Thermador - BHS Experience

A couple weeks ago we had an opportunity to experience Thermador, a leading provider of high-end kitchen appliances, which is a featured supplier in The New American Home of the International Builders Show.

"The BSH Experience & Design Center in Irvine, California is designed to: INSPIRE homemakers, designers, builders and home chefs on options for beautiful new kitchen designs; EDUCATE them on the quality & performance that makes Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau among the most prestigious portfolio of appliances in the industry: TEMPT through culinary creativity; and ultimately, and ENRICH the total cooking & kitchen experience. Our luxury facility has an equivalent of 18+ kitchen vignettes – many of which are “live” for demonstration purposes that will turn kitchen aspirations into reality. Although clients are welcome to walk-in during business hours, it’s always recommended that visitors call ahead for an appointment to ensure we can provide the most valuable experience possible."

The showroom featured many innovative appliances that can be found in a "chefs kitchen". Knowing what new, high-end, appliances are on the market is helpful when designing custom kitchens for clients. 

After touring the show room everyone came together in the kitchen to prepare appetizers for the group. This was a great opportunity to get a feel for the product and see first hand the quality you can expect with these Thermador appliances. 

Who is in the mood for a fresh-out-of-the-flames, wood-fired pizza?  Mmmmm....sounds good right about now.  Especially after reading this inspiring houzz.com ideabook on this luxurious kitchen extra.  It even features one of our homes, the Reynard.

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it...

Kitchen Luxuries: The Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

If you love homemade pizza and are (ahem) rolling in dough, a wood-burning oven may be just the right kitchen investment

Anne-Marie Brunet, CKD, CBD

Houzz Contributor, Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer and the principal... More 

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Pizza and wood-burning ovens are a popular addition to high-end kitchens these days. Few meals beat the taste of a perfectly crisp pizza pie from one of these ovens, and they bake everything from bread to chicken, making them a bonus cooking center for your dream kitchen. In cold weather you can simply start a fire and invite friends and family over to relax while you cook in front of the open flame.

Could a pizza oven be right for your next kitchen?

Applegate Tran Interiors

Wood-fired ovens require careful planning and meticulous attention to detail. They require a concrete base to support the weight of the stone around the oven, which is a project best left to a professional mason. The oven's interior should be made of clay-fired bricks to stand up to high temperatures and hold the heat well. The exterior can be made of any other fireproof material.

David Phillips

Here a traditional stone exterior complements the warm tones of this kitchen cabinetry.

Billy Beson Company

I love how this wood oven has a few windows for visual interest when the oven is fired up.

TEA2 Architects

If you tend to do larger meals or a lot of bread baking, a rectangular oven ceiling offers more space for batch cooking and baking.

The French Tradition

Although you have to wait for the oven to heat up, once it's in full cooking mode, your food will actually cook much faster. Plus, it offers the bonus of radiant heating.

I recommend including a space below the oven to store wood and kindling.

Veranda Homes

It generally takes an hour to an hour and a half for a wood-fired oven to reach its optimal temperature. A conventional stainless steel thermometer can help you find the precise temperature; some models come with temperature gauges. Keep in mind that you'll need doors or some kind of barrier in front of the fire to help you get an accurate reading.

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design

Once the oven is heated, the heat is stored in the thick walls and radiates evenly across the interior dome. The floor of the oven stays a few degrees cooler, which helps give pizzas a crispy exterior and a soft interior. Don't forget to get a pizza paddle!

Visbeen Architects

Custom pizza ovens are a big investment of time and money. If you want one built onsite, you'll need to account for labor, material selection and the necessary chimney and fan (which can add another $2,000 to the cost). Overall I find them to be comparable in price to a custom wood-burning fireplace. There are portable and modular wood-burning-oven kits, which offer the same functionality without the custom look. These kits tend to range from $6,500 to $13,000, depending on the size and material.

Southview Design

If you don't have the option to include an indoor wood-burning oven, consider carving out a bit of space in the yard to build a smaller version. Regardless of whether you opt for an indoor or outdoor pizza oven, always check your local building codes and speak with the building inspector before starting your project. Some municipalities do not allow outdoor fireplaces or wood-burning ovens.