Hip Kitchens You Won't See at Grandma's House: ALNO Pasadena European Kitchens

SIERRA MADRE, Calif., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Fred Crockett of ALNO Pasadena European Kitchens is delighted American kitchen designers and consumers have heartily embraced his fresh, high-style kitchens, imported directly from European manufacturers.

Instead of replicating the corbels and curlicues of Grandma's twenty to fifty-year-old kitchen, "Germany and Italy are producing energy-efficient appliances and green-processed, highly durable cabinetry in sleek, elegant and very cost-effective packages," comments Crockett.

After returning from his yearly jaunt to Milan's Eurocucina worldwide kitchen furniture show, Crocket reviewed the 145 manufacturers present and expanded his line of high-quality German and Italian cabinetry and appliance makers like ALNO and Liebherr with Italian Lineaquattro and Germany's Leicht, with more to come.

Crockett reflects, "After talking with European manufacturers, I found that most companies use distribution groups to sell their kitchens in the USA, traditionally incorporating a three to four-layer markup system. By the time the consumer writes a check buying a cabinet, that $500 product was marked up first by the importer to $1000, then again by the distributor and maybe a dealer too, to an unaffordable $1500-$2000."

Crockett decided to do something about it and now deals "factory direct," eliminating the middlemen and multiple markups, delivering premium European kitchens, custom entry and interior doors at near home center prices.

European manufacturers that Crockett's carefully chosen for his lineup are fully templated to American appliance sizing, so dropping in a Thermador or Wolf stove or other American sized appliance is no problem.

Many of the European appliances have developed very different energy efficiency and high-quality technologies, shooting them ahead of the traditional U.S. appliance choices over the last couple of decades. Concepts like "water wall" humidity maintenance to preserve freshness, continuous running compressor fans that don't attract pet hair and dust for greater efficiency over cycling compressors, stainless steel drawers, unbelievably sleek and innovative cooktops, stylish architectural venting, and amazing lighting.

Every order is a custom order at these companies, so precise measurement delivers maximum storage space, eliminating cabinet spacers and bulky side mechanisms for drawers, both space wasters in a kitchen. The builders and developers with projects like Astani's 77-unit Concerto high-rise near LA Live love the products.

They can deliver sleek green kitchens without that cookie-cutter look, at an aggressive price and efficient delivery turnaround.

Part of the cost savings come from what's included in the price of an ALNO cabinet versus a home center or a custom cabinetmaker's product. First, handles, self closers and hardware are all included; big dollars in pricing a kitchen order. Next, they're prefinished. Order custom cabinets from your local carpenter and you'll receive unfinished cabinets that require lacquering in your home, releasing all those worrisome chemicals into your air, with off-gassing later.

Europe's tough lacquer and sealer specifications require near zero formaldehyde emissions. Their penetrating cold processing methods, which dry at room temperatures, apply finishes with much lower chemical off-gassing AND higher durability and water resistance.

California's low-VOC wood finishes and paints have reduced the water resistance of kitchen and bath cabinetry, often requiring refinishing after a year or two adjacent to a kitchen sink or dishwasher. "We left a wet glass on one of our European finished cabinets for hours, with no impact on the finish at all," Crockett proudly stated.

"I feel I've really hit on something. I was startled to find that my blog Kitchen Hip has thousands of followers, as Americans are searching for a new kitchen to call their own. I have consumers, builders and developers showing up from 40-50 miles away in the Palisades or Newport Beach for our cabinets, appliances and design/oversight services. Most of our clients visit us at our showroom which is convenient for anyone coming from Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre, Arcadia or Bradbury."

"Since our services extend from initial consultation to final installation," comments Crockett, "our builders, developers and individual homeowners are able to focus and concentrate their efforts on other aspects of construction knowing that their kitchens, appliances, countertops and lighting are in good hands, clearly a win-win for our homeowner and us."

The ALNO Pasadena European Kitchens showroom will be featured in the "coolest kitchens" architectural program during "A Taste of Sierra Madre" on Saturday, September 11th. VIP $35 passes for this charity event will be available at Savor the Flavor, Best Buy Drugs, or Belle's Nest in Sierra Madre.

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SOURCE ALNO Pasadena European Kitchens