There's something uniquely satisfying about a matching set of, well, just about anything: pajamas, bath towels, underwear. But there are plenty of instances too when it pays to think outside the perfectly coordinated box. Exhibit A: kitchen appliances. While choosing a matching refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher might simplify the buying process, there are numerous reasons one might consider straying from a single appliance source: a serious baker might have their heart set on a statement stove, for example, but consider a similarly elaborate dishwasher a lower priority (or a financial impossibility). Other times, a renovator might choose to keep an existing refrigerator, but long for updates elsewhere.
Appliance shopping à la carte may require a bit more time and research than purchasing a package deal. But with proper planning, that added effort can result in a kitchen that's budget-friendly, versatile, and perfectly suited to both the visual and functional preferences of its resident cooks. Ready to curate the right combination for your space? Here are four tips to keep handy when selecting a mismatched suite.
If you're interested in mixing brands but not materials, consider starting with stainless steel. "If appliances are exposed and the kitchen demands finish continuity, stainless steel is an easy way to go," says Brooklyn-based designer Jennifer J. Morris. "Many manufacturers like Bosch and Sub-Zero will offer stainless steel appliances with different hardware options, but most feature a simple tubular shape—so even if they don't match, the individual pieces still look like they're part of the same family." Additional upsides to stainless? "It's easy to clean, and you're less likely to encounter fussy details that will clash with your other appliances."
LG Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator
$1439.00, Lowe's
BUY NOW
Bosch Ascenta Series Top Control Tall Tub Dishwasher
$629.00, The Home Depot
BUY NOW
Beko 30-Inch Professional Gas Range
Story continues
$2799.00, AJ Madison
BUY NOW
If you're coveting a specific color or specialty finish, highlight one appliance "hero." In other words, if you've been lusting after a Smeg refrigerator in candy apple red, consider choosing a stove and dishwasher with fewer visual bells and whistles (again, stainless steel may be your best bet). "Unless you're really going for an eclectic, hodgepodge look, I'd recommend designating one 'eye candy' piece, and having the rest be support staff," Jennifer advises.
Designer Diego Rincon of Diego Alejandro Design agrees. "Say you've chosen a porcelain enamel range, which is almost like a piece of art on its own," he says. "Selecting accompanying appliances with minimal or very subtle features will allow that range to remain at the center of attention."
Smeg Refrigerator
$1999.00, West Elm
BUY NOW
Nostalgie Series Oven
$4399.00, Wayfair
BUY NOW
If you're curious about mixing metals, do—but stick with two, tops. "A nice combination of materials adds allure to a home, and the same applies to kitchens," Diego continues. "But don't go too crazy. I'd limit the number to two at most."
"We're past the era of every metal needing to be a tight match," Jennifer adds. "And while I wouldn't choose five wildly different finishes between the appliances, faucet, light fixtures, and cabinets, I think a couple could work wonderfully. I love how a brass faucet might sing at the sink while the appliances and cabinet hardware work together in silver finishes." One combination she cautions against, however? "The cool shine of chrome paired with the warmth of nickel feels off in a close-but-not-close-enough way," she says. "In general, if you're not sure about what will and won't work together, visit an appliance showroom for inspiration, or search Pinterest or Houzz and see what catches your eye. It's a little like building an outfit, part by part."
West Slope Single Hole Kitchen Faucet
$1049.00, Rejuvination
BUY NOW
If you're looking to add variety but your kitchen has constraints, consider making smaller statements. Perhaps an all–stainless suite is what ultimately works best for your kitchen, but you still love the idea of incorporating a stand-out piece or two. "In these cases, focus on smaller appliances," Diego says. "There are compact vertical toaster ovens from Japan that come in beautiful finishes with leather-wrapped handles, for instance, or different types of coffee makers that can help add interest, and make your kitchen look extra chic."
