I could certainly be wrong but from the sound of your post you sound like someone who has "aspired" to have a SubZero fridge not necessarily for a functional reason but to have the brand. It sounds as if you're going all out - two Miele dishwashers, etc. - so why not just go for the SZ? If you think about all the people who have been keeping their food chilled without investing in SZ, there has to be something people "value" about SZ other than it's functional ability to keep food chilled or frozen that would make them pay the premimum price. Could be appearance, appeal of saying you have the brand, etc. In any case if you want one and want to spend the $ go for it. It seems you can count on repairs with any brand these days - kind of like luxury auto brands. Just because you spend alot doesn't mean it will be trouble free.

I think in your case, you can go either way. In Rocco's first example, I actually don't like how they frame the top of the fridge because it is unnecessary. The room has a very tall ceiling and there are no top cabinets there. So the extra cabinet looks a little odd. Also, it throws off the symmetry to the floating shelf on the other side. In the second examples, it looks much cleaner. and i think it's perfect. So I think if there are no tall cabinets, you shouldn't frame it.. But if you do, then you can go either way. In Redlover's example, there is some tall cabinets on another wall, but I still think it looks a little odd because the wood frame has no function, it's not reallya cabinet. However, I think the wood framing provide stylistic unity for the kitchen. Since in that example, the kitchen is not going for modern, but going for more elegance. So, besides having top cabinets or not, style of your kitchen is also a consideration. Frameless is a little more modern, clean, it may even feel a little commercial. But the frame maybe necessary if you have a more "elegant", "traditional" kitchen. In your case, I think you can go either way. I'll probably not frame it since the frame probably won't provide usable storage, unless you are going for the elegant look.. then frame it. Lastly, looking at your kitchen layout, your main sink is very far from your range and the fridge. So, you can only use that for cleanup purposes. So your prep sink near the fridge became extra important and you will spend a lot of time preping there. It's a bit hard to see exactly how big of a prep sink you have but it look a little small from the rendering, esp if you get the kind that it's narrow on the side of the faucet. I'll advice getting a sink that is "normal" size, wide, and shallow for your prep sink. I am adding a photo of how we do it in our kitchen .. we have a very small kitchen but we lean toward modern and clean look. So we need lots of cabinets and we have to frame it. Here is the "wall" behind my island (w/sink). I haven't done my Kitchen reveal yet since i'm still waiting for my combi steam oven to arrive (see hole above oven) This post was edited by noopd on Wed, May 1, 13 at 23:51

Each of the DWs I have been able to select has been what I consider upper mid-level -- something below the top of the line but with good insulation and washing features. The last two were a KA and my current pair of Bosch and each was one or two notches below their top of the line ($700-900)-- which is a big step from a Miele. I couldn't go to something less on the DW because my experience with mid to lower end models has been a lot more noise and less cleaning. I'd rather just build in a pull out drying rack and drip pan than go back to those, but I don't need a Miele and sure wasn't ready to do a pair! On the fridge, I have mixed feelings. I love my Thermador columns. It is above most of our neighborhood (there may be a couple other built-ins but I'm only thinking of one right now). We just took delivery of an LG bottom freezer for our utility room Saturday and I am moving things into it. To assure delivery in time to get our rebates and because the sale prices were so good, we went to the stainless finish. It looks great and I could see it as a primary fridge for most kitchens. The use of space is very different and you tend to forget how deep freestanding fridges can be. The built-ins make everything so much easier to see and access. I could go back, but I'd have to be diligent about the use and organization of the deeper fridge and remember to check behind things where I don't have to so much now. Going to a CD would be less of an adjustment. I have gone backwards on cooktops twice -- both with plans of changing them out that didn't happen very quickly. I hated the cooktops, but I have learned that if there is enough heat to cook, you can adjust.

My SZ side by side freezer is impossible to open right after closing, my fridge less so. I hear the compressor at that time. I am not a pro but I believe that Subzero decreases the compartment pressures on door closing to take advantage of the ideal gas law PV=nRT where V,n, and R are constants in the compartments and therefore if you drop the pressure, you drop the temperature faster. That way the compartment returns to the cold temperature faster. This will take longer on the freezer side than the fridge side since there is more of a temperature rise with the door open. This explains why the longer you have the door open, the longer you will have to wait to to be able to reopen it once closed. Do you hear the compressor going when you close the door? If so it is probably doing its thing and your leak is in the gasket. That said, I found this other thread that says it it could be normal not to have the suction, with the vice versa explanation using the same gas law ( that the decreased pressure is due to the temperature drop instead of the other way around). [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/refrigerator-upright-freezer-door-suction-dsvw-vd~2332048[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/refrigerator-upright-freezer-door-suction-dsvw-vd~2332048) Subzero warranties start at install even for display units so you should be covered. As long as your freezer and fridge return to temperature rapidly you should be OK, You can buy an instant read thermometer gun to check it. HTH