The products featured below are all 2012 Kitchen and Bath Business Award Winners for Product Innovation, and are all available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.

Best Sorpresa Intrigue Range Hood by Broan-NuTone

The ventilation hood as art and focal point is not a new concept but the Best Sorpresa Intrigue Range Hood by Broan-NuTone exemplifies it with a shape that is sculptural and, well, intriguing. The unit features a 460-cfm blower, four speeds, halogen lighting and a telescopic flue that accommodates 9-ft. ceilings. Available in a ducted or non-ducted recirculation model, it adds “softness to the kitchen, where hard lines and right angles [tend to] dominate,” said one judge.

KOHLER Colors Featuring Jonathan Adler for the Kitchen

What better way to brighten a kitchen (or bath), as well as one’s mood, than with a pop of vivid color? Kohler Colors Featuring Jonathan Adler is a limited-edition series comprises four retro-inspired colors, which are available on three cast-iron kitchen sinks—Whitehaven, Iron/Tones and Riverby—as well as three bathroom sinks—DemiLav Wading Pool, Tides and Canvas. Noted one judge, the hues are “fresh, saturated, yet timeless,” easily creating a focal point in any space and allowing users an opportunity for self-expression and a little fun.

Liebherr 30 inch, single door, fully integrated refrigerator

Sure, Liebherr’s 30-in. single-door fully integrated refrigerator (Model HC 1540) is attractive. Moreover, it comes loaded with features such as the VarioBox, a removable door-storage compartment that can be taken to the table for easy entertaining; 4 cu. ft. of freezer storage, thanks to double drawers mounted on telescopic rails; and the possibility of custom design with a flush, 24-in.-deep cabinet installation. But what truly put this entry onto the judges’ list was its icemaker, which does not require a water connection, relying instead on a 1.5-liter internal tank. “Ice for everyone!” exclaimed one judge.

For more information about about these award winning products, call or visit the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.

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2012 honorary mention awards, Kitchen and Bath Business. Photos and Text from K+BB March 2013 Digital Edition

Common Sense Range Vent Hood Evaluation Tools

A. Requirements

1. Ventilation objectives. Range hoods perform many functions. Sometimes hood vents are used merely to circulate air in the kitchen. Usually, they are needed to remove cooking odors, vapors, particulates, and moisture from the air over the cooktop surface. It's important to consider the type of cooking you'll be doing. For example, if you cook exotic dishes that are very aromatic, you may need a more powerful vent hood. Suppose you are considering a re-circulating hood because you don't have the ability to duct outside. You need to be aware that recirculating hoods will capture some particulates, but will do little to remove vapors or moisture from the room.
2. Ductwork. If you are installing new ducting you'll want to make sure that you take the most direct, shortest path – the fewer turns, the better. Use the largest duct size that is practical for quieter more efficent operation.
3. Makeup air. The 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) requires when installing new vent hoods exceeding 400 cfm, makeup air must be provide in an amount roughly equivalent to the exhaust CFM.
4. Location. The location of the range will influence the type and size of the range hood. Is the range on on an island or peninsula? Where are the windows located? What is the ceiling height? Are there ceiling fans? How much space is available between adjacent cabinets?

B. Sizing the hood

Best hoods offer these recommendations for hood sizing.

1. Under 60,000 BTU. If the maximum burner output on the cooking surface is under 60,000 btu, calculate a range hood capacity of 10 cfm per inch of cooking surface. For example, for a standard 30″ range, a range hood of 300 cfm would be adequate.
2. Over 60,000 BTU. If the maximum cooking surface output is over 60,000 btu, calculate 100 cfm for every 1,000 btu. A 60,000btu cooking surface would take a 600 cfm hood.
3. Grill or Griddle. If there is a grill or griddle add add 200 cfm to the estimate.
4. Island Installation. For an island installation greater capacity is needed. Calculate 150 cfm per foot of cooking surface width. Add another 100 cfm for high performance cooktops.

C. Ducted vs Ductless. Most hood manufacturers recommend ducted over ductless hoods. However, there are conditions under which a ductless hood might be a better choice. For example, with the IRC requirement of makeup air for hoods exceeding 400 cfm, the additional cost for this provision may be prohibitive. Makeup air is unneccessary when using ductless ventilation. Also, the need for duct runs may make certain ducted installations impractical.

D. Microwave Hoods are often popular in mid-priced new homes. They are available from most major appliance manufacturers such as GE, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Electrolux, Sharp, Maytag, Bosch, and Viking. Customers like the convenience of the built-in microwave above the range. On the other hand, the ventilation capabilities of the hood are often sub-par. The ergonomics of a microwave over the range are not good, and they are thought to be unattractive by design professionals.

