An Enduring Love Affair: My Journey with Thermador and the Dream Kitchen
More than ten years ago, I embarked on a deeply personal and ambitious project: creating my dream kitchen. It was within my very first home, an older property I intentionally sought out with the clear vision of a complete gut and remodel. The original house layout was, to put it mildly, a challenge. With countless walls creating a maze-like experience, merely navigating from the front door to the master bedroom felt like an expedition. The bathrooms were so incredibly compact that one literally had to step back out the door just to reconsider a decision. This set the stage for a transformation that would redefine living.
Crafting the Ultimate Culinary Sanctuary: My First Dream Kitchen Remodel
Naturally, the heart of any home, and certainly the focal point of my renovation, was the kitchen. And at the very core of this new culinary space lay a single, non-negotiable appliance: a Thermador range. This wasn’t merely a choice; it was a conviction. I refused to compromise on this one item, no other brand would suffice. In essence, I meticulously built the entire kitchen design around that magnificent Thermador centerpiece. My dedication was so profound that I even instructed the contractor to meticulously snake the proper gas and electrical lines an extra three inches, ensuring the range could be placed in the exact, perfect center along the main kitchen wall. When the ambient kitchen lights were dimmed to a “romantic evening moody” setting, two very soft overhead lights were precisely angled to illuminate only the Thermador. It wasn’t just an appliance; it was a shrine, a testament to my passion for culinary excellence and superior design.
This initial remodel wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about functionality, flow, and creating a space that inspired. The Thermador range, with its robust design and professional-grade performance, represented the pinnacle of what I wanted in my kitchen – reliability, precision, and an aesthetic that spoke volumes about quality. Every detail, from the choice of countertops to the custom cabinetry, was meticulously selected to complement this central appliance, ensuring a harmonious and highly functional environment where cooking transformed from a chore into an art form. This commitment to detail solidified my enduring loyalty to the Thermador brand, setting a high standard for all future kitchen aspirations.
The Detour: Family Life and Kitchen Compromises
Life, as it often does, brought unexpected turns. When my husband Scott and I relocated to Florida, we purchased a home in a brand-new community. These homes were predesigned, offering limited choices for custom finishing touches like tile, carpet, countertops, and cabinets. We opted for the standard kitchen package, envisioning that “one day” we would tear it all out and rebuild it to perfectly replicate the San Francisco kitchen I adored. My dream of a custom, luxury kitchen, specifically one centered around high-end appliances, was merely deferred.
However, that “one day” never quite arrived as planned. Instead, something wonderful – and wonderfully demanding – happened: we welcomed two incredible children into our lives, back-to-back. The priorities of kitchen brands quickly took a backseat to Fisher Price, Graco, and Elmo. These days, the landscape has shifted slightly to Nerf, Star Wars, and Legos, but the sentiment remains the same: family life beautifully reordered our focus. The idea of a major kitchen renovation, with its inherent disruption and expense, became a distant dream, overshadowed by the joyful chaos and constant needs of a growing family. While our Florida kitchen was perfectly functional, it lacked the soul and tailored precision of my first Thermador-inspired space, a constant reminder of deferred dreams.
A Full Circle Moment: Partnering with Thermador
Now, I am absolutely thrilled to announce that the long-awaited “one day” has finally arrived! I am beyond excited to share that I am partnering with Thermador for an entire year. My heart still pounds fast and furious with excitement every single time I utter that name! This collaboration is a profound full-circle moment, bringing my decade-long admiration for their exceptional kitchen appliances to the forefront. Throughout this year, I will have the incredible opportunity to develop and share new recipes, putting their wonderful and innovative kitchen appliances through their paces, demonstrating their capabilities and celebrating the art of home cooking.
I am also incredibly honored to join my talented friends, Maria and Josh, of Two Peas and Their Pod, as part of the esteemed Thermador family of brand partners. This partnership represents more than just a collaboration; it’s an affirmation of my belief in Thermador’s commitment to culinary excellence and sophisticated design. It allows me to share my passion for cooking and for high-quality kitchen tools with a wider audience, all while working with a brand that has truly shaped my own culinary journey. The anticipation of creating inspiring content and delicious recipes using these premium appliances is immense.
