Looking for a great deal on Granite Worktops?

Stone Surfaces Ltd, serving customers in all 32 counties of Ireland, are offering two fantastic deals on Granite Worktops this January.

So if you are in the market for new granite worktops for your new or existing kitchen, then make sure you call Stone Surfaces Ltd for a free estimate (contact details at end of page).  Stone Surfaces Ltd offer a full service including templating, manufacturing and installation.  So here are the two exceptional offers:

Offer One:

Offer Two:

To contact Stone Surfaces Ltd about these special offers on granite worktops, you can call them on 043-6671365.  Alternatively, you can fax your worktop or kitchen plan to 043-6671636 or email them at info@stonesurfaces.ie.

Ease of cooking, energy efficiency and safety are all things that come to mind when choosing a hob for your kitchen.  That’s why more and more homeowners are choosing an induction hob over traditional gas and electric.

Gorenje, the Slovenian kitchen appliance manufacturer, see the importance of adding more choice to their portfolio of innovative induction hobs and so have introduced three new ranges to their collection, including a panoramic and a five zone model.

The latest additions to Gorenje’s induction hob range are a five zone model, a four zone panoramic hob and a four zone 60 cm wide model. They feature a chic black glass design, with easy to use touch control, residual heat indicators and safety hob locks for peace of mind. The new panoramic and five zone hobs also offer several innovative functions such as Boil Control to prevent pans boiling over, and StopGo to temporarily pause the cooking process.

Ruth Ferguson, Gorenje’s Marketing Manager, says: “Induction is rapidly becoming the most sought after hob type, and consumers are looking for a variety of sizes and configurations so they can pick the right one for their kitchen. Gorenje’s new induction hobs come in a selection of arrangements to ensure that the consumer can find the ideal one for their needs, whilst offering elegant, seamless design and thoughtful functionality.”

Key features and benefits of the IT1141AC Panoramic induction hob:

• Four zone induction hob with ergonomic panoramic design for easy access to pots and pans
• Stylish black glass finish with chamfered edge
• Two 21cm zones offer up to 3.7 kW each, and two 18cm zones offer up to 3kW each
• BoilControl helps prevent pans from boiling over
• PowerBoost function further enhances the performance of the hob, delivering additional time savings
• StopGo function allows the consumer to temporarily suspend the cooking process when unexpectedly interrupted. One touch of the StopGo key freezes all settings, temporarily switching off all active heating zones until reactivated by the StopGo key
• StayWarm function allows the consumer to keep their food warm at an optimum temperature
• Residual heat indicators illuminate to show which zones are still radiating heat, ensuring even greater safety
• Safety control lock for peace of mind, particularly around children
• Timer function for easy use
• Comes with Gorenje’s free five year parts and labour guarantee
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 43 x 1070 x 410 mm
• The IT1141AC retails for approximately £799

For more information about Gorenje’s new induction hobs call Gorenje on 020 8247 3980, or visit the website at www.gorenje.co.uk.

In the next part of our feature on German Kitchens, we are taking a look at the range of kitchens from Pronorm.

Pronorm are well known for their contemporary kitchen designs with that typical German look.  Clean lines, functional design and high quality manufacturing have seen Pronorm grow to be one of the big players in the middle to high end kitchen market.  Pronorm have a rich history in furniture manufacturing, having begun production back in 1945.  The name Pronorm was introduced in 1972 and their kitchens can now be found all over the world.

So let’s take a look at some of the Pronorm range:

Pronorm Y-Line

The Y-line by Pronorm, shown here in white gloss, is a handle-less kitchen with sleek lines that fits beautifully with contemporary living.  What I love about this kitchen is the sense of tranquility you get from it and how it blends in rather than take over the room.  For anyone with a small or dark kitchen, consider a kitchen like the Y-line in white gloss.  It will give a more spacious feel to the room by blending in and allowing light (whether natural or artificial) to bounce off it.  The Y-line also comes with thick end panels which frame the doors and streamline the look.  This range from Pronorm is also available in vanilla, cubanit, anthracite and black.

