It’s that time of the year again, where the heaters are coming out of storage and your nights are spent huddling up against them! So make sure you stay warm this winter by investing in the right heater for your needs, room size and decor. Or alternatively, give this competition a crack and you may just score yourself a DéLonghi Slim Panel Heater, valued at $449!
Taking up minimal space, the sleek wall mountable Slim Line Panel Heater blends effortlessly into any style and living environment, allowing you to make the best use of your floor area. Using Hi-Fi Technology, the heater has a double fan system which sees a more effective distribution of heat throughout the room. It also features three heat settings, a 24 hour timer and electronic thermostat, making it easy to heat and maintain the desired temperature.
To ensure winter is comfortable without having to worry about increased power bills, the Slim Line Panel Heater uses Eco Plus technology. This technology optimises energy use and regulates power flow, ensuring lower consumption and in turn reduced power bills, whilst delivering the ideal level of comfort in your home.
Safety is also a major consideration, with the heater incorporating important safety features including a safety tilt switch that automatically turns off the heater when tipped, child proof surfaces to avoid burns and an overheating thermal cut-off, giving you extra peace of mind.
One lucky reader will win a DéLonghi Slim Panel Heater, valued at $449. To be in the running, complete the form below by 5pm Sydney time on Friday 5 June 2015. Open to Australian residents only. Good luck!
So I’ll let you in on a little secret. A couple of hours before The Block reveals air, we get the photos of all the rooms. The problem is, we don’t get the judges’ comments, so I spend a good 30 minutes trying to decipher who wins. I must say I’m normally pretty accurate — though I will admit I did not see Josh and Charlotte’s 30/30 score for their master bedroom coming!
But my guessing game went into overdrive last week, when I got to see The Block’s kitchens in the flesh (days prior to the reveal). Judge Shaynna Blaze led the tour, and though I attempted on countless occasions to get her opinion out of her, she kept mum (you should be proud, Channel 9)!
Shaynna and I
So below are all my views and all the product details, should you wish to try and replicate the kitchens in your own home.
Ayden and Jess: Modern traditional
Looking at the kitchen alone and ignoring how it fitted into the surrounding space, it was my favourite. I liked pretty much all of it bar the glass-fronted cabinets. I just don’t see them as realistic. People have mismatched dinnerware; it just seems so messy!
On-trend and functional, the profiled cabinetry in a Stone Grey brought an element of sophistication and the benchtop choice of Silestone Lyra added a natural feel to the classically styled kitchen. Designed and built to entertain, Jess and Ayden opted for Electrolux appliances throughout the kitchen, as well as Breville small appliances and Oliveri taps and sinks.
Dea and Darren: Urban glam
While I later found out how different my opinion was to the judges, the Double Ds produced my second favourite kitchen. And if you looked at the space as a whole (so the kitchen, living and dining as one), well then it shot straight to my favourite. Yes, the ‘goalposts’ were weird, but it was the only townhouse that actually had open plan living.
The kitchen is really the social hub of the home, executed through smart and functional design without compromising on style (though that mosaic tile splashback was a bit OTT). With Silestone benchtops in Cemento Spa and Pulsar, the appliances included an integrated Vintec Wine Fridge, a Bosch 762 litre French Door Fridge, a Bosch warming drawer, Oliveri sinks and taps and Breville small appliances.
Tim and Anastasia: Modern monochrome
I found Tim and Anastasia’s kitchen layout quite bizarre, what with it being almost like two galley kitchens attached in an L-shape. Standing in it was very cramped, though that said we were 50 or so people there! However, what I did really like was how they connected their kitchen to the terrace with bi-fold windows; perfect for indoor-outdoor living.
Using contrasting colours and textures of black and white and gloss and matt, the kitchen focused on modern elements like handle-less cabinetry and used soft greys — of the Silestone benchtops in Lagoon — to help balance the monochromatic scheme. Appliances included the Delonghi oven and built-in combination microwave, with a Samsung 636 litre fridge, Breville small appliances and Oliveri taps and sinks.
Josh and Charlotte: Minimalist
I totally agreed with the judges on this one. In person, I couldn’t get over the huge blank space behind the timber bench. It looked so unfinished and cold. Josh and Charlotte’s style is minimalism — which can be great — but I think this time it was taken too far.
