Drink Up: Must-Have Kitchen Upgrades

Sonia Hwang
2019-12-09T11:30:00-05:00

A standard kitchen includes a range, oven, and refrigerator. We’ve got some reasons why you should get these thirst-quenching additions, both for convenience and entertaining guests.
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Here in the Okanagan, we do a lot of entertaining. As friends and family members from afar pile in to enjoy our hot summers and adventurous winters, you might need to look into stocking up the drinks! Never worry about being short a can of soda or serving lukewarm drinks, with these convenient kitchen additions, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.

The Appliances

1. Integrated Coffee Makers

Mornings can be hectic enough without guests visiting – the kids are running around getting ready for school, breakfast needs to be whipped up, and you still need to make sure everything else is ready for the day. Make sure you get some well-deserved java on the fly, consider installing an integrated coffee maker in your kitchen.

Integrated coffee machines are just one of the thirst-quenching appliances Kelowna homeowners can’t stop talking about. These beauties won’t take up valuable counter space, and they can whip up gourmet-style coffee in seconds at the press of a button. Some integrated models are even plumbed into a waterline. All you’ll have to do to ensure coffee is available when you want it is make sure there are fresh beans in the hopper. Easy, right?

2. A Beverage Centre

If your house is going to be full of visitors this year, you may find yourself in need of a beverage centre. Not only will you have chilled drinks ready for handing out, you won’t have to worry about them taking up space in your already-full refrigerator. Before running to a Kelowna appliances store, there are some factors to consider first.

Standalone vs Built-In

Typically the biggest deciding factor in this category is price. While standalone models are much cheaper, they don’t offer the same benefits a built-in model can offer. Built-in models fit right under your countertop for a more integrated look and offer some of these amazing features:

Stainless steel finishing

Flexible shelving options

Temperature control

If portability and ease of installation appeal to you more, a standalone model may be better suited to your kitchen. Especially if you're not planning to stay in one space for that long, a stand alone unit can give you the convenience you're looking for.

A Central Wine Hub

After a long day of cooking and entertaining, a glass (or two!) of wine is an incredibly welcome sight. After all that work, the thought of weaving your way past the groups of guests to the wine cellar located in the basement may not be too appealing. To make sure you’ve got a perfectly chilled glass of wine ready and waiting for you whenever you want it, think about installing a wine grotto. Four of the most notable benefits to owning a wine grotto include:

Perfectly chilled wine – Wine fridges are temperature controlled to ensure your favourite wine is always kept at the right temperature.

UV-protected – making sure your wine is kept in the dark is super important in the preservation of wine.

Vibration-free – Stirring up the sediments in a bottle of wine can hinder its flavour development.

Humidity control – If the air surrounding your corked bottle of wine is too dry, the cork will dry out and crack and cause your wine to evaporate.

Wine can be surprisingly temperamental when left alone! Did you know that wine ages faster at room temperature? That might be fine if you have purchased a young bottle that you want to enjoy in a few years, but if you're wanting to preserve the flavour of a particular vintage that you know you already enjoy, you'll need to keep that bottle cool!

The Additional Benefits of a Home Wine and Beverage Centre

Quick, go to this Tourism Kelowna link and give it a read. The Okanagan Valley is famous for wine. Not to mention fruit juice! And the cider and craft beer industries are gradually growing too. You’re guaranteed to have at least one of these drinks in your home! Keep them fresh and at the optimal temperature for yourself, and guests. It’s worth it.

Convenience – Now all your favourite drinks, from beer and soda to juice and wine can be stored in one easy place. Say goodbye to rooting through the fridge or losing precious fridge space to Uncle Rick’s favourite beer.

Your drinks are always cool, handy, and easy to find with interior lighting. Plus, many wine and beverage shelves are spill proof so cleaning up is a breeze.

Superior storage for all beverages – Some wine and beverage centres can store up to 150 cans or a combination of cans and bottles, up to 12 bottles and 120 cans at once. You and your guests won’t have to worry about stocking the fridge (or keeping everything cool out on the cold patio) all night!

Several models feature full extension wine racks Kelowna and Vernon winos love for showing off some the Okanagan’s best wines. Store up to a dozen wine bottles you can load and unload with ease on sliding shelves.

Sleek design – Wine and beverage centres can be integrated into your cabinetry and offer a sleek, stainless steel design to complement your other kitchen appliances. Some models also offer tinted glass doors for a high-end appearance, so guests see the sleek centre, not the cans inside.

Temperature controls – Choose the temperature that’s just right depending on what you drink and the season. If you want your beer cans extra cold, frosty cans are just a click away.

Wine and beverage centres are becoming staples in several places—entertainment rooms, outdoor kitchens or next to the fridge—so your favourite drinks are always cool and close by.

Now that you’ve seen how important these thirst-quenching appliances Kelowna entertainers love are, it’s time to go pick one out. Come visit us at Genier’s.

Do you have other beautiful and functional stainless-steel appliances? Read our top tips for keeping stainless steel clean.