Help with final two decisions: range hood and fidge

11 years ago

Thanks again everyone....I had am now at the final decision stage. I had previously posted and got great advise.

Just to update:

1. We have bought floor model Gaggenau wall ovens...a 30" standard/convection with a 30" steam combi to go above. I'm am very happy with this purchase as they both get great reviews (Thanks Deeageaux for this)

2. I'm going with the CC 36"rangetop on the island.

3. A 24" Panasonic convection microwave with a 27"trim kit to go on the island.

4. Two Miele dishwashers that will be panelled as I want something that is fully integrated and I do like the racking system of the Miele better than the Bosch. We're going with the base model.

This final two decisions have me perplexed.

1. I was going to go with the Modern Aire hood but my contractor told me about a local company here in Vancouver that makes kitchen hoods. This price quoted me for the Moderne Aire is $4628 without taxes (this does include an Abbaka external 1000CFM blower). This is the one I was inquiring about:

http://www.modernaire.com/PSI-16.html

The model below is from the local company here. It's from their professional series line. As you can see it's considerably cheaper and I like the fact that they are local. I've seen some reviews of the Spagna Vetro line but not the professional series line. They could also do an external blower if I wanted for $900 more.

Does anyone have any experience with this company?

http://www.kitchenhoods.ca/Island-Mounted-42-Professional-Series-42/PS01-IM-42--Island-mount/357/product.html

2. The fridge...originally I was thinking of getting the 24" fridge and 24" freezer fully integrated columns (with panels)by Liebherr...floor models for $6700. The cubic capacity though is very small...total 18.4 (10.8 fridge and 7.6 freezer). Then I started looking at the Jenn-air fully integrated fridge...I am able to get a floor model 42" french door for $5900 compared to over $9000 regular price here in Canada. To add to the complexity, a floor model Subzero 736TCI fully integrated is also available for considerable savings...I think about $7600. The capacity of the 42" Jenn-air is 22.6(13.5 fridge, 6.9 freezer) and the subzero is 20.4(16.7 fridge, 5.9 freezer). I've read a few negative reviews of this model of the subzero....no crisper drawer and ?more service issues. I'm a bit reluctant to get Northland as I can't find a display model anywhere here in Vancouver.

I haven't looked at Thermador or Miele as I haven't seen any floor models and the regular price is several thousand $'s above our budget.

Please help with my final two decisions on the hood and the fidge.

Thanks so much!!

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Comments (18)

carolml
11 years ago
I am also looking for a hood and I live in Victoria. Thank you so much for that link - I know nothing about the company but as I have found it hard to find hoods to look at here, I'll definitely look into them. Do they have a showroom? I will try to do some searches tomorrow and let you know if I find out anything worthwhile.
Carol
deeageaux
11 years ago
You are welcome.

2) The fridge. This one is easy. Get the JA floor model. Good price,good technology,energy efficient. The 700 series is the runt of the SubZero litter. This is the power of the suppy and demand overtaking UMRP. You can find those discounted in many stores.

The harder one.

1) The hood. The generic one you linked is pretty standard for the better Chinese made hoods. Even though it says quiet motor it is kinda loud. It is made of 19 gauge SS vs 14 gauge in the Modern Aire.It says seamless construction but you can see the seems in the duct cover in the pics and diagram.

