So I’ve been back from Kentucky for a few days now and took some time to “marinate” over my adventure and all the information collected from the GE Monogram Experience Center.

Over twenty designers, architects and bloggers descended on THE 21C Hotel in Louisville Kentucky.

Hotel 21C Museum Hotel….Home of our dear friends the #RedPenguins

For the next three days we were ushered out to the GE Facility where we took part in product training sessions – and participated in an all out hands-on cooking frenzy!  What a highlight that was for me!

The #GEJUNE Dream Team.  A special group

Here we witnessed first hand how design, innovation and performance is truly the backbone of the GE Monogram Appliance Series.  The majority of our time was spent in the culinary studio, which housed 5 separate state-of-the-art kitchens – each one fitted with the GE Monogram Dual Fuel Professional Range, Advantium Oven and Induction Cooktop!

From our southern breakfast on Day 1 to our “Iron Chef” competition on Day 3, we were boiling, baking, browning and sautéing all in an effort to learn and experience each appliance first hand.  This was all under the expert guidance of the very talented chefs Joe Castro and Brian Logsdon.

GE Monogram Dual Fuel Professional Range

Now we’re cooking with gas!  This very impressive Dual Fuel Pro Range is engineered for precision temperatures and even cooking. It’s a dream to cook with, full of bells and whistles and extremely user friendly.  I also found the LED lighting that washes over each control knob illuminates the graphics making it easy to read.

Whether entertaining large or small crowds this range provides a professional performance for the serious at home chef!

GE Monogram Advantium Oven

Baking light and fluffy homemade biscuits in 10 minutes?  That was on the menu for our first southern breakfast. The Advantium oven baked them 4 times faster than a conventional oven and no preheating necessary!  It was particularly quick and easy to operate.

The speedcooking technology combines halogen, ceramic, convection and microwave – cooks food in a fraction of the time – and bakes, broils and roasts with oven quality results.  Oh and as an added bonus for us working moms (and dads), the oven comes programmed with 175 recipes and you can add your own secret family recipes into the memory bank.  The best is the oven will determine the ideal cooking time for you.

GE Monogram Induction Cooktop

Cooking on an induction cooktop for me took some getting used to.  If you like to wiggle and jiggle ….your pan – like I do – and you wander off the element – it will automatically shut itself off.  The magnetic field only heats the metal surface that it’s touching.

Yet this cooktop provides an outstanding level of control, convenience and design sophistication – along with great speed, efficiency and it’s easy to clean.

I couldn’t think of a more amazing and highly talented group of people to share this experience with – so thank you GE for graciously hosting this event and providing us with such valuable information on the Monogram Series of appliances.

Team 1   The Iron Chef Winners                  Photo via Jonathan Legate

Team 2  (Our awesome group)                          Photo via Jb Bartkowiak

Aprons on and ready to cook!

Stay Inspired!

Please leave your questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

I’m Heading off to Louisville KY this morning where I was Invited along with 20 other designers and bloggers from around the US and Canada to learn about the GE Monogram Series of Appliances.  Our gracious hosts from GE are providing us all with first class Southern hospitality – from airfare, transportation and luxury accommodations at 21c Museum Hotel.

21c Museum Hotel in Louisville

I’m equally thrilled to share this experience with some old friends and looking forward to making some new ones.  This is definitely one of the perks that come with sharing design insights and inspiration with you through my blog.

The 10,000 square foot state of the art GE Monogram Experience Center (a modern structure constructed of glass, steel and brick located in the City Center) showcases the very latest in appliance design and innovation and houses a culinary studio, wine tasting room and gallery.

GE Monogram Experience Center

What better way to learn about these innovative appliances than to actually cook on them….right?  And according to our schedule we’ll be watching, learning and participating in all kinds of cooking sessions – thankfully under the watchful eye and supervision of a professional Chef!  Love it!

Gaining invaluable product knowledge, participating in hands-on cooking sessions and experiencing Southern charm for the very first time will undoubtedly provide me with plenty to share with you ….so stay tuned for future posts on my GE Monogram Series Experience.

Stay Inspired!

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

With technology constantly changing and kitchen design trends evolving it can be tough keeping up with the plethora of appliances and gadgets on the market today. Customizing your kitchen to meet your family’s needs is the primary focus when renovating or remodeling the busiest space in your home – so it only makes sense to purchase those appliances that speak to your specific needs and make sense for your hectic life.

According to the NKBA, you could typically expect to spend approximately 15% of your kitchen budget on the essential appliances and in many cases more.  It’s not unheard of to spend 15 – 20K + on appliances and fittings for your new kitchen.

