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Can Appliances Be Art?

(Welcome again to Bethany, one of the finalists in our San Francisco Blogger search.
Comment away! (Please note that this is posted with permission from The Kitchn, which would normally publish a post of this type, if it weren't part of our search.))
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Can appliances be art?

Designing your space, particularly small spaces that often come along with apartment living, is a constant work in creativity. The best fits are often the unexpected find whose presence in your space turns each room into home. The lovely couple of Marin and Loren, long time Twin Peak residents and all around fabulous people, were kind enough to introduce me to the art of the Sandwich maker. Although at first glance its design aesthetics could be up for debate, its presence in the kitchen is sure to evoke a feeling of nostalgia and thoughts of home for those familiar with its workings. The same thing any great piece of art would do, right? So can appliances be considered art?

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Marin and Loren fill their home with pieces collected from family members and world travels. Since Marin is a chef-in-training, the kitchen is where the couple spends a great deal of their time and where appliances truly do become art. Observing Marin work with mere pesto and provolone and along with the sandwich maker produce a beyond noteworthy meal, definitely convinced me. Design and art truly is all of those little things that make it feel like home.

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A first round scavenge of Alemany's Sunday swap wares did not turn up a sandwich maker, but I'm happy to report that Williams Sonoma came through. Enjoy!

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-bethany

Other Posts by Bethany:

  • Golden Gate Park's Conservatory of Flowers

  • Comments (7)

    YES!

    posted by callbob on 2008-02-08 17:02:13
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    I keep pointing out to the heathens that mock my Dualit toaster that it is a piece of industrial art. So, most assuredly, YES!!!

    posted by monika1 on 2008-02-08 17:49:06
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    Yes, they can ... but not those two appliances on that stove!

    (Like your Joyce Chen bamboo cutting board, though...)

    posted by Jane on 2008-02-08 17:59:43
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    Isn't art something that serves no real utilitarian purpose, and useful objects are "designed"? But that's beside the point. I have a tiny kitchen and my red dutch oven makes everything look cute.

    posted by AmyV on 2008-02-08 18:11:30
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    especially the teapot. i have a tangerine orange one!

    posted by mod*mom on 2008-02-09 02:08:40
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    Of course an appliance or any functional item can be art. This is exactly what Sullivan meant by "form ever follows function!" Particularly in the U.S. pragmatism and aesthetics do not negate one another.

    posted by timmy jr. on 2008-02-09 13:49:13
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    If in its function a masterpiece is created, is it then not a masterpiece itself? Own it, Love it!

    posted by nanu75 on 2008-02-12 21:05:05
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