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Affordable Upgraded Appliances at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterMass Premium Appliance BrandsUniversal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) is Headquarters in Southern California for the "mass" appliance brands like GE, Frigidaire, Maytag, and Whirlpool. And most of you know that with locations in Studio City and Calabasas they also focus on the "luxury" brands including Wolf Sub Zero, Viking, Thermador, Miele and Gaggenau.There is also a growing market for brands known as "mass premium" appliance brands. The mass premium moniker fits those brands that are NOT in the upper stratosphere price-wise with names like Sub Zero and Miele, but nevertheless are in a higher price category than GE, Whirlpool, and Frigidaire's more entry level offerings. The mass premium category includes KitchenAid, Bosch, GE Café/Profile, and Electrolux. We might even consider Korean brands LG and Samsung as in the mass premium category as well as the Italian labels recently launched in the U.S. Fulgor Milano and Bertazzoni. All these brands are strategically positioned with pricing and feature levels definitely above the mass, but nevertheless not luxury. (It gets fuzzy. Electrolux brand certainly has some products that might be considered above mass premium, and Jenn-Air purposely describes itself as "super premium", evidently meaning more than mass premium, but not quite luxury).In any case let's take a look at two brands who seem to be comfortable calling themselves mass premium - KitchenAid and Bosch.Part of the Whirlpool family of brands, KitchenAid is focused on the kitchen (does not have washers and dryers). Here's how

All major German brands are available at UAKC Miele - Bosch - Thermador - Gaggenau - Liebherr Known for durability and efficiency, German appliance brands have made their name in the U.S. market in recent years. These sleek and streamlined German engineered refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, ovens, and cooktops have distinguished themselves as leaders in the premium and luxury categories. Bosch, Thermador, and Gaggenau (all part of the BSH corporate umbrella), Miele appliances, and now Liebherr refrigeration account for nearly all of the German brands sold in the U.S. The BSH brands have a considerable U.S. manufacturing footprint, while Miele and Leibherr build primarily in Germany. Miele boasts that as a family operation, they are not interested so much in quarterly earnings, but in long term viability. While competitors race to outsource products and cut costs, Miele builds 90% of their products in Germany and manufactures over 95% of their parts. Their sensibility is to build their products to last 20 years or more. Part of the German brand success in the U.S. is the low energy use and water savings in their dishwashers. The Bosch dishwasher has also been a consistent leader in building the quietest dishwasher available. Let's take a look at few of these highly regarded products: Bosch Dishwasher 24" Bar Handle DishwasherSHX9PT75UCBenchmark™ Series- Stainless steel The quietest dishwasher in North America. 38 dBA: Quietest dishwasher brand. A flexible 3rd rack with folding tines adds 30% more loading capacity. A clean white light illuminates the interior

Dacor's Unique Refrigerator Available at UAKC Dacor is a Southern California based manufacturer of luxury cooking appliances. In addition to their high end cooktops, ranges, and wall ovens, Dacor offers a complete array of luxury kitchen appliances including dishwashers, refrigerators, microwave ovens, and ventilation. Dacor has recently launched a Four Door French Door refrigerator. By itself, the four doors is an unusual configuration.However, what really makes this Dacor refrigerator different is that with the flip of a switch you can convert one of the lower compartments from freezer to refrigerator and back. Just think about the flexibility that gives you. Suppose you suddenly need some additional freezer space when a family member comes back from a fishing trip, or perhaps you need to keep that turkey frozen for a few days more. On the other hand, you may need additional refrigerator space after stocking up on fresh fruits and vegetables from the Farmer's Market. Just switch that lower compartment from freezer to refrigerator and voilà - extra refrigerator storage. There's more. Dacor's new European built fridge has some space-age technology to keep food fresh longer: The Distinctive refrigerator utilizes BlueV™ lights in the crisper sections to preserve the freshness and vitamins of fruits and vegetables. MAIN FEATURES 2014 ENERGY STAR® Qualified Three-zone settings - refrigerator with either one or two freezer sections. IonFRESH technology eliminates airborne bacteria and odor forming molecules by producing natural negative ions. Humidity controlled crisper drawers with BlueV™ lighting

