21-03-2025
Appliances get even smarter
KBIS 2025: The international kitchen and bath industry's annual showcase offers a preview of what's coming to an appliance store near you
The annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, held each February, is the place to see the latest innovations, breakthrough technologies and gorgeous new looks laid out over the half-million square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Centre.
We were particularly interested this year in what's new from the major appliance companies, where ingenuity and function are often front and centre. Here's a taste of what we saw.
Beyond stainless
While some domestic and many status European models foresee a return to enamelled steel exteriors in rainbow colours (Italian luxury brand Officine Gullo showed several models in what can only be called 'ice-cream' shades), white and other light shades do seem to be making a comeback. Jenn-Air showcased a number of very un-kitchen-y finishes, of which leather is the only one confirmed to be available in Canada.
But for us, the unofficial winner of most beautiful update to stainless stee – which is still everywhere, by the way – has got to be KitchenAid's two newest shades, Juniper and Black Ore.
Juniper, a smoky green that shifts from mid-teal to near-black depending on the viewing angle, is a perfect companion to last year's 'it' kitchen cabinet colour, green, while Black Ore is a softer take on black stainless steel with a slightly mattified finish that's pure glamour.
AI grows up
Artificial intelligence has been a feature of higher-end kitchen appliances for several years now, but the newest generation goes truly space-age. Cameras inside fridges can tell you via app what's in there: great if you can't remember whether you bought milk or not, or when there are leftovers getting furry in the back.
AI-connected cameras are equally handy inside ovens: they can identify what food you've put in there and suggest the precise time and temperature to cook it, and can send pictures of the cooking food to your phone – great for checking a turkey, or posting to Instagram.
Induction takes centre stage
Far more efficient than electric and safer and cleaner than gas, induction is fast becoming the go-to technology for cooktops and ranges. Dacor has a model whose glass top is so scratch-resistant, it rates an 8 on the ten-point Mohs hardness scale.
One version of Jenn-Air's induction cooktop incorporates a downdraft fan that can eliminate the need for outside venting, by channeling smoke to a built-in recirculating system.
Really cool fridges
One of the newer and more popular features seen at KBIS was one or more 'convertible' compartments that you can set to operate as either fridge or freezer space, depending on your needs.
One model from Maytag takes that idea a step further with its 'PowerCold' compartment, which can super-chill beer or pop, quickly prep meat for the freezer, or firm up ice cream that's been left out on the counter.
Solutions to real problems
While modern technology has been known to come up with solutions to problems that don't really exist – after all, many of us have settings on our dishwasher or dryer we've never used – KBIS overflowed with great light-bulb ideas.
Maytag's Pet Pro laundry pair is specially designed to remove every trace of pet hair, even if your pet is a Yeti. Whirlpool, for its part, has finally solved the problem of having to leave the washer door open to dry after a load by installing an interior drying fan, backing it up with an antibacterial coating.
Meanwhile, oven interior coatings make it possible to clean the oven with nothing more than a damp cloth, or to wipe fingermarks and smears off stainless steel the same way.
