apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

has anyone installed a compact, ventless washer and dryer unit in a rental? how easy was it, and how did you approach your landlord? i think i am not allowed to put in a washer/dryer according to my elase, but i wonder if this kind would be excepted.

I have -- at least here in NYC, the trick is to IGNORE your landlord and just get it!

But a word to the wise -- ventless dryers are awful! Mine broke and I didn't bother to get it fixed -- I just hang the wash to dry (which is easy in our overheated cake-oven NYC apts!!!!!)

Incidentally, if you are planning just to hook ti to yoru sink -- it's a breeze. The delivery guy will probably set it up for you.

has anyone actually purchased anything from this company? they are based here in austin but have no storefront, and have changed addresses...i'd love to get some items from them but i see they have more than a few complaints. anyone have any good/bad experiences?

Hi everyone!

I am completely stuck on deciding between 2 compact gas ranges: the Avanti 24" stainless steel gas range ($490) and the Premier Pro 24" stainless steel 24" range ($790).

Each has slightly different feature: the Premier looks a little more professional and durable and has an option to turn on the gas With or WITHOUT the electronic ignition (good for a blackout?) w/ the broiler on the bottom but the Avanti is cheaper, broiler is waist high but tends to make the outside of the stove too hot to touch. Also the Premier has higher BTU than the Avanti.

both stoves in comparison:

http://www.ajmadison.com/phpdocs/ajtest/item_comparison.php

or separately:

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/DG241BS.html

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/P24S.html

I'm no big culinary maestro, but perhaps those are untapped talents just waiting for the right cooking set-up? So not having any previous cooking habits I'm at a loss. I do like to feed people.

HELP!

Thank you,

Olga

olga
i'm going through exactly this same dilemma. i hope you get some good feedback.

Hey Lisa,

yeah, thanks, i think i'll post and repost in the next open thread to get some response. The problem is there is an excruciatingly limited selection of 24" ranges!!! A total AT topic. I've thought myself backwards and forwards around this, trying to integrate a 30" stove into the solution just to open up the selection ... BUT i just can't afford that much space into my galley kitchen, especially not being a big cook type person.

Also, the drool-worthy DeLonghi 24" range ($1900) is perfect in every conceivable way (convection oven, yadda yadda) save for the price.

Over on That Home Site! they're all into their airplance hangar sized kitchens with super duper plus high end 48" stoves, so this is so totally an AT-to-the-rescue scenario.

thanks for making space for my rants :)

Olga

hi olga, et al--

the trick about 24" models is that manufacturers often perceive them as their low-end model, so Compact Appliances does offer a nice alternative, for the most part.

we bought this Summit model from our local summit dealer after seeing it first on Compact Appliances. (shipping fees and fees for carrying the appliance inside your front door and so on made the site a less attractive option than buying local from a Summit dealer -Sozio's in cambridge for us- and negotiating delivery costs).

http://www.compactappliance.com/xq/JSP.detailmain/Summit_Professional_24_quot;_Gas_Range_in_Stainless_Steel/itemID.11029/itemType.PRODUCT/iMainCat.596/iSubCat.598/iProductID.11029/qx/shopping/product/TTM630R.htm

I'd definitely recommend it-- the broiler is fantastic, stainless towel bar is nice, etc. the only deception on the website is that the model doesn't come with such large knobs. (And the top is black enamel, so we had to re-think our choice of white countertops).

good luck!
phoebe

btw, would anyone know of a place that supplies Viking-size stove knobs?

I just ordered a wine cooler just like this one but for 12 bottles from Compact Appliance.

It was really cheap. I bought it to fit inside a 15" Ikea cabinet inside my bar. I'm going to put a door on the cabinet so the wine cooler will not be visible. The unit is electrostaticaly cooled and it has plenty of clearance on all sides for venting so overheating should not be an issue.

I received it pretty quickly in the mail but the door frame was cracked. I sent it back and was credited and received a replacement which was fine. They were very friendly on the phone.

I have the 24" Avanti Range from C.A. in my studio and it is the best appliance I've ever owned. The oven preheats to 400 in 3 minutes flat! I had adjusted to my previous 50s Roper model which took an hour to get to 325. I love that it allows me to avoid having a microwave for reheating leftovers etc. One point of advice with the 24" is that not all muffin pans, or cookie sheets will fit inside they could be too wide. You need to measure the actual opening and shop around.

Keep in mind the Avanti is a bare bones model, bell-free, whistle free. You have to turn it all-the-way to broil in order ignite the oven. Which does have a gas pilot light. You may be able to light the stove the old fashioned way, with matches, in the event of a power outage, haven't considered experimenting. But way to think ahead to the apocalypse Olga! It's nice to know that when it's all fire and brimstone outside you don't have to postpone your dinner plans!

Luke,

i was thinking more along the lines of: power is out, it's dark in the hallways, stores are closed or whatever and all we got to eat is 5 lbs of rice ... what to do?!

PS, it's never really fire and brimstone. Just a ton of inconvenience for the ill-prepared.

I count myself amongst them, BTW.