How are you determining what is the "right" appliance?

1. 48" gas cooktop
Capital Culinarian CGRT484G2 ~$4.1K

2. Dual 30" ovens
Gaggenau BX281 ~$6K

3. 48" refrigerator
Sub-Zero BI-48 ~$9.5K

4. Microwave
Any Sharp/Panasonic that suits your fancy. ~$200

5. Possibly a built in coffee machine ( have a meile now )
Keep it?

6. Vent hood
Bluestar BSPC5420 w/ Flue ~$3k
Prestige external 1600 cfm blower kit $1k

7. Dishwasher
Miele Diamante Plus $1.5K

That is about $25K. Since I an an appliance geek I would cut $3k from the lighting budget by getting less fancy chandalier/pendant lights,cabinet budget downing grading from pull-out pantry to regular,cutting the backsplansh budget,and/or getting less expensive kitchen table/chairs.

But I understand setting a budget and sticking to it as well. You don't want to turn your $1M dream custom home into your $3M foreclosed nightmare.

If I had to cut on the appliance I would cut from the hardcore food preservation budget. I know that most would be tempted to cut the ventilation budget. But a powerful rangetop really makes a difference and it requires poweful ventilation.

So I would go with either a KitchenAid 48 built-in or Northland. Northland is if you prefer the obscure brand and don't mind it is an energy hog.Great performance but does use more juice.

I'm assuming that the "cooktop" need not be a drop-in unit -- is that right? I think that drop-in gas offerings above 36" are considerably fewer, but you want what you want.

For cooktop-rangetop type options, both BlueStar and Capital offer 48" open burner models. Wolf has a 48" sealed burner rangetop (I've never had one, but off of this board I've only heard very positive things about them). A friend has been very happy with her Thermador range -- not sure what they offer in a 48" top, but these are sealed burners that are sort of elevated -- interesting design. After a long, long time of light-weight pondering, followed by a few months of more committed shopping, I decided that I really wanted true open burners and in the short while that I've had them I've been very happy with my choice. But I do have to wonder about the posts that seem to state that one cannot really cook on sealed burner range tops -- maybe for some highly specialized wok cooking, but overall, it's just false.

If this piece really matters to you, you'd do well to find live models to see, touch, and -- if possible -- try out. A stainless box with black grates on top might look very much like others in pictures (and, frankly, across a kitchen), but little things like the construction and arrangement of the grates might matter to you from an ergonomic point of view. If you look at BS, and the dealer doesn't mention it, you should know that you can customize the burner arrangement as you like -- the offerings on the web site are not your only choices.

Dual ovens or two different ones? Gas? E?

1. 48" gas cooktop
Capital Culinarian CGRT484G2 ~$4.1K
2. Dual 30" ovens
Gaggenau BX281 ~$6K

3. 48" refrigerator
Sub-Zero BI-48 ~$9.5K

4. Microwave
Any Sharp/Panasonic that suits your fancy. ~$200

5. Possibly a built in coffee machine ( have a meile now )
Keep it?

6. Vent hood
Bluestar BSPC5420 w/ Flue ~$3k
Prestige external 1600 cfm blower kit $1k

7. Dishwasher
Miele Diamante Plus $1.5K

That is about $25K. Since I an an appliance geek I would cut $3k from the lighting budget by getting less fancy chandalier/pendant lights,cabinet budget downing grading from pull-out pantry to regular,cutting the backsplansh budget,and/or getting less expensive kitchen table/chairs.

Thanks for the response. I have landed on a few of your selections. I have decided on the 48" Capital, the 48" Sub-zero, teh Miele dishwasher and the Panasonic microwave.

I was not even considering the Gaggenau ovens so I would appreciate any additional feedback. Iwas looking at the Wolf and Capital ovens so any additional feedback would be great on the ovens. I am also just looking into the hoods so any additional feedback on your recommendations would be appreciated. I was looking at a ModernAire hood but have literally just got started on this area

Thanks in advance for your help

Have you considered Induction at all? IMHO after having Induction I would never go to a gas cooktop. So many positives with Induction. I can't imagine cleaning a gas cooktop and I'm not fond of the big chunky look. Just a suggestion.

I was not even considering the Gaggenau ovens so I would appreciate any additional feedback. Iwas looking at the Wolf and Capital ovens so any additional feedback would be great on the ovens. I am also just looking into the hoods so any additional feedback on your recommendations would be appreciated. I was looking at a ModernAire hood but have literally just got started on this area

Gaggenau started as an ironworks in the late 17th century on the edge of the Black Forest in Gaggenau Germany. They became very good at enameling then transferred that to electic oven manufacturing at the turn of the 20th century. In 1961 a hardcore foodie named Georg von Blanquet purchaed Gaggenau. He combined restaurant functionality with bauhaus design for built-in home ovens.