Unveiling Our Future: A Brand New Thermador Kitchen Awaits
The news gets even bigger! The second major announcement is that instead of undertaking a disruptive and extensive remodel of our current kitchen, we will be installing a complete suite of Thermador appliances in our new home! Can you hear muffled screams? That’s me, suppressing my overwhelming excitement into a pillow because our new home isn’t technically “ours” yet until the contract officially closes in a couple of months. The prospect of designing a brand new kitchen from the ground up, equipped with the very best Thermador has to offer, is an absolute dream come true. This is not just an upgrade; it’s the realization of a long-held vision for a truly luxurious and highly functional culinary space designed for both everyday family meals and elaborate entertaining.
I am absolutely thrilled to be working so closely with a brand that I have genuinely loved and admired for over a decade. My excitement is particularly peaked for trying out Thermador’s newest innovation: the Steam and Convection Oven. This remarkable appliance represents a significant leap forward in home cooking technology, offering unparalleled versatility and precision. It boasts three distinct cooking modes: steam-only for delicate dishes and healthy preparation; steam + convection, which combines the benefits of both for superior moisture retention and browning; and convection-only for traditional baking and roasting. This innovative design promises to revolutionize how we approach meals.
The Future of Cooking: Exploring Thermador’s Steam and Convection Oven
The capabilities of the Thermador Steam and Convection Oven are truly astounding. Imagine being able to cook a substantial 14-pound turkey to perfection in a mere 90 minutes, achieving incredibly moist meat and crispy skin thanks to the power of steam and convection working in harmony. Beyond roasting, this oven excels at creating beautifully steamed breads that are simultaneously perfectly browned, offering an ideal texture and crust. Perhaps one of its most practical and game-changing features is its ability to reheat leftovers without any loss of moisture, ensuring that dishes taste as fresh and delicious as when they were first prepared. This eradicates the common culinary disappointment of dried-out reheated food, making meal prep and planning significantly more appealing. The emphasis on healthy cooking through steam, combined with the efficiency and precision of convection, makes this oven an indispensable tool for any aspiring home chef or busy family.
To truly grasp the impressive functionality and innovative design of this appliance, I highly recommend watching the captivating Steam Oven video available at the bottom of its dedicated product page. It provides a dynamic demonstration of how this oven can elevate your culinary game, offering a glimpse into the future of sophisticated home cooking. The versatility of being able to perfectly steam vegetables, gently poach fish, or achieve a perfect soufflé, alongside robust roasting and baking, all within one appliance, speaks volumes about Thermador’s commitment to culinary excellence and technological advancement. This oven isn’t just an appliance; it’s a gateway to new culinary possibilities, encouraging healthier eating habits and simplifying complex cooking techniques.
Design and Innovation: Discovering Thermador’s Masterpiece and Professional Lines
In exciting news for anyone considering a kitchen refresh or a complete overhaul, Thermador has recently relaunched their website, making it even easier to explore their stunning range of appliances and innovative features. I encourage you to check out their really neat interactive videos. These engaging visual experiences expertly showcase their two distinct yet equally impressive design lines: the Masterpiece® Collection and the Professional Collection. The Masterpiece® Collection embodies sleek, modern design, characterized by clean lines, flush installation, and intuitive controls, perfect for contemporary kitchens that prioritize minimalist aesthetics and seamless integration. It speaks to those who appreciate a sophisticated, understated elegance.
Conversely, the Professional Collection offers a bold, industrial-inspired design, featuring robust handles, prominent knobs, and a more rugged, commanding presence. This line is ideal for kitchens that embrace a commercial-grade aesthetic and demand powerful, precise performance, appealing to serious home cooks who want their appliances to make a statement. Whether your preference leans towards cutting-edge modernity or timeless, professional-grade styling, Thermador offers solutions that not only perform exceptionally but also elevate the visual appeal of any luxury kitchen. Exploring these lines on their redesigned website provides an excellent opportunity to envision how these premium appliances can transform your own culinary space into a true masterpiece of form and function.
The Journey Ahead: Culinary Adventures with Thermador
As I embark on this incredible year-long partnership with Thermador, I look forward to sharing every step of this culinary adventure with you. From detailed reviews of their innovative appliances, especially the highly anticipated Steam and Convection Oven, to exciting new recipes developed right in my new Thermador kitchen, there will be a wealth of inspiration and practical advice. This journey is more than just about cooking; it’s about exploring the possibilities that cutting-edge kitchen technology offers, enhancing the joy of home cooking, and creating memorable experiences around food. Stay tuned for exciting content, behind-the-scenes glimpses of our new home’s Thermador kitchen installation, and delicious dishes that will undoubtedly inspire your own culinary explorations. This partnership marks a thrilling new chapter, and I am excited to have you join me as we discover the boundless potential of Thermador appliances together. Your dream kitchen could be closer than you think!