High-End Appliances Shine at KBIS 2015

The show floor was buzzing at the 2015 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, and high-end finishes and fixtures caused a lot of the commentary. Appliance manufacturers in particular have been busy developing new products for debut at the show. From cooking to laundry, here's a look at what editors Laura McNulty and Lauren Hunter found at KBIS 2015.

Refrigerators Open Wide

Both True and Dacor announced the addition of new full-size refrigerators to their product lines. True has been in the refrigeration market for decades, manufacturing undercounter and outdoor units with a strong foundation in the commercial market. Now its 42-inch side-by-side brings that commercial-grade 304-stainless steel construction to residential kitchens for home chefs. The True 42 (right) has a dual compressor system to keep air separate between the refrigerator and freezer. True also introduced a dedicated undercounter residential ice maker at the show, producing up to 70 pounds of ice per day. Dacor's refrigeration line expanded with the introduction of 30- and 36-inch fully integrated models (left). The units feature a patented FlushFit hinge system that allows the door to swing clear of adjoining cabinetry for seamless integration.

Fine Wine Storage In other refrigeration introductions, Dacor showcased its WineStation (right), which can keep four different bottles of wine fresh for dispensing for up to 60 days. The unit features a temperature range of plus-or-minus 30 degress F. Wine lovers can adjust pour volume settings from 1/4 ounce for tasting up to full 8-ounce glasses.

At Liebherr, a new undercounter wine cabinet (left) offers a touch-open feature and closes automatically if the cabinet isn't fully opened, helping preserve the vintages it stores. The cabinet features two separate temperature zones and a charcoal filter, along with LED lighting and fully extendable shelving. Electrical components are all integrated in the bottom of the unit to minimize vibration and ensure wine stays undisturbed.

Cooking with Gas Ovens and cooktops had plenty of new introductions as well. At Miele, high-tech integration gives its range a touch-control panel (right) for home chefs to navigate through cooking options. The MasterChef feature drills down to specifics about the meal being prepared, from poultry to baked goods, to optimize cooking settings. Planning a big meal? Use new features to delay the cooking start time or select a "ready at" time so dinner is ready when you are.

Compact kitchens can also get the high-end touch. Thermador's 30-inch five-burner Pro Harmony range (left) is the brand's first five-zone cooktop in that size. The range is engineered to put out up to 59,000 Btus withonly 300 CFM venting required, and features an innovative back wall venting technology to reduce temperatures by 20 to 25%, allowing for zero clearance against a rear wall.