In the past, the kitchen was thought of as a functional space – a place to cook food before taking it to the dining room. But today, kitchens have become so much more than just a place to combine ingredients. The kitchens of today are gathering areas, play areas, dining rooms, study areas – they are the grand central station of the home. It’s this truth that makes it so important to consider both the design of your kitchen as well as how it functions, finding the perfect balance between the two.
Not all brands are capable of delivering both beautiful form and function, but one that does so very, very well is Electrolux. If you’re a regular reader of eMercedesBenz you know we’ve covered numerous appliances from their Icon lineup in the past, but I wanted to take an opportunity to discuss two appliances that you may have overlooked for your kitchen. They’re the two appliances that are not only genius in their styling and deisgn but solve problems that have frustrated me for years. The first Electrolux appliance is their Under Counter Trash Compactor and the second is the Under Counter Ice Maker.
Electrolux Trash Compactor Front
Electrolux Trash Compactor
Think about the current garbage situation in your kitchen. There are likely two scenarios: you take your garbage out almost daily to prevent unwanted odors, contributing countless trash bags to an already overflowing landfill; or, you have a garbage that is likely getting plundered by either your canine companion or your relentless toddler. Whatever the situation is in your home, believe when I tell you that there is a better way. A trash compactor eliminates the problem of overflowing garbage and wasted bags, compacting it with the press of a button and keeping both it and the smell away from everyone else in the kitchen.
Not all trash compactors are made equal, however. What’s great about the Electrolux Trash Compactor (other than its beautiful stainless steel design) is its capacity. In total, the Electrolux Trash Compactor is able to contain six 13-gallon garbage bags worth of garbage before you have to take it out. Simply slide the drawer out, unhook the front door locks and your garbage is easily removed. And unlike conventional garbage bags, the Electrolux trash compactor is fitted with the integrated hooks for the garbage bags. Never again will your garbage bag slip off the top of the garbage and into the garbage can, as the fasteners on the outside of the drawer keep the bag securely in place. There’s also a built-in garbage bag storage, keeping the bags close at hand when you need them.
Electrolux Trash Compactor Drawer and Controls
As for functionality, the Electrolux uses an on/off lock (or what I like to think of as a child safety lock), along with the ability to perform a single compaction or hold the trash down for an extended period of time (useful when the trash starts getting more full). Simply press the selected button, close the door, and the trash compactor takes care of the rest. And the best feature? The built in deodorizing system (i.e., no more stinky garbage). Can you imagine what your kitchen would smell like if you left your garbage in your current container for a even a week? With the compactor, you smell nothing, even when you open and close the door. There are no odors, offending or otherwise, that come out, keeping your kitchen smelling fresh and inviting.
Electrolux Ice Maker Front
Electrolux Ice Maker
In addition to the trash compactor, another major problem solving appliance is the Electrolux Ice Maker. It’s perfect for the kitchen, but mine has made it’s way to my basement wet bar. We finished our basement and converted it into a second area for entertaining with a pool table, tv and seating area, topping it all off with a fully functioning bar. At any given time during the weekend we could be hosting between 10-15 people, more on game days. And for the first few months of entertaining downstairs, I ran into one major bar problem: I constantly ran out of ice. Then came the Electrolux Ice Maker and all my ice problems were instantly solved. It was a daiquiri nirvana.
Electrolux Ice Maker Ice Cubes
To meet your ice demands, the Electrolux ice maker is capable of producing 60 lbs of ice every 24 hours while holding 30 lbs of ice at a time. So unless you’re running a restaurant, running out of ice will be a thing of the past. The thickness of the ice is adjustable and constant so you’re always getting uniform cubes, perfect for if you prefer thinner ice that melts quickly or thicker ice that will hold up in the summer. Thanks to the built in filtration system, the ice is always perfectly crystal clear and flavorless, while operation of the unit is quite quiet. Another benefit of the ice maker is that you no longer need to monitor the ice situation – it automatically adjusts production based on how much ice is in reserve, meaning you’ll never run out but you’ll also never have an overflow of ice. Lastly, another intelligent design feature is the ice maker’s drainage system. If you’ve ever been on vacation or failed to use your ice maker for an extended period of time, chances are you’ve experienced the ice cubes turning into a much bigger single block of ice. With the Electrolux Ice Maker, old ice melts and drains, meaning you consistently have the freshest ice possible without ice chunks.
Conclusion
The Electrolux Trash Compactor and the Ice Maker are two appliances that meet very specific needs, but in my home I consider them both must haves. Both feature what I would consider to be a refined minimalist design, seamlessly blending into nearly any kitchen design thanks to its brushed stainless exterior. Add this to the functionality I’ve already described, and you see why I’m such a fan of both. While the trash compactor and ice maker do cost more than the alternatives, the time saved and the lack of frustrations you’ll encounter in your kitchen make them both well worth the added cost.
