Luxury appliance brands are constantly working to increase their products’ capabilities while improving user experience through features of convenience and intuitive controls. At the forefront of this race – and keeping pace with technology’s rapid evolution – is Dacor, who has proven their appliance prowess with a continuous string of ingenious designs. Modular ranges and cooktops in 1975. The self-cleaning, built-in wall oven in 1987. And now, the newly launched panel-ready 24-inch Dishwasher with their unique Kitchen Fit Sliding Door hinge mechanism. A common thread throughout each development within this storied history remains an investment in innovative hardware.
Timeless Yet on Trend
Owners can enjoy a long shelf life with expert engineering – and styling – that seemingly adapts to changing tastes and modern needs. Dacor delivers a remedy, nay solution, to the future-proofing problem with a unique structural change two years in the making. And it has positive implications for the future of realizing new, exciting, and oft creative kitchen concepts. “The contemporary kitchen surface is complicated,” says interior designer Leyden Lewis of specifying appropriate surfaces that meet the needs of varied culinary lifestyles. “The functionality of the dishwasher is completely practical and intuitive. As designers, our ability to express ourselves comes through in the panel ready installations of the appliance door.”
Artful casework, particularly from European brands, poses a challenge when it comes to seamless integration of the dishwasher. “Recently, cabinetry dimensions began to change where the toe-kick has shortened, becoming increasingly difficult to integrate the most common panel ready dishwasher,” says Maddalena Nicolosi, Senior Kitchen Design and Innovation Manager, Dacor. “In order to meet today’s trends, the dishwasher needs to be flexible.” No longer limited to a finite dimension, the sliding door hinge accommodates varying panel heights – even the unusually tall – as they swing open. Vertical kitchen surfaces avoid any disruption caused by cutting into the toe-kick and sight lines remain unadulterated by technical complications. “Today’s height requirements can vary. Our new sliding door hinge allows for more application versatility, empowering designers and consumers to achieve the desired aesthetic.” adds Charna Kety, National Sales Manager, Dacor. “It sets us apart from our competitors.”
Delight in Design
Engaging the device makes loading the dishwasher a delight as a seemingly solid door shears into two planes, whether that be a custom panel or one of the standard available stainless finishes. The interior face opens in a typical forward motion from the unit to reveal the tub while the exterior face slides upward to reconcile its length with the surrounding styling and swing radius. And the flexible toe-kick also ensures a final, perfect fit upon installation.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) reports a steady increase in homeowners actively seeking personalized designs comprising slab door styles, sweeping surfaces, and full height backsplashes with minimal grout lines. Just as invisible induction cooktops are being asked to integrate into countertops, so too are dishwashers into their respective housings. The sliding door construction offers designers a level of refinement easily attainable without compromise and clients near-limitless options for interior architecture when it comes to the kitchen.
Quiet Performance
Personalization translates to the maximized interior tub with three individually adjustable racks echoing the level of specificity each user can configure including collapsible tines, a height adjustable center shelf, and silicone-lined wine glass holders. Behind the impressive facade also lies Dacor’s StormWash+™ with dual-washing arms to remove tough stains. Noteworthy still are functions that improve accessibility across cultural and religious requirements like the “Sabbath Mode” for restrictions on electricity use. And for the tech savvy, customers may use the SmartThings app and “AI Energy” mode to manage the dishwasher remotely. Otherwise, the only time passersby may notice its presence are from a few subtle visual cues like a floor light to indicate cycles in progress or when the AutoRelease™ function is selected, which pops the door open at end-of-cycle to achieve spotless dry dishes quickly and efficiently.
The evolution of design has pushed machines of utility to become equal parts appliance and architectural element. “It will make it easier for designers to have a panel-ready application. Everything will line up from the top and bottom of the base cabinets – completing a holistic look,” Kety continues. “This unit will give designers the ability to design without some of the limitations they see today and achieve the best overall look,” adds Nicolosi. “The designers will be able to ask their clients ‘Can you find the dishwasher in your kitchen?’”
To learn more about Dacor’s new 24-Inch Dishwasher, with features like the Kitchen Fit Sliding Door and StormWash+™, visit dacor.com.