By 1995 the ever increasing cost of R&D and high-end consumers demand for green manufacutering cuased the von Blanquets to sell to Bosch Siemens Home Appliance Group(BSH). BSH has leveraged the brand by slapping the Gaggenau name and styling to top of the line Bosch appliances for a big premium,sometimes adding an extra feature or two. But the ovens remain "genuine Gaggenau." They let the Gaggenau employees do their thing here. Gaggenau is to BSH what Ferrari is to Fiat.

The first thing about Gaggenau is extreme precision. It seems nuts but even when opening the oven door in maintains temperature.Speeking of the door it opens sideways so you don't have to reach over a hot door. If installed plum and level,the door remains open.Some people feel more comfortable bringing out the rack slightly when opening the door.

Here in LA I know of two fussy caterers that would not think of using their client's ovens unless they are Gaggenau. I have baked 3 trays of cookies without rotating and they come out pefect.

Gaggenau also has an air catalytic converter. Cleans the air of grease before expelling into your kitchen.Also keeps the smells out.I know that can be good or bad.When you open the oven bake goods will give your kitchen that fresh baked smell without lingering for a very long time.

Temperture is from 120 to 575 with convection at the lowest setting you can get to 100 degrees. You can get to 350 degrees in the 30" in about 6 minutes. It has super premium insulation that allows an "eco mode".In eco mode the oven turns itself off the last 10 minutes or so and maintains temperature. Gaggs have standard 5 year warranties.They should last 20 plus years. Of cours YMMV if you use it like a rented mule!

I have also used Wolf L and E series, Thermador,Miele,Electrolux among others but have never used Capital.Gagg was my favorite and what I purchased but Wolf was my second favorite. Miele was really nice sometimes I switch back and forth with Wolf for second favorite but alot of negative feedback here on GW lately about Miele ovens.

Capital's claim to fame is moisture assist. At first hand is sounds a bit gimmicky. On the other hand maybe they have a genuine breakthrough that allows the precsion of electric ovens with the optional moisture of gas ovens. Don't know.I have no first hand knowledge of it.

As far as range hoods go I recommened Bluestar because they are designed for maximum heat,grease,and smoke extraction. The placemnt of bulbs is not optimum for light disbursement on all the burners it is for the above stated performance. I take it you will have adequate lighting in the kitchen and hood lighting is not that crictical.

Bluestar also makes Prestige hoods. But Prestige does not offer a 54" size.You should get a hood six inches wider than your rangetop.

Modern Air is developing a hood with maximum heat,grease,and smoke extraction in mind similar to the Bluestar. It will be sold by a retailer as a private label hood. Eurostoves. The hood should be out for sale soon.If I know anything about Eurostoves they will not bring it out until it has the best performance on the market.Then they will develope a test to demonstrate,film it ,and put it on youtube. But you have to get that through them.

Other top rangehood makes include Independent and Rangecraft.It terms of quality build I think Independet is best but very spendy. But I am a pit biased since I own an Independent hood. I picked it over Prestige and Bluestar because I got a super rediculous good deal.

Good luck.

If you want to say thanks post pics when you are done!

Well I must say thank you first and will promise to send pictures when I am done That was a seriously comprehensive review on the ovens and I will certainly take a closest look now at the Gaggeneau as their features sound very impressive. Do you have any idea on what I can expect to pay? If they are out of my budget is the Wolff double oven a good second option? I am sold on the Capital Culinarian cooktop and want to buy thhe right ovens. The remaining appliances are much easier

The budget should not neglect the cost of providing make-up air unless the house is situated in permanently temperate conditions with the windows normally open.

kas

ditto what kaseki said. This is a first thing to do.

An inline blower can be purchased for far far less than the budgets shown above.

An inline blower can be purchased for far far less than the budgets shown above.

Anything on my list can be substituted with something that cost "far far less" that what I have budgeted with far less quality and/or performance. There is a premium to be paid for that last extra bit of performance and quality.

A Prestige 1600 cfm in-line blower is about $1000.

The 48" CC has 184k freaking BTUs!

At the end of the day he said his appliance budget was $22k not that his entire kitchen budget was $22k.

This is a custom 5k sq ft home not some $10k DIY kitchen remodel.

I am almost 100% sure Jmos's homebuilder is familiar with local building codes and will address the MUA issue.

Jmos,

The Gaggs are about the same money as the Wolf L series ovens. Best price I have seen for brand knew in box(BKIB) Gagg 30" double ovens BX280/1(left hinge or right hinge) was on Ebay for $5500 with free shipping. Most local stores maybe $6200 plus tax or so. The Wolf ovens are very good.Just not as good as Gagg IMO.

