This is the Kettle to Buy

Author's Rating:

Pros: Ergonomic, good-looking, quick to boil, easy to clean.  It's a well-made, well-designed appliance.

Cons: None, really.  Maybe the price.

The Bottom Line: 

After many different kettles this is my favourite.  Pricey but worth it:  Classy-looking, ergonomic, easy to maintain, boils water quickly.

Author's Review
After some frustrating experiences with other kettles (design and durability issues) I decided to splurge and pay $100 (Canadian) for the Breville Ikon cordfree kettle in May of 2010.  So far it's been well worth it. 

The basic design is sleek and looks good on the counter: stainless steel that wipes clean with a microfibre cloth.  No need to hide it when the tea is made!  Any extra length of cord can be wrapped under the stand.  The footprint is economical; it doesn't take much counter space, and it boils water as quickly as anything I've tried, with a 1500-Watt concealed element.

An unusual (and terrific) feature is the plug-in, which is designed with a finger hole; this seems to be a standard Breville feature (other Breville appliances have it as well) and I love, love, LOVE it.  Even in a hurry, you can easily grab it to unplug the kettle; no need to get after the kids to QUIT YANKING THE CORD!  Your finger hooks into this plug so conveniently that it's just not an issue.

The handle is very ergonomic; I've never any problems filling or pouring, even with the occasional flare-up of arthritis. And it is shaped so that there's no risk of accidentally touching the (uninsulated) kettle wall while pouring.

There is a water window with a gauge under the handle, which lights up in a lovely shade of blue when the kettle is turned on.  Easy on the eyes, even early in the morning, and tells you if there's enough water in there for one more cup of tea. 

The lid flips up at the touch of a button on the handle - infinitely more convenient than any of the other types I've tried.  There is a water window on the lid, which we don't use much but it does look nice. 
The capacity of the kettle is a generous 1.7 L and there are no heating coils inside, making it easy to keep clean.    

Some of the reviews mention an odour, especially when the kettle is new; this didn't happen with this particular one, not even at the very beginning.

Minor quirk:  if there was one feature that I would change on this kettle, it would be the water gauge.  It can be tricky to see it under the handle, especially as you're doing other tasks while waiting for the water and it's crossed my mind that it would be nice to have it on the side instead. This is a minor point though; most of the time you don't need to check water levels once the kettle's been started anyway. 

All in all, this kettle has been the best (and best-looking) I've ever tried, and I hope it lasts forever.