Only the best appliances will do in luxurious Las Vegas kitchens — PHOTOS
Two of the great American cultural watersheds of the 20th century involved, perhaps surprisingly, kitchens. In the famous 1939 and 1964 New York World’s Fairs, companies like Frigidaire and General Electric previewed then seemingly futuristic technologies such as easy-to use stoves and efficient refrigerators. These innovations were immediately built into luxury homes, though, at the time, mansions were usually constructed with kitchens set back from central spaces such as living rooms.
What the futurists of decades past could not have imagined is that in 2015, homeowners in even the priciest of residences would want to cook in centrally located, open kitchens. Especially in food-obsessed Las Vegas, many residents want to showcase their culinary skills with impressive outlays of convection ovens, capon-roasting rotisseries, infrared griddles and beyond.
This is the gourmet America that started as a sparkle in Julia Child’s eye and grew into a Food Network-fueled media buffet. Just turn the pages of design-oriented magazines like Architectural Digest, Dwell and Elle Decor: kitchens in all their food preparation and serving glory are showcased right along great rooms and palatial bedroom suites. And you’ll find such amazing gathering places in luxury homes from Summerlin to Southern Highlands. Kitchens are now.
A chef’s paradise can be found in a 9,917-square-foot, five-bedroom contemporary home in The Ridges. Priced at $5.75 million, it’s listed with broker Gavin Ernstone, the owner of Simply Vegas.
“The way it’s laid out, it’s just great,” Ernstone said. “It looks like something off a cooking show.”
Indeed, with its wide-open floor plan, descending stainless-steel hood and double marble-topped islands, it could easily be in a Los Angeles television studio.
“Everything in the kitchen is Wolf or Sub-Zero,” he said.
Just a handful of its features include a cavernous pantry, two ovens, a vegetable sink, twin dishwashers, breakfast nook and a stunning view.
Tom Love, owner of The Tom Love Group has sold — and sells — some of the most advanced residential galleys in the Las Vegas real estate market. Deluxe kitchens are personal statements, he observes.
“Here’s the bottom line. Anybody who has the means, shopping for their kitchen is like shopping for their couture at Neiman Marcus. You’ve got Wolf to Viking to GE,” Love said.
Each individual kitchen is a larder full of integrated equipment possibilities.
“It’s not just ovens and ranges. You’ve got steamers, you’ve got woks. You’ve got Miele and Wolf coffee makers that are built-in,” he said.
Luxury homeowners are willing to pay top dollar for buffet-like arrays of quality accouterments.
“When you take a look at what’s offered in the kitchen now, it’s everything under the sun,” Love said. “We’re finding that people are sparing no expense.”
Love also remarks that this is a golden age for kitchen planning and purchasing.
“With technology and progress, it’s a lot more fun to shop for your kitchen these days than it was 10, 15 years ago. There are so many makes and models,” he said.
Love also stresses that up-to-date luxury kitchens are essential investments in the resale marketplace.
New Old-Style Kitchens
Some of Las Vegas’ most amazing kitchens take décor cues from centuries ago, such as a spectacular 9,243-square-foot Red Rock Country Club mansion styled as a classic French manor.
“It’s exquisite,” said Maureen Robison of Shapiro & Sher Group, the listing agent on the property.
In terms of technology, the kitchen is completely au currant, including Sub-Zero amenities.
Interestingly, however, they are mostly concealed behind custom wood cabinetry.
“You’re not going to see stainless steel,” she said. “You’re going to see furniture-grade fronts on the appliances.”
Robison points out a special feature that is gaining popularity: integral wooden cutting boards built into kitchen islands. They are specially conditioned and maintained for resilience and hygiene by craftsmen. This system has been used in castles and fine restaurants in Europe for centuries.
Also, Robison notes that the kitchen is decorated in white tones. This aesthetic, inspired by retailers like Restoration Hardware, trendy West Coast eateries and evocative cookbook photos is finding its way into top-notch Las Vegas homes.
Advanced Engineering is Cooking
So just what sets high-end kitchen appliances above and apart from the cooksets in the average home?
Take, for example, Wolf’s stunning oven line, the M Series. These intelligent apparatuses feature the company’s Dual VertiCross convection system, preset cooking levels and improved interior lighting. Add-ons like digitally temperature-regulated, multi-dish warming drawers make entertaining and separate-course dinners handy for socially active hosts.
For uber-techie cooks, Gaggenau engineering might be on the menu. The German company creates future-is-now appliances. You don’t pull a Gaggenau oven door open, rather you merely push a button on a cool-to-the-touch LCD screen. The door automatically breezes wide with a steady motion of reminiscent of entering a late-model BMW or Mercedes-Benz automobile. Gaggenau ranges come with features like integral steamers and deep-fryers, too.
The Upgrade Timer Rings
Many local homeowners are looking to renovate their current luxury home kitchens to meet today’s high culinary bar. This can be for their own use or for future reselling reasons.
Remodeling, then, is the plan du jour.
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery is a definite business to visit in Las Vegas for remodelers. Its West Flamingo location beautifully showcases extensive kitchen brands from Asko and Broan to Jenn-Air and U-Line.
The retailer’s staff members consult with customers to pick the best appliances for each home, which can be daunting for some buyers.
“All of our associates have vast experience levels — some over 10 years — of going through this process,” said John Segler, showroom manager.
Econ Appliance is also a local go-to resource for remodelers and contractors alike.
What is the Inspiration?
On the basic level, an eye-popping, decked-out kitchen is merely matter of money. If you can afford four ovens, you can have four ovens. But why do luxury homeowners really opt for such lavish cooking stations?
Vincent Pouessel, executive chef at Db Brasserie in The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, has a culinary expert’s idea.
“Many times, it’s cosmetic when homeowners are designing their space and choosing their appliances,” Pouessel said. “Additionally, it’s also because having professional-grade equipment ensures durable, sturdy and easy-to-clean appliances. Typically, the overall performance of high-end brands will guarantee you better success in day-to-day cooking.”
Durability and efficiency aside, though, what can a home cook truly accomplish, edible nuts and bolts, with such elaborate, high-grade mechanisms?
“In regards to performance, a lot of times it’s the size of these appliances — the “bigger is better” philosophy. I think that goes well here,” he said.
“For instance, you have a better chance to cook your Thanksgiving Day turkey in a professional oven without any spacing problems versus a more conventional oven,” Pouessel said.
A perfectly browned, juicy holiday bird … now that is as excellent a reason as any for investing extensively in a luxury kitchen, and Las Vegas is just the town to do it in.