Help with selection of appliances....! !

rosie2009

15 years ago

We are just starting a big remodel job that includes the kitchen.

We have A LOT of information about (micro,oven,warming drawer). Here is my take....could be all wrong.

GE Monogram....love the look, not the price

Electrolux....sales people disagree on it

Bosch....better price

Thermador....pricey, but pretty.

I would like to have opinions! Money is important, but quality is too!

I think we will buy Wolf rangetop. But I am open to opinions on that too! On the refrigerator, we want (need because we have 3 children) at least 25 cubic feet and I like the French door style...opinions!!!!

We are not selling, but I always look at resale value, too!

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Comments (19)

nkneedohelp
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I was just getting ready to start a new thread with the same question as Rosie's so, if she doesn't mind, I would like to tag along on this one. I'm building a new home and have been totally frustrated with trying to pick well functioning/reliable appliances. The only thing I've learned so far is to not even consider purchasing all of the appliances from one manufacturer (mix and match is the only way to elevate the overall quality/reliability) and that literally all brands have adopted planned obsolesence and warrenty doubletalk. The thread on this site named "GE Monogram" dishwasher is typical. Sorry if I sound bummed out but 2 full days of researching appliances can do it to the most well adjusted among us. I'm looking for:

48" 6 burner/griddle nat gas cooktop
2 dishwashers
double convection oven
microwave
compactor
36 or 42" french door refrig

any and all feedback for Rosie and I will be greatly appreciated.
Dave
rhome410
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
All I can give is my opinion from going through all this myself. We moved into our new home and kitchen a year ago.

Microwave: I'd do a regular counter micro in the size you want...Build a space into a cabinet for it, but not spend for a 'built-in' micro. They don't last and builtins are way more $$.

Oven: Monogram, Fisher & Paykel, and Bosch are all ones I'd consider. I would trust Electrolux and like their racks, but they don't have a probe, which I like to have. Miele would be my 'if price was no object' choice. Thermador, DCS, and some others seem more expensive than necessary for what they offer compared to what's out there. Fisher & Paykel is changing the look of their ovens, so the old style can be had for great prices on clearance. There are great deals on ebay. I got my oven from a reputable authorized dealer on ebay and got great service from them, saving $1800 off retail on a dbl oven with full warranty in the process. Scratch and dent departments of appliance stores are also good places to look to get a higher end appliance for a more affordable price.

Warming drawer: These went on my 'I can live without it' list, so I can't help there.

Dishwashers: I have 2 Bosch dishwashers now and had 1 in our last house. VERY quiet and do a great job cleaning, so they're my choice. I have the 500 series, so it's not necessary to get a top end model at the top price to get a good machine.

Rangetops: I chose Wolf. I love that all the burners offer the same power and the same good simmer. I love their customer service. Not crazy about how it is to keep looking clean, but it performs amazingly. I also considered BlueStar, and Capital Precision, and since you don't need 8 burners like I wanted, I'd also look seriously at Monogram and DCS. The big thing is deciding between sealed and open burners. The big caps on sealed burners made me think the flame wouldn't be as direct or have the ability to get as small as with the open burners, so I chose open. For open, you have BlueStar or Wolf. BlueStar has all cast iron burner parts, which I suspect might be easier to keep looking nice than the shiny black porcelain covered pans under the Wolf burners. BS has different powered burners, though, and some recent complaints in posts here.

Fridge: I love our counter depth fridges, because of things not getting lost in the back so easily. So many to look at and consider...It seems that all have some complaints, so you just have to decide which one is set up/arranged nicest for your needs, and check its reviews. I'm guessing I'd look at Samsung, Fisher & Paykel, Miele, Bosch, KitchenAid and JennAir for Fr door models. I have the Electrolux Icon all fridge and all freezer set, plus one extra fridge, and am happy with those.

Trash compactor: I chose to have a pullout dbl trash bin...We put garbage in one and recycle in the other. We prefer this setup to the trash compactor in our last house. It takes the same room for 2 purposes, and the trash is easier and lighter to haul out, even though it needs doing more often. So, I can't be of any help for this appliance either.

For ovens and for fridges, it pays to take the largest baking pans, platters, etc. that you'll want to use to the store so you can see if and how they fit.