Vitantonio Toaster Oven
$240.00, Amazon
BUY NOW
Technivorm Moccamaster
$329.00, Amazon
BUY NOW
Smeg 2-Slice Toaster
$169.00, Williams Sonoma
BUY NOW
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
How to Match your Countertops, Cabinets, and Floors | Kitchen Design 101, Ep1
With so many people staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic, many are seeing higher utility bills. Consumer Reports says there are things you can do to keep costs down - starting with the kitchen.
Make sure your pots match the stove burner size.
"For example if you use a 6-inch pan on an 8-inch burner, that will waste about 40% of the heat that that burner is generating, so that's a lot of energy that's being wasted," said Daniel Wroclawski, a home and appliances reporter with Consumer Reports.
MORE: Considering filing for bankruptcy? Here's what you need to know
Make sure leftovers are cool before they go in the fridge.
"When you put hot food in a refrigerator, it has to work a lot harder to cool off that food," said Wroclawski.
Using a dishwasher saves more water than washing by hand.
Also, what time you use your appliances may make a difference.
"Check with your electric company and see if they offer lower rates at night, a lot of utilities do," said Wroclawski.
MORE: Where's my check? Answers to common stimulus payment questions
Consumer Reports says in the laundry room, use the highest spin speed possible on your washer.
"That will get as much moisture out of your clothes as possible and makes it easier for you dryer to dry your clothes," said Wroclawski.
Clean your dryer lint screen before every use. Check your toilets and any faucets. Make sure to repair any leaks to save on water.
MORE: LA financial planner offers advice, tips to SoCal families amid coronavirus crisis
Other savings: "It's critical you change the filters in your appliance because if you don't, it makes them work harder and can lead to them breaking down," said Wroclawski.
Now that it's getting warmer and you may be using your AC, Consumer Reports recommends setting your thermostat to around 75 or 76 degrees. Just a few degrees difference will save a lot of energy and money on your electric bill.
Looking for more information? You can find COVID-19 help, information and resources here.
(Reuters) - Shares of online furniture retailer Wayfair Inc (W.N) soared as much as 35% to hit a record high on Tuesday after posting better-than-expected quarterly results, as more consumers took to renovating and furnishing their homes while being stuck indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shelter-in-place orders have boosted demand for essential products, including home office products, cookware and kitchen appliances and children's furniture, at a time when most Americans are working from home and limiting their time outdoors.
"Home is becoming an area that customers are disproportionately investing into, and I would expect that to persist for a while," Chief Executive Officer Niraj Shah said on a post earnings call.
Wayfair said it saw a pickup in both traffic and sales starting in mid-March. Its executives added that the sales momentum has carried into the current quarter, with its quarter-to-date gross revenue growth trending up roughly 90% from a year earlier.
"We are seeing not just robust new customer acquisition but also strong repeat trends from both long-term loyal and recently added new customers," Chief Financial Officer Michael Fleisher said.
The Joss & Main furniture e-store owner has also been benefiting from the temporary closure of physical furniture stores in the United States, as it posted a 19.8% increase in sales in the first quarter ended March 31, helped by a surge in orders in the month of March.
Fleisher, however, said Wayfair's performance thus far puts it on a trajectory to achieving positive consolidated adjusted EBITDA margin in the second quarter even without the impact of the virus-led rise in sales it is experiencing.
Wells Fargo analyst Zachary Fadem said Wayfair, in an unexpected fashion, delivered a narrative-changing message, as recent cost efforts are bearing fruit in the form of a second-quarter profit inflection.
The company's first-quarter net sales of $2.33 billion beat Wall Street estimates of $2.31 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
Wayfair also said the number of active customers in its direct retail business increased 28.6% to 21.1 million as at the end of the quarter, from a year ago.
The company, however, posted a net loss of $2.30 per share, but was smaller than the average analysts' estimates of a loss of $2.60 per share.
Wayfair's shares, which have increased over 81% this year, were up 22.2% at $163.89.
Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber
For more than 100 years, Popular Mechanics has been the go-to resource for DIY home projects. We've tested consumer electronics and small appliances for years, we're now bringing our deep expertise and rigorous evaluations to even more home goods—from products that help you sleep better to security systems you install yourself. As the market becomes saturated with smart-0home technology, it's more essential than ever to identify and recommend exceptional products to make it easier for you to find the right one. These are the best new innovators, long-term top performers, and terrific value picks that will upgrade your home and simplify your life.
—BEST POWER STRIP—Belkin Pivot-Plug 12-Outlet Surge Protector
Shop Now
Never struggle with reorganizing your cables again, thanks to Belkin's Pivot-Plug surge protector. Eight out of its dozen outlets swivel, so you can position them to prevent plugs from obstructing one another, and a clip on one side locks in cables. Along with coaxial cable and phone line protection, it's the all-in-one strip to power everything in a growing home entertainment system. $40
—BEST PORTABLE POWER STRIP—Anker PowerPort Cube
Shop Now
The diminutive PowerPort Cube—a 3.1-inch square with a 5-foot cord—is small enough to take just about anywhere, whether at your desk or on the go. Including three standard outlets and three rapid-charging USB ports, it also boasts overload protection and a durable, fireproof exterior. $20
—BEST MESH WIFI SYSTEM— Eero Pro + 2 Beacons
Shop Now
The Eero Pro is so easy to set up with its app, there's no need for networking smarts, but know that it's a tri-band WiFi network, meaning devices can use more spectrum. Eero claims this mesh system covers a 5,500-square-foot home, and we successfully used the router in a 2,900-square-foot stone house with two-foot-thick walls, plus the beacons to cover an outbuilding, two acres of property, and a barn another 100 feet away. $399
—BEST LAPTOP/TABLET— Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Shop Now
After years of tweaking its lineup, Microsoft finally created the ultimate two-in-one device with the Surface Pro 7. Though its design hasn't strayed much, it boasts better graphics, Intel Core i5 with a fanless design, improved Surface Pen compatibility, and a USB-C. Working out the limitations of many laptop-tablet hybrids, it excels as an everyday work machine or just as a tablet for use around the house. $749
—BEST MOUSE— Logitech MX Master 3
Shop Now
The Logitech MX Master 3 is a palm-sized jack-of-all-trades. Ergonomic and responsive, it feels great when you're hard at work or hard at play. It works across Windows, macOS, and Linux and its included software lets you customize the MX Master 3 just the way you want it, with simple shortcuts designed for specific applications. $100
—BEST KEYBOARD— Logitech MX Keys
Shop Now
If you spend the majority of your day at a computer, a new keyboard is a cheap upgrade that you'll appreciate immediately. Logitech's membrane design is quiet and provides just the right amount of resistance before engaging. The concave keys are also appreciably more comfortable than flat keys, and turning off the backlight increases the claimed battery life from 10 days to five months. $100
—BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS— Apple AirPods Pro
Shop Now
Whether you wear them on the couch or on your commute, Apple's AirPods Pro combine decent sound quality with exceptional noise cancellation for wireless earbuds. With Active Noise Cancellation, the AirPods Pro take in aural information through the microphones and calibrate the sound 200 times per second to keep out the racket in your daily life. $249
—BEST WIRELESS HEADPHONES— Bose 700
Shop Now
Not even the best of today's wireless earbuds can beat the physical noise isolation or 20-hour battery life from over-ear headphones like the Bose 700. Its touch controls are intuitive, with 11 levels of noise cancellation and an option to let in ambient noise. Along with strong Bluetooth connection, it even retains a headphone jack. $400