Both are market price for what you get.You will probably not miss the performance of the MA if you get the generic one. But if you get the MA you will definetly notice the better quality and performance.
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I like Option 3 the best. I also prefer the refrigerator location in Option 3. It looks to be the most functional layout of the lot. The problem with the refrigerator on the opposite end of the kitchen from the range (on the sink wall) is that it's now inaccessible to the Prep & Cooking Zones without either running around the island or doing a lot of zone-crossing...refrigerator-thru Cleanup Zone-to-Prep Zone and back; refrigerator-thru Cleanup Zone-to-Cooking Zone and back. It's especially an issue b/c you have such a narrow aisle b/w the island and sink wall (it looks like 36"). Imagine doing all that running back & forth with a DW open and/or someone else working at the sink. In that location, the refrigerator is also pretty far from the MW and most foods that are MW'd come from the refrigerator or freezer. OTOH, with the refrigerator on the wall near the garage, it's right next to the Cooking Zone and easily accessed from the Prep Zone (the counter b/w the sink and range). (If you plan to use the island as a Prep Zone, I recommend a sink and, possibly, a wider aisle b/w the island and sink.) It's also right next to the MW. Personally, I like having all the appliances nearby that I need when prepping & cooking...without having to navigate around obstacles...things or people! The other advantage of having the refrigerator (and pantry) near the garage is that when you bring groceries in, you enter the kitchen right where they need to go to be put away. Island...you will have only a 9.5" seating overhang. 1.5" overhang + 24" cabinets + 1" decorative door on the back of the island = 26.5" 36" - 26.5" = 9.5" seating overhang You also have a rather narrow aisle behind the island (only 40" to the back wall). Even though you're skimping on the seating overhang, people will still take up the same amount of room in that aisle as if you had at least a 15" overhang...the stools will be pushed out b/c you can't fold up your legs to fit under the overhang, all you can do is have the stool farther out into the aisle and then lean forward...or maybe "straddle" the island (legs spread to "shorten" the distance b/w your hip and knees). With the minimum overhang, it's still recommended an aisle behind seating be at least 44". If that aisle b/w the island and back wall is going to be as busy as you say it is, you may regret it over time. My SIL has a 36" aisle b/w her refrigerator and island with a 12" seating overhang on a similarly located aisle (door to garage w/DR on the left and FR straight ahead)...and she became so frustrated w/the lack of space b/w them plus all that traffic that she removed the stools from the kitchen. It's not that the refrigerator is there, it's that if someone is sitting at her island, no one can pass by without forcing those sitting to get up and move out of the way....and they're a very thin family! I don't know what to tell you about the seating...except not have it...and I know you really want it. I guess this will have to be one of the compromises you make in your kitchen; we all have to make some compromises when our "wants" aren't compatible with what we have to work with....... Dimensions....in option 3, the arrow goes b/w the wall and the cabinets...not to the other wall. However, when I count boxes, that 11'4" measurement appears to be DR/FR wall-to-sink wall. If that's the case, I think you have a little less space than you realize. (The refrigerator wall cabs appear to stick out no further than the DR/FR wall, is that correct?) 11'4" = 136" 25.5" sink wall + 36" aisle + 36" island + 40" aisle = 137.5" So, one of the aisles will be 1.5" narrower than you show...which one? The work aisle really needs the full 36", minimum, and the busy aisle also needs as much space as possible... [Of course, if you have 0" counter overhang, then the overhang doesn't count and you're back to the 36" and 40" aisles.] Another compromise somewhere? Good luck!
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I suggested just going deeper on the stove wall because with the hood breaking up the line, it would not feel visually too full. You could do the reverse and put it on the other side, now that I think about it more. If you prep a lot on the stove side, it would feel more spacious to put the deep ones on the other side. I am also a big fan of open shelving as it makes a visual statement and also makes reaching things easy. It saves money and preserves flexibility. If you went with deeper cabs on the fridge wall and did open shelves on the stove wall, it would maximize natural light and air flow. You could even have shelves wrap the corner for a very nice look. I was not crazy about the deeper cabs only on the end. That exposes the sides of 2 cabs and does not gain you much. If you went with more deeper cabs, then you will notice the storage difference. FWIW, I like bbtondo's layout for the fridge. It serves to make the chokepoint seem less a problem and since you have plenty of counter space, you would gain storage in the tall cab without losing function. You also have a good distance between the stove area and the wall opposite, so you would not be crowded when cooking. If you could still recess the fridge, I'd consider that a great idea.... if not, it is still a contender.
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I like the versailles pattern very much: the multi color helps give a balance of colors going on: did you know you can get quartzite 4x4 6x6 and 12x12 in different colors? Quartzite is stunning material! (A rock formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone: Quartzite (from German Quarzit[1]), not to be confused with the mineral quartz, is a hard, metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone.[2] Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to grey. Quartzites often occur in various shades of pink and red due to varying amounts of iron oxide. Other colors are commonly due to impurities of minor amounts of other minerals. In true metamorphic quartzite, also called meta-quartzite, the individual quartz grains have recrystallized along with the former cementing material to form an interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals. Minor amounts of former cementing materials, iron oxide, carbonate and clay, are often recrystallized and have migrated under the pressure to form streaks and lenses within the quartzite. Virtually all original textures and structure have usually been erased by the metamorphism.) fun facts! ~Happy Holidays~
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Tom Carter
11 years ago
I went by the Spagna Vetro 'show room'; not terribly impressed. The vents are definitely generic and not really quiet. They are likely comparable to others in the same pricepoint but I would expect the Modern Aire to be vastly superior. They might be perfectly good products but I did not get a great vibe despite wanting to support a local company.
Caspian
Goagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Again, thanks for the feedback!!
@carolml...the showroom is in Burnaby. They had a booth at the BC Home and Garden Show this year which is how my general contractor found out about them.
@deeageaux....your advice is always so helpful. We'll take advantange of the floor model Jenn-air.
@Caspian101...thanks for your local take on the Spagno Vetro line.
I know the hood fan is very important and I have a feeling that I may just have to bite the bullet and go with the Moderne Aire. It's hopefully the home we'll be in for a while and I think in the long run, the higher initial price will pay off with greater satisfaction.
carolml
11 years ago
I did some searches this morning. There was nothing really negative but nothing positive either. Most of the websites I found were clearly sponsored by the company. I agree with Caspian about 'not a good vibe' though I can't say why.
Goagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
So, we just bought the floor model Jenn-Air 42" fridge (thanks again Deeageaux!!)
I've eliminated the Spagna Vetro pro series vent hood as we went back to the showroom to see it. On high, it is too loud while the remote blower is not integrated so the controls would be somewhere on a wall away from the hood.
So now I'm back to the Moderne aire system. One other choice I've found is the Wolf Pro Island hood with remote 1200 CFM blower. Model No. PI423418 http://www.subzero-wolf.com/oven/range-hood/stove-hoods
The prices for the two is roughly the same except the Wolf can be ordered locally and there is local support for it. The Wolf is made in Madison, Wisconsin I believe. I'm not sure what brand of external blower they use.

