The Pros & Cons of Integrated Appliances

Freestanding or integrated kitchen appliances? That’s the million-dollar question. Do I want the sleek and space-saving advantages of an embedded oven, fridge or dishwasher—or do I favour the flexibility of freestanding? 

Both types of appliances can be integrated into any kitchen size and design, from ultra-modern minimalism, right through to traditional country, and each offer their own unique advantages.

Considerate sorts that we are here Hugo & Blake, we’ve cobbled together a handy little guide to help you decide which appliance option is best for you and your kitchen layout. Read on!

What to integrate?

Let’s start with the oven; the multifunctioning workhorse of any kitchen space. Whether it’s gas or electric, your oven can be integrated beautifully into either your floor or wall units. Just remember, when planning the seamless embedding of this fundamental appliance, to place it at a convenient height for everyday use.

Integrated hobs are a hugely popular style choice for both contemporary and traditional kitchens. Whatever your preference, from induction hobs to electric cooking ranges like the revolutionary Everhot, you can guarantee a smooth finish and plenty of clean lines for your kitchen worktops or island

There’s options available for a neatly-integrated dishwasher, too. Do you want an exposed appliance or, for ultimate aesthetic streamlining, why not secrete the dishwasher behind a cupboard door?

Integrated fridge and freezers offer ease-of-use and a stylish clean finish to your kitchen space. Set perfectly flush with the rest of your cabinets, your freezer and fridge can either be exposed or hidden behind cabinet panels that harmonize with the rest of your kitchen aesthetic.

As well as the primary appliances listed above, there’s also a wide range of accessories that can be easily-integrated into your freestanding kitchen design; coffee machines, chopping boards, wine and spice racks, toasters—you name it, Hugo & Blake can find a neatly concealed home for it!

Advantages of integrated appliances

One of the chief advantages of integrated appliances is their space-saving properties. A stylishly-embedded oven will only take up the room that would otherwise be used for a cupboard—so no additional floor space is wasted. This is particularly useful in smaller kitchens where every inch counts!

From an aesthetics point of view, integrated appliances offer an unbeatably-clean visual quality, which goes some way to create a sharp, minimalist feel to your kitchen layout. Perfect for a contemporary design.

And the negatives?

One consideration when choosing an integrated appliance is the issue of permanence. While you might have achieved that aspirational clean finish, there might come a time when you want to reconfigure and redesign your space. Something that can prove tricky with an in-built oven or dishwasher. 

It’s also worth thinking about repairs. If the worst should happen and an embedded appliance needs fixing—or removing and replacing—it’s not always a straightforward task doing so. Also, if you’re moving home, releasing an integrated American-style fridge freezer from its housing is going to be a downright nuisance.

The simple answer is that a mixture of both freestanding and integrated appliances will work perfectly well for most kitchens. Combining the space-saving sleekness of one, with the aesthetic flexibility of the other. It’s all about choice. Some customers might wish to showcase their oven, make it a centrepiece for their culinary space, so why would they want to hide it under a worktop or in a kitchen island? There’s plenty of considerations involved in deciding which appliances to integrate. Your best bet is to contact us here at Hugo & Blake and we’d be delighted to discuss your options!