A candid Interview with Showcase Kitchens Appliance Guru, Anthony Starck
By Showcase Director of Marketing and publicist, Suzanne Sokolov

Anthony Starck

You know this 85-year-old company and their reputation for creating eye-catching custom kitchen designs.  From a lumber yard in Brooklyn to designing award-winning Long Island kitchens, 4rd gen and brother of the CEO, Anthony Starck, is a master at understanding the wide variety of custom kitchen appliances on the market and walks clients through the maze of high-end kitchen appliance features and models as they consider their purchases. Starck has 20 years in the field as a  custom kitchen designer, with the last five as the in-house luxury appliance specialist serving as principal of the company’s appliance arm, LAW (Luxury Appliance Wholesalers).

SS:  What is the first thing to consider when making custom kitchen appliance decisions?

AS: Need, need, need.  Custom kitchen appliance purchases should be based on how the cook and family use their custom kitchen.  People think that they need the Ferrari of refrigeration or ranges - they might or might not.  For some of our clients, it is unnecessary to overspend on the newest, biggest or highest end luxury appliance model.  For example, if you don’t cook often, there is no reason to buy an 8-burner high-end kitchen range, no matter how fabulous it looks.  If you have young children, you may want to opt for refrigerator drawers that are low to the floor.  I love to discuss exactly how my clients will use the space in their custom kitchen design and decipher what will work best for them before we buy.  This is always made in conjunction with the custom kitchen design of the space, for obvious reasons. 

La Cornue range built for serious cooking

SS:  Are the luxury kitchen appliance brands worth the price? 

AS:  Today’s manufacturers are doing a great job in constructing their luxury appliances.  In my experience, the better brands, and you know what they are, the more testing they do of EVERY unit, not just blind testing randomly.  Also, a big thing is the warranties. Luxury appliance brands stand behind their products.  It’s common for refrigerator units to be guaranteed for 20-30 years for both parts and service - and I’ve seen many times when the client is glad that they did.  Another factor to consider is resale. With the custom kitchen being the heart of the home, high end kitchen appliance brands are as much as an investment as updated insulation.

Sub Zero wine tower is fully guaranteed for all parts and service for 30 years 

SS: Is stainless steel finish still preferred or are paneled luxury appliances?  

AS: Stainless luxury appliances have been a fan favorite for years since replacing white as the most sought-after finish.  It looks modern and matches almost every custom cabinet color and style.  In my opinion, stainless luxury appliances offer a visual break in a wall of custom cabinets, especially in a large custom kitchen design.  However, a flush, paneled look is very, very chic.  Remember, if you are doing paneled  luxury refrigerators and dishwashers, it’ll add extra cost to the luxury appliance as well as space design and installation.   

In regards to stainless luxury appliances, one of the biggest drawbacks is the appearance of finger prints and smudges.  There are some lower end luxury appliances that have emerged in the last few years, i.e. Maytag, that offer print-resistant finishes that I do not recommend for various reasons.  Think top coat of nail polish. It looks great until it’s scratched or chips off. My recommendations are the wonderful commercial cleaners that take care of these unsightly marks in an instant, such as the Weiman Stainless Steel cleaners and polishers, on all of your high-end kitchen appliances.  In an instant, I swear.  

SS:  Gas vs. electric range 

AS:  Your stove is the most important part of your custom kitchen, helping you create both everyday dinners and holiday feasts for your friends and family. There are many different stove models available in high-end kitchen appliances, and it can be difficult to narrow down your choices. There are advantages to both gas and electric ranges, and the ultimate choice comes down to what you use your stove for and how it will look in your custom kitchen design. 

Pros of gas - It is widely known that gas cooktops and ovens are more reliable at holding the desired temperature.  Overall, gas ranges are less expensive to manufacture, hence, less costly to purchase. Also, your custom kitchen is most likely prewired for gas, which may help guide your decision.  The elements heat up faster with gas, enabling cooking to happen immediately – and the broil feature adds a browning to the food that you just don’t get in electric ranges, which are found in some custom kitchens.  

Pros of electric – Our clients love the sleek look of electric cooktops.  By their very nature, the smooth top of electric ranges are easy to clean and are beautiful in luxury kitchen designs.  In addition, they are more stable for heavy pots and pans as opposed to the unevenness of the grates on gas stoves.  The heat is more evenly distributed under and around your cookware in both the stovetop and in the oven, making for a great addition to your custom kitchen design. 

SS:  What are the notable new luxury appliance features people should be paying attention to?

AS:  High-end kitchen appliance purchasing has moved into the 21st Century.  WiFi connectivity and all of the smart home technology it affords have become the norm and frequently requested in our custom kitchen designs.  We can adjust the thermostat, the shades, and the lighting even before we get to our block; if you don’t believe me, just ask Alexa.  With that, there has been a tremendous surge in our clients asking for smart luxury appliances.  WiFi enabled ovens, such as the Wolf E-Series that can be turned on while driving home, progress of your washers and dryers can be monitored and changed remotely, cameras inside your luxury refrigerator can connect you with what’s inside while shopping at the grocery store and tablet-like devices inserted into luxury  refrigerators and even countertops that are voice command driven are all high-end kitchen appliance features.  The device I actually find most useful is Miele’s temperature probe that will tell you when your food is done, giving you the chance to go about your busy day without hovering over the oven in your custom kitchen.

Smart probe in Miele oven can be checked remotely

Ask the expert:  

For any questions about luxury appliances, drop Anthony Starck an email here  Anthony@ShowcaseNY.com