The ranges you listed are free standing, not drop in.

Also, your mother is right about a slide in range, it will look much better, unless the top is also white. No white ceramic top looks good after a few uses.

I can see why the Frigidaire is on your list if your budget is $3k. I understand new appliances are better than old but your choices are VERY limited with this budget and I would recommend you reconsider a couple things.

Why would you spend all the money on a remodel yet forego not just some things but everything that is offered on appliances like convention cooking, quiet and energy efficient dishwashers, double ovens or at least a microwave with a convection fan, and a refrigerator large enough to store more than just chinese take out.

I recommend you key on the range (slide in preferably) and OTR microwave for now, in SS or white. Get the convection model of OTR microwave. You will love the back up oven and if you decide to sell, you can market it with TWO ovens. Whatever cash is left over you should use for an energy efficient, quiet dishwasher. This will run about $2k in white and around $2500 in SS for entry level models. If you decide to splurge on an item, the dishwasher may be the one to do it on. You will love a quiet dishwasher and quietness costs more. You could also probably get a convection range and still be under $3000.

Finally, since you are using a hand me down refrigerator, shop for one so you will have the future size in your head, but hold off on buying it until you have the money to get a durable, efficient model that works for you.

Your budget allows you to replace the appliances you have but a remodel is done to improve you kitchen. IMHO, Frigidaire won't be an improvment. Stick with Whirlpool or GE. Stay away from the inexpensive Bosch dishwasher. Bosch's are good but they have huge issues with their inexpensive ones. (different factory). Samsung makes great TV's and phones and DVD plays. Appliances, not so much

Whatever cash is left over you should use for an energy efficient, quiet dishwasher. This will run about $2k in white and around $2500 in SS for entry level models.

I'm sorry, but is that a typo? Surely, it must be, probably $1500, but in my own Not-So-Humble opinion, that's still way more than you need to spend to get a decent quality dishwasher. (No disrespect intended, aprince) My mom just bought a very nice Kitchenaid dishwasher in Bisque, original price about 1300, on sale with rebate, just over $700. I played with it this weekend and while you can hear it, it's not loud by any means--you have to actually listen to hear it, and you wouldn't notice it at all if you weren't listening for it. I'd be happy with that in my kitchen, for sure. A stainless entry level Miele is 1300 or so, much less if you shop carefully for discontinued models, showroom demo models, and the like. Patience and careful shopping can pay off big time in the appliance world. :-)

Good luck to you.

Cj

total was for all the appliances except the refrigerator. Should have reversed the sentences and it would have been more clear

Thanks for clarifying, aprince. I was thinking..."I could never pay 2K for a dishwasher..."

In any case, I do think you're right about waiting on the fridge and focusing on the other appliances for the moment. My priority is most definitely the range. I love to cook and I use it quite a lot. I am sad that we can't tap into gas, but we'll only be at the house a few more years, so I can survive :-)

I can't be the only one out there who doesn't care if my dishwasher is a little noisy? I have lived for 4 years without a DW or disposal so the thought of either makes me immeasurably happy, noisy or not. I don't want it to shake, creak and make a LOT of noise, but I also don't need it to be silent. I am more concerned with how it washes dishes, how the trays are set up and water conservation.

I think looking into a convection microwave is a very good idea. My BF's parents have one and use it quite a bit. And, since I am looking at slide-in range models, which are a few hundred more than free-standing, I think we'd like to consider doing a wall oven/stovetop combo to keep it looking really clean. I've seen this in a few kitchens (basically set up like a normal oven, without the wall and stovetop units separate). Then I would also not need to worry about the warming drawer on slide-ins that will never get used.

I greatly appreciate the feedback. If you have any particular models in mind for any of these appliances, please let me know.

Best,
P

Thank you for the clarification, aprince. Now it makes sense! :-)

If you want to stick to that budget I'd highly recommend you check out a Sears Appliance Outlet if there is one near you. You can get brand new scratch and dent appliances as a very good price. Sometimes the blemish is not a big deal. I bought a cooktop from these folks at less tahn 50% new and the cooktop was essentially new (a return from a customer who mistakenly purchased induction instead of radiant). I had a good experience with them and the cooktop was shipped in a wooden shipping crate. This stuff is going to be used or scratch and dent but they sell some higher end brands. Maybe you can pick up a high end quiet DW for a bargain. They also sell through eBay.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Guys

I have been where you are right now. Bought my house a couple of years ago, no gas hook up. Fortunately for me, the house came with a built-in electric cook top and in-wall electric oven, so I sold my electric stove.

