Eat Well, Live Happy

To cook in Italian... Mangia bene, vivi felice

Verona Wall Oven Helps Give New Life to a 1972 Airstream

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Tiny living doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the things you love. In March 2017, San Diego couple Rachael and Virgil, alongside their rescue pup Jovie, decided to commit to a more simple, intentional living lifestyle by purchasing and renovating a 1972 Airstream Overlander which would eventually become their home.

“We took the tiny home route for reasons most do — to live more simply and efficiently,” says Rachael. “It seems that when this big life change approaches, you start thinking about what follows. For us, with our wedding approaching later that year, we had hopes of getting our finances under control, buying a fixer upper house and having the financial freedom to live without feeling the heavy, stressing pull of our wallets. Looking to meet that goal in a reasonable amount of time, we realized that it would be about a decade away, at least (!!), if we kept on living as we were. That didn’t sit well with either of us.”

Rachael and Virgil purchased their Airstream with its original 1972 interior. Together they gutted it down, fixed the chassis and put in all new insulation, subfloor, electrical and plumbing to make everything fresh and new. When it came time to choose the layout, priority was given to the kitchen/dining space. The couple chose a Verona 24″ Electric 110-volt Wall Oven as their primary cooking appliance.

“We both come from Italian families and love to cook together,” says Rachael. “Surprisingly, when selecting only electric appliances small enough for a trailer, there aren’t very many options. We love the size and design of our cute little Verona oven, and it works GREAT. We were really impressed with the consistency and speed of cooking.”

Inspired by southern coastal vibes, Rachael and Virgil describe their style as “California-minimal.” The Airstream design features a bright, open layout and a visually unique space that is functional for their day to day lives.

“The kitchen was very important to us, and we wanted to give it the space it deserved,” explains Rachael. “In tune with that, we also wanted to have a sizeable table where we could eat our cherished home cooked meals, and with friends if we wanted to”

When asked for her best advice for creating a home by Apartment Therapy Rachael replied, “The advice I’ve lived by is to fill your home with items that speak to you, ones that make you feel something. I’ve appreciated this William Morris quote on a whole new level since living tiny, and I plan to hold onto this methodology in all of our homes to come — ‘Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.'”

Be sure to read Rachael’s house tour feature on Apartment Therapy and follow her on Instagram.

Verona Appliances Named 2017 Interior Design Best of Year Awards Honoree

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Verona, known for their handcrafted Italian appliances, is a 2017 Interior Design Best of Year Award honoree in the Kitchen Appliances category for their exclusive 36” All-Electric Double Oven Ranges. Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards is the design industry’s premiere design awards program, honoring the most significant work of the year as well as recognizing designers, architects and manufacturers from around the globe.

“The Verona All-Electric 36” Ranges offer the very best in industrial design and cooking performance, and it is an honor that the product has been recognized as a Best of Year Honoree,” says Melissa Haber, Vice President for EuroChef USA. “These ranges give designers even more flexibility where an electric connection may be the only option, along with professional cooking performance that one wouldn’t expect from fully electric ranges.”

Now celebrating its 12th year, Interior Design’s Best of Year (affectionately known as BoY) has become the ultimate measure of excellence, showcasing what’s happening today in every category of design while simultaneously setting the bar even higher for future innovations.

The BoY awards ceremony, held in December at the IAC building in New York City, draws over 1,000 worldwide design professionals and enthusiasts. Each finalist is announced live by hosts Cindy Allen, Editor in Chief, and Carol Cisco, Publisher of Interior Design. Winners from each category take home the coveted Best of Year bulb award, designed by Harry Allen.

6 Ways to Create Your Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

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With beautiful white painted cabinets, vintage accents and classic flooring it’s no wonder that the modern farmhouse kitchen is one of the biggest trends in interior design today. Luckily, you don’t need to live out in the country to get the modern farmhouse look. Below are six ways to create your own modern farmhouse kitchen.

Bright Walls & Cabinets

Light and airy walls and cabinets are often times the staple feature of a modern farmhouse kitchen. The abundance of white makes the space appear larger, and the neutral palette allows for greater freedom when adding accents such as cabinet hardware, textiles and accessories.

Photo Courtesy of Leah, Leah A. White Interiors & Home Staging. (Instagram: @LeahWhite6)

Open Shelving

Opting for partial open shelving increases your storage options while also making the space feel less enclosed. The open concept creates a warm and inviting feeling for guests and acts as an opportunity to show off that fancy dinnerware.

Photo Courtesy of AHA Interiors Corp.

Modern Appliances

Appliances today act as fully functional modern centerpieces in the kitchen. Decide what type of home cook you are and what features are important to you and your family. With a wide range of sizes, styles, colors and connection options available for appliances, there is truly something for everyone.

Photo Courtesy of Lakeville Kitchen & Bath. (Instagram: @LakevilleCabinets)

Wooden Details

The rich and rustic texture of wood instantly adds a farmhouse feel to the kitchen. Eye-catching reclaimed wood creates a lived-in feeling for a more enticing and welcoming environment.

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer, The Ranch Uncommon. (Instagram: @theranchuncommon)

Fresh Garden Greens

Including even the slightest green touches to your kitchen design creates an even more vibrant look. While they take up only a little bit of space, fresh herbs and produce will infuse your home with fresh scents reminiscent of a weekend at the farmer’s market.

