My kitchen is the heart of my home. It’s where we gather, congregate, laugh and of course eat wonderful meals together. We share our days and nights here, our stories and ideas. And regardless of how large the house is, everyone crams themselves into the kitchen, making it the epicenter of my home.
And if my kitchen proper is the epicenter, then my kitchen island is without a doubt the command-and-control center everyone gravitates towards. It is where the kids do their homework, we eat our breakfast and share informal family meals. It’s where science fair projects have been created and book reports are written. A place to serve appetizers during parties and roll out pizza dough for dinner.
Stadium-like seating allows a viewing place for family and guests to take part in the food prep and experience what is really happening in the kitchen. The island is my cooking stage and I love the versatility it offers. Trust me, it’s also the catch-all for mail, empty lunch boxes and misplaced items, but the pros of having a well-designed island far outweighs the cons. I couldn’t live without it.
As you can see, I also have a secondary island in my kitchen. The larger one (15 x 3) creates an informal separation of the great room and kitchen. Its large size helps balance the interior space where the kitchen and great room share an open room. The smaller, middle island (4 x 3) is a great prep area. Both are equipped with custom storage, electrical outlets and a few Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances I will show you throughout this post.
Here is another angle of the kitchen. The large aisle space allows for several “chefs” to tackle different cooking projects at once. The ebb and flow of this well-designed space is priceless. It influences the fun and creativeness we have in the kitchen as a family because there is room for everyone to work together.
Collectively I have nine Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances in my home. Which one is my favorite? It’s a tough question because each one of them plays into my day to day life so differently.
There is no doubt the Sub-Zero PRO 48 Refrigerator is one of the most used appliances in my kitchen. It is referred to as a “masterpiece of preservation”. Its dual refrigeration technology keeps food fresh longer. Thanks to its two built-in compressors, there is no odor transfer from the refrigerator to the freezer. The veggies in my crisper seem to have an endless life span, a good thing when you live out in the country and aren’t exactly close to the grocery store.
It goes without mention this 800-pound beauty is sleek and gorgeous, a true focal point in my home.
However, while I love my refrigerator/freezer with all my heart, my Wolf 48″ Dual Fuel Range is my absolute favorite-favorite appliance in my collection. I had wanted this range for as long as I can remember and still can’t believe I get to cook on it every single day.
As you can see, my range has four burners. Covered on top are an infrared charbroiler and steel griddle, which we use for everything. Grilling steaks, chicken and veggies on the charbroiler and making pancakes and burgers on the griddle couldn’t be easier. Since we live in the Pacific Northwest, the indoor charbroiler has been a treat. Grilling outside in the winter rain is now a thing of the past…thank goodness.
Who doesn’t recognize or appreciate the iconic red knobs or classic cobalt blue interiors of the Wolf ranges? Sub-Zero and Wolf have led the pack when it comes to innovative and beautiful kitchen design for more than 65 years.
The Wolf Dual Convection Oven has 10 cooking modes. Roasted leg of lamb and apple pie are not cooked under the same mode. Instead, the range delivers even airflow and temperature throughout the cooking process. Dual fans and multiple heating elements work according to the modes chosen. Three baking sheets of cookies are made without having to rotate them around the oven for even cooking. As a food blogger, I couldn’t be happier about what I am able to accomplish with this range. Foods are browned properly and cooked to perfection. Overall, it has met all of my expectations.
The halogen oven lights make it easy to see what’s going on inside without having to open the doors and lose heat.
With all the beauty found in these appliances, I am easily inspired to create, cook and serve delicious and memorable meals to friends and family. I truly believe the beauty of well-designed objects and spaces have a positive affect on my life. I always have a smile on my face when I head into this kitchen. It fits my needs perfectly.
With the amount of high temperature cooking I do, especially with the charbroiler, a good ventilation system is a necessity. The powerful Wolf Pro Series Hood Liner keeps residual smoke and steam out of the kitchen and remains hidden from view with a custom exterior treatment surrounding it.
Here’s something I’m really excited to show you, the Wolf Warming Drawer. You barely notice it since the electronic controls are hidden inside and the drawer itself sits in between my other drawers.
If you are dreaming about redesigning your kitchen, don’t think twice about adding this to your list. I use the warming drawer several times a week and it especially comes in handy when entertaining.
It’s perfect if you have family members who work late or eat at different times because of after-school activities or events. No more cold dinners or extra work of heating them up.
Here is a look at the inside of the warming drawer. Superior air control keeps moist foods moist and crisp foods crisp. It’s quite large so you can fit a lot of prepared. This is useful when the main course is still cooking, but your side dishes are finished. There is enough space to keep my dishes warm on the upper rack.
I can’t help but think how nice this appliance would be in the master suite bathroom, keeping towels warm during the winter months…hmmm.
As a winemaker, undercounter wine refrigeration in my kitchen is a must. Well, even if I wasn’t a winemaker, I would still want this. The Sub-Zero Wine Storage unit sits in my larger kitchen island. It holds 46 bottles of wine and has two precisely maintained temperature zones. Because of these zones, I am able to store red and white wines together in the same refrigeration unit. A very convenient option.
Sub-Zero’s undercounter wine refrigeration integrates perfectly in my kitchen. It’s beautifully designed and looks stunning among the other appliances. Most importantly, the unit itself is extremely quiet. In fact, we never hear it. You have no idea how important the silence is until you’ve had a wine fridge that runs louder than a car. Been there, done that.
And wine is always chilled and ready to go, what more could I ask for.
Another shot of my center island. The sink with the garbage disposal is the perfect prep area for chopping veggies. But, this island is also home to a favored appliance, the Wolf Steamer Cooktop.
By far it’s the coolest “extra” in my kitchen. At first I didn’t know if it was something I would really use. Wow, what was I thinking! I use it to proof dough, defrost foods quickly, steam crab and lobster, I keep cooked pasta warm and steam buns for a hot dog bar, make rice and steam veggies. I have found its uses to be endless.
The steamer comes to boiling temperature very quickly with a range of temps available to hold food. A button easily drains the water. Solid and perforated inserts are easily removed and cleaned.
While Wolf has been a premier maker of ranges, ovens, cooktops and grills for years, it is obvious their expanded product lines are well thought out. I am impressed with how their appliances easily accommodate varying cooking styles and personal preferences in the kitchen.
My Wolf Microwave Oven is also hidden from view in the larger island. This has been a great asset to my kitchen. In addition to being a powerful appliance it also houses a special vapor and moisture detecting device. As the food heats up, the sensor automatically adjusts the cooking times and power level for what is inside. The technology takes into consideration the amount of food being heated as well. In other words, it’s a “smart” microwave.
In our home we also have a kitchen in our downstairs recreation room. This is where my kids hang out with their friends, play foosball, darts, air hockey, video games and just act like boys. It’s their area.
This kitchen has a second Wolf Microwave Oven, (the same as the one in my main kitchen) and an undercounter Sub-Zero Refrigerator/Freezer. An updated version of the refrigerator/freezer is now available, which is where the link will take you. The microwave and refrigerator/freezer were easily integrated into a cabinet that sit on top of each other and match the rest of the cabinetry in the kitchen.
You can easily see the roominess of the Wolf Microwave Oven, something that comes in handy quite often around here.
My family loves having an ice maker in the refrigerator/freezer downstairs. It sure beats going back upstairs when we need some ice. This refrigerator is always stocked with an array of drinks, something a bunch of teenagers seem to love.
I hope you have enjoyed taking a peak into my kitchen. Next time I’ll show you all the custom storage options behind all those cabinet doors. I know you’ll be waiting with bated breath.