Themador Wall Combo vs Viking Steam Convection Oven

13 years ago

Hi folks

We have just started a renovation on our Greek Revival Farmhouse. We are in the appliance selection phase. Boy, have I been in the dark ages! Amazing appliances abound, which is fun, but also confusing. I am driving my husband nuts with all the stuff I am throwing at him.

So I am hoping you folks can help. I have a chance to get a discontinued Thermador micro/convection/warming drawer in Black for 1499 from our local appliance store. Full warranty, NIB. I can pair it with a GE profile induction cooktop and French door fridge (stainless). I'd be pretty happy with this set up. However, because "everyone" wants stainless, will we be making mistake buying the black wall unit? The cooktops are all black anyway, and much of the stainless has alot of black throughout them as well. So we were thinking it might be esthetically ok to mix the two. There is an outside chance that we would sell our house in 5years, a good chance we will sell in 10-12. So we'll be here a while and the black unit looks sharp to me, plus I cannot justify spending 4500 for the exact same unit in stainless.

I have another option. I have found a Viking Steam Convection Oven locally for 1750, brand new. I could pair this with a warming drawer and cooktop, but would probably still need another oven, which might put me over budget.

So option three is to do the Viking Steam oven with a GE profile induction range. The downside to the range is that I would end up looking at a wall while cooking, which is not my preference. I am also seriously interested in the steam convection ovens and can't seem to move away from that.

I am confused and need to make a decision. I could use some clarity, knowledge and experience. Could anyone help me sort this out? My brain hurts. :)

Featured Answer

jeniloohoo
Original Author

13 years ago

Gosh, the reviews are so terrible from owners of Thermador. I am having seriously cold feet. I see lots of negatives on GE, Electrolux, Dacor and Viking too. Ugh.

Comments (7)

kathylquiltz
13 years ago
Sorry I can't help, but I can commiserate with you. My brain has been hurting too. I wish you the best of luck with all your decisions. I think mixing the black with the stainless would be just fine. They seem to make perfect partners.
andersons21
13 years ago
Definitely do NOT worry about black vs stainless for resale value in 5-10 years!

The savings now are a sure thing, whereas people's tastes and what looks dated in 5-10 years is completely uncertain. Plus, resale value of improvements is overrated.
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jeniloohoo
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you both for your thoughts. I think you are right. Black and stainless look really nice together and the wall oven does go with the cooktop. I am trying not to test my husband's generosity by going overboard and trying to be sensitive to his needs (even if he really NEVER cooks!) because he likes the look of stainless.

We have a 25% chance of the Thermador having problems, but I guess that is the chance we can take. The appliance store will fully warranty it for 5 years for $29. It seems like a good compromise to get such a nice unit for the money. I spent the last several days researching lots of brands and just getting a micro/wall oven combo (Bosch, GR profile or Electrolux) is going to be 3k. I almost sprang for it, but it is just hard to justify.

I think I am going to just do this and move on to the next decision, like our countertops.

We found incredible custom cabinets on Craigslist that were built 3 years ago by a cabinetmaker and removed by the new owners. We only paid $1,500 and they are all wood construction with dovetailed drawers. So this savings is going to allow me to do a really nice remodel for a reasonable $25,000, which in our neighborhood is all we really should spend to keep our investment.

Thank you! I am calling with my credit card this morning to just go ahead and buy the Thermador and keep my fingers crossed that it works. :)
kathylquiltz
13 years ago
Yup jeni.......that's been causing me to drag me feet too! I've named it "paralysis by analysis". I have to remind myself that there must be a lot of other units out there with satisfied customers. However I still haven't chosen what I want yet!
jeniloohoo
Original Author
13 years ago
Yes, exactly Kathy! I think that too. I just hate the idea of buying an expensive appliance and have problems with it right off. Ugh! It is paralysis by analysis. I used to be much more impulsive and not do research and things usually were fine, with whatever I got. My husband is a research fanatic and now I have the plague..... ;)
andersons21
13 years ago
You definitely can't eliminate a brand for which you read negative reviews on the internet -- because that eliminates EVERY brand. I got paralyzed for like 6 months for that reason.

Themador Wall Combo vs Viking Steam Convection Oven

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Themador Wall Combo vs Viking Steam Convection Oven

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