i+D - November/December 2021 - 56

Material
Matters
Kitchen
& Bath
The new Monogram Pro Range
features TrueTemp burners,
which can be adjusted to a
precise temperature.
(Image: Courtesy of Monogram
Luxury Appliances)
Monogram's Minimalist collection also balances
form and function. " It offers such refined detailing
and is super simplistic, almost primitive in its
nature, " describes Anuszkiewicz. " I love the purity
of the form: a solid sheet of glass, a little tailored
piece of metal, a push-to-open option that makes
it super sleek. " The company's integrated wine
column, for instance, is glass and metal, and inside
you'll find two convertible drawers, dual-zone
temperature, and pull-out wine shelves.
There's no doubt that high-end appliances like
those from GE's Monogram and Profile collections
are long-term investments, given their cost. And
Anuszkiewicz says that his company's product
designers aim to future-proof the high-tech
elements in the products so they'll be useful and
useable for years to come. This attention to detail
ranges from lighting built into the range that can be
adjusted in hue and intensity with an app, to tech
updates that can add functionality to an appliance,
similar to updates for a smartphone. For instance,
last April, owners of smart ovens from GE Profile
and other GE brands had the opportunity to add air
fryer technology to their appliances via a wireless,
over-the-air update. GE even created recipes and
a Spotify playlist of spicy tunes for consumers to
listen to as they air-fried coconut shrimp or crispy
brussels sprouts.
" People are so much more attuned to technology, "
says Lovato. " They're OK with being able to start
their oven from their phones, and I think we'll see
even more growth of that within the next few years. "
Cutting-edge Tech
When it comes to appliances, many products
are simultaneously becoming more technologically
advanced and streamlined at once. While a
bulky, industrial-looking range under an oversized
hood used to be a status symbol, today, appliances
and fixtures are becoming more pared-down
looking while still offering first-rate performance
and functionality.
" We've known for quite some time that kitchens
have evolved from the strictly utilitarian spaces
they once were, and now they're much more
dynamic, " says Richard Anuszkiewicz, creative
director for Monogram. " There's now more
connectivity to adjacent spaces, which means
there's less wall cabinetry, more natural light, as
well as the use of lighting layers. " And appliances
56
are more refined and tailored, he says. " Our
new Pro Range has a beautiful aesthetic.
It's a more simplistic line, not overly detailed,
and a much more tailored aesthetic, " he adds.
The range also features solid brass accents and
burners, which conduct heat better.
Anuszkiewicz says that Monogram's design team
has been focusing on the art of reductionism for
recent products. " If you can remove a line from the
product, and it doesn't hinder the aesthetic, it wasn't
meant to be, " he says. " Across the board, if you look
at any appliance brand, appliances are getting more
streamlined and contemporary in nature. "
And even with a pared-down look, performance
is anything but basic. The Pro Range's biggest
bragging point is the TrueTemp burner, which gives
absolute control over the precise heat of a gas
burner, similar to induction cooktops.
i+D - November/December 2021
The SmartHQ app that
comes with the Monogram
Pro Range allows users to
get over-the-air updates.
(Image: Courtesy of Monogram
Luxury Appliances)
i+D - November/December 2021

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