Commanding presence

When food is more than just fuel for the body and meal times are daily social occasions, it's important to invest in serious cooking appliances.

Ovens and gas cooktop combinations such as the Smeg freestanding cooker have such a presence that they can influence the look the kitchen design.

The square lines of the cooker pictured here are enhanced by deep stainless steel benchtops and shelving. The cooker's geometric appeal is also echoed in use of horizontal tiles for the splashback. The entire look is capped by the Smeg 90cm chimney hood.

Yet despite their sleek appearance, the primary appeal of both appliances are the multifunctional features.

The main oven of the Smeg freestanding cooker has nine separate functions. These include conventional, fan bake and grill, defrost and rotisserie. The auxiliary oven has four functions and is useful for those who enjoy entertaining.

In addition to the cooker's six gas burners, there is a Teflon-coated electric teppanyaki plate.

Cooking odours rapidly disappear through the Smeg chimney hood, which has an extraction rate of up to 750m³ per hour. The four-speed fan is powerful, yet quiet with a noise level of just 40-59 dB.

For information about appliances from Smeg, visit websites: www.applico.co.nz or www.trendsideas.com.

Story by: Trendsideas