To give you an idea, here are just a few added bells and whistles we’ll be introducing into the kitchen of the Brentwood Project.

The Warming Drawer. With today’s hectic and very staggered schedules it can be extremely tricky to have everyone at the dinner table at the same time.  Mrs. R enjoys cooking for her family and entertaining their friends – and many times will have her husband’s dinner drying out in the oven.  The moisture control settings of a warming drawer will keep Mr. R’s food succulent during the week and the guests’ hors D’Oeuvres fresh tasting on the weekends.  This is an ideal appliance to incorporate into their new kitchen.

Dishwasher Drawers. Mrs. R loves the concept of the dual drawer dishwasher for several reasons.  They occupy the same amount of space as traditional dishwashers – yet these two independent drawers provide both versatility and flexibility when washing smaller loads and separating the pots from the china.  On weekends or nights when it’s dinner for the kids only she can load up the top drawer and away she goes.

The Beverage Center. We have been discussing whether to include this appliance into the plans for months.  Since they love to entertain other families, this under-counter refrigerator is perfect for kids to help themselves to healthy snacks and drinks.  It’s all about easy access and providing independence for the kids. 

The Pot Filler. Installed directly over the cook-top, this faucet is not only a time saver, but it makes it much easier to fill large pots of water right there – by the burner, rather than leaving a trail of water from the sink to the stove.  This pot filler isn’t for every kitchen or cook, yet it fits in perfectly with Mrs. R’s lifestyle and menu plan.

A Wine Refrigerator. By now you can tell that my clients love to entertain.  In this project however, we are keeping the wine fridge out of the kitchen and incorporating it into a new dining room bar area.  Locating this wine cooler away from the kitchen creates more usable space within the kitchen itself.

These are just a few of the hottest new appliances we’re introducing into this home renovation project.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

I met with a wonderful couple last week to discuss their home renovation plans.  Their home, which is nestled in the hills of a lush canyon, has a view that is nothing short of spectacular.  The house itself – is quite the opposite – as they inherited all kinds of issues from the previous owners.   This project will require a tremendous amount of re-planning, renovation work and TLC to create the indoor/outdoor living environment the homeowners want to achieve.  One of the areas in dire need of help is their kitchen.  I first had to convince them that existing space needed much more than simply a new countertop and backsplash.

So when is the best time to upgrade your kitchen?

1. Poor Kitchen Layout.

Analyze the overall space and identify your daily struggles and challenges – then devise a plan that accommodates your lifestyle. Are you constantly running back and forth while preparing meals?  Are you single, a couple, a family of five, or are you the next Iron Chef?  If you’re that gourmet chef then you’ll need to ensure that you have plenty of surface area, storage and power in your appliances.  If your kitchen needs to be multi-functional for your busy family and overall layout is no longer working for you – then it is time to upgrade your kitchen!

2. Antiquated Appliances.

If your oven needs twice as much time to cook that brisket than the recipe recommends, your old leaky dishwasher with the rusted base is cooking the food onto your dishes rather than cleaning them, or the ultra deep refrigerator is leaking Freon and very outdated in color and style, then it’s time to replace them!

The best solution is to update all of your appliances at the same time to give it a cohesive look.  Consider incorporating stainless steel into your updated kitchen, as that is now the new standard in kitchen appliances.

3. Cabinetry That’s Falling Apart.

Do the doors on your cabinets refuse to stay closed and are they completely wonky and uneven when they are?  Is the paint chipping or the finish rubbing off?  Or maybe the drawers are sticking and unable to open or close anymore.  If you’re constantly frustrated with the condition of your cabinetry and your constant frustration then do yourself a favor and commit to a new cabinet design and style.  Do your research and find the cabinet style that speaks to you.

4. Cracked Countertops And Flooring.

Take a good look around your kitchen.  If you have any type of chipped countertop tiles, cracks in your porcelain sink, worn finishes, and burns on your countertop surfaces, then it is time to re-think the overall design and finishes of your kitchen.  Don’t forget your flooring as well.  Is it hardwood that can be re-finished or another material that is definitely showing its years of wear and tear? Are there gashes in the flooring or any broken tiles or splitting seams?  These are signs of materials needing to be replaced and updated.

5. Increasing The Value Of Your Home.

In the US we spend $15 billion on kitchen renovations alone.  This space tends to be the one room in the house that speaks to buyers on an emotional level.   You could typically recoup 80%-90% of your investment when you go to sell your home with a remodeled kitchen.  But beware: If you have done some minor kitchen updating and the space still has an inefficient floor plan and layout, simple quick fixes will not camouflage the problem.  Always update before selling.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.