E. Height over cooking surfaces. Hoods should be located at least 24″ over the cooking surface. Refer to the manufacture recommendations. It's not a good idea to have them much more than 33″ over the cooktop because the hood begins to lose its effectiveness when it it too far away from the cooktop.

F. Hood designs. There are a host of different hood styles and designs from most major appliance brands as well as a variety of different specialty hood manufacturers such as AirKing, Best, Elica, Faber, and Zephyr. Visit a professional appliance retailer to view the many choices and learn more about this important topic. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center carries all the major hood brands, and a good selection of the speciality hoods as well. Call or visit them at the locations below for expert advice.

NOW, two locations to serve you – Calabasas and Studio City:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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Coming Soon to Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

The 2013 IBS – International Builder Show was held in Las Vegas on Jan. 21-24. Over 60,000 builders and trade related customers attended. Here are a few of the new appliance and plumbing items that were shown at this annual expo. Some are available today at UAKC, Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. The rest will be arriving within a few months.

GE Appliances

Within a few months, GE will launch a new look in its successful Profile appliance line-up. Here is an sneak peak of an exciting new Wi-Fi Enabled Profile Wall Oven. The lighted red line on the photo below vanishes as the oven timer counts down, giving the cook a strong visual indication from across the room of how much time is left. The appliance can be operated from a wi-fi enabled iPhone or Android device, and features a unique convection system with a fan that surrounds the food with preheated air even from the top.

GE's new twin evaporator Profile French Door Refrigerator has an all new dispenser system that even dispenses HOT water – great for soups or hot tea.

Kohler Plumbing

Not to be outdone by their appliance friends, Kohler introduced their Moxie shower head + wireless speaker that plays music while you shower. You can pipe the music in from any bluetooth enabled device. Now when you sing in the shower, you can do a duet with Tony Bennett.

Best Range Hoods

Thermador Appliances

Thermador displayed their recently introduced Thermador Pro Grand Commercial Depth Dual Fuel Steam Range. It's a powerful professional range, with a separate steam convection oven, and warming drawer. The range top has 6 powerful burners and an interchangeable grill/griddle. Buy this range and Thermador will throw in a free dishwasher. The Thermador Pro Grand Range is available now at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center.

But Wait. There's More! Check back on this blog over the coming days and weeks for more new products from IBS 2013 and featured blogs on the models highlighted above. Visit the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center for price and availabilty:

NOW, two locations to serve you – Calabasas and Studio City:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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What does it mean when we hear the phrase “POP of color”? Ask a designer and they will describe a room full of neutral colors that is brought to life by a bold and surprising use of color. Sometimes it's a bright accent wall. Sometimes it's colorful throw pillows and flowers. But always its a contrast created by adding color to an otherwise neutral room. The POP calls the attention of the viewers eyes to the bright spot or POP, and often creates a focal point in the room.

Here's an example of a room that would have been a blinding snowstorm without the blue cushions and pillows. Notice also how the flowers create some balance and flow, and the clever addition of the touch of yellow in the chandelier.

In the picture below, the colorful chairs create needed interest, and the color-matched light fixtures help fill the volume of the room, an important consideration in large rooms with high ceilings.

In today's kitchens there are more ways than ever to add color. Kohler has recently teamed up with designer Jonathan Adler from Bravo's Top Design to introduce colored sinks that help bring life to a kitchen.

Jonathan Adler

Adler says, “It's the surprise factor that makes color work.” According to Adler, there's nothing better than a colored sink to bring a kitchen to life. Even better, he says, “These colors work in just about any kitchen color palette to add a little punch.” Kohler's new collection of sinks created in collaboration with Adler includes four special-edition colors available on six enameled cast iron kitchen and bathroom sinks. Available on select sinks in limited quantity, the punchy colors include Greenwich Green, Piccadilly Yellow, Palermo Blue and Annapolis Navy.

While we've previously blogged about color choices in major appliances (see link below), an important area worth considering for color splashes is in the vent hoods. The dramatic island hood from Best Hood's Sorpresa collection would be attention-getting without the color, but the red will bring any kitchen to life. It is appropriately named “lipstick”.

Another dramatic and colorful hood is the Italian Elica Euphoria model which features interactive color panels.

For more information about color POPS click on the link below to our previous blog:

More POPS of color to make kitchens lively

For more information on the products featured above call or visit Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center:

Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center

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