Also in the Y-line range:

Proline 128

The Proline range, as you can see from the photo, can be fitted with handles or without.  If planning without handles, a touch opening system would be used instead of a finger rail.  Again, the main part of this kitchen is white, but the island shown is in black gloss.  The reason for showing this particular photograph of the Proline range is to highlight the open shelving design on the main kitchen run.  The beauty of this design is that it takes away that heavy kitchen look and lends itself perfectly towards an open plan living area.

Also in the Proline 128 range:

Classicline

The Classicline range from Pronorm is an extremely flexible range.  The idea is that homeowners can choose a modern or classic look for their kitchen depending on their preferred look.  The kitchen above left, is a mix of both titanium and teak, with the teak warming up what might otherwise be a cold looking kitchen.  As we have said before, mixing and matching is a key trend at the moment.  The kitchen to the right is a more classic or traditional kitchen.  The doors centre panel is v-grooved to give a country look with the vanilla colour being warm and inviting.

Also in the Classicline range:

To find out more about Pronorm kitchens, visit their website at www.pronorm.de.

To find a dealer of Pronorm kitchens on Kitchenindex.ie go to http://www.kitchenindex.ie/retail/category-1/Fitted-Kitchens-and-Bedrooms.aspx/page-1/perpage-10/county-no/brand-Pronorm

The Irish Kitchen and Bedroom Association (IKBA), will be holding an open evening of information and inspiration for homeowners considering a new kitchen for their home.

The event will be held in the Hayfield Manor Hotel on College Road in Cork City on Thursday May 26th 2011 from 7 to 9pm.  The IKBA plan to have three presentations on the night to discuss different aspects of kitchen design, and this will be followed by a question and answer session to a panel of experts.

The cost of the event to homeowners is €20 on the night.  However, if you book a spot at the event before Wednesday the 18th of May attendance is free of charge.  It is advised that you pre-book your place at the event as it tends to fill up quite quickly, and of course you can save yourself €20.

So why not pop along to the Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork on the night and bring a copy of your architects plans to discuss your kitchen plans with the experts on the night.

To pre-book the event you can email the IKBA at info@ikba.ie

Gaggenau, renowned for their high end kitchen appliances and innovation, really have created the perfect induction hob.

The CX 480, a frameless full surface induction hob, consists of one 2,800 cm² zoneless cooking area that allows you to put pans or pots of all sizes and shapes anywhere on the surface.  It also comes with an extra-large TFT colour touch-control display will indicate the size, shape and position of your cookware. The induction cooktop can accommodate up to 4 pans simultaneously.

The CX 480 includes many features including a booster function, separate timer for each cooking position, information key with use indications and power management.  For safety, this induction hob also includes a main switch, individual pot detection, residual heat indicator and a child lock.  As with all induction hobs, the use of magnetic induction pots and pans is necessary.

For more information on this induction hob and other the rest of the Gaggenau range, visit their website at http://www.gaggenau.com/change-country.do

Bosch Appliances claim to produce the most economical dishwashers in the world.  This claim is backed up by their Active Water Generation which they say makes maximum the use of the water it uses. Features of Bosch dishwashers include:

• Dosage Assist – Helps the detergent dissolve gradually to ensure it works more efficiently throughout the dishwasher.

• Varioflex Basket and Drawer – The Varioflex basket gives an extra 10% capacity while the drawer is ideal for cutlery and smaller items.

• SuperSilence – Ensures optimum quietness while the dishwasher is working.

Watch this video for an excellent demonstration of how these features work.

“Our Survey Says………..”

Modern Kitchens are your Favourite!!!!

We ran a quick and short survey on Kitchenindex.ie to determine our readers favourite style of kitchen.  We asked the question:  What is your favourite style of kitchen design? Our readers had to pick from four possible answers, and here are the results:

• 33% said they preferred Modern Style Kitchens
• 25% said they preferred Contemporary Style Kitchens
• 24% said they preferred Traditional Style Kitchens
• 18% said they preferred Classic Style Kitchens

If we take this survey as an indicator of homeowners preferences towards kitchen styles, it suggests that most people still prefer modern and contemporary kitchens.  Classic style kitchens came out bottom of the survey but I would imagine that not everyone is as familiar with classic style kitchens as they are with the rest of the options they had.

This little survey give an insight into homeowners preferences and hopefully you’ll all agree makes for interesting reading.

