Style : HOME DESIGN : Suprise Packages : FORM AND FUNCTION

Not only are today’s kitchen and bath appliances safer, faster and more energy-efficient, they’re more handsomely designed than ever before. Some shoppers buy appliances based on style alone; others go for technological sophistication. Whatever you choose, you’ll find both selection and cost almost daunting. But as kitchens and baths become outmoded after only 15 years, spending more can pay off in the long run. Here, then, is a short guide to some of the best new products.

1. Amana Built-In Refrigerator/Freezer: You can get the built-in look of high-end appliances with Amana’s 24-inch-deep free-standing refrigerator. When fitted with a door panel and trim kit, it fits flush with kitchen cabinets and looks amazingly similar to a $2,575 Sub-Zero. About $1,500, plus $130 for white or black panel and $70 for trim kit. 2. Smooth Top by Dacor: Here, electricity and high-intensity halogen elements heat food faster than earlier smoothtop cooktops. The easy-to-clean surface has elements of varying diameters to match pot sizes. About $850. 3. VGR Professional Series Gas Range by Viking: Color makes a fashion statement in the kitchen. Viking’s heavy-duty gas range comes in blue, forest green, black and almond enamel, though stainless-steel and white finishes are still the biggest sellers. $3,200 to $6,500. 4. WD 24 by Thermador: Thermador’s 20-year-old warming drawer is now the rage due to the craze in commercial-looking kitchens. A stainless-steel drawer that keeps food hot and heats plates, it can be installed almost anywhere--even the bathroom. Although Thermador doesn’t recommend it, some people use the WD 24 to warm their towels. About $450. 5. Bolero Lavatory by Kohler: Today’s trendiest baths are borrowing ideas from the kitchen. The round Bolero lavatory in a stainless-steel mirror finish (oval shape and satin finish also available) was introduced last year. There’s no chipping or discoloring, but keep a wipe cloth handy. $106 (satin round) to $126 (mirror round), $122 (satin oval) to $142 (mirror oval). 6. CMT 231 by Thermador: This oven offers seven distinct cooking modes--microwave, bake, broil, microbake, microbroil, convection bake and convection microbake. But you have to put the food in and take it out. About $3,000. 7. BlancoStar Food Preparation Center by Blanco: Two waste-disposal systems in one--an electric waste disposer and a built-in recycling chute that leads to a bin concealed below. A chopping board makes it easy to save produce cuttings for the compost pile. Or use the chute and bin to recycle cans and bottles. About $1,180. 8. Vintage Bath or Whirlpool by Kohler: Kohler’s cast-iron, rolled-rim tub was inspired by a turn-of-the-century design. It’s large enough to hold two people and can double as a drop-in whirlpool. $2,340 (white) to $3,200 (red, black or pastels) for the tub; $625 for the wood base; $430 for the wood towel rail; $329 to $500 for the brass bracket and end cap set; $3,800 to $4,675 for the whirlpool; $400 for the in-line heater. 9. Ladylux Pull-Out Spray Faucet by Grohe: Introduced in 1985, this award-winning faucet was among the first with an extendable sprayer head. Available now are a water-filter head to remove impurities and an accessories set consisting of a scraper-spray attachment for pots and pans and brush-spray attachment for china and crystal. About $415 for the Ladylux; $72 for the water-filter head; $50 for the accessory set. 10. Fasar Cooktop by Induction Range: Magnetic-induction cooktops are the most dramatic, and safest, advance in surface cooking. The Fasar’s 12-by-12-inch ceramic or glass tiles remain cool to the touch because heat is magnetically induced from below the surface to the pot. Tiles can be custom-designed and arranged in almost any configuration. About $3,500 (for four tiles, control panel and power supply). 11. Wellworth Lite Toilet by Kohler: This ultra-low-consumption toilet (1.6 gallons of water versus the usual 3.5 gallons) is available in 16 colors, with a round or elongated bowl. $152 to $278. 12. Gaggenau Built-In Combined Microwave Oven: The Rolls-Royce of appliance manufacturers, the German firm Gaggenau will introduce the market’s most powerful microwave next month. It has 1,100 watts (about 40% more than conventional microwaves) and does triple duty as a conventional oven and broiler. About $2,800. 13. Pinnacle Raised Ventilation System by Dacor: This vent-less system whisks away cooking odors, then disappears into a cabinet below the cooktop. A light indicates when the filter needs cleaning. There’s also a delayed shut-off function. $675 to $810.

Product information: Familian Bath/ Kitchen Center, North Hollywood, Bay Cities Kitchens and Appliances, Santa Monica