Thoughts? Anyone have any other suggestions?
oceangirl67
11 years ago
I thought the Wolf hoods were made by Broan.
Goagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
I looked at the Best by Broan website:
http://bestrangehoods.com/store/products/productdetail.aspx?id=3d6d1b15-6c6c-4e15-9428-1985503a7c3f
This one looks similar to the Wolf. Does anyone know if they are basically the same? And if so, how do they compare to the Moderne Aire one?
Thanks so much!!
deeageaux
11 years ago
Wolf I believe makes their own hood in WI and buys blowers from Broan/Best. They use 16 guage 304 SS vs thicker 14 gauge SS in MA. MA uses arguably best external blowers in Abbaka. Their inline blowers are kinda loud. I think their internal blowers are from Best/Broan.MA made in Southern CA. MA has better design baffles for bigger area and smooth edges for lower noise.

For the same money I would get MA. Wolf customer service is nice and all else being equal I would buy Wolf but they are far from equal in this case.

The Best hood says they use 304SS OR EQUIVALENT. They don't guarantee 304 or 300 series SS. They don't specify gauge thickness. They don't say where hoods are made. The hood linked uses 4 speed blower vs infinate variable speed in Wolf and MA.

I don't like Best waffling on specifications. I would cross them off my list for that reason alone.
Goagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Deeageaux, once again you have helped sway me in the right direction. If I could ask one more piece of advice....
When I spoke with the rep from Moderne Aire, they told me it doesn't matter which shape of their island hoods that I choose. They all function equally as well. From my reading and speaking to appliance sales people here, it would seems that a pyramidal shape would function better. I like the style of the PSI-16 as it looks a little more slimline but maybe the PS-18 would function better?
http://www.modernaire.com/Island_Hoods.html
What do you think?
carolml
11 years ago
goagirl - hi again. I am still looking for an island hood and have followed this carefully. I like the Modernaire one you chose. Is it available in Canada or do you plan on buying it in the US?
Thanks.
Goagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Carolml - There is only one Canadian distributor who handles all of Canada. They are located in Oakville, Ontario. http://www.customrangehoods.ca/Custom_Range_Hoods_Homepage.html
I spoke with Allen Lombard from there and he was very helpful explaining that he handles everything right up to the product being shipped directly to me. His quote was very comprehensive. I spoke with Moderne Aire directly also. I was told that I couldn't order directly from them and there are no distributors in the Seattle area either.
I will likely be ordering through Allen but I just need to find out if he can also recommend a local installer as my general contractor is a bit hesitant as he is unfamiliar with the product.
carolml
11 years ago
Thanks Goagirl. I'll make some calls tomorrow.
deeageaux
11 years ago
PS-18 allows the baffles to be recessed and gives you some mechanical capture.

PSI-16 has the baffles straight across and has no mechanical capture.

Mechanical capture is more important if you are getting a 600 cfm blower and less important if you are getting a 1400 cfm blower.

What percentage difference does it make?

I don't know.

If you really want a good answer to that question you can give a shout out to Kas, our forum ventilation expert.

If you want he even shows you the math :(
Goagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Deeageaux....I've just sent an email off to Kas to ask his advice. This morning, I spoke with Allen, the Canadian distributor, and also emailed Moderne Aire directly...they both reassured me that the PS-18 and PSI-16 would work equally as well.
deeageaux
11 years ago
I wouldn't think MA or its Canadian distributor would concede one of their high dollar rangehoods is less than excellent:)
Goagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
I suspect that also but there's only so much a girl can do at this point. I asked about the price difference between the two and it wasn't insignificant. I've already upgraded the blower to the 1400CFM one which is about $200-300 more so I'm kinda at my max right now in terms of how much I want to pay for a hood. I'll be getting the final price quote tomorrow. I haven't heard back yet from Kas yet but I'm really hoping the difference is not significant.
sadalja
10 years ago
Hi there, i came across this page when i was researching island range hoods. can you let me know how much the range hood ended up costing you? I will be using it over a slide-in wolfe gas range. And, more importantly, have you been happy with the hood?

Help with final two decisions: range hood and fidge

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