—BEST COMPUTER SPEAKERS— Audioengine A2+
Shop Now
Too many people tolerate tinny laptop speakers and subpar earbuds, but Audioengine's speaker is a huge evolutionary leap from whatever's inside your laptop's casing. In addition to a warm, powerful sound and easy setup, the speakers' real strength is the many ways you can connect them, including Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio jack, and dual audio inputs. $269
Few high-quality speakers exist in the sub-$500 conversation, but ELAC has disrupted the "budget" category with the Debut 2.0 B6.2, which faithfully reproduces how music was recorded and meant to be listened to. For home-theater listening, it sounds far superior than others in its class, with a sound larger than expected for its size. Still, the speaker is hardly sleek and it requires a subwoofer to achieve the best audio. $350
—BEST VALUE PORTABLE AC—1. Honeywell HL09CESWK
Shop Now
This Honeywell air conditioner is a robustly built and pleasant-sounding appliance in the mid-power range with 9,000 BTU that can cool rooms up to 400 square feet. In our testing, it held the target temperature exceptionally well, within one degree or less. $380
—BEST AIR PURIFIER—2. Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS
Shop Now
Coway brings smart connectivity to its eye-catching AP-1512HH design with the Airmega. Including a pre-filter, activated carbon, and true HEPA filter system, this air purifier is rated to eliminate 99.97% of air particles down to 0.3 microns for rooms up to 325 square feet. It seamlessly syncs with the IoCare app, so you can remotely switch its settings—including three fan speeds, and auto and eco modes—as well as monitor air quality and filter status. $299
—BEST HUMIDIFIER—3. Honeywell HCM-350 Germ Free
Shop Now
To remedy a dry winter or arid summer, the Honeywell increases humidity up to 15% for medium rooms in one day's work. Unlike ultrasonic humidifiers, this evaporative model releases water vapor, rather than a visible mist, and its filter purports to kill 99.9% of water-bred bacteria. It hums a pleasant white noise on high but is virtually silent on low, with no bright lights or beeping during use. $70
—MOST POWERFUL PORTABLE AC—4. LG 115V Dual Inverter
Shop Now
The most powerful portable AC unit we tested, LG's appliance is well-suited to cooling large spaces with 14,000 BTU and cool, fan, dehumidify, and sleep modes. LG's SmartThinQ app allows you to control it from anywhere, so you can come home to a cool space. Maintenance is as easy as it gets, with no tools necessary for filter replacement and an easy lift-off design for the top grill. $700
—BEST WINDOW AC—5. Friedrich Kuhl Series KCQ06A10A
Shop Now
Tough enough for commercial settings as well as your house, Friedrich's Kuhl window air conditioner with 6,000 BTU is quiet but powerful. Its inside is well-built, with dense sound insulation and damper rings, an easily spinning blower wheel, and steel interior partitions. If your interests are more tech than metal, you can also control and monitor it with an app. $739
—BEST SPACE HEATER—6. Honeywell HCE 323V
Shop Now
The Honeywell HCE 323V's adjustability, output, and thermostatic control make it perfect for heating a living room, bedroom, or small home office. Despite its quiet operation and slim design, it can move a fair amount of hot air quickly and evenly. For safety, its proximity sensor shuts it down when it senses something within six inches. $80
Tip: Before you buy new smart devices, test your internet speed to check your WiFi strength against your internet service provider's claims. Plug a laptop into your router via ethernet and go to Speedtest.net to check your wired connection's download time in mbps. Speedtest also has a free app to test your wireless speeds, which can help you figure out how much bandwidth specific devices are using.