Kitchen appliance brand Zanussi have added some new refrigeration options to their range to offer more efficiency and increased capacity.  It is no secret that two important factors for homeowners when choosing a fridge or freezer are energy efficiency and capacity, so these options should prove quite popular.

Zanussi ZRA637CW01 refrigerator

The new Zanussi ZRA637CW01 refrigerator has all the room a large family or committed cook could need and is 20 per cent more efficient than the previous A energy rated appliance.

With a capacity of 365 litres and more storage space for fruit and vegetables, the fridge saves you money and means you can shop less.  Other features of this easy to use fridge include a full width dairy compartment and automatic defrost, saving you time and making it easier to maintain.

This Fridge matches the Zanussi Freezer ZFU628W01 and includes features such as:

• Energy class A+ • Reversible door hinges • Gross capacity 365 litres • Net weight 60kg • Auto fridge defrost • 1750mm X 595mm X 620mm

In the first part of our focus on German kitchens, we are taking a look at a kitchen manufacturer that has grown over the last 50 years to become a recognisable brand in Europe and around the world.

Nolte Kitchens have dealers all over the world, with a selection based here in Ireland.  Though they produce classic and country style kitchens, it is with their modern and contemporary kitchens where they have really made their mark. 

Lets take a look at a selection of kitchens from the Nolte range:

The Nolte Chicago in high gloss purple, as shown above, is a lovely example of what Nolte are all about.  A contemporary design while mixing and matching colours is a key trend in current kitchen design and style.  This is something I love about Nolte.  They seem to effortlessly blend and match colours and wood textures to create inviting and elegant kitchens.  You will also notice the use of lift up wall cabinet doors and open illuminated shelves that break up what could be a monotonous run of wall cabinets.  The illuminated shelves also gives extra light in the kitchen.

In the Nolte High Gloss Magnolia, you can again see the common theme of mixing and matching.  This time Nolte have match the bright hue of magnolia with a darker wood grain to create contrast.  The t-shaped island unit creates plenty of work space while still managing to fit a breakfast bar for 3 people.  The breakfast bar is a key feature of Nolte designs, emphasising the fact that the kitchen is now the social hub of the home.

Some of the photographs above show the wide choice available with Nolte Kitchens.  The Toscana in Pear Wood has a warm hue to it with the High Wood in Boston Cherry offering a darker and richer alternative.  Whether it is a contemporary or modern kitchen you want, or a classic or country style, Nolte might have an option to suit you.  You can be guaranteed that your new kitchen will have the efficiency and ease of use that is typical of German manufacturing.

To find out more about Nolte Kitchens and to find a dealer in your area visit the Nolte website at:

http://www.nolte-kuechen.de

There is an obvious trend in contemporary and modern kitchen design for all things slim and integrated.  With that in mind, kitchen appliance manufacturers are designing gas hobs that sit flush with the surface of the worktop, and this is Teka’s latest version.

Teka’s new gas hob blends almost seamlessly with the worktop, creating the type of low profile appliance that is much favoured by modern kitchen designers.

The new Teka flush-fit gas hob can be used with both natural gas and LPG and features front control knobs for fast and easy temperature control. Sturdy cast iron pan supports, complete with raised Teka logo, sit atop the slick stainless steel hob. The cast iron pan supports can be lifted off with ease giving full access to the stainless steel hob for cleaning purposes. The hob is available in a 60cm version with 4 burners or a 90cm version with 5 burners. Both sizes of hob offer a wide selection of burners to suit all cooking needs including triple ring burner and traditional fast and semi fast burners. All have been dimensioned for standard pan sizes and to assure an even cooking temperature across the whole surface of the pan.

An auto-ignition system is integrated into each burner and is operated by a single control knob. Hidden in the gas exit is a tiny spark plug which lights the gas when the ignition button is pressed. On each individual burner is an auto-lock safety device, a guarantee of maximum safety. Should the thermocouple temperature sensors detect that the flame has been extinguished the electrovalve will stop the gas flow within seconds.

Manufactured to the highest specification and designed to blend and harmonise with any kitchen style, the innovative flush-fit gas hob from Teka brings a very contemporary look to cooking with gas.

For more information on Teka products, visit http://www.teka.com/html/uk/home.php or contact the Irish distributor at http://www.kks.ie