Thats a pretty good setup. Personally I would change the refrigerator to a kitchenaid or something else, but that price is pretty sweet.

Couple of notes. First that range price for a floor is not really that good. Check out the link from a guy like leiberts.com. That's for a brand new one and I'm sure if you got a package you could probably do a little better even.

The Hood you should be able to get for less than that. In fact check out that same site and he is under $1200 for that hood

Great dishwasher, especially since you have hard water

Otherwise that's a very nice kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: DCS Range

Thats a pretty good setup. Personally I would change the refrigerator to a kitchenaid or something else, but that price is pretty sweet.

Couple of notes. First that range price for a floor is not really that good. Check out the link from a guy like leiberts.com. That's for a brand new one and I'm sure if you got a package you could probably do a little better even.

The Hood you should be able to get for less than that. In fact check out that same site and he is under $1200 for that hood

Great dishwasher, especially since you have hard water

Otherwise that's a very nice kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: DCS Range

joboxes,

Thanks so much for your feedback. The Leiberts website is great.

I'm interested in learning more about the 42" built-in Kitchen Aid because it's $4999 at Leiberts for the panel-ready version, which is what I really wanted to begin with. That makes it about $800 more than the discounted GE Monogram stainless that the dealer is offering me, but with the Kitchen Aid I'd have my cabinet guy do the panels and would get the look I prefer. Still, I'd need to make up the $800 elsewhere since I'm determined not to go over the total $15,000 budget.

Maybe the DCS will come down again in price at Expo before someone else buys it, and also maybe I can save a few bucks on the hood through leiberts.com, as you mentioned.

Please keep the comments coming...anyone have thoughts on the Kitchen Aid 42" built-in vs. the GE Monogram?

Thanks again -
Susan

keep in mind that panels for the fridge of that size could easily add on another $1000 or so, more likely more.

Got it, thanks. I was wondering about that and was planning to ask the cabinet guy. I guess that means I'll probably stick with the discounted GE stainless fridge.

Why not a $50 throwaway freestanding MW on a shelf in a MW base cabinet instead of the Sharp? MWs are basially throwaway appliances anyway, as they have a lifespan of 2-7 years. The MW drawers haven't been in the market enough to know if that will hold true for them as well, but they all use the same basic magnatron. I'm always cleaning off spatter off the sides and ceiling of our MW where the paper towel slipped while reheating a plat, and I can't imagine getting on my hands and knees to do that in the Sharp drawer. With a free standing MW, you can just unplug, pull it out, and sit it on the counter to clean. This would save you $700.

On the DW, are you SURE you have hard water? What has your water analysis said? Many people experience etching with glassware in DW's that is totally unrelated to hard water and has more to do with rinsing practices and detergents used. If your water is that big an issue, then other items besides your DW should be suffering, like laundry and shower heads and toilets. If you've got a big problem with hard water, a whole house softener would make more sense, and then go with a lesser priced Bosch. That could save 1K right there.

Check out different hood manufacturers. I also think you can do better with the hood price.

Add the savings up and it allows you to get the fridge you want with a bit of a $$ cushion.

Hmmm...interesting idea about the microwave on a shelf in the base cabinet instead of the drawer. So silly that I didn't think of that in the first place. Much simpler than the fancy (and pricey) drawer! Thanks for the idea. I will go back to the appliance place and talk to my cabinet guy about that.

Yes, unfortunately, I'm sure we have hard water. We've read and figured out what the numbers mean in those reports that the Water Authority provides annually, talked with our town's Public Works guys about it, discussed it with plumbers, etc, etc. In our last remodel, we had a huge problem with the water hardness because it caused some corrosion on stuff that we thought would never corrode and the consensus of all the experts was that it was all due to the water hardness. As a fix, we did buy a whole-house water softener, but ended up disconnecting it because a plumber told us it was a bacteria factory, plus we disliked the feel of the slimy soft water. Maybe it was the wrong water softener, or was installed wrong (this was the accusation of the plumber who did not install it, accusing the plumber who did install it)...who knows, but now we're living in a different house (although same neighborhood and same water) and I'm hoping the Miele d/washer with softener will do the job on the glasses.

Which other hood manufacturers would you recommend? Are there others that are likely to offer a 48" wall hood with 1200 cfm motor for $1300? I checked the Broan again on the internet and found that instead of $1400, I can buy it for $1250 or so inc. shipping and tax, so the price is getting better, but I'd love to know if there are others out there that offer same features for better price.

Thanks again. Really appreciate the opinions and info!

Susan

Just wanted to say that I've had my DCS 30 inch AG for about a month and absolutely love it!! The stainless steel top is so easy to clean and I love the glides in the oven. If you can get it for a deal I say go for it!

I wouldn't give up on the water softener because of your previous experience. Sounds more like a plumber battle going on before. We suffered through all the fallout from having hard water before we bit the bullet and got a whole house softener. Have not regretted that decision at all. The hard water crud on all the fixtures would make a grown person cry. Maybe there are softeners that are adjustable so that your water is not "too soft", since water hardness is a measurable and objective number.

Tend to agree with others re free standing MW, but I suppose that is much a matter of personal preference, your space availability, etc.

Other than those comments, I think your choices look pretty great. Good luck!

Positano, thanks for the great feedback about your DCS. I'm so glad you like it - I'm excited to hopefully have one in the near future!

Seattlemike, thanks for the tip about the water softener. We'll check into a whole house system again because after our last remodel, it was sickening to see the hard water just ruin all those wonderful faucets. I know what you mean about making a grown person cry. Also, the manufacturers won't cover the "pitting" around their fixtures if water hardness is above a certain level, which ours was.

My husband really disliked the feel of the softer water when we did the whole house system (plus the War of the Plumbers was going on and we really didn't know who or what to believe after awhile), but I'll show him your post...the fact that this good advice is coming from seattlemike will carry great credibility with him since Seattle is his hometown, where he spent 25 years :)

Thanks again

one sugjestion from someone who sells appliances all day would be to look into the dishwasher drawers from fisher and paykel they are around 1500 with biult in water softener