By Courtney Shearer
Kitchens Expert, about.com
There are a lot of bells and whistles on the market, especially when
it comes to kitchens and it can be hard to navigate through what is
worth it slash necessary and what is just overkill and ridiculous. In
general under counter appliances, of which there are many, tend fall in
to the category of over kill or excessive to a lot of people, but are
they? A lot of people spend a great deal of time thinking through what appliances
make the most sense for their kitchen and their cooking and
entertaining style. By the time you get the major players like the
cooktop, oven and refrigerator decided it seem exhausting or just
repetitive to take a look at under counter appliances like beverage
centers, wine units or ice makers. Obviously, what makes sense for one
kitchen does not necessarily make sense for them all, but I am here
today to tell you a few reasons I think the inclusion of an under
counter ice maker is a good idea.
Let's start with...
Convenience: You are going to be hard pressed to
find anyone who does not like a little (or a lot of ice) multiple times
a day. Whether you are hosting a party or just living your day-to-day
life, ice is an item in the kitchen most people find themselves reaching
for on a regular basis. While most refrigerator/freezers do produce
ice, having a separate ice maker located in your space can be really
convenient. Not only will you be less likely to run out of ice (this
point is especially important when entertaining!), but by designing your
ice maker in a different location than your primary
refrigerator/freezer you will allow people multiple access to ice
without getting in your way as you cook and prepare meals.
Ice Variety:
If you are an ice lover then you probably have an opinion as to what
type of ice cube you like. It may seem crazy but there are A LOT of ice
cube varieties out there and people definitely have their favorites.
Whether you are a fan of the pellet ice they serve at fast food
restaurants like Zaxbys and Sonic or need a specific type of ice to
compliment your mixed drink, ice variety is no joke. Companies like Scottsman have come out with an under counter ice maker
that specifically makes pellet ice. Yes, you read that right, pellet
ice without even having to leave the house! When news of this appliance
got out, ice lovers every where got very excited!
Tight Space Solution: A big part of a beautiful kitchen is symmetry and balance. As a kitchen and bath designer
who does cabinetry layouts regularly it is not uncommon to find myself
left with small slivers of space in a kitchen after major components
have been placed and sorted. Because ice makers come in multiple sizes,
including 15" units, they are a great option to fill one of these small
spaces. Like a lot of appliances,
ice makers can be stainless steel or panelized if you would prefer for
the ice maker to blend seamlessly with the rest of your kitchen cabinetry.
Obviously,
an under counter ice maker is by no means a have to, but if you have
the room and the budget this is one under counter extra I would
definitely recommend.
