Total kitchen remodel - where to start?

12 years ago

I'm a brand new member and I have a couple of questions regarding a new kitchen remodel project. I would be grateful for thoughts on one or more of these questions.

We just bought a house that needs substantial cosmetic updating. I would like a 36" gas cooktop, a double wall oven (trying to decide between 27" and 30"), a french door refrigerator, and a dishwasher.

We have about $6K budgeted for all the appliances in total, so we can go mid-range.

Here are my questions:

1) We are hoping to not have to completely tear out the cabinets due to the expense, but the new appliances will definitely mean reworking a lot of the cabinets. Is this a recipe for disaster? Should I start from scratch on cabinets or buy appliances to fit the existing cabinets as much as possible?

2) It's a galley layout with eat-in at one end. We are thinking of putting in a breakfast bar in the eat-in facing out toward the kitchen. We could only fit a two-person bar. For resale, would it be better to stick with a table? There is ample dining space in the combined living/dining room.

3) I've heard that it's a good idea to buy all one brand of appliances so the stainless steel matches. After reading lots of reviews, I'm leaning toward Whirlpool Gold. Any experiences? I'm especially concerned about the wall oven as Whirlpool is not known for ovens.

4) For the amount of money I'd spend on a cooktop and double wall oven, I could get a really nice range. I bake and cook a LOT so the double oven is appealing, I think I may be romanticizing the idea of a double wall oven. Thoughts? Is it worth it?

Thank you SO much.

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Comments (7)

dilly_ny
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
1) I think its tricky to rework cabinets. Are they in good shape?
2) Did you see the great galley kitchen posted on SSShayne's thread? I'll link to it.
4) If you have gas, I think a range is ideal and a space saver. Having the double oven and cooktop will give you less counter space than a range.

As for where to start, I think you should start by analyzing what you like about your existing kitchen (layout, light, cabinetry color, etc.) and consider how long you plan to stay in this house (since you mentioned resale). Also, there is a Sweeby test that you can use to define your style and later it can help you shape your decisions. I think you can find it on the 'New to GW' thread. Good Luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: galley kitchen shown in thread
bahacca
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I cook/bake a ton and if I were to redo my kitchen, my double wall ovens would probably be one of the first things to go. I think it also depends on how often you bake different things at once with very different temps. I used mine when preparing a Thanksgiving feast one year. I used them today to heat up some premade things from trader joes that had a heating difference of 50*, but if I only had one oven, I would have just cooked them both and cooked the one with the lower temp at the higher temp for shorter amt of time or vice versa. I'd track in a month or 2 months how many times you'd REALLY use them both at once. Keep a paper on the fridge and make a checkmark when you'd use them. If after a month you find you'd use them 1-2x a week, I'd say it is probably worth it. If you'd only do it 1x a month or less, I'd skip them.
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cj47
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I also cook and bake a lot, and enjoy entertaining. When I built my new kitchen, I installed a 36 inch cooktop and a double wall oven. I have not regretted this. I may not use both ovens every day or even every week, but I use them enough to say that they're worth it. I often use my second oven as a warming oven. It's nice and big and serves that purpose well. Another idea would be to install a range and a wall oven. Then you can save the space with the range and still have a second oven when you want one.

The general consensus here is not to buy everything from the same brand. It is unlikely that one brand makes the most reliable range, ovens, dishwasher and etc, and you may decide that you like the feature set on one brand's ovens better than another brand. It's better not to lock yourself into a brand. Unless you are installing everything in a straight line, the stainless isn't going to be next to each other anyway. Most of us research each appliance separately. I prioritized my appliance budget according to which things were most important to me, so I splurged on the induction cooktop, got the nicest ovens I could afford after that, etc. You may find that some manufacturers run sales and rebates at certain times, making your budget dollars go further.

Best of luck on your remodel--be sure to post pictures when you're done!

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deeageaux
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
3) I've heard that it's a good idea to buy all one brand of appliances so the stainless steel matches. After reading lots of reviews, I'm leaning toward Whirlpool Gold. Any experiences? I'm especially concerned about the wall oven as Whirlpool is not known for ovens.

No! No! No! NNNNOOOO!

The same brand generally uses different factories to produce different appliances. The sheet metal will come from different suppliers. Even if the same factory with the same supplier produces two appliances in the suite you are considering it is probably a different batch therefore slightly different.