First let me say thank you to all the great advice especially deeageax. Your advice was spot on and I am days away from ordering my appliances all of which are close tom your recommendations. One last question i can get the wolf 48" 6 burner cooktop with griddle for $1600 less than the Capital Culinarian. I have had mybheart set on the Capital but I am really struggling with the extra money. Is the Capital really worth that much extra money? I know know the Capital is a better unit but is it worth that much money? I am already over budget but don't want to make a decision I will regret. Thanks again for all the great feedback and advice

If you entertain and have a large enough kitchen, consider getting a 2nd DW. It would come in handy. It doesn't have to be the high end Miele, basically something that can handle party dishes and cutlery.

Like I said in my first post if I had to cut from the appliance budget the first thing to get cut would be the refrigeration budget.

The difference between Jenn-Air,Thermador or Liebherr and SubZero is much smaller than the difference between the Culinarian and Wolf burners.

I know some people see the Sub-Zero Grill as a status symbol and necessary finishing design statement to reach "high end kitchen status" because we all see them so often in the kitchen magazines.

But if it were me I get the Culinarian and get that perfect crust on my rare steak or seared ahi tuna etc etc etc and maybe go to the grocery store to get fresh veggies every 5 weeks instead of every 6.

I know someone will chime in here and say "I own a Wolf range/rangetop and I get a perfect crust on my rare steak every time." Well,not to my standards. I will end this post with JMHO because I will not partipate in a retarded flame war.

Good Luck.

Not sure what price you got on the Capital rangetop but I recently was quoted $4k plus shipping from eurostoves. If you can get a wolf for 1600 less than that tell me where because I will buy one too!

That was a 48" 6 burner with griddle Capital

If you are going with stainless in the kitchen you should consider staying with the same brand as each brands have a different hue even though its stainless. I have been happy with GE that have been purchased in the last year or so. The price point is good for the quality. Another brand that I have been told is good is Whirlpool which has bought the Maytag name but keeping it. My daughter has it and was very happy with the prices and my appliance repair man(here for older dryer)prefers it. I don't know anything about the European brands but I have been told to avoid the Korean ones.

jmos27, it would be interesting to see what your appliance choices turned out to be, especially the range hood and fan.

And while I would hope that as deeagaux observed, your builder know about make up air for a powerful range hood blower, our experience in building a custom home (which is a long way from over) is that it isn't necessarily the case, even with a successful builder.

For things that matter the most to you, the single best piece of advice I can give you (having learned the hard way) is that you'd better know more than your builder on the subject (not difficult, unfortunately, in our case) and perhaps more than his pet subcontractors.

We were headed for a highly energy efficient home built with ICF block and icynene foam under the metal roof - all good so far. But the builder's plan for HVAC would have left us with a home that had high humidity and air quality problems, as well as inadequate MUA for our 1266cfm Fantech inline fan pulling through a Modernaire PSL-040 range hood (over a 36 inch, six burner Capital Culinarian range).

As I said, I hope that your builder is ahead of the curve on these issues, as some undoubtedly are. But I'll also note that hope is not a strategy for home design, and that it's far more costly to fix HVAC problems once the house is finished and you're unhappy with the results.

Good luck!

Oddly enough I have just placed the order for my appliances. Thanks to everyone's feedback and vice, especially deeageaux, I have finally decided on the following
1. Wolf double ovens
2. 48" capital Culinarian cooktop. 6 burner with griddle
3. Sub zero 36" all refrigerator and 36" all freezer
4. Meile dishwasher
5. Sharp in drawer microwave
6. Kitchen aid built in coffee machine

I was able to get a great deal on most of my appliances and managed to stay very close to my budget. The only remaining item I have left is my range hood. I was planning on a 900 or1200 cfm unit and am working with my builder to finalize details. I am a little unclear as to the last post on humidity and poor air quality and would appreciate any clarification on what to look for. Thanks again to everyone for all your advice and feedback

Jmos27 - I would love to know why you choose the Kitchen Aid built in coffee system rather than keep (or replace) your Miele coffee system?
I am also building a custom home and have the the Miele Plumbed WHole bean coffee system on my list - I was able to demo it earlier this week at an appliance showroom and thought it was amazing!

The short answer is price. I was able to get it for $1700 vs the Meile. I have a Meile now and although I like the convenience I wasn't crazy about it and had a hard time justifying the cost difference In the end I took deeageaux's advice and spent my money on my key appliances and cut back on the coffee machine. I also read a lot of very good reviews on the KA coffee machine. Good lucknwith your decision

My apologies but I went with the Thermador Built in coffee machine not the KA. Thanks