Again, a lot of this is my own opinion, and some based on shopping up to 2 years ago with some more recent opinion based on things I've read here and checking manufacturers' websites for recent changes. I hope some of this helps you!
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I have read hundreds of raves on the Miele oven compared to a few people with a problem. Just because a thread has a lot of posts, doesn't mean there are that many complaints...It's important to note how many times the information is repeated by how many/how few different people. And like you say, it's easier to note a few complaints, since the people who are happy are busy baking, not writing! ;-) As far as which induction cooktop, both being good companies with great reputations for appliance quality as well as customer service, I'd choose by burner configuration, looks, and price. For me, for example, I would choose Miele, because of the way the large burners, which I would use most, are spread out across the cooktop. On the Wolf the 2 medium burners (on which I would probably place (9" or 10" pots) seem kind of crowded with the smaller ones. Was there more than 1 person with the porcelain flaking in their Electrolux oven? I have a Fisher & Paykel oven with chipping and pitting porcelain in the bottom...According to the repair tech it is probably because on this particular oven the metal wasn't hot enough when the porcelain was applied, so that they didn't adhere to each other properly. He has seen this also in a Wolf oven. My experience wouldn't keep me from recommending Fisher & Paykel ovens and I don't expect I'll have the problem the new one they're giving me to replace the flawed one. I am impressed with how they've handled the situation for me. Any appliance can have an occasional problem, and any manufacturer can send out a unit with a flaw...which is why I think it's important to buy from those with great customer service and who stand behind their products. Seems like you're on the right track with Miele or Wolf.
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Ah! Sorry about that. I kept scrolling back to your questions and options and misread about the Advantium. I still think a real hood with a real vent would be better in the secondary kitchen, but that might be cramped enough to warrant the pretend vent. I'm being a bit harsh here, I know, but you're not in a beggars can't be choosers situation. You don't need something fancy for the catering kitchen, just something with a good fan and light. I'd say a minimum of 600 cfm with easily removed and dishwasher cleanable filters. The Advantium is 300 cfm. The rule is a more powerful hood will pull better on a lower setting than a less powerful hood on a higher setting. If it were just the occasional grilled cheese, so it smells a little, but when you're doing that kind of formal entertaining, that's when you least want the process of the cooking to interfere with your party. The caterers at my party in December only used the 24" induction and had the 1200 cfm hood on. Good thing since they were frying latkes! Imagine if it were fish! You're the one with the experience, however. If it's not going to be an issue, go for the OTR. My comment in the previous post was entirely due to my error reading your plan. Yes, timing is oven dependent, and there's nothing to do with new recipes other than check. One of the reasons I insisted on Gaggenau ovens as the first and foremost item in my kitchen is that, in my mother's Gaggenau, every tray of borekes (filo pastries) from first to last, year after year, takes 11 minutes. In mine it also takes 11 minutes, even though I don't think the temperature range is quite as small. That kind of precision might not be top on your list, however--we all have different priorities, and the Bosch might be fine for you. There was a list of temperature spreads on the net back when I was looking. We also had a member (engineer type) who did more precise testing of Miele, Gaggenau and some others. The actual temperature range doesn't matter as much as the consistency of the cooking, however. It's just a clue as to what's going on inside. The main reason I brought it up is that my gut reaction was that you could possibly be disappointed after using the older Mieles, which had such a great reputation (as I said, I don't remember about the older Wolfs). OTOH, the Bosch might be just as precise, or good enough that you wouldn't know the difference. I don't have any good info on that other than its placement in the BSH hierarchy.
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allwhitenike87
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I actually am interested in what other people have to say about this thread too, so Ill tag along :)

As far as my two cents (I am not knowledgeable on this so don't listen to me, just from what I observed) I've noticed homes that use hickory, oak, cherry, or pine kitchen cabinets usually use anything from GE profile, Thermador, KA, etc.. But, on the contrary, all the homes IÂve seen that have more exotic cabinet woods like mahogany, alder, fir, redwood, or teak all use either Viking, Wolf, or Dacor... So my question is, if you're looking at a Wolf range top, why not go with all Wolf? Is it that common to mix all the brands?
rhome410
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Is it that common to mix all the brands?

If a builder puts in a kitchen, it's likely to be all of one brand, because it's easiest, fastest, and maybe cheapest. Most people who really use their kitchens and care about using their money to get the best they can with the features they want and will use, will buy the best appliance for themselves in each category, which usually means mixing the brands. You will find strong recommendation on this forum for doing it that way, rather than just plopping in one brand.

It's hard to find one manufacturer who does well with EVERYthing. Wolf is a great brand, but expensive. In my case, saving on my oven and elsewhere allowed me the room in my budget to get the Wolf rangetop. Others make great ovens, so why spend for Wolf? They don't even make dishwashers that I'm aware of, or refrigerators, so it would be impossible to have every appliance say "Wolf" on it. I know that, technically, SubZero is from the same company, but there is no way I could or would spend that much on a fridge...It's just a box to keep things cold and other brands can manage that for less money. Not many other brands offer what Wolf can in a rangetop.
dancingsams
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi all,
I'm monitoring too! We are still trying to decide - after 3 months of following threads and researching. My greatest criterias are quality, reliability and customer service. Our home is victorian, so I prefer to not do solid stainless. We also are going as energy efficient as possible.

I definitely want a french door frig, and am considering the Liebherr with wood panels. I love the glass and steel interior, and no water/ice through the door.

Our range will run on propane. I'm still debating between Lacanche and Blue Star. I like that the Blue Star is made in USA, but still question their customer service and support. I love the interior of the oven! What is the Capital Precision? I haven't seen that one yet.