Don't Want Stainless Steel? Check out GE Slate Appliances at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterIn the sea of stainless steel appliances, there are still many customers looking for alternatives. Some don't like the amount of cleaning entailed with stainless steel finishes. Others feel that shiny stainless steel is glaring and they would preferred a softer look. Whatever your particular hesitance with stainless steel, you should take a look at the GE Slate Appliances available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC). Here's how GE describes the slate finish: GE's exclusive Slate finish exudes refinement and elegance for a look unlike anything on the market today. Inspired by the rich texture of stone, it provides a warm, inviting alternative to stainless steel. Slate not only offers an option that's elegant and modern, it also maintains its great appearance. The dark matte finish naturally hides fingerprints, smudges and dirt. It's also a breeze to clean using a clean cloth and a mild household detergent. Evidently, Rachel Ray has updated her TV kitchen with GE Slate Appliances. Notice the magnets - something you can't do with stainless steel.It sure looks like Slate is going to be around for a while, too. GE launched this finish in 2012, and now they've announced that they'll be doubling the number of models available in the GE Slate finish: "The popularity of Slate among consumers has exceeded our expectations," said Brian McWaters brand

Surprising Differences in Stainless Steel AppliancesSee them all at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterManufacturers began using stainless steel in appliances because of its appearance as well as its durability, and resistance to corrosion. Today, they also use stainless steel because buyers want the stainless look in their kitchens.Categories of Stainless SteelThere is stainless steel and then there is stainless steel. All stainless steels are not created equal. The metallurgists among us will point out that there are 5 different categories of stainless steel: martensitic, ferritic, austenitic, duplex (ferritic-austenitic), and precipitation-hardening stainless steels.The vast majority of major appliances are made of 304 (austenitic) type stainless steel or 430 (ferritic) stainless steel. Even within these two different categories there are different grades, gauges, and finishes. Moreover, some manufacturers will use different types of stainless steel on the same appliances. For example, a dishwasher tub might have different stainless steel than the dishwasher door. Some stainless steel has superior fabrication characteristics, while others works better in specific temperature ranges, or is more corrosion resistant.Stainless Steel Finishes and CoatingsYour stainless steel appliance also has a finish called a "grain" that goes in a certain direction. On some appliances and in some lighting, the grain is more noticeable than others. Also, there are a few appliance manufacturers that offer stainless steel appliances with a protective coating. Frigidaire promotes their Smudge-Proof™ line of appliances that does a great job of hiding fingerprints. Some KitchenAid stainless steel appliances are made with clear

Rain Shower Heads At Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) For an exhilarating shower consider a rain shower head in your bath. They've become extremely popular because of the rainfall effect from the vertical spray. There are a lot of decisions to make when considering a rain shower so it's best to consult professionals such as those at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. Some rain shower heads extend from the wall, but many are ceiling mounted. And it's not unusual to have other accompanying shower heads such as a handheld unit to accompany your rain shower head. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center is your headquarters in Southern California for plumbing fixtures, and they carry many brands of shower heads from leading manufacturers such as: Alfi, Brizo, Hansgrohe, KWC, Mico, Whitehaus and others. Here are a few examples: This Alfi unit has built-in LED lighting that dims and brightens according to the water pressure and changes color depending on the temperature. The Hansgrohe Raindance Showerhead below has a large spray disc for better coverage: Whether in round or square design, or with one, two or three jets, Hansgrohe showerheads guarantee a wonderful water experience. Here you can also find PuraVida overhead showers, water-saving models such as Croma and Crometta or the Raindance Rainfall Stream with adjustable shower angle. Accompany your Hansgrohe Raindance Showerhead with a hand shower for an enhanced overall shower experience. Brizo's RainCan shower heads are available in nearly 50 different styles and finishes, many including their patented *H20Kinetic

Three Luxury Appliance Trends for 2014 Available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center The three biggest trends in luxury appliances in 2014 are Combination Steam Convection Ovens, French Door Ovens, and Built-In Coffee Makers. While all three are definitely trends in 2014, they've all been around for a while in one way or another. Steam Convection OvensCommercial steam convection ovens have been around for decades, but the combination steam convection oven for home use is more recent. KitchenAid introduced a full sized convection oven with steam assist about 15 years ago, which is still around today. However, the strong trend toward steam convection ovens began only a few years ago when European brands such as Thermador, Gaggenau, and Miele brought their versions of steam convection "combi" ovens to the U.S. It was "game on," and today Jenn-Air, Wolf, Bosch, Viking, and others have joined the fray with their versions of steam convection ovens. Typically, these ovens are designed to fit a 24" cabinet space (European 60 cm), but pack a lot of features and capabilities in the smaller oven cavity. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Centercarries a full array of convection ovens from all these brands French Door OvensJust like steam convection ovens, French door wall ovens have been around in restaurants and in commercial applications for decades. About 2002, Jade (then a division of Maytag) introduced a French door wall oven for home use. Subsequently, Jade became

