The Atelier kitchen by Abimis has been installed in an exclusive home in Milan. The kitchen occupies the upper floor of the house, characterized by a large living space divided into two distinct areas: one intended for ‘social activities’, such as receiving guests and organizing dinners, parties or events, and the other, more intimate and intimate, dedicated to the family. Atelier presents itself here as an element of union between the two environments. The great peculiarity of the concept is represented by the fact that the entire kitchen environment is made of stainless steel, including the walls, floor and ceiling, painted in an intense shade of red and interrupted by LED light lines. This design choice was intended to ensure maximum hygiene, suggesting a formal and conceptual reference to the kitchens of large hospitality structures.

The Abimis kitchen, built entirely in AISI 304 stainless steel, with a clean and tidy aesthetic, is totally custom. It is an ergonomic, functional and high-performance solution, structured to meet the needs of the most demanding chef.

The kitchen is configured in two distinct areas: an operational one, characterized by a satin finish which makes the surface opaque and slightly reflective, and a service one that ‘communicates’ with the first thanks to a practical serving hatch that extends to the living area. The operational part, in addition to including the washing area and the work space, is equipped with the most advanced professional technologies for cooking, preparing, preserving and refrigerating food, thanks also to Sub Zero & Wolf appliances by Frigo2000.

Whether you want to furnish a mountain kitchen with a rustic or modern style, there is no shortage of options regarding cooking appliances. To make your wishes come true, products with a minimal style can be choosen, which fit well into any environment, or retro-style appliances, which however have advanced technologies capable of guaranteeing advanced functions to support the user while cooking.

Induction technology with Dual Max Power zone
Thanks to its essential style, the induction hob integrates into any context, allowing to exploit the advantages of this cooking method. The FSH 905 ID WT BK model by Fulgor Milano (90 cm), for example, is in glossy black glass ceramic and has 5 induction areas. It is characterized by Wave Touch Slider controls and stands out for having the Dual Max Power area in the centre, i.e. two concentric areas of different sizes and powers: it therefore adapts automatically to pots of different sizes, making cooking easier. Furthermore, the product is equipped with Flexi technology (Automatic Bridge) thanks to which it is possible to combine the 4 single zones into 2 large vertical ones, allowing the use of large trays. In addition, the hob has 9 power levels + booster, preset temperatures (40°, 70°, 90°) and end of cooking timer. As regards safety, it is guaranteed by a system that includes the pan detection sensor, the touch control block, the residual heat indicator and the automatic switch-off with temperature sensor. Finally, the appliance is also available in matt black glass ceramic.

The charm of the past lives again
Bertazzoni’s Heritage Series is inspired by the products created by the company at the beginning of the twentieth century, but enriched with contemporary technologies. In particular, the 60 cm F6011HERVPTAC oven is available in matt black or ivory with chrome or copper details. It has a 76-litre cavity and 11 functions for cooking at medium-low temperatures, with static or ventilated cooking, or for browning with the infrared grill. The appliance is controlled via the knobs and the TFT display, thanks to which it is also possible to manage the thermometric probe and the Bertazzoni Assistant which supports the user during the cooking process. The Total Steam function, on the other hand, allows to steam cook and the water tank can be removed and filled without having to interrupt the cooking program. A further strong point of the oven is the cleaning by pyrolysis, which allows to easily clean the appliance using heat, without the need for detergents. Finally, the door has a quadruple athermal glass which guarantees safety and efficiency.

Combined steam oven
For those who love contemporary style, there are several options that also integrate well into the kitchen of a mountain home. Among these, the ICBCSO30TE/S/TH combined steam oven from Wolf E transitional series (distributed in Italy by Frigo2000) allows you to use the benefits of steam for cooking. The product is characterized by a modern stainless steel finish with a tubular handle and an electronic display. It is 45 cm high and has an internal volume of 51 liters and 13 cooking functions, including Gourmet automatic steam with temperature and humidity sensor, Automatic delicate cooking at low temperature, Food warmer (80°C) and Degree-controlled steam cooking from 30°C to 100°C. Furthermore, it also has the function to regenerate already cooked food and includes 14 automatic recipes, as well as the possibility of recording personalized cooking modes. Finally, the oven is in A+ energy class.