Dishwasher? I love my Fisher Paykel dish drawers and will probably do those again.

Counter microwave.

Double bin trash instead of trash compactor.

Thanks!
rhome410
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Dancingsams,
See the link below for Capital Precision ranges and rangetops....Sealed burners each at 19,000 BTUs.
Fori
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Counter depth fridges are nice, but if you need more storage for a hungry family and/or would rather pay less for a standard depth fridge, it is often possible to recess a big fridge into a wall to make it counter depth. This is especially nice in smaller kitchens where frontage is limited and you can't spare more than 36" of width for a fridge.
remodelfla
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
rhome... do you mind sharing which ebay retailer you used? I know they have stood behind their product. That's important to me.
rhome410
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Remodelfla, their seller name is Saving-U-Money, and their ebay store is Buy-Appliances. They are actually Fredrickson's Appliance in Alabama. I think Malhgold ordered from them, too. I would strongly recommend them with the good experience I had.
datura-07
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
rhome,
When I was at the Wolf corporate building for a demo several weeks ago, we walked through the engineering offices. I commented that their desks were full of parts and the chef said they are designing a dishwasher. So, Wolf will be coming out with a dishwasher in the near future.
fwhartford
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I am in the midst of my remodeling and can hear them banging away as we speak. Did a lot of research and here is what works for us:

Fridge: Samsung 29 cu ft. FD bottom freezer with ice/H2O door dispenser. We are building a wall so we can "sink" it into the wall to make it look counter depth. Love the room and the FD allows easy access without getting things lost in the back.

Ovens: Electrolux Icon dual wall ovens. Couldn't resist those glide racks.

Stovetop: GE Monogram 5 burner gas.

Vent: Vent-A-Hood

Dishwasher: Haven't decided yet. Looking at Kitchen Aid, Bosch and Electrolux, also Sears Kenmore

Good luck!
ctnewbie2009
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We just went through this and here is what we ended up with:

KA french door/bottom freezer fridge: wanted 36" w/bottom freezer and not many make that size.

Dishwasher: electrolux. The european brands tend to be a bit smaller on the inside and I didn't feel I needed to spend the extra money on the bosch.

rangetop: capital.

double ovens: miele. Wanted GE Monogram but salesman talked me out of it. He felt that the older Monograms that were made by other brands are much better than the newer version that are made by GE in Mexico. He then pushed the Electrolux but the inside is a little smaller than some other brands and the Icon (which I liked better) lets you see into the oven at all times. Not the best for a messy housekeeper! I felt that if the oven window was dirty that it would make the whole thing feel dirty. He then suggested Thermador which gets killed on this site. He also suggested DCS which is what he himself has. I was all set on that until we realized that the newer models (made by Fisher Paykel) are significantly smaller than the current models. Also FP is having major financial issues in Australia and I got a little nervous. So, I spent more money than I wanted and ended up with the Miele.

It seems like if you're not going top tier (wolf, viking) then there isn't much differentiation between the Monogram/thermador/electrolux/KA,etc. other than look. There aren't too many options that are inbetween those tiers.
remodelfla
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
rhome... I"m glad that's who they turned out to be. Theyr'e one of a few ebay sellers I have saved to favorite sellers and I check regularly. The fact that they so stood behind the products they sell brings them to the front of they pack.
toasterovenseeker
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I have had two GE electric stoves for the past 30 years. The second one is still going strong!

Frankly, this is the only brand I can honestly and enthusiastically recommend.
I'm looking for something as simple as a toaster oven. What a chore!!!
And there's little correlation between price, longevity and quality. Whatever happened to stainless steel crumb catchers and enamel baking pans??? Along with ovens that cook longer than the limitations set by "must use" 30 minute timers???
nkneedohelp
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks everyone for the feedback!! Great forum/ great folks!!

Dave
kateskouros
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
i have in my possession a very lovely capital 48" gas range with six burners and infrared grill. but let's not forget about the rotisserie...

the guys unloaded the truck and removed the box for inspection and one commented it was the best looking range he's ever seen. they stood there with me and we stared as if we were at the met in front of a matisse. it was the first time they'd delivered anything from capital.

of course it's stored in my garage along with my miele optima and excella, 4840 washer (and whatever dryer goes with it) and a turbo chef oven ...so i haven't used it yet. but it's verrrrrrrry pretty. GL!
rosie2009
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks so much for all the feedback! Great (and varied) opinions and suggestions!
THANKS SO VERY MUCH!

Another question.....I really like a pull-down handle for the microwave/convection oven. I know Monogram has it...any others? and your opinions on if it matters!
Thanks again!!!!!!
rosie2009
Original Author
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi again,
EBAY is a great idea!! I can not find Saving-U-Money store! Any others?
Thanks ONCE AGAIN!!!!
rhome410
15 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
"Saving-u-money" is their seller name:

http://myworld.ebay.com/saving-u-money/

Their ebay store is "Buy-Appliances" (I've linked their home page below).

Help with selection of appliances....! !

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