The Studio Barn: Kitchen Appliances by KitchenAid.

Excited to be sharing another peek into The Studio Barn: Kitchen Appliances by KitchenAid.

This post is in partnership with KitchenAid.

When we first started designing the studio barn’s kitchen, I knew that I really wanted to have KitchenAid appliances installed throughout.

I’ve used many different appliance brands over the years, but KitchenAid is a brand that has consistently performed well. It’s the brand that I’ve used the most throughout my years in the kitchen. Yes, ever since my very beginning days of cooking, and even before that, my mom’s KitchenAid stand mixer was our reliable cookie-making tool!

We worked closely with the KitchenAid team to design a studio kitchen full of appliances that are built to last. Appliances that consistently turn out delicious food, and help perfect the overall kitchen workflow.

Today’s post is all about showing off these beautiful appliances. But first, I do have to mention these gorgeous backsplash tiles from Clé, because everyone asks about them!

On to the appliances…here is what we chose and why I love them…

The Refrigerator

Or I should say refrigerators, as we have two, side by side. It’s hard to choose a favorite piece out of my KitchenAid appliances, but I certainly love our refrigerators. I knew I wanted something very spacious to accommodate plenty of food for entertaining, workshops, recipe development, large photoshoots and more. We debated back and forth about what model would be just right. In the end, we decided to put two 36″ built-in bottom mount refrigerators side by side to really fit the studio’s needs. It was the best decision we could have made. Having so much refrigeration space has been a game-changer. It allows me to have a cake chilling on one side, while the other side is packed to the brim with fresh produce.

Something that makes these KitchenAid units stand out among other brands is the Preserva® Food Care System, which includes various components that work together to assure deliciously fresh and flavorful foods. Probably most important to me is the two independent cooling systems each refrigerator has. This is something I feel is a must in a working kitchen refrigerator, especially one that’s used all day like mine is. One cooling system is dedicated just to accurate refrigeration, and another dedicated just to frozen foods, which ensures fresh food stays fresh longer, and frozen food, well…frozen!

I also love the FreshFlow™ Air Filter, which helps minimize odors, and the FreshFlow™ Produce Preserver, which helps delay over-ripening, and is ideal for all the fresh produce I love to cook and bake with.

These refrigerators also have a Platinum Interior Design that provides a premium look with silver glossy walls that complement the metallic accents found inside the refrigerator. It’s a very sleek and clean look, which is so important to me. My favorite design element though? The beautiful side-by-side satin textured handles. For whatever reason, I just love the look and feel of these handles!

The 6 Burner Dual Fuel Ranges

Oh, these ranges! I use these guys every single day and am continually impressed by them. I decided to go with the KitchenAid commercial-style ranges, specifically the 36″ 6 Burner Dual Fuel Freestanding Range, to meet all of my cooking needs.

These ranges have yet to do anything but impress me and have already powered through not one, not two, not three, but FOUR Thanksgiving meals (I photographed many Thanksgiving tables this past year), three Christmas dinners, and hundreds of recipes for Half Baked Harvest. They’ve sure been put to the test, and they’ve met my expectations every time.

One of my favorite innovations in the ovens is the EasyConvect™ Conversion System, which takes the guesswork out of convection cooking. Its even-heat distribution has consistently provided me with incredible results; not only when making something tried and true, like Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, but also when experimenting with new recipes.

My main reason for choosing this range was the duel fuel element…meaning the cooktop is gas, while the oven is electric. I really wanted the precise control that can only come from a gas cooking surface. When you really need some heat, there are two dual-flame burners with 20K BTU’s. For times when being gentle is key, there’s a wide range of low temperatures to better simmer, reheat, and keep sauces warm – without scorching them. An electric oven ensures even cooking temperatures and dependability…ideal for all of my sweet layer cakes!

When it came to selecting a finish, I wanted to keep the commercial, clean look of stainless steel throughout all my appliances in this space. So I chose the beautiful stainless steel option here too. As soon as you walk into the studio, the double ranges and the hood are the first things you notice. They’re the focal point of the kitchen, and really of the entire studio!

The Gas Range Top

The commercial-style 36″ 6 Burner Gas Range Top in our island is a unit that we added at the very last-minute, but I am so happy we did. A goal of mine in the very near future is to create more video content shot right here in the studio. We have some very big plans that I’m really excited about, and this cooktop is perfect to help bring my vision to life. The cooktop is also great for entertaining. It allows me to continue cooking, while still taking part in the conversation.

