I am redoing my kitchen after 30 years and have spent hours researching and looking at appliances, waffling back and forth between Kenmore Pro and GE Café. Since I have a Wolf 30" stove/oven which I love, I was looking for a similar professional look in a single wall oven and refrigerator. Since Sears recently was running a 50% discount on the Kenmore Pro, I jumped in, purchased the wall oven and had the refrigerator put on lay away. The oven was installed last week and I was thrilled until I noticed, after polishing off the installers fingerprints, that the handle was scratched (like some one took same sandpaper to it in the wrong direction). I was also disappointed when I realized that the temperature knob did not click into place securing the desired temperatures, but only locked in at 200, 350 and 550 degrees. This would not typically be a problem except that it is installed under a counter and I have visions of wee grandchildren brushing up against it inadvertently. So, I took a picture of the handle and immediately headed down to Sears and explained the situation. They were great! Offered to refund me some money if I were to keep it (damaged) or replace it with another Pro or any other oven of my choosing at the same price. Fortunately, I decided to take some time to think about it before making a decision and in the course of the week discovered the oven temperature regulation did not work. I had over proofed bread, burned Brussel Sprouts, and over baked carrot cake! 325 degrees was actually reading 342 degrees on my infrared themometer; 350 was really 389, and 100 degrees varied anywhere between 201 -141 degrees in a 45 minute span. Now I am thinking of trading the Kenmore Pro in for a GE Café, even though really like the look of the Kenmore. More than that, I'm sorry I purchased a Sears appliance to begin with. Even though the price was right, all my savings got eaten up purchasing their extended warranty which is at least 3x higher than at other retailers (but which I will obviously will need) and after reading this thread, I am concerned about their service. I am stuck purchasing my oven through Sears, but may switch to the Café oven and purchase the refrigerator elsewhere.

I'm back. DW is ordered. Appliance shopping when it's 110 degrees (not exaggerating) is not on my list of "fun things to do"! I didn't get the Bosch. I wanted it, I really did...till I saw it. I'm sure it cleans wonderfully, is super quiet and energy efficient. And those were my 3 main goals for a new dw, but, I was disappointed in the small size of the tub, the configuration (and lack different configurations) of the racks. I measured my Maytag tub before I left. The Bosch was considerably smaller depth wise and a little less wide. I took my tallest drinking glass, my largest skillet and a cookie sheet. The upper rack had to be raised to accommodate the cookie sheet (and it still wouldn't sit straight). The drinking glass wouldn't fit in the top rack (upright). My largest skillet didn't fit in the Maytag so of course, didn't fit in the Bosch. Customizing the rack spacing was almost non-existent. The smaller interior and rack configuration was a deal breaker. I bought (keeping fingers crossed) the KitchenAid Superba EQ Arcitect II series. Model # is KUDE60FVBL. KitchenAid is actually the brand I was going after at first. The dB rating is 46 vs 45 on the Bosch model I wanted. kWh is 294 vs 259. That's probably using the heated dry option which I won't be using. antss, tall tub maintenance issue...an appliance tech site I came across last night during my research. I've dropped plenty of things on my plastic door. It still looks brand new. I've gotten kinda clumsy in my old(er) age. time indicator...I'm a "micromanager" from WAY back (lol) I don't know why it matters. Maybe because I've had it for the last 10 years and I'm used to it. haus_proud...the very first thing I noticed when I opened the door was the interior size. Thought it must be an optical illusion so I whipped out my trusty tape measure and sure enough, it was much more shallow than what I'm used to. I think it measured 19 1/2" deep My Maytag is 23" deep. The width was just maybe 1/2" smaller. We're empty nesters too but only do a load every 2, sometimes 3 days. I'm one of those that won't run the dw till it's FULL. mindstorm...you STILL here? (g) Do you remember me from my 2002 kitchen/office remodel (and the "Monster Den" add on)? Then there was the 2004 entry and guestroom remodel and the 2007 master bathroom, bedroom and dining room remodel. One more room to go and it'll be time to start over agin (lol) Kicking the door closed...habit I've developed since bending causes major pain in lower back and left leg. It's just a tap with the heel of my right foot. The door is so light it doesn't take much to bump it up enough to catch it with my hand. Features...no, I don't need a load of fluff. What I do need is it to simply do it's job very well, very quietly and as economically as possible. It just so happens those qualities come on the higher end models. My husband was not too happy when he saw rows and rows of $300, $400 and $500 dishwashers. I needed to spend $1000+ WHY?? :o Lowes listed it for $1275. They matched a competitor at $1149 plus (after I asked the manager) I got their 10% off all appliances over $xxx deal. Final price before tax was $1035. idrive65...well I DID plan on "kicking" the dw door but I guess I'll have to change my ways. I did a few test kicks in the stores and it can be done but maybe I should be kinder and gentler :) I'm back. DW is ordered. Appliance shopping when it's 110 degrees (not exaggerating) is not on my list of "fun things to do"! I didn't get the Bosch. I wanted it, I really did...till I saw it. I'm sure it cleans wonderfully, is super quiet and energy efficient. And those were my 3 main goals for a new dw, but I was disappointed in the small size of the tub, the configuration (and lack of different configurations) of the racks. I measured my Maytag tub before I left. The Bosch was considerably smaller depth wise and a little less wide. I took my tallest drinking glass, my largest skillet and a cookie sheet. The upper rack had to be raised to accommodate the cookie sheet (and it still wouldn't sit straight). The drinking glass wouldn't fit in the top rack without leaning it considerably. My largest skillet didn't fit in the Maytag so of course, didn't fit in the Bosch. Customizing the rack spacing was almost non-existent. The smaller interior and rack configuration was a deal breaker. I bought (keeping fingers crossed) the KitchenAid Superba EQ Architect II series. Model # is KUDE60FVBL. KitchenAid is actually the brand I was going after at first. The dB rating is 46 vs 45 on the Bosch model I wanted. kWh is 294 vs 259. That's probably using the heated dry option which I won't be using. antss, tall tub maintenance issue...an appliance tech site I came across last night during my research. I've dropped plenty of things on my plastic door. It still looks brand new. I've gotten kinda clumsy in my old(er) age. time left indicator...I'm a "micromanager" from WAY back (lol) I don't know why it matters. Maybe because I've had it for the last 10 years and I'm used to it. Question about the drain hose...I noticed they were all a "corrugated" plastic. Salesman said it made for nosier drainage but that the material was necessary for the "high loop" install. Can a rubber hose bend well enough for this "high loop" installation and would it be quieter? haus_proud...the very first thing I noticed when I opened the door was the size of the tub. Thought it must be an optical illusion so I whipped out my trusty tape measure and sure enough, it was much more shallow than what I'm used to. I think it measured 19 1/2" deep. My Maytag is 23" deep. The width was just maybe 1/2" smaller. We're empty nesters too but only do a load every 2, sometimes 3 days. I'm one of those that won't run the dw till it's FULL. mindstorm...you STILL here? (g) Do you remember me from my 2002 kitchen/office remodel (and the "Monster Den" add on)? Then there was the 2004 entry and guestroom remodel and the 2007 master bathroom, bedroom and dining room remodel. One more room to go and it'll be time to start over again (lol) Kicking the door closed...habit I've developed since bending causes major pain in lower back and left leg. It's just a tap with the heel of my right foot. The door is so light it doesn't take much to bump it up enough to catch it with my hand. Features...no, I don't need a load of fluff. What I do need is it to simply do it's job very well, very quietly and as economically as possible. It just so happens those qualities come on the higher end models. My husband was not too happy when he saw rows and rows of $300, $400 and $500 dishwashers. I needed to spend $1000+ WHY?? :o Lowes listed it for $1275. They matched a competitor at $1149 plus (after I asked the manager) I got their 10% off all appliances over $xxx deal. Final price before tax was $1035. idrive65...well I DID plan on "kicking" the dw door but I guess I'll have to change my ways. I did a few test kicks in the stores and it can be done but maybe I should be kinder and gentler :) I think I'll be happy with the KA rack configurations. They definitely had more flexibility and my large cookie sheet and a 9x13 pan fit nicely. I hope I made a good decision. I know there will be some changes and I'll have to get used to loading the dw differently. Lead time for the (special order) dw is up to 26 days. In "Lowes talk" that's about 52 days! ;) Thanks to ALL for your advice and comments. Monica