Photo Courtesy of Anissa, House Seven Design. (Instagram: @housesevendesign)

Rustic Touches

Subtle rustic touches add coziness to the heart of the home. Old family textiles or antique wooden stools add a little bit of history and charm to a modern farmhouse design.

Photo Courtesy of Morgan, The White Farmhouse Blog. (Instagram: @thewhitefarmhouseblog)

 

How Hot Technologies Can Improve Your Kitchen

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vefsie304pssModern technology is improving every facet of our lives and the kitchen is no exception. By carefully outfitting your kitchen, your appliances can be safer, more efficient and give you versatility and precision as a home chef.

One technology, which has been popular in Europe for years but is still relatively new to the US, is induction cooking which uses electromagnetic energy to heat foods quickly and precisely.
Like a gas burner, an induction cooktop or range-top surface can handle the rapid shifts in heat settings required in a busy kitchen. And because the burner does not heat unless cookware is detected, ventilation can operate more efficiently.

Other efficiencies in induction cooking are exemplified in such appliances as the new 36” Induction 5-Zone Cooktop from Verona, which includes a fast boil setting for rapid cooking as well as a low power setting for delicate meals. A pan detection system saves energy by sensing the size and shape of cookware and intelligently heating only the needed cooking area. Features like a residual heat indicator and an automatic shut-off in case of spillage make cooking with this induction cooktop safer, too. Verona also makes a 30” induction cooktop and 30” induction range.

“Because induction cooking offers the most direct heat transfer of any cooking surface and features unprecedented safety benefits, it’s become the modern standard for kitchens today,” says Melissa Haber, director of sales and marketing for EuroChef USA.

Consumers looking to upgrade their kitchens in the future will enjoy even more choices, as new induction ranges are introduced, which offer a wealth of features like a rotisserie, warming drawer, power boost burners and a multifunction convection oven.

If you are still cooking with old school appliances in your kitchen, you may be working harder than you need to be. When making an upgrade, consider the latest cooking technologies.

Verona Helps Complete An Atlanta Bungalow Renovation

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Verona Appliances has helped transform a formally cluttered kitchen into a trendy entertainment destination.

In Atlanta, Georgia Level Team Contracting designed and re-built a 1925 bungalow, which had never before been renovated. When the team first purchased the home, they knew that they were about to take on a very large project. “The house was an absolute mess when we purchased it.  The previous owners were hoarders and it was filthy, it hadn’t been renovated in many decades,” said owner J.R. Torbert of Level Team Contracting.

Before

Before

The goal of the renovation was to create a great house that would be suitable for hosting parties and entertaining guests, since the house is located in a trendy and walk-able area of Atlanta. “On the inside, we designed a more contemporary open layout with traditional finishes.  On the outside, we kept the design details consistent with the neighborhood aesthetic and the original 1920’s construction period.”

The kitchen was completed with 36” Verona Pro-Style Dual Fuel range with an 8” backguard and professional tubular handle. Level Team Contracting prides themselves on being ahead of the curve in design, style and technology. “We chose the Verona because it was a professional 36″ range that looked great and was also affordable. The transformation was amazing and turned into a 1+ million dollar sale.”

1308 N Morningside Drive Atlanta-37

After

Thank you, J.R. and Level Team Contracting for sharing your Verona Renovation Story and transformation images!

Verona Introduces New Verona Classic Line

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Verona, crafted in Italy but made for the U.S. market, launches a new series of 36” professional ranges with contemporary lines and stunning details that combine the very best of industrial design and cooking performance. Offered in three colors, including stainless steel, matte black and gloss red, the Verona Classic models feature a sleek plinth leg, matching colored control panel, exquisite beveled front plus robust stainless handles and handrail. The elegantly shaped controls add a unique look, and ergonomic feel that is certain to become a trademark of fine cooking. The panel behind the controls is color-matched with the chosen range finish. The ranges are offered in a full line of dual fuel, gas or electric. The dual fuel and gas options are also available with a choice of a double oven.

The ranges are fully equipped with a European convection oven that is easily programmed with the digital clock and timer, delivering the ultimate in professional performance. The multi-function convection oven provides seven cooking modes including three baking modes (Bake, Fan Oven, Convection Bake); three radiant modes (Broil, Convection Broil, Dual Broil) and also a Defrost mode. Convection cooking helps to prepare meals faster, and in less time than a conventional oven.

A full width compartment provides expansive storage capacity while a standard Glide Rack makes cooking large, heavy items almost effortless.

Other Details:Verona Classic

  • Programmable Digital Clock & Timer in the dual fuel
    and electric ranges
  • Multi Function European Convection Oven in the dual
    fuel and electric ranges
  • High Powered Infrared Broiler in the gas range
  • EZ Clean Porcelain Oven Surface
  • Full width storage compartment
  • Plinth legs with a tubular option
  • MSRP starts at $3599

VERONA INTRODUCES NEW GAS & ELECTRIC COOKTOPS

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New 36" Gas Cooktop - One of 8 New Cooktops

New 36″ Gas Cooktop – One of 8 New Cooktops

Available immediately, Verona introduces 8 new Gas Cooktops and 3 New Electric Cooktops including a 30″ ceramic top Induction.  As part of our new line up, we will be offering a Gas Designer Series featuring a 42, 36″ 30″ & 24″ with Stainless Steel Surface & Knobs.  We also are introducing 2 new side control gas cooktops in 30″ & 36″. To learn more link to our Verona Cooktop Page here.