Brizo Technology FaucetsBeauty meets TechnologyAt Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center One look at the Brizo line of faucets and you know that beauty is their hallmark. But don't let the style fool you. It's more than just a pretty faucet. Brizo's technology is second to none. Just read what Brizo has to say about three important technological advantages they offer - Magnedock®, SmartTouch®, and DIAMOND™ Seal Technologies:Magnedock® TechnologyThe first technology of its kind available, MagneDock features a patented, state-of-the-art magnetic docking system. This system securely holds the spray wand in place when not in use. The durable magnets are made to last forever, while their polarity keeps the spray head perfectly aligned, for a clean, seamless look that maintains the faucet’s distinctive form.SmartTouch® TechnologyThe SmartTouch® Technology touch faucet does nothing less than change the way you interact with water. Simply touch anywhere on the faucet body or handle to turn on or off the water. When you tap the faucet ON, the LED light indicates SmartTouch is active. When you tap the faucet OFF, the light goes off. SmartTouch also works to conserve water by activating flow only when needed, while its flexible operation promotes safe food handling.DIAMOND™ Seal TechnologyOur DIAMOND™ Seal Technology uses a diamond-coated ceramic disc with an extremely smooth, hard and durable diamond coating that eliminates the need for lubricant. There’s nothing to wash away and no sticking—the faucet will operate as smoothly after 20 years as it did on Day One.

What color is your refrigerator --- on the inside? Jenn-Air Launches Obsidian Refrigerators Available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center Jenn-Air introduces a new Obsidian refrigerator. The Obsidian interior is accompanied with LED Studio lighting to lend an air of sophistication to the inside of Jenn-Air's luxury built-in unit. The idea is to give the inside of the refrigerator a touch of the elegance that designers endeavor to convey in the kitchen environment outside the refrigerator.The new refrigerators are available in three configurations - a 36" wide unit which has a single upper door and bottom freezer drawer, a 36" French door model with split upper doors and bottom freezer drawer, or a 42" French door model. All three models can be configured with custom panels to match the surrounding cabinets, or with stainless steel fronts. More than just a pretty new interior color, the new Jenn-Air's multi-point LED lighting gives an elegant sparkle by reflecting off the metallic accents in the dark charcoal pigment coating the cabinet. Add to that soft close interior drawers, and there is no doubt that this product is a standout among luxury refrigerators. The sophistication goes beyond just look and feel. Jenn-Air's TwinFresh® climate control system provides separate cooling for refrigerator and freezer by using dual evaporators. This creates two internal cooling climates: a high humidity refrigerator environment, contrasting with a very dry freezer environment. Jenn-Air has been previewing this sophisticated look at industry shows such as

Headquarters for Compact Major Appliances Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center There's a trend in major cities towards small living quarters to accommodate young urban millenials who want urban living that is also affordable. In major appliances, brands from GE to Viking have begun to address this unfulfilled need. GE Launches Small Appliance Lines As cities grapple with housing shortages, the trend toward smaller living spaces is already a reality. Shrinking living spaces necessitate products and services that simplify, optimize and economize. "As we watch what’s happening in the U.S., there’s a clear trend toward smaller, more efficient living spaces," said Lou Lenzi, director of industrial design for GE Appliances. "There will always be a need for larger appliances for existing homes; however, we can’t ignore the growing need in urban environments. At Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center, you don't need to wait to address your space constraints. Compact appliances are available from a variety of manufacturers to fit a wide spectrum of needs and budgets. Here are a few examples: Refrigerators Danby 3 Cu. Ft. Dual Door Compact Refrigerator: Black With Stainless LookModel: DCRM31BSLDDThis dual door Energy Star rated compact refrigerator includes a separate fridge and freezer section. The 3.0 cu. ft. capacity provides enough room to keep small meals, snacks, leftovers, drinks and frozen fare handy. This miniature version of larger models is ideal for dorm rooms, the recreation room or the office. Features: 3.0 cu.ft. (84 litres) capacity refrigerator Energy Star compliant