Maire_cate, I am so sorry for your loss. Let me be clear that I am in no way saying Joanie does any of these things. But for those who hear secondhand stories from friends about how their DIL treats them so badly, well, I'd suggest taking it with a grain of salt. For example, someone above asked who would always go to one side of the family for Christmas. We did. For years. My in laws lived near by and made no effort to see us. We always had to drive an hour plus to see them and half the time they had some project they wanted my dh to be unpaid labor on so I spent the visit chasing our toddler by myself while they did work (they had more than enough money to pay for the work to be done, they just didn't want to). Also his family never made any big deal out of holidays--they once ate Christmas dinner at McDonald's because they went skiing. So when dh could actually get leave because it was the holidays, we went to my family. And Dh one hundred percent agreed, I did not make that decision on my own. Another example, my ds had a milk allergy. I did not make it up; an allergist diagnosed it. But my mil ignored it. I would bring food with us that was safe for ds and she would still offer him snacks he could not have. She once offered him a pudding cup and ds actually told her he could not have it and she tried to insist to him that he could. Dh had to intervene. Well, she never got to babysit him again. And we pretty much stopped going to see them because we were never sure what food she would try to slip past us. Since they made little effort to come to see us, we saw them maybe every two or three months at that point. So, when people tell you secondhand how awful it is that they don't get the holidays or they never get to see their grandkids, I suggest not assuming it is all because of a terrible DIL. Again this is in no way a commentary on Joanie. I'm not doubting her point of view at all. And I am very sorry for her circumstances.

I love your current setup and you could add wood shelves to either side. At this point, the larger television is really just a splurge if you have extra bucks. If you are not blind and can see, and most of the time what is on tv is hardly worth watching or paying the cable bill for...lol....that is a beautiful credenza. What a treasure. Toss the tv, and place some other treasures atop it for a very special room. Love your home! I rather like that 2nd photo from Dr Bev, too...