8 Ultrafancy Things You Didn’t Know Your Kitchen Needed

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While most of us just make do with our narrow galley kitchens—the too-high upper cabinets that you reach using a janky step stool, and that exhaust fan whose only function seems to be to blow fried chicken-scented air into your face— the kitchens of more privileged people are on another level completely. And some of their pricey add-ons are actually kind of genius. Why lug a sloshing, heavy pot of water across the kitchen when you can just have a special faucet installed by the stove just to fill your pots?

So whether you’re designing or renovating your kitchen, or just making a wish list for future products, you might find it worthwhile to splurge a bit on these upgrades. Check out some of the cool things you probably didn’t even know you needed in your kitchen.

1. A pot filler

A pot filler eliminates the need to carry a heavy pot of water across the room.

Moen

If you want the professional conveniences of a chef’s kitchen, a pot filler ($729, Build.com) is a good place to start.

“Wall-mount pot fillers help improve everyday tasks in the kitchen, from filling pasta pots to teakettles, by eliminating the need to carry a heavy pot full of water across the kitchen,” says Ryan Sterba, senior product manager of kitchens at Moen.

Pot fillers are available in a variety of design styles and finishes, so you can coordinate with your existing kitchen faucet or experiment with something different.

2. Integrated burners

Minimalists, rejoice! If you’re sick of the bulky look of traditional stovetop burners, allow us to introduce you to integrated burners ($1,249, AJ Madison), an ultrasleek design option in which the individual gas burners are built into your countertop, with everything else hidden below.

Worried about damaging your countertops? Don’t be.

“The system of integrated burners can be used on a variety of countertops, including granite, glass, concrete, stainless steel, terrazzo … any type of surface except wood,” says Louis Van Leeuwen, CEO of PITT Cooking Systems in Cos Cob, CT. Plus, they’re easy to clean.

3. A warming drawer

Thermador warming drawer

La Cuisine Appliances

A warming drawer ($1,599, La Cuisine Appliances) allows you to hold cooked food without it getting cold.

“This makes it possible to cook an entire meal and serve it course by course, without having to run back and forth to the stove or oven to continue the cooking process,” says Josu Gaubeka, president of La Cuisine Appliances.

And that’s not all—warming drawers are also great for slow cooking and proofing yeasted breads. Consider installing one below a built-in coffee machine, to keep the coffee cups warm.

4. Seamless countertop drawers

The perfect kitchen marries form and function.

Consentino

It used to be that counters and cabinets, while often right next to each other, were never made of the same material. Today, though, countertop storage—where that granite surface also extends over the cabinet faces—is becoming more popular among homeowners.

“The kitchen has increasingly become a space for entertaining, so homeowners want a beautiful space with seamless design throughout,” says Patty Dominguez, vice president of architecture and design sales for Cosentino North America.

“By using one material throughout, the lines are blurred between countertops and kitchen cabinets, creating a cohesive space fit for hosting,” adds Dominguez.

Also, notice the sleek cutlery drawer organizer that’s almost too pretty to hide. (Contact Consentino for pricing options.)

5. A toe-kick vacuum

Diamond Cabinetry Toekick Vacuum

Lowe’s

As everyone knows, the worst part of sweeping the kitchen floor is trying over and over to get every last crumb into the dustpan.

The Toekick Vacuum is a nifty device that sucks up all that swept-up debris. Just activate the foot-operated switch, and you can sweep debris directly into the vacuum, then empty the reusable bag.

“This is so reliable because it’s essentially a tech-powered dustpan without the mess or risk of not capturing all the waste and dirt you’re trying to get rid of,” says Dean Schwartz, vice president of merchandising at Lowe’s.

6. A hands-free faucet

Delta Voice IQ Technology

Delta

When your hands are full—or dirty—turning on the kitchen faucet can be downright inconvenient.

“Touch2O Technology makes kitchen tasks easy: Simply touch anywhere on the spout or handle to start and stop the flow of water,” says Adriana Miller, product manager at Delta Faucet Co.

In addition, using a faucet ($905, Delta Faucet) with VoiceIQ Technology allows you to issue voice commands to turn the water on and off.

You can also request that your faucet dispense a specific amount of water, whether that’s measured in cups, ounces, or gallons.

7. An undermount kitchen sink for prep work

Kohler Prolific kitchen sink

Kohler

“Undermounted sinks ($803, Faucet Direct) are a very popular kitchen choice as they are easier to clean, more visually appealing, and give you more countertop space,” says Eric Moore, senior interior designer at Kohler Co. And the large basin has enough space for large pots and pans.

“With the emergence of quartz and stone countertops in the kitchen, the undermount sink helps capitalize on this beautiful aesthetic as well as add to the resale value of your home.”

You can even create a kitchen workstation that makes prep work a breeze: Three graduated ledges in the basin allow you to position accessories like a cutting board, multipurpose racks, colander, and wash bin exactly where you want them for maximum efficiency.

8. A Wi-Fi-connected Flex Duo range

Wi-Fi-connected Samsung Flex Duo Range

Lowe's

No one wants to stand over a stove all day, and now, you don’t have to.

“Not only can a Flex Duo ($949, Lowe’s) cook two dishes at the same time—at different temperatures with its smart divider—but it has Wi-Fi connectivity to any smartphone, soft door technology, and more,” says Schwartz, of Lowe’s.

So you can control and monitor what’s cooking from your smartphone. For example, if you’re in another room watching TV, a quick glance at your phone will tell you the temperatures and time left on the items in the oven.

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