The reason some people buy a suite of appliance from one brand is for a rebate. In general you are buying some good appliances and some bad appliances.One brand does not make the best appliance in each category therefore not much of a bargain.

Some buy a suite of appliances to match handles,dumb reason IMO to buy from same brand. You can buy DW with integrated handle and cooktops don't have handles. It it best to buy each appliance on it's own merit; just take care you are not buying an appliance with such a unique handle or style it clashes with the rest.

My recommendations

A) Frigidaire SS 27" Double Oven FFET2725LS $1343 +$166 for 30"

http://compare.ebay.com/like/360395237582?var=lv

These are better than Whirlpool Gold and as good as any in the mid-priced category. The reason they are cheaper is Frigidaire's brutally efficient factory not cheap parts. The next signifciantly better oven is Electrolux at twice the price.

B) Samsung RF263AERS 26 cu. ft. French Door $1452.55

http://www.wdcappliances.com/ProductsDetail.php?SKU=RF263AERS&cse=4

Samsung four-five years in a row JD Powers #1 French Door.

C) Bosch evolution 300 series dlx $619

http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=BOSHE43P25UC&id=BOSHE43P25UC&l=FROOGLE

Whirlpool Gold is a nice DW that uses a food grinder. This makes it loud. Before enzyme based detergents,you needed a food grinder.Almost all modern DW detergents are enzyme based and work well with DWers with filters. Bosch is a quiet DW with filter.

Bosch has been at the top of Consumer Reports rankings and near the top of JD. JD ranks Miele #1 but that outside your price range.CR says you need to spend $500 to get a DW that does its basic function well. I say $600.

That leaves room in the budget for a premium cooktop.

D) BlueStar RBCT365BSS $1800-$2200

You have to get this local.It depends on local dealer. If your local dealer has a price match policy then abesofmain.com has it for $1800 with free shipping in it's area.

Below is a vid about BS burner.

Total $5214.55-$5780.55

What are you doing for range hood(Ventilation)?

4) For the amount of money I'd spend on a cooktop and double wall oven, I could get a really nice range. I bake and cook a LOT so the double oven is appealing, I think I may be romanticizing the idea of a double wall oven. Thoughts? Is it worth it?

If you like baking in your toaster oven and think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread then you may find yourself only using one oven and the toaster oven.

If you find the the toaster oven bakes uneven and dries out food you will probably turn on both ovens.

I would get the double ovens.

BTW Did I mention I think it is a bad idea to get all appliaces from one brand? I know someone will post they got all their appliances from one brand and they just LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! Still a bad idea IMO. You should get the best appliance for your money not just appliances that are much better than the old appliances they replaced.

BTW II I will leave questions 1 and 2 to someone else.

Here is a link that might be useful: BS Link
User
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Start by

1. Making an "as built" drawing of your current kitchen. Make a layout with walls, windows, doors, electrical/water/gas locations, etc. Make multiple copies of that drawing. Then add the current cabinets and appliances to one copy, then start dreaming about where your new stuff would go in the remaining copies.

2. Living in your new house and cooking there, writing down what works and what doesn't. Mark areas of the kitchen that need help (i.e. fridge is hard to get to, not enough counter space near the cook top, etc.)

A couple of cautions:

1. If this is adding more/bigger appliances than you have now, consider the trade-offs in counter space and maneuvering room by adding all the new stuff. Also, if the appliances are electric, can the circuits handle more or higher powered appliances? (Rewiring will eat your 6K budget faster than almost anything.)

2. Reworking cabinets can be done--but make sure they are worth saving. Will they still seem nice next to the new appliances or will you invest all that labor trying to save something that wasn't worth it? Reusing countertops usually can't be done. Make sure you budget for that if you change your cabinets around.
colorfast
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
1) Try to post a photo here of your cabinets, especially of the ones you will need to change. That might help people give more feedback.

Without seeing your current kitchen, this is just a guess. But I think what you want is a good local cabinet shop, where they can make a door to match your current door style as well as building the cabinet boxes needed, all in custom sizes. (And install them, of course!)

2) Draw out your current layout and include some measurements. Post that as a jpg picture too. There are people here who are genius at helping you figure out the best use of your space in a kitchen, the proper clearances etc.

3) Some of the newer European dishwashