we become more interested in cutting down household waste, so are we looking to ways to preserve food more effectively and over the longer-term. Thus we'll see the increasing popularity of products such as Smeg's residential blast chiller - which can rapidly cool down your foods for preservation, without affecting its taste or quality.
Meanwhile, the Fisher & Paykel column fridge was created to be fully customisable, with four separate (independently controlled) temperature 'zones' - thereby making it easier to adjust conditions for the optimum storage of different foods.
Sub Zero fridges also help with food preservation by cleaning the inside air every 20 minutes, absorbing odours, bacteria and the ethylene.
We will continue to give you updates on the very latest developments in appliances trends - please watch this space!