—BEST SMART LOCK— August Smart Lock Pro + Connect
Shop Now
If you're tired of worrying whether you've forgotten to lock the front door, you may benefit from a smart lock system to check and manage your locks remotely. August's Smart Lock Pro easily installs onto most deadbolts so you can keep your existing keys. Because it also connects to a variety of smart home systems, it's practically a one-size-fits-all solution for most homeowners. $280
—BEST HOME SECURITY SYSTEM— SimpliSafe The Essentials
Shop Now
SimpliSafe's home security system delivers the best mix of value, monitoring, and ease of use. This kit has the basics, but you can add smart locks, doorbell cameras, and more to achieve up to Area 51–level surveillance. Optional professional monitoring ($25/month) adds more protection and control from the SimpliSafe app. $259
—BEST ROBOT VACUUM—1. iRobot Roomba i7
Shop Now
The creator of the first commercial robotic vacuum back in 2002, iRobot remains at the forefront of the category with its current Roomba i7. It was the fastest and most efficient vacuum we tested, and it can also effectively navigate your home and any obstacles by creating a map of your floor plan. Through the app, you can schedule, prioritize, or skip specific rooms for cleaning. $600
—BEST HAND VACUUM—2. Black & Decker Dust Buster HHVK515J
Shop Now
While some hand vacuums by power-tool manufacturers will outpower the Black & Decker Dust Buster, this 20-volt product has plenty of power for jobs in the home, shop, or garage while remaining light and easy to handle. Its nozzle also extends an extra 7.5 inches for hard-to-reach spaces, such as under car seats or couches. $90
—BEST SMART THERMOSTAT— Ecobee Smart Thermostat with Voice Control
Shop Now
We knew the Ecobee was a winner when we called customer service at 10 p.m. on a Friday and got a simple answer to a wiring question in minutes. Once running, the thermostat was easy to control from the app. It works with standalone sensors (one is included) that monitor temperature and household activity to adjust temps in the spaces you're actually using. $249
—BEST BEARD TRIMMER— Remington MB4900 Beard Boss
Shop Now
This Remington trimmer delivers straightforward capability and speed control, and plows through hair without snagging or pulling. Though it comes with nine attachments, its high-quality metal comb adjusts from 1 to 5mm, so you don't have to swap out attachments for a variety of short cuts. It's also waterproof for shower use and has a five-hour battery life with a clear charge indicator. $80
Tip: Unsure whether you can use an electric trimmer in the shower? A shower head icon indicates it's safe for use under a stream of water, and a faucet symbol means it can be washed with water, but neither confirms that it's fully waterproof. Only an IP rating of 67 or higher ensures a product will be safe when submerged under water.
—BEST MATTRESS— TempurPedic Luxe Breeze
Shop Now
With incredible cooling tech and support, the latest TempurPedic feels almost icy to the touch, purportedly 8 degrees cooler than the brand's other memory foam. The ventilated foam feels firm at first, but compresses to provide support that makes you feel weightless—not surprising, given that the TEMPUR material was first developed by the anti-gravity geniuses at NASA. $4,699 (queen)
—BEST PILLOW— Coop Home Goods The Original Pillow
Shop Now
While it sounds impossible for one pillow to suit every sleeper, this one from Coop Home Goods satisfies back, side, and stomach sleeping preferences with an adjustable filling. Its memory foam and microfiber fill balances the support of solid memory foam with the softness of down. It's also well worth the price with a 100-night trial, five-year warranty, and extra half-pound bag of filling. $60 (queen)
If you typically toss and turn at night or just enjoy the sensation of being swaddled, Quility's weighted blanket offers superior comfort and quality construction from evenly distributed glass beads, polyester filling, a cotton outer layer, and a removable, soft minky cover. The 20-pound queen size we tested worked well for single sleepers and couples, but it also comes in a variety of weights from 5 to 30 pounds for all family members to enjoy. $70-$200
—BEST BLUETOOTH SPEAKER— Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2
Shop Now
For almost any situation in which you'd need to amplify music, this tumbler-sized wireless speaker is the answer. It's compact, loud, and water-resistant enough to survive the shower or pool. But the Wonderboom 2 is special mostly for boasting better sound quality than we'd expect for under $200. $100
Whether you're reuniting with your old records or making a maiden voyage into vinyl, the 120X gives you features and a design that no other turntable in this price range can claim. We found that it runs with library-level quiet and plays with full-blooded definition, delivering the kind of warm, round tones you turn to vinyl for. A USB port for digitizing LPs sweetens the pot. $249
—BEST WATER FILTER PITCHER— PUR 11-Cup Ultimate Pitcher
Shop Now
Compatible with PUR's basic and lead-reducing filters, this 11-cup pitcher is slim, comfortable, and user-friendly, with an LED light to indicate filter status. While the basic filter takes only about six minutes to reduce copper, mercury, chlorine, and more pollutants from one reservoir, the lead filter requires up to 30 minutes, but is rated to eliminate 99% of lead from your water. $35
The InSinkerator Evolution Compact with ¾ horsepower can grind up everything from chicken bones to corn cobs—and do so quietly. The electric motor is covered with sound protection, its internal grind components are all stainless steel, and its discharge pipe is isolated by a rubber gasket to reduce vibration transfer. The unit can be hardwired or plugged in and comes with a standard Quick-Lock mount. $219
—BEST CAST-IRON SKILLET— Stargazer Cast Iron
Shop Now
Every proficient home cook needs a quality cast-iron skillet to make their kitchen complete. The small Stargazer brand ranked at the top of our testing, with impressive performance and balanced ergonomics. In the modern market of gritty black cast iron, Stargazer's design stands out like a beacon with its smooth bronze seasoned surface, unique rolled rim, stay-cool handle, and huge helper handle. $115-$145
10 Best Smart Kitchen Device And Appliances In 2019
ELMHURST, IL — This house on Geneva Avenue includes three bedrooms with recent improvements. The kitchen features hardwood cabinets, granite and stainless steel appliances. The house is behind the wooded area of the Maywood Sportsmen's Club.