I have been burned more than once with GE appliances. I would NOT recommend them, they may be more inexpensive, but they do NOT last. My fridge pooped out after only FIVE years,(during the hottest part of the summer, no less) the compressor died. It would have cost me as much to fix it as to replace it with a new fridge, which I did. I shopped around and replaced it with a Maytag, which I have had now for 9 years I am happy to report.

Since I was so pleased with the reliability, I bought a Maytag dishwasher as well. The house came with a dishwasher, but it was some European model and was left with stinky, dirty water in it and refused to drain. I LOVE my Maytag, it was economical, it is quiet, and does a GREAT job at cleaning. IMHO, Maytag can't be beat, and is a economical, quality brand name. Hope this helps.

I can only comment on the Samsung OTR 9187 stainless steel.
A combination microwave and convection oven is something I did not investigate. It's $299 and sold at walmart, best buy, sears? and Lowes, AJMadison, among others.

But I will get the OTR Samsung micro because it got great reviews and it has the highest exhaust fan. It will exhaust 400 cfm rather than the usual 200 or 300. The exhaust fan can be installed in three ways- recirculated, out thru the wall or up thru the cabinet.

There were a very few negatives among the positive reviews I read but the negative that would bother me is a few, not many but a few people felt that the light which shines on the cooktop was not as bright as it should be. Most folks did not comment so I guess they have enough light from other sources. hth

texaskitchentoo has a good idea. In fact, you can broaden the net to include not just Sears, but other legitimate outlets. Some of the major manufacturers have their own online outlets (GE, Miele, etc). Also, if you can identify the very best appliance stores in your town, they will often have a warehouse with 1st rate appliances that were ordered in the wrong size or discontinued models. Just ask. It is possible to get excellent appliances WITH WARRANTY at good prices.

That's a great idea. Every appliance dealer has a scratch & dent, floor models, overstocks, or some kind of "tent" sale where they clear out this stuff. Then there is Sears Outlet.

I just got a floor model Samsung induction range that will be delivered Saturday. My sister got an overstock Frigidaire gas range with convection oven for something like $700.

If you are on a budget, it's hard to find better quality for a reasonable price than Amana. Their ADB1600 is the lowest cost DW that I know of that actually has 3 spray arms and can get your dishes reasonably clean. It won't be that quiet, but your dishes will sparkle. It retails around $350/$400.

Amana's AER6011 retails for around $700 and is self cleaning with convection. It also has a "dual choice" element that allows you to select the size of the element based on your cooking needs.

For an OTR, their AMV2174 retails around $350 and has 1000 watts of cooking power with sensor cooking. THat's a nice feature to have as it keeps overheating you stuff down to a minimum. It's "vent" is only 220 CFM, which is wimpy, but most of the OTRs are pretty wimpy in that department. A better choice if you can afford the room is to put an actual vent above your range and put a countertop MW/convection oven elsewhere. You can get a basic NuTone/Broan for around $150 and an inexpensive countertop one with convection for around $200. That give you more versatility when the MW craps out---as it inevitably does.

Now you can afford a nice new refrigerator also. If you want a French door, the Amana AFF2534 is a good candidate at around $1500. It misses being Energy Star by just a smidgen, so you don't get that certification, but it IS "energy efficient" when compared with the older one you might be using from your relative. The ice is in the bottom, meaning you'll have to scoop it out, but it's very sleek and pretty without the ice dispenser on the door. THe temperature controlled drawer is a great feature and it has scads of storage space. The crispers have humdity control, which you don't get on a budget refrigerator.

If a side by side is more your style, then the Energy Star ASD2526 retails around $1300-$1499 depending if you can find it on sale. You get the ice and water on the door, humidty controlled crispers, a temperature controlled deli drawer and the standard 25 cubic feet of space.

There, you're at/under budget, and you have ALL of your appliances brand new! Several stores are having Earth Day promos and several states are offering rebates for Energy Star appliance purchases which may bring your costs down even more. Put the model numbers in Google and they can help you find the best prices.