I wanted to give you all an update on my appliances! Oven: Double Miele Convection H4892BP2 Cooktop: Drop-in BlueStar RBCT365BSS D/W: KA KUDE70FXSS M/W: KA KHMS2040WSS Down Draft: KA KIRD861VSS1 Fridge: KA KFCS22EVMS I wanted Miele D/W but KA had a deal so I ended up paying $600 less than the Miele D/W (too good to pass). The same goes for the M/W. All in all, I cannot thank enough the people in this forum! I absolutely love my Blue Star! It performs and looks professional. There is so much power that I am not sure the downdraft will be enough. I have to admit that I seldom used my downdraft and I am now learning the need for it. So it might just be that I have to learn to use the appliances as they are intended (duh!) The KA downdraft is very quiet and much taller than the previous one. It is a separate unit so installation required alot of changes from what I had before. Not to mention that the Blue Star alone was the size of my previous cooktop and downdraft combined. And what can I say about my Miele oven -- I am in heaven! I love to cook but I will admit that I had gotten used to the darker coloring in some of my cooking. My oven has been working to perfection! The food comes out evenly cooked, warm and without that slightly broiled look that I used to get from my old oven (eventhough I had not used the broiler!) I had it installed my a certified Miele installer so I will get an additional warranty year (which I was told it is being discountinued as of May 1, 2011). KA D/W has been very quiet, has large capacity and is cleaning great. I also love the upper cutlery tray. I was surprised to find out (after all my research) that it takes 3-4 hours to clean (water efficiency). THis was never disclosed. Since I tend to wash when I go to bed, it is not a problem. It does have a 1 hour option so I can still do dishes quickly if I need to. But is the water saving cheaper than using electricity for 3-4 hours? I am next to a water facility next to the river so water shortage is not a problem here. My only disappointment is the refrigerator. I opted for the counter-depth and knew that I was compromising in capacity but I really wanted a "built-in" look without the built-in cost. This fridge fits nicely and gives me the desired look but the freezer capacity is almost non-existent and the upper roll-away tray above the main freezer compartment is a pain. Sometimes it does not close properly (I think there is something wrong so I will call KA). Finally, the KA M/W capacity is larger and it has a warming function. My only surprise was to find that the M/W is only front stainless steel - the sides are black. Apparantely, this is the way they make OTR M/W. It does not look bad but I can see the left side -the one next to the cooktop. Had I known this, I would have searched for an all around OTR stainless steel M/W. As for the Stainless Steel finish, it has been easier to clean and maintain than I thought. The only cleaning problem is with my Miele oven electronic controls which retain every fingerprint. Every time I clean it I turn on the upper or lower oven (does anyone know how to properly use the lock function?) Anyway, my total cost for all appliances listed above was $11,370 plus $1,125 for installation. This does not include the $500 credit card from KA that I am expecting. I stayed within my budget and was able to get a great combination of appliances. I could not have done it without your help. Again, many thanks!

