Anokhi Fashion Lifestyle Entertaiment

Once upon a time...

People balanced their family life and personal life around their manageable 9 to 5 work schedules. The tradtional eight-hour workday is now replaced with day-to-night conference calls; late nights at the office; constant “hyperconnectivity” through e-mail, Blackberrys and instant messaging; and the constant desire to climb as far ahead on the corporate and life stage ladder as possible. From dropping off and picking up the kids at daycare, to preparing dinner, to household chores, to our jam-packed social commitments; spare time is now a coveted luxury. This clearly demonstrates a definite sociological transformation in today’s culture. With “once upon a time” far away from today’s reality, home products have followed suit to accommodate today’s changing style and pace.

Thermador, a luxury appliance brand headquartered in Germany, has introduced a brand new kitchen concept: “the heart of the home” that can effectively meet the needs of today’s demanding lifestyles.

As the third largest appliance manufacturer in the world, Thermador conducted market research analysis before creating its new line of appliances to ensure that it not only understood the present needs of consumers but their future needs as well. After consulting with a number of influential figures in the culinary, design and social science fields, including Canadian chef du jour Jamie Kennedy, Thermador learned valuable information pertaining to the future of cooking in the average home.

According to Thermador, a 2006 ACNielsen study found that while at present, more than half of all fast-paced North Americans purchase ready-to-eat meals as opposed to cooking at home, this trend will change in the future. The logic? As this demographic becomes increasingly cautious about the ingredients they consume, and the associated health properties and risks with certain ingredients, there will be a return to meals prepared at home. Nonetheless, time is still a rare commodity.

In response to this finding, Thermador has introduced its new induction Cooktop, which heats up 50 per cent faster than gas or electric–a timesaver for today’s busy consumer. It is also more energy-efficient and uses electromagnetic technology allowing cookware to absorb the heat while the Cooktop remains cool.

The Electric Cooktops, available in 30” and 36” sizes, use sensor technology called “sensor dome” which results in a beam that continuously measures heat from the cookware and will automatically shut the burner off when deemed necessary, allowing for cost-effective cooking.

The Gas Cooktops will be available in a chic, stainless steel frame with a star-shaped burner that will deliver 56 per cent more heat evenly to the cookware through its five points along the star. It has increased functionality with five burners, allowing for multiple meals to cook more efficiently and quickly. This line will debut across Canada in September 2008.

The unveiling of these new lines will also reveal a collaboration of office and kitchen space to provide a convenient one-stop shop for both home and work responsibilities, again allowing consumers to make the very most of their time in a day. Other highlights include small space living, built-in appliances, and an open concept layout. The overall goal is to transform our current kitchens from their one function–cooking–to a multifaceted area with work spaces and a place for entertaining.

This new and improved ‘super kitchen’ from Thermador is sure to help the everyday multi-tasker in their daily race against the clock! This new series will debut across Canada this August.

Once upon a time...

Consumers purchased products for functional purposes. Today people aim for functionality–coupled with fashion. Diesel, a global fashion leader and trendsetter, announced a new partnership with Zucchi Group, an international producer and distributor of home textile products.

In addition to its fashion notoriety, Diesel will now be known for its new home collection, Successful Living from Diesel. It will be available in selected Zucchi, Diesel and department stores as of September 2008.

From furniture, to accessories, to lighting, Successful Living from Diesel will offer a large range of products to its consumers by 2009 centered around a ‘casual living’ and ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ theme.

This new line is a reflection of the ever-changing fashion trends in our world. Today, we have stepped away from our parents’ style of home decor. where it was believed that the more items that could be placed (or crowded!) in one given area, ultimately added to the charisma of the room. Floral patterns, plastic covered sofas, standard countertops, and old carpeting are a part of yesteryear’s house design. Today, floral patterns are replaced with vibrant colors, and plastic covered sofas are obsolete. Countertops and carpeting? Simple…it’s all about upgrades! Standard countertops are shadowed by various upgrades such as granite, and carpeting has been replaced by the infamous hardwood floor.

Once upon a time...

About 50 years ago, desis everywhere fell in love at the exact same time, with the exact same product: the infamous blue cornflower Corningware dishes. These occupied space in every woman’s kitchen and made their appearance at every desi function! This 50-plus-year fashion dish became just as much of a staple item in an Indian woman’s kitchen as haldi or jeera!

It appears that some future home décor trends have their roots in the past. Corningware has announced that it will re-introduce the Corningware stove top cookware in Canada, to commemorate its 50th anniversary. To date, this is still the only product that can, “go directly from your stovetop, to freezer, to table!”

The very same Corningware that Mom, Nani ma and Dadi ma have been using for years is making a comeback! Get ready to serve up appetizers to your guests in the very same dish that mom used years ago.

BY: JESSICA R. GERA / PUBLISHED: SUMMER 2008 ISSUE