Using crisp white cabinetry, offset by a raised cafe style timber bench and Titanium drawer fronts, the kitchen also included subtle marbling in the Silestone benchtop in Helix. To complement this, Josh and Charlotte used Fisher & Paykel appliances, with an integrated fridge and a gas and ceramic cook top, Breville small appliances and Oliveri sinks and taps.
Finally, a special thanks to The Good Guys for flying me to Melbourne and giving me a behind the scenes look at The Block. I loved it!
Anyone with their finger vaguely on the pulse of the latest trends will know that copper is most definitely in, as are statement small appliances for the kitchen. I’m rather impressed by the latest Distinta Breakfast Collection from DeLonghi.
DéLonghi’s renowned Italian craftsmanship and skills have been used to design the new range, which embodies style, future, purity and elegance. Alongside the toasters ($169 to $199), mechanical kettle ($169), manual pump coffee machine ($299) and milk frother ($149), for the first time, the hand-brushed, stainless steel collection includes a digital kettle ($199), allowing tea lovers to control the water temperature to suit their choice of tea.
With a combination of intricate detail and matte-textured metallic finishing, the timeless range is available in Future Bronze, Style Copper (pictured), Elegance Black and Pure White.
The traditional mechanical kettle offers a stylish design, with a detachable 360 ̊ swivel base for cord-free convenience. The coffee machine includes a range of functions to make the perfect cup, including the ‘Advanced Cappuccino System’ which mixes steam, air and milk to produce a rich, creamy froth for a great cappuccino. Drinks can be made using pre-ground coffee or “Easy Serving Espresso” pods and the milk frother allows for hot and cold frothing and keeps the milk warm if required.
DéLonghi have even launched the Distinta Collection App, which uses augmented reality for users to visualise up to three appliances together in real dimensions. It also features a colour selection function and has the capability to rotate and move the product to suit the chosen space.
The Distinta range can be purchased from all leading home appliance retailers from this month.
As a nation of coffee lovers, people increasingly want to bring the cafe culture to their own home. And thanks to DéLonghi’s latest offering, the Dedica Manual Coffee Machine, you will not only be able to save time and money, but even complete coffee-making novices like myself will be able to whip up a barista worthy cappuccino!
A simple, compact design with an elegant gloss finish and chrome touches, the Dedica is only 15cm wide. Designed to fit into any kitchen or office space with a clean and sleek look, it comes in three bold colours: black, silver and red.
A user-friendly control panel with three illuminated buttons makes the machine intuitive to use while the self-priming system means you never have to wait to make a coffee. The machine also allows the user to take full control of their milk with a manual steam wand.
Whether you’re a devotee of ground coffee, or prefer the simplicity of a pod solution, the Dedica is compatible with both, so you can choose your favourite variety and enjoy a perfectly blended coffee every time. The new Easy Serving Espresso pods contain DéLonghi’s traditional wood-fired roasted beans, available in three blend varieties.
The Dedica retails for $349 and can be purchased from all leading home appliance retailers across Australia from August. For more information.
I think it’s safe to say that winter is well and truly upon us, so the release of DéLonghi’s 2014 heating range couldn’t have come at a better time! It’s also true that many heaters are so ugly they can ruin the look of a room, so heaters that blend into your home decor are definitely a favourite in my eyes!
DéLonghi Slim Line Panel Heater with Electronic Timer
Featuring a selection of six individual heating styles, the range teams performance, style (hoorah!) and functionality with energy efficiency and safety features. It comprises of: Dragon Oil Column Heaters, DL Oil Column Heaters, Panel Heaters, Ceramic Heaters, Convector Heaters and Fan Heaters, meaning there’s something suitable for every need.
Some stand outs include the Slim Line Panel Heater, the first heater of its kind from DéLonghi. It’s wall mountable and blends effortlessly into any décor or living environment using minimal space to allow you to make the best of your floor space. The fan heaters are also perfect for smaller rooms and come complete with a silence level.
DéLonghi Fan Heater
To ensure winter is comfortable without having to worry about higher power bills, some DéLonghi models also feature Eco Plus technology. This optimises energy use and regulates power flow, ensuring lower consumption and, in turn, lower power bills.
