DW: I have a Miele. Did have an Asko. I like the cutlery tray alot more than I expected to. Haven't missed a food grinder (I never scrape, either). I read somewhere, that because of the water pressure and temp, most food disingrates without the food grinder. I'm finding that to be the case. I personally didn't find either one great at drying. Refrigerator: I went w/ a Thermador Freedom and couldn't be happier. Here were my deciding factors: I was looking for an all refrig and all freezer of same size to do an armoire looking set up. That left me with the 30" Thermador compared to 27" SZ. And while I would have preferred the 27" x 2 overall size/scale - I went with the Thermadors because: 1.) It was about 20% less $$$, 2.) Therm had about 20% more storage, 3.) I liked the way the Thermador door hinged out and away from the unit for much easier access into the unit. The SZ door, when open is still in front of the unit, the TH hinges back and to the side - giving full access. For Freezer, you might consider Freezer drawers - it sounds like that might be all you need. Hope this helps!

My Kohler Whitehaven does not always look dirty but I have the grills and make an effort not to let food - especially fruit scraps - sit in the sink. This is much easier now that I don't have a bunch of little ones to watch after - though husband still drops tea bags in the sink - usually right after I cleaned it:) As cast iron sinks get older they get micro abrasions in the finish and stain more easily, but it is very easily cleaned. I will use the same philosophy of those with white cabinets - I can see when cleaning needs to happen. My previous cast iron sink was 20 years old. Almost every night I would give it a spritz of clorox and it would whiten right up. I do't need to clean my Whitehaven that often - maybe twice a week, but as time goes on it may need cleaning more often, but then its a sink and should be cleaned regularly.

I too am very disappointed, having the same issues with my Shaw; chips, hairline type cracks under(crazing) and doesnt drain properly. One section of the sink creates a little pool that keeps the water from draining, although the sink is level. We have a metal grid, but chips were developing even with that. I rarely use it now because it is too difficult to get the water and debris from under it. Bar keepers Friend is helpful. I occasionally make a little paste and let it sit a few minutes before wiping-I find the powder and liquid to be great. Also Mr. Clean Magic eraser is very helpful especially on the grey surface cracks and around drain. Love the look, but this has been frustrating. I've had it since around 2009 I got no help from the manufacturer.

After over 40 years of cleaning kitchens I have had every kind of kitchen. And all products have their pros and cons. There are no absolutes, just choices you prefer. Top of range -- stainless steel is easier to clean and keep looking nearly new than black porcelain. They both are a PITA to keep clean and not show water spots. Both get scratched, though I think the SS shows the scrathes more in my experience. And black porcelain can chip and shows dust more. I found SS to be hotter to work with, it seemed to relect the heat. I would be sweating up a storm by the time I was finished making pancakes for breakfast. Black porcelain not so much. Cabinets -- stained wood is easier than painted (but how tough is it to keep the painted looking good, and how do you do it?) I found that stained wood doesn't show dirt, grease or stains as much as painted. Especially if it is a dark stain. And after years of cleaning painted (white), I wore through the finish. Not so on stained which had over 20 years of cleaning. Also white really shows dust and dirt. Appliances -- stainless steel is generally the toughest to keep up. I got all SS in my new kitchen remodel. I absolutely HATE it! I have tried every product out there and it still looks streaky. I can't get that showroom look no matter how hard I try, even cleaning every day doesn't help. I have also had white, Harvest Gold, and black. I hate to say it but the Gold appliances didn't show the dust and dirt as much. Really ugly but easy maintenance. Black really showed the dust and white showed dirt and any spilled food like spag sauce. Textured black didn't show fingerprints or streaks. There is nothing really easy to maintain out there. And did I mention I HATE SS! Floors -- stone or ceramic tile is easier than wood to keep looking new. I have had real linoleum floors, vinyl, ceramic and porcelain tile and old wood. Linoleum was the easiest to maintain and easiest on the feet. Wood the hardest to keep up and warped when there was a leak, and there were gouge marks when things were dropped. But also easy on the feet. I have large porcelain tile now and find it easy to keep clean. I have dark beige grout so doesn't show stains. And things haven't been dropped as much any more.(DS is grown.) And I don't do as much standing as I use to and have padded rugs so no strain on the feet. Ceramic tile chips and shows the dark color underneath, porcelain tile is harder and has the color all the way through. Counters -- too many opinions to sort but it sounds like Quartz (e.g. Caesarstone) is easiest. I have had tile, laminate, and granite. Laminate is easily stained and scarred. And I hate tile and cleaning the white grout lines, unless you get that new grout that is easy to clean and doesn't stain. I was going to get Silestone but my sister-in-law got it first and has not been happy with it. There is a slight color difference that developed over time between pieces and flaws in the material. It is no easier to keep clean then my sealed granite. I have had my granite almost 2 years now (Verde Butterfly) and I have no stains and it looks as good as new. I think it is just a matter of what you like looks wise. Sinks -- seems like Silgranit has lots of votes for ease of upkeep and stainless has mixed reviews. Fireclay, porcelain cast-iron have their advocates and seem to be problem-free. I ordered a Franke fireclay farm house sink for my remodel, 3 times. It kept coming in cracked or chipped or just plain broken. I went next with a Kindred SS sink. I find it easy to keep clean and almost indestructible. It does develop scratches over time, but that is just it's patina. And I do have a bottom rack to protect the bottom surface. I have had white procelain cast iron sinks and they chip, plus it is hard to keep them looking really nice unless you bleach them all the time. Faucets -- chrome is easiest to keep in a pristine like new condition, followed by polished nickel and then the "living finishes"-- which are intended to change over time I have always had chrome and it is easy to maintain and is classic. But the shiny chrome shows water spots and the finish will wear off in time. This time I got brushed nickel with a PVD finish and it has held up well for 2 years. And the brushed finish doesn't show water spots. The only thing I definitely would recommend NOT having is wood floors in a kitchen. It is very expensive if your dishwasher or plumbing springs a leak and floods your kitchen. Been there, done that. Just my humble opinion.