If you go with Samsung, do not go with one that has the ice maker that makes 10 lbs of ice in 24 hours(I think its 24, maybe 12). We had the RF263BEAESR/AA model, its a French Door and although I loved the layout and the way it kept everything fresh in the fridge, the ice maker was a disaster. It dripped water from the ice dispenser, down the front of the fridge and the ice was not fully frozen and water also dripped inside the fridge. We went though months of replacing parts - even the door! Finally, they offered a "buy back" then reneged on it. I stood my ground and finally got the "buy back check." However, I, in the meantime bought another Samsung fridge, basically because I couldn't find one with a similar layout. This model is an older model RFG298HDRS/XAA. It is no longer being made but it has two ice makers and basically the same layout of the other model. It is a 29 cf instead of a 26 so that helps to make up for the area lost due to slightly different size ice maker. So far so good and this time we have a 5 year warranty through Lowes. Numerous people complained about ice makers not working on the Samsung fridges. Google "800 complaints on Samsung appliances" and you will see what I mean. Whatever you do, register your appliances and you will get an additional 3 months of warranty. Plus check your credit card, some give an additonal year if you use it. When we started having issues, it was in the 3 month period. I didn't pay for any of the replacement parts or service charge and the 3 months were past - but I was still working on the initial problem and I kept records of who I spoke with, the transaction numbers, dates I called, copies of the replaced parts and their numbers, etc. That is what helped me fight for the buy back. It seems pretty common for them to offer it then reneg due to some technicality. If you or anyone needs a phone number for Samsung Home Office/ Office of the President, let me know. I think I saved it for future use.

I didn't think about the stainless being a different color. I did think about the handles though and all the appliances we got had similar handles - Samsung french door fridge Bosh dishwasher Sharp drawer microwave Kitchenaid double oven All this handles are somewhat similar or atleast enought that I don't think any one will stand out as awkward...of course we are just finishing our demolition phase so will see once the appliances get put in.

You GO, @Kathy Linn! I resolved early-on in our kitchen design to adopt a "no-stainless" policy (more for the looks than the upkeep), and so set out to find an antique, enameled stove (for cleanability in addition to looks) and even went with copper sinks to avoid SS. My first kitchen was all-white when we bought the house, and not really in a good way - laminate countertops and mdf cabinets in addition to white appliances. It was more work keeping the countertops white than the fridge (although the door handle did yellow with time) but I was done with white by the time we moved. For our build I settled on a 1929 Glenwood, restored at a shop outside Boston. It was a splurge but like yours (which is also very handsome) one we'll never need to replace. I'd like to think if consumers start throwing the SS junk back in appliance companies' (and designers') faces and going with restored antiques or otherwise reliable, easy-to-clean appliances with actual color options that we don't have to replace after 5-10 years, maybe they'll stop telling us what we should want and start producing quality again.

>>>"the handles are really different from our current appliances. Does this matter? Is it better to go with the brands we already have ...?"<<< Better for whom for what? More to the point, for whom who are you renovating your kitchen? Of course, if you wait for a while, there will be somebody who will fill find any mix objectionable. Its just personal taste. So, if the mix is not offensive to your household, don't worry about it. Maybe you are thinking that somewhere here we forum members have hidden a secret rule book saying "thou shalt not...." ;>) Joking aside, if it does not bother you, don't worry about it. As for your choice of the Maytag range, have you looked into the "Aqua-Lift" oven self-cleaning function? A lot of Whirlpool/Maytag/JennAir/Etc. ranges customers are unhappy with Aqualift. If you have not already seen it, you might want to check out discussions such as this long running thread here: [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/aqualift-technology-on-maytag-ranges-oven-cleaning-dsvw-vd~2293510 [(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/aqualift-technology-on-maytag-ranges-oven-cleaning-dsvw-vd~2293510)