Safety is also a major focus, with the range incorporating features like a safety tilt switch that automatically turns the heater off when tipped over, child proof surfaces so burns are avoided and an overheating safety thermal cut-off, giving you extra peace of mind.
Here at Appliance Addict we like to put the latest gadgets to the test by actually using them when we get the chance. Luckily, Kitchenaid sent us a lovely dip recipe to give a go with their new Artisan Food Chopper, so I gave it a whirl and it was so delicious I thought I’d share it with you.
I’m happy to report that the chopper was a breeze to use, and everything about it impressed me, especially for something that costs less than $100. Here’s the recipe if you’d like to have a go yourself, with this, or a similar appliance, at home.
I realise this is a big ask. But just think of the fabulous design, interiors and architecture I could photograph and blog about for your viewing and reading pleasure! Plus, you might win a set of De’Longhi Icona Vintage kitchen appliances for yourself, and they are rather gorgeous.
Interessato?
This isn’t one of those crowdsourcing scenarios. I don’t want your cash, just your inspiration! And I’d love to source that via Instagram and Twitter. Here’s the deal: I recently partnered with De’Longhi on a fun event down at Moore Park Supacenta where we gave readers free fifties makeovers (so much fun!). Two other bloggers had their own events too. Now we get the chance to win a holiday for two to Italia. One in three odds aren’t bad! I would of course take the future husband with me. If possible, I would love the trip to coincide with the Milan Furniture Fair, where I have always wanted to go!
Well, this one’s bound to upset the coffee purists and delight the tea and hot chocolate drinkers all at the same time! The Nescafé Dolce Gusto is the first ever machine available in Australia to make 14 different beverages, from hot frothy cappuccinos to chilled peach iced teas. Its multi-beverage capsule system is already hugely popular in more than 50 countries around the world.
It’s a partnership between Nestlé and De’Longhi. The sleek and easy-to-use machine (which kind of looks like a cute baby robot?) serves full-bodied coffee as well as iced coffees and teas with the touch of a button. Its 15-bar pressure pump (similar to the pressure used in cafe coffee machines) helps creates that crema layer.
So what are you doing next weekend? Would you like to come and meet me, get a glam makeover, have your photo taken and be in with the chance of winning a set of gorgeous new appliances for your kitchen? Sound good?
You may have noticed I love lipstick and am never without a full face of makeup (I may or may not have friends who call me ‘doll face’). Some might say I’m from the more is more school of cosmetics! So when De’Longhi asked if I’d like to team up with them on a fun event where I’d get to meet my readers and they’d get makeovers, I couldn’t say no. On top of that, they’re launching their new Icona Vintage range in the most gorgeous colours and I genuinely love them. Who knew kitchen appliances could be that good looking, I ask you?
The trend for colourful kitchen appliances isn’t going anywhere any time soon and I have to admit, they’re becoming quite tempting! Red is apparently the best selling colour of these products, but personally, I really don’t like using red in my home AT ALL. Clearly I’m in the minority!
It’s not just red these days though; there are plenty of colours from pastels to brights, whatever your personal palette. Here’s my roundup of some of the nicest out there at the moment. Which are your favourite?
De’Longhi’s latest Icona Vintage collection is inspired by the brand’s Italian heritage and is an extension of their existing 1950-styled Icona range. There’s a set of matching manual coffee machine (RRP $299), kettle (RRP $149) and 2 or 4-slice toaster (RRP $149 & $189) with curved silhouettes, accentuated by 5 new shades which take their colour cues from the 1950s: tan leather, cream and mahogany, olive green, sky blue (pictured) and black velvet. So there’s something for everyone.
Later this month, Bosch is introducing pastel colours to its Styline Kitchen range with the MUM5 Kitchen Machines (RRP $699). Two new models will be available in vivid Miracle Blue (pictured above) and cheerful Yellow Passion. They’re complemented by silver and chrome trims, appealing to both classic and contemporary kitchens. Each comes with a stainless steel bowl and accessories, including a fitted lid, continuous shredder, blender, kneading hook, beater, whisk and citrus press.
