New life is being breathed into the global luxury market as new generations come of age and enter the arena, bringing with them new dimensions of meaning that are rewriting norms and lifestyles. Traditional and customary ideas around the meaning of luxury are quickly becoming stodgy, as innovation and individualization become its guiding principles. From the sweeping evolution of Amazon’s on-demand services to the industry-changing electrical vehicle offerings from Tesla and the limitless potential effused by SpaceX, it’s clear that being imaginative and visionary are at the heart of all high-end, exclusive, coveted brands. But what about at home, and more specifically, within the kitchen, which is the heart of the home and the room that most greatly impacts housing choice?
The concept of the luxury kitchen, generally uninspired by a reliance on the same old names, is due for a major upgrade. A new research study by luxury appliance maker JennAir has quantified new global perspectives on luxury and their significance for future kitchen design and function. JennAir is no stranger to pushing the cooking industry forward as a design and technology innovator; its heritage began in the early 1960s, when it released the very first self-ventilated cooktop and then invented the downdraft ventilated range.
Individuality is the new barometer for luxury, especially in the home, according to Jenn Air’s latest trends reporting. In fact, more than 90% of designers and architects agree that their clients are more focused on designing a space to reflect their own personality, rather than resale value. And 89% say customizing a kitchen design has become more important to clients in the past 1-2 years. Now, 58% of clients are asking more frequently for a home design that reflects their unique personalities, not one that reflects common trends.
Luxury brands are now being defined by how originative and thoughtfully innovative they are. Staying true to a legacy that has seen it eschew the status quo for new dynamo, JennAir’s latest design expressions are recalibrating the personality of kitchens around the world. Priced identically but characterized by two distinct flavors are JennAir’s RISE and NOIR appliance lines.
A palette of mixed metals characterizes RISE, as does the line’s detail-rich design, including custom knurled handles and brass-inspired knob collars designed by the same handle-makers behind Tesla’s vehicle doors. A bold J badge is juxtaposed by a minimalist, professional chef-kitchen inspired design.
JennAir’s NOIR appliances are luscious and provocative, sculpted in stainless steel and expansive black glass with hidden tactile elements — lace inlay patterns and textures that can only be found via touch. The NOIR aesthetic was inspired by elegant mystery, a woman in a large black lace hat that gives you beauty from afar but complexity over time.
Behind these beautiful surfaces are the smartly designed practical tools that only JennAir can produce. Dishwashers with cinematic lighting, stainless steel buckets and built in bottle brushes for special glassware. Ovens with soft close doors, ramp up/ramp down cinematic lighting and three satin racks with flat tines for easy loading. Refrigerators lined in statement-making obsidian and 650 LED lights, with tech-forward air scrubbers that keep food fresh without the use of mercury.
Both RISE and NOIR represent the quietest luxury kitchens in their class, operating at hush acoustics of just 38 decibels. They are all designed to be connected to your mobile via JennAir’s proprietary app for smart diagnostics, product upgrades and a Culinary Center with hundreds of guided recipes. An added convenience, the appliances can be configured in sizes from 24 to 30 inches.
In this new landscape of luxury, form is part and parcel of function, with 98% of architects and designers saying appliances should be as beautiful as they are functional. More than half said that sleek and modern appliances are the top growing trend in 2021. What’s more, 90% agreed that clients are looking for statement pieces to make their kitchens stand out.
For those really discerning, when only the most bespoke design will do, JennAir has crafted an exclusive subset of statement pieces. The first, Smoke & Brass, is JennAir’s homage to ranges with attitude, pairing authentic metalworking principles with durable, high-quality metals in luxe earthy tones that push the boundaries of craftsmanship. Just 50 of these gas ranges are being made available for purchase. Even rarer and unequivocally unique is Burlesque, a refrigerator designed to evoke a vintage jewelry box, with a luscious burgundy interior and textured ceramic reminiscent of snakeskin. Only 13 of these have been made and just 12 remain available for purchase. In another tailored approach, any of JennAir’s refrigerators can be customized with Cuts by JennAir, which enrobe the door columns in Italian leather, with a choice of four colors.
In the year Covid changed everything, it has also left lasting impacts on luxury home and kitchen design. The pandemic at least somewhat impacted clients’ design preferences, reported 73% of designers and architects. Importantly, more than 60% of respondents said their clients’ interest in professional-style kitchen appliances has increased since the pandemic began. More than 63% of designers and architects predict that demand for urban living is more likely to increase over the next 12 months as the Covid-19 recovery accelerates.
Understanding that small spaces don’t actually constrain big designs, JennAir’s Urban Living line of modular offerings give even the most petite kitchens a powerful punch of cooking ability. Urban Living elevates the urban vertical apartment kitchen with glamorous in-wall chrome and black glass convection ovens and steam ovens that offer full functionality while only occupying 24 inches of wall space. The appliances all run on 120v electricity, meaning they can be flexibly installed anywhere, from yachts to home theaters and guest cottages. Ovens are fully customizable with coffee systems and warming drawers at the same width. For those with limited cooktop space, 15-inch cooktops can be adapted across with an array of features including the innovative new induction Wok, electric griddle, and both gas and electric, as well as JennAir’s trademark downdraft ventilation system, which fits neatly into a 4-inch gap but produces 310 CFM air flow. The customization continues with a 24-inch panel-ready refrigerator with starry LED interior lighting and Dual Evaporator technology offering two independent cooling systems that keep foods fresher for longer, in addition to a separate freezer.
Real estate developers and architects operating across our gateway cities have known all along that cities will continue to stand tall after the pandemic. The urban lifestyle isn’t losing its cache — neither is the luxe lifestyle and an appreciation for finer things. It’s time to step into the new era of luxury with JennAir and reimagine life with that wow-factor kitchen just within your reach.