One of the biggest trends in contemporary kitchens is to rethink what is means to be modern. Gone are the days when fixtures and appliances had to be cold stainless steel in order to be au courant. These days, designers are updating sleek models with warm finishes and vibrant colors to make kitchens that are just as friendly and inviting as they are smart and elegant.
The Portofino line from Italian manufacturer SMEG combines bright, rich tones with the latest technology to create a stylish new choice for architects and designers. “The new Portofino design line is inspired by the rich tones and light, bright colors of the Mediterranean, specifically, the Ligurian port town of Portofino,” says Christian Boscherini of SMEG. With options in lemon yellow, orange, olive green, classic black and white, there is a Portofino oven fit for any kitchen design, adding just the right amount of Italian panache.
The five color options for the Portofino line
SMEG is a classic Italian brand, founded in 1948 by Vittorio Bertazzoni, Sr., whose family had a history as metalworkers and blacksmiths. They were from Guastalla, a town near the city of Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. Today, the company is still owned by the same family, its iconic acronym translating roughly to “metal enameling factory based in Guastalla, Emilia.” SMEG offers a range of lines for kitchen appliances, ranging in style from sleek to retro, but always with the refined sense of design that the company has become known for.
The Portofino line continues the company’s work to make kitchen appliances that are beautiful enough to stand alone as their own pieces of design. Because the exterior colors of the Portofino ovens continue along their sides, the appliances can either be tucked into cabinetry or stand alone. The robust, solid and ergonomic knobs visually hold their own on the oven’s face while being tough enough to withstand years of use. The cast iron grills on the range add some comfortable heft to the stovetop. These are the sort of design touches that would feel at home in any classic style while still being modern and refined.
A standalone Portofino range and hood
The oven’s beauty is more than just skin-deep. Its interior is equipped with a suite of features that make sure its performance gets rave reviews. Its cavity has a volume of four cubic feet, which puts it at the top of its class. “The unusually large oven cavity, powerful burners, soft-close, triple fan convection and other features make the line… a fantastic option that is sure to please any developer or homeowner,” says Boscherini. An isothermal insulation system reduces preheating times and contributes to its high energy efficiency so that a Portofino oven not only looks good, but works well, too.
An oven’s interior and stovetop
The ergonomic design touches of the oven mean that it’s easy to use day after day. Telescopic guide rails slide in and out of the cavity, meaning that the owner never has to stick their hand inside a hot oven again. An enamel inner finish stays clean even through the toughest uses, and a vapor clean function in some models means that with just a little water, the oven can easily clean itself. To top it all off, a self-close system means the oven door eases shut, never slamming with a thud. These are the sort of thoughtful details that make an owner happy for years.
The self-close door
Whatever kind of kitchen design you’re working on, the Portofino line from SMEG is seriously worth considering. Evoking all of the warmth of a vacation on the pristine Italian coast, its standout visual appeal is sure to set its home apart and help create a kitchen that no one could ignore.
