Not clear if your "Miele speed oven" is the Master Chef model or the "Chef" model (without sensor probe, lower heating element, and electronic menus/controls, for ~$900 less).

Perhaps you can save there, or you may prefer both ovens look similar.

It looks like you have a "price is no object" list but ran out of moxie at the end:)

You have a long list of Miele products but not the washer?

If Miele can do two things it is dishwashers and laundry. I would definetly get Miele laundry. Is it because you heard bad things about the Miele gas dryer and want a gas dryer with a matching washing machine? Miele had a problem with their gas dryers about 2004-2008 and had a recall. Problem seems fixed. People still buying old stock or complain about their older gas dryers without getting the recall done.

Built-in Miele Refrigerator and Jenn-Air drawers but Whirlpool Freezer(white,silver)? Is this going in the kitchen proper or butler's pantry? Or maybe in the garage?

Ideally, I would get the Miele freezer with no ice and get a seperate ice machine like the Hoshizaki. I know that is a boat load of cash extra but just woundering why the Whirlpool? You will definetly get better performance out of the Miele.

Insinkerator- less noise and more compatible aftermarket diposer flanges available to match sink.

Waste King-- better performance,durability and warranty.

Induction- Miele's power heating element is 3850w. Thermador's power heating element is 4600w. If you buy the Miele I doubt you will ever say "gee I wish I had more power" but for about the same amount of money why not?

Thanks for the help!

I was thinking the Chef for the speed oven but I don't know if the "Master" part makes it easier/more likely to make the most of the technology.

For the washer/dryer, it is going on a 2nd floor and the appliance dealer is telling me that Miele doesn't recommend putting theirs upstairs. He is telling me that the Electrolux has a better suspension.

I looked at the Thermador induction but the higher end one is $500 more than the Miele and I couldn't get a confirmation that it allows bridging (for griddles, grills, etc), whereas I got the NJ people to confirm it for Miele. I also like the timers on the Miele. The Kuppersbusch looks great and has a bridge visible on it in pictures but I haven't been able to see one in person and I'm hesitant to get something that isn't pretty common locally in case of issues.

The Whirlpool freezer is going in a pantry. It seems like a less complicated proposition just to keep things frozen so it seemed like a good place to save some (or a lot!) of money. I'd love to hear if the Whirlpools are reliable. I also hate how loud and constant ice makers are when we really don't use that much ice.

Does anyone have an opinion about whether the speed oven really is a good replacement for a second oven? My contractor thinks I'll regret not having a "real" second oven but two of these plus a microwave is a lot of space and money.

It feels like if I spend well here I can have a good shot at not needing to buy any of these again for a long, long time, but I do worry that the higher prices won't really translate into higher reliability. A friend has a Viking range that she despises and has had serviced 3 times in four years, and it certainly wasn't cheap.

Well, there you go. Good reasons for getting what you are planning on that where not in the first post.

If your friend had come here before buying her Viking people would have advised her to run the other way.

FWIW, the Kuppersbusch 36" cooktop does NOT have timers, NOR a bridge element -- I have no idea why they drew the two lines on to suggest a bridge, but I had that confirmed for myself a little while ago.

Generally, people here like speed ovens, and there are other threads here about Miele's various Master Chef and Chef models. Making stuff for one or two people, the speed oven size is frequently just right: its faster to heat up, as well. Now, if you're often feeding gobs of people, then a real second oven might be more useful.

If the microwaving function is something you use, you may also want to look into how that works in the Chef model; I understand it doesn't have the Minute+ button that adds time in 30 sec. increments in the more spendy model. Not sure if microwaving is more of a pain, or just different, with the Chef model.

Opinion about whether the speed oven really is a good replacement for a second oven: yes. You are right: these plus a microwave is a lot of space and money.

I'll second some comments that have already been made. Miele laundry is superb. Yes they are expensive, yes they are like German cars, you will get to know their service department and pay through the nose for parts but they are superb. Re second floor, the Miele's don't need much of a suspension, ours weights 185 pounds and is not a top of the line model. They (2 in separate homes) are silky smooth in operation. The comment about not recommending the second floor is probably related to Americans not using the correct detergent. Only use Persil, your Miele's dealer will have it.

Dishwasher - there is nothing that approaches the Miele. They are far superior to other washers. Quiet, superb cleaning, superb space efficiency. We've had 5 in various homes and it's our only choice.

The rest of Miele's line is a compromise. You will get more mileage out of a buck looking elsewhere.

Our experience with high end appliances is yes, they are less reliable. If we have an appliance that works, we now stick with it regardless of how it looks. That's about 40 years worth of appliance buying. As it turns out, most of the high-end stuff is gone, but the old Amana frig, that does a superb job of maintaining correct temps and humidity remains. The SZ's left years ago.

The last comment I will make is do not confuse price with quality when you are looking at European appliances. The US price can be double what the European price is for the same model. Electrolux, as an example, is a mass market brand in Europe that is akin to Whirlpool. Not that they are bad appliances but you are paying a premium for no enhanced functionality.

Thanks for the thoughts -- it is so helpful to hear from people who have been through this before, sometimes more than once!

I am reconsidering the Sharp microwave drawer just because it seems a little gimmicky and if it has to be replaced, it will have a very specific cut out. Are there shelf micros that people really do or don't like? We've always bought cheap and then replaced them in 2-3 years, which is annoying and seems wasteful.