cheriei On matching fridge-freezer pairs, there have been numbers of threads. Sometimes, you just need some vocabulary and model numbers to help with a search. You could start with these two threads on major brand models: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/appl/msg012059109995.html http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/appl/msg0217454513977.html?16 Talking about a "pro-style" range and "affordable appliances" may be a bit of an oxymoron. Prices for 30-inch model all-gas pro-style ranges generally start at around $3500 and go way up from there. Even higher if you want a six-burner 36" wide model. The only exception is the NXR which runs about $1999 for a 30" model (Costco.com sometimes runs sales at $1799). But, the NXR is like buying a small, imported 4-wheel-drive pick-up truck with a manual transmission and manual hubs -- great vehicle for some people but not others. Maybe you might want to consider, say, a GE Cafe range -- some pro-style looks, though sleeker and with digital conveniences like Sabbath modes and a bigger oven than the NXR. But why buy a range? You will be getting double-wall ovens. A rangetop, rather than a range would be more budget friendly. And that leads to another suggestion: try focusing on what you want to do with the stove (or range top) and how you want to use it and what you are willing to put up with to get what you want. Do you want or need a 36" wide six-burner cooktop? If not, then a 30" model will be more budget friendly. Lots of threads on cooktops here, too. So maybe, when you get your choices narrowed, you can try starting a narrower thread on the models you are specifically interested in. As a practical matter, you may get more and better feedback if you do that. If you want "pro-style" then you could check out the Blue Star rangetops. Others brands have been recommended here, as well. One thing I did not see on your list is a rangehood. Sorry to add to your research woes, but that will likely be a practical necessity. Lots of threads on them, too, plus you should talk to your builder about "make-up air" (for which "MUA" is the frequently used acronym.) There have been a number of recent threads on wine fridges. You might also try searching at chowhound and e-gullet, too. Same thing for drawer mircrowaves and ice makers. Can't help with trash compactors and don't recall seeing any recent threads on them here. I'd try the kitchens forum.

I would tell you to go with the thermador and save the money, unless you like the SS interior on the gaggenau the 48" wolf DF and I would not bother with both grill and griddle, get the grille and get a griddle plate Which epicure oven are you lookin at the ECS130 or the EO130?? these are vastly different ovens, Id recommend the Wolf or Thermador or even Gagg's new 30" oven Match the micro and warming draw theres not much to say there If you are paneling the dishwasher go with a miele or bosch if not you can get a thermador or gaggenau to match that is really a gussied up bosch Steam oven miele or gaggenau...do not be viking's guinea pig Coffee maker, I would tell you to stay awy from Dacor's go with miele um the draws depends on what you're doing...the sub's integrate perfectly, if not, the monogram is the cheapest

It looks like you've already chosen the appliances that have the features that suit you. You have to take the reviews with a critical eye. There's a lot of operator error out there, where the machine gets the blame. It's also true that satisfied customers rarely bother to post in depth reviews, so balance is less likely. The appliances you've chosen are fairly inexpensive with a lot of gizmos. The more gizmos, the more likely it is to break. The weakest part of any fridge is the ice maker, which gets even moreso when it's through the door, and more yet when there's also a water dispenser. Ad to that that the dispenser is above the freezer, and there's even more to go wrong. BUT, they sell an awful lot of these units. If they were really horrible there'd be a class action lawsuit and a big government consumer protection investigation. So the question is more how soon will something go wrong, how much time, effort and money will it take to get it fixed, how soon before it makes sense to buy a new fridge rather than replacing it, etc. It should keep your food cold. They all do. The one part that I've heard about is that door in door thing, which is supposed to be a bother and a waste of potential storage space. But again, should keep your food cold. Similarly, the range is gizmoed out. There's a LOT about even the best ovens on the market that could be better, because the top considerations for all but the very most expensive are energy efficiency and marginal cost, rather than consumer level performance. OTOH, presuming it gets hot and holds temperature pretty well, you should be able to make it work. My house came with a gas wall oven that didn't work right and could not hold temperature, but I still managed to make roasts and casseroles, broil, and bake bread and cakes. Basically, the kinds of things that they made in the ovens next to the fireplaces in the old days, where precision wasn't necessary. With that to compare with, the range has to be better, and you'll learn its quirks, it's hot and cold spots, etc., and adapt the way you use it to make it work. When you're having appliances shipped from Korea--or Michigan--there's likely something going to break loose. There are also faults that can't be tested for in a factory setting which you may find a few months in. As Greg alluded, that's why they usually give you a year's warranty. To make good on anything that isn't quite right. Make sure that those kinds of warranties are included. Just keep in mind that the more of a mass market price point, and the higher the number of gizmos, the more likely the appliances are to fail within the standard prediction time. Currently the rule of thumb average is about 7 years. It's possible that both will keep going for 30, but don't bet on it.