Address: 710 N Geneva Ave, Elmhurst, Illinois
Price: $299,900
Square Feet: 1571
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1 Baths
Built: 1966
Features: Super clean and tastefully upgraded! Nothing to do but move in! 3 bedrooms with so many recent improvements. Soft close premium hardwood cabinets/granite/beautiful back splash, and stainless steel appliances with side deck off entrance to kitchen. Newer contemporary style oak stair railings. Newer doors, trim, roof (2016) soffit, fascia, and gutters (2013) Side deck with view of nothing but trees. Home right behind the wooded area of the Maywood Sportsmen's Club. New A/C and HWH 2019. Lower level exterior entrance to back yard. Large 2.5 car detached garage and nicely landscaped yard. Come look! You won't be disappointed.
This listing originally appeared on realtor.com. For more information and photos, click here.
720 Quail Crest Drive, Walnut Creek; $1.8 million; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms in 3,703 square feet; built in 1993 on 0.27 acres; recently remodeled boasts curb appeal, including a front covered porch; interior features a dramatic two-story foyer detailed millwork and refinished hardwood floors; formal living room includes fireplace; gourmet eat-in kitchen has large center island, new quartz countertops, backsplash and stainless-steel appliances, and a walk-in pantry; family room boasts extensive built-ins as well as a fireplace; main level includes one bedroom and a full bathroom as well as an office; master suite includes a remodeled bathroom with new floors, dual sinks, vanity, soaking tub and shower; secondary bathrooms have all been updated; backyard boasts a pool, spa, waterfall, patios and low-maintenance lawn.
Click here to view transactions from previous weeks.
The cost of investing in all new smart appliances is hard to justify if you're already happy with the ones you've got. TP-Link's Kasa Smart Plugs can bring some new functionality to those gadgets, and a two pack is only $20 right now — back down to its lowest price ever. If you've ever wanted to monitor and control your appliances from your phone, this is an easy way to start doing it.
Using the accessory is simple: plug an appliance into the smart plug, then connect it to an outlet. Once it's plugged in, download TP-Link's Kasa app (iOS and Android), and run through a quick setup process that connects the smart plug to your WiFi network.
More from Rolling Stone
Once connected, you can control the Smart Plug from your smartphone, or by linking it to an Amazon Echo. The control is limited to turning it on and off, or putting it on a schedule, but that's still pretty powerful.
For instance, you could set your coffee maker to turn on right as you wake up, so it's ready when you come downstairs. Or, you could check to see if you turned the stove off before you left the house. If not, you can turn the power off from your car instead of going back home to check.
TP-Link's Smart Plugs are a great way to start or expand your smart home, and they rarely go on sale. There's no indication of when this deal will be over, or when stock will run out, so if you want to take advantage of it you should do it sooner than later.
See where your favorite artists and songs rank on the Rolling Stone Charts.
Sign up for Rolling Stone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
