November 22, 2019

Last week I traveled to Louisville, Ky., for a sneak peek of two new design collections from Monogram. Amid a whirlwind of bourbon tastings and modern farmhouse tours, I got an in-depth look at how future appliances are catering to tech-savvy consumers who are looking for more out of their cooking experiences. 

The New Traditional & Modern Looks
Long gone are the embellished cabinets and bulky appliances for traditional clients. According to a study done by Monogram, customers on this side of the spectrum are searching for an elevated experience that feels handcrafted and durable – but without the cost of high maintenance.  

For Monogram, touches of brass are being used to fulfill this demand. Brass has moved in and out of the spotlight during the decades but always represents luxury and quality because of its gold tone. 

For their Statement Collection, brass plays a significant part in the burners and knobs, the latter of which features a stripe of brass for the “off” indicator. For their Minimalist Collection, the stainless steel around the oven window was reduced, making the window as large as possible. Handles were replaced with tap-to-open features, and the LCD display also eliminates any unnecessary indentations or knobs on the range.

The photos in the displays – which are used with both collections – were inspired by Rembrandt paintings and have a dark background that allows the food in the photos to stand out. Even the sound indicators were carefully analyzed; it was decided that the sound of piano keys would work best for these high-caliber consumers. 

Stimulating the Senses
These collections are an example of a trend we’ve been seeing for more thoughtful designs. Consumers want technology, but they want it to be easy to use, intuitive and subtle in their spaces. Technology like our phones and laptops tends to date itself quickly, so having more resilient and reliable tech is high on the list of demands. 

The need for a tactile experience also goes hand-in-hand with this, since everyone is staring at their screens constantly and craving other sensory experiences. This might involve top sound quality, a handle that feels soft to the touch or a door that swings smoothly open. 

It is likely more of these types of appliances will be showing up in kitchens in the coming years. Technology will continue to grow in importance and its ability to be intuitive, but just alongside it will be quality a consumer can touch and feel.