The 5K BTU Simmer/Melt Burner helps me keep things like delicate sauces and gravies warm…without burning them. The lowest setting can be used for melting and simmering. I tend to use it most to gently melt chocolate. It actually works so well; I can control the melting process better than if I were to do it in the microwave.

In addition to the functionality of this cooktop, I also love the heavy-duty look and robust, die-cast black control knobs. Together they provide the look and performance that comes from professional, restaurant-quality appliances.

The Microwave

Did you know that for the last three years I did not own a microwave? Yes, it’s true! So this 24″ Built-in Microwave Oven was a must. We use it daily for warming up leftovers, thawing dough, and even doing a bit of the cooking. It’s a high-powered 1000 watt microwave, allowing for fast and thorough cooking.

The microwave also fits seamlessly into the studio’s pantry with its satin-textured handles and precision touch controls.

The Refrigerator/Freezer Drawers

Another last-minute (and very wise) decision was the addition of these 24″ Refrigerator/Freezer Drawers. We installed these drawers both in the kitchen island and in the prop storage room. Not only do we use the studio for photography, video, and cooking purposes, but we also hope to have some HBH events here, possibly even a workshop or two. With this in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to get a little extra fridge and freezer storage. We use these new drawers for beverages. Think ginger beers, sparkling waters, craft beers, and wine…all fit in there nice and snug. These impressive drawers keep drinks at the perfect temperature while storing them right where you need them. Plus, the LED interior lighting makes it incredibly easy to find just what I am looking for.

The Ice Maker

From the very start, I always knew that I wanted to include an ice maker somewhere in the studio. I use a lot of ice when making my cocktails and just never, ever, seem to have enough. With this 18″ Automatic Ice Maker I always have ice on hand. In fact, the deep storage bin holds up to 35 pounds of ice. Another major bonus? The unit makes ice in a uniform size and shape. It’s ideal for making cocktails and catering to all my entertaining needs. Clear Ice Technology allows for an attractive drink presentation and a slow melt rate, so beverages won’t water down quickly. This unit makes my life so much easier…no more crushing up ice in a bag for drinks!

The Dishwasher

As you can imagine, the dishwasher is a very, very important appliance with how much cooking I do. The last month-plus consisted of photographing between 4-6 recipes every single day, for three weeks straight. The number of dirty dishes was, well, A LOT!

Thankfully, we installed two KitchenAid dishwashers within the studio space to really help us with the workload. I am very picky when it comes to dishwashers. We went with the 44dBA Dishwasher with Dynamic Wash Arms and Bottle Wash, and there is no question we made the right choice. We’re so impressed with the dishwasher’s ability to get the dirtiest dishes clean, and the glasses clear as can be.

The ProsScrub™ feature helps eliminate soaking with 40 targeted spray jets. The dynamic wash arm features nine wash arms in one, directly spraying water into hard to reach places and cleaning dishes, no matter where they’re placed. There’s even a third level rack for spatulas, serving utensils, and measuring cups. Truly, can’t say enough good things about this unit. Having two was a real life-saver this past month!

In the studio’s kitchen, we went with a panel-ready design. This allowed us to match the dishwasher to the kitchen cabinets for a seamless look. We installed the second dishwasher in the pantry, adjacent to the kitchen. In the sleek stainless steel finish, the pantry dishwasher perfectly matches the refrigerator.

As you can tell, I really do love our appliances. They’ve not only made the studio kitchen gorgeous, but also created a kitchen that functions at a professional level. I could not be more pleased! Keep an eye out for our next post, which dives right into a delicious recipe!

Shop the Look:

Refrigerator – 36″ Built-in Bottom Mount Refrigerators

Range – 36″ 6 Burner Dual Fuel Freestanding Range

Hood – 36″ Custom Hood Liners

Range Top – 36″ 6 Burner Gas Range Top

Microwave – 24″ Built-in Microwave Oven

Refrigerator Drawers – 24″ Refrigerator/Freezer Drawers

Ice Maker – 18″ Automatic Ice Maker

Garbage Disposal – 1-Horsepower Batch Feed Food Waste Disposer

Dishwasher – 44dBA Dishwasher with Dynamic Wash Arms and Bottle Wash