Professional equipment
The 150 cm P15FSNE3/BUG cooking block is part of Ilve ‘s Nostalgie collection, which interprets tradition in a modern key. The Burgundy Red color and the brass finishes of the handles, knobs and frames create a retro effect, while the latest generation technologies are able to satisfy the needs of even the most demanding users. The product, in this configuration, features a gas hob with 7 burners (including a double crown burner and fish rack), Coupe de Feu and Fry Top plate. Furthermore, it is equipped with two electric ovens: a main one and a secondary one. Ilve ‘s P15N cooking blocks are available in various configurations and with different colors and finishes. Furthermore, they can be completed with the ladle holder panel and the hood. In addition to the 150 cm blocks, the Nostalgie range includes smaller appliances, with one or two ovens and also with an induction hob.

Outdoor or indoor: cooking meat with grill and barbecue is possible both at home and outdoors. The appliance brands offer different types of products ranging from electric to gas models. In both cases, the ideal temperature and a homogeneous heat distribution are quickly reached. They are products designed to avoid generating smoke and feature containers to collect cooking fats. Moreover, solutions of various sizes are available to meet different needs.
Grilling in the kitchen
R.G.V. has created a product suitable for domestic kitchens that combines effectiveness and versatility. Industrial Grill is a device characterized by a power of 2000 Watt, able to heat up to 240°C. The selected temperature is reached quickly and kept constant to obtain the best cooking results. In addition, the appliance can be used both as a contact grill (with 5 adjustment levels based on the thickness of the food to cook), and by opening the two plates at 180 degrees to place the food on both surfaces. Using Industrial Grill is simple: the product is equipped with a timer, an adjustable thermostat and a ready-to-use light that alerts the user when the plates are hot. In addition, the thermoplastic handle allows to lift the lid safely. The cooking oils and fats are then collected in a special tray. Finally, cleaning is facilitated by the non-stick and removable ribbed plates and by a spatula to remove food residues.

Anti-smoking technology Smokeless BBQ by George Foreman has a plate that directs the hot fat under the grids, cooling it immediately and eliminating the combustion that generates smoke and bad smell. In addition, the plate and tray are removable and dishwasher safe.

Professional outdoor barbecue

Grilling and roasting meats outdoors is now easier thanks to high-performance appliances. This is the case of Barbecue Pro Outdoor (model FOBQ 1000 G X) by Fulgor Milano, a gas-powered product. It is made of AISI 316 stainless steel and has 4 vertical in-line burners for a total power of 15.2 kW. The metal knobs, with electronic ignition (with battery), are located on the side, next to the two stainless steel grids. The 4 tubular aluminum burners, with a well-distributed series of openings, bring heat to the grids: up to 3.5 kW each, but also at a low temperature setting (up to 0.6 kW) for delicate cooking. Moreover, the barbecue is also equipped with a Teppanyaki stainless steel plate and a removable container for grease, oil and cooking residues, in addition to the gas detection and stop system. Finally, among the accessories on request there are the standard lid and the high lid for roasting.

Finalmente Barbecue Foster has expanded its Finalmente outdoor range with the Finalmente Barbecue version, which includes two cooking grids and a fry top plate. The kitchen is made of AISI 316 steel, a material that makes it resistant to atmospheric agents, easy to clean and hygienic.

Even in the dark The ICBOG36 outdoor barbecue with freestanding trolley (91 cm) by Wolf is equipped with internal halogen lights and LEDs embedded in the knobs. Distributed in Italy by Frigo2000, it has two 7.3 kW burners, a skewer with a capacity of up to 11 kg of meat and a smoker.

Frigo 2000, the Italian company that distributes important kitchen appliances brands such as Bora, Wolf and V-Zug has collaborated with the “Industrial Design for Architecture” Master of the Milan Politecnico for the creation of four projects inspired by the theme “Conviviality 4 Kitchen and Modern Living”.
The selection of the winners took place in the High Performance Kitchen showroom of Frigo 2000 and was followed by a jury of experts that included Fabio Basile (Studio Marco Piva), the architect Aldo Parisotto (Studio Architetti Parisotto and Formenton), the designer Henry Timi and the star-chef Giancarlo Morelli. The winner is the Kirigami concept. All the participants should create an environment for the future, that emphasizes the potential of the products of Frigo 2000 and the brands they distribute (Bora, Sub-Zero, Wolf and V-ZUG), responding to the modern trend in the kitchen.

Riccardo Barthel combines craftsmanship and innovation to create very enchanting environments. Designing kitchens is among the flagship activity of the Florentine company, known for its style both in Italy and abroad

di Elena  Corti

Forty years of experience in the designing and furnishings of indoor environments in the name of refinement, passion for restoration and care for detail: these are the distinctive features of Riccardo Barthel, a Tuscan company with the name of its founder which, with its activity, represents made-in-Italy in the world. The Florence office (an area of ​​more than 1,300 m²), includes the design studio, the laboratories and the showroom; at Forte dei Marmi (in an 800 m² location, that seems an industrial-style loft) there is a further exhibition area and the restoration workshop. Riccardo Barthel’s core business is designing and execution of turnkey furnishings for private homes, hotels, restaurants and shops. In addition, the company also includes the Yacht Division, which operates for the nautical sector. «Our main strength – explains Francesco Barthel, who leads the company with his father Riccardo – is surely designing, to which all Riccardo Barthel world is linked, because through this activity we have the opportunity to express our style and, at the same time, to propose our products that are for 80% handcrafted made by us and for 20% marketed. The world of kitchen is one of the areas in which we distinguish ourselves most for originality, functionality of the proposed solutions and the attention to the needs of customers. In addition, we range from handicrafts to high-tech products.» To its designing activity the company adds the production of bathroom and kitchen accessories with handicraft techniques, as well as handles, lights and ceramics, together with the working of fabrics, glass and wood. In a mix of tradition and modernity, Riccardo Barthel is able to offer its customers sophisticated craftsmanship products and items of high quality brands that work in the sectors of taps, sanitary ware, textile products and household appliances. With regard to the latter, among its main suppliers the company boasts well-known brands, such as DeManincor, Miele, Ilve, Gaggenau, Neff, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Bora, able to offer products with professional performance. So appliances are chosen to fit harmoniously into the kitchen environment, while at the same time achieving functionality and stylistic uniformity.

Style and design recognized in the world

Riccardo Barthel realized many projects in Italy and abroad and is appreciated for the particularity of its creations and for its know-how. «It is not easy to give a definition of our style – Francesco Barthel says -: it is a mix of Italy, France and England …We could simply define it as the Barthel style, because it is quite recognizable and is characterized by functionality, originality , care in the choice of materials and details. Certainly, then, our distinctive feature is the use of the “old” object, which is rich of history and personality and is returned to a contemporary use. For forty years we have been visiting the most important markets in Italy, Spain, France, England, Portugal and Belgium to find “old pieces”. Skill in search and selection allows, at the end of each journey, to bring “home” furniture and objects rich in charm and originality. Sometimes the recovered objects are restored and maintain their original use, while in other cases they are assembled or transformed giving them a new function and another character.» Among the objects that the company creates with recoveries (wood, cast iron, iron, etc.), there are the outer coverings of the hoods: so it is possible to obtain unique and suggestive furnishings.
In addition, Riccardo Barthel has several foreign customers. «In recent years – explains Francesco Barthel – 80% of our turnover was realized with foreign customers. A part of them are people who buy a home in Italy and then contact us to operate on the national territory, while others ask us to make projects abroad. For example, we worked for private residences in New York, London, Tel Aviv and Switzerland. We are often contacted by professionals who come to us to meet the needs of their customers, recognizing in us a specific professionalism. For some projects we have followed every room in the house, for others only a few rooms like kitchen and bathrooms.»

The Kitchen Milano project
KnIndustrie, a company that offers refined tableware and kitchenware, involved Riccardo Barthel in the restyling of the Kitchen Milano store, located in the center of the Lombard chief town and dedicated to kitchen lovers. The Florentine company had the task of completely redesigning the shop structure. «We designed all environments and reconceived the spaces – says Francesco Barthel -. The store has been completely emptied of existing furnishings, leaving only masonry and systems. The manganese-colored walls and the flooring of another shade of brown give warmth to the space and emphasize furniture and displayed objects in the right way.» In addition to the exhibition spaces, there is a kitchen in the store, which can host cooking classes, team building and private dinners. Riccardo Barthel has completely transformed it, also changing the way of access to this environment. There are a selection of recovery items, such as hand-decorated tiles, and latest generation home appliances such as the Bora hobs with integrated suction system. «In this kitchen – explains Francesco Barthel – there is a mix between recovery world and absolutely contemporary and technological appliances.» The ceiling hood is an exclusively decorative element (fumes suction takes place through the suction system of the hobs) that allows to mask the pre-existing air conditioner. The store restyling was done in record time (just one month) in order to inaugurate the reopening of it during the Milano Design Week. «For us – Francesco Barthel concludes – first of all design is functionality, originality and a proper use of materials.»

The American Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, AHAM, honored several manufacturring leaders for their contributions to the home appliance industry and to the Association during AHAM’s annual member meeting. The Home Appliance Industry Leadership (HAIL) Award was presented to Paul Sikir, vice president of design engineering, Sub-Zero Group. The Association underlined as he dedicated countless hours to volunteer leadership roles and expanded his impact by encouraging colleagues to serve on AHAM task forces and councils. His work has been instrumental to numerous policy and technical issues across the major appliance division. Sikir held several leadership roles including AHAM Treasurer and First Vice Chair before rising to Chair the AHAM Board of Directors from 2012- 2014. He continues to serve on the AHAM Executive and Finance Committees. AHAM also presented the 2017 Gordon Stauffer Liston Durden Distinguished Service Award to David Kinny, product safety and reliability leader, cooking products, GE Appliances, a Haier company; Chad Strickland, director of product safety and regulatory compliance, Electrolux North America; and Jim Pelkey, design lab certification manager, Wolf Appliance. AHAM presented its Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes volunteers’ important contributions to the industry, to Jeff Colyer safety program manager-RF, GE Appliances, a Haier Company, and Sean Simmons, senior Assistant General Counsel, Electrolux Home Products. Colyer received the award for contributions related to the development of North American refrigerator safety standards. Simmons received the award for leadership and advocacy on AHAM public policy issues. The AHAM Chairman’s Partnership Award, which recognizes significant contributions to the Association by non-member organizations, companies and individuals, was presented to Marc Schoem, executive director, International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization. Schoem during 40 years at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, much of that time at the most senior levels in the Office of Compliance, was exemplary in his countless efforts to protect consumers and share his vast compliance experience with stakeholders, including AHAM and its members.

Toncelli, historical Tuscan kitchen producer and Frigo 2000, the Italian distributor of high-end home appliances brands (like Wolf, Sub-Zero, Bora and V-Zug), join their know-how in a mix of top quality proposals, displayed in an elegant and functional showroom located in Milan (via dei Giardini 10). Here, the warmth of wood, its fine nuances and the search for essences from all over the world, worked with knowledge and craftsmanship, meet the performances of the latest home appliances, able to easily transform home cooking in a professional kitchen.
The store, opened in 2016, is increasingly oriented to present itself as an active space where projecting the ideal kitchen environment: a way to emphasize the collaboration between the two brands, which harmonize two seemingly paradoxical but absolutely compatible concepts: the old Italian tradition and the international high-tech and functional solutions, such as the Sub-Zero refrigerator and wine cellar, as well as the Wolf and V-Zug ovens or the Bora suction system.

Frigo 2000 High Performance Kitchen (HPK) has organized a special event for professionals and interior designers that could see the Italian chef Riccardo De Prà preparing many recipes using some of the most innovative kitchen appliances distributed by Frigo 2000. Among them, the chef used the V-Zug steam ovens and vacuum drawer, the Wolf advanced hobs and the Bora cooking systems. During the special night a roundtable was also held, focused on the importance of select the right home appliances in the kitchen, according to the personal needs.

Frigo 2000, the Italian society that distributes many top international brands, as Sub-Zero, Wolf Bora and V-Zug presents all the initiatives organized during the next edition of Salone del Mobile and EuroCucina (Milan-Rho Exhibition Center – 12-17 April), where these brands will show the best proposals of their collections. Sub-Zero and Wolf will be in the FTK Area – Pav. 9 stand B09-C10 to present their high-end products in Cooling and Cooking segments. Bora, instead, will be at Pav. 11 stand C18-C20, where it will show its innovative suction system. Finally, V-Zug, other brand distributed in Italy by Frigo 2000, will be partner in several special Fuorisalone events and showcookings

Wolf, the brand of kitchen appliances, distributed in Italy and other European countries by Frigo 2000, offers very advanced solutions to cook in less time and in a healthier way. One example is the Wolf high tech ovens range, that allows to determine automatically the cooking settings by simply placing the food to be cooked inside the cavity with no need to set the weight and durability. And with a relevant time saving: to cook a roast chicken, in fact, takes 25% time less. Using the steam cooking, instead, vegetables preserves 22% more vitamins than the conventional cooking. All the models feature a very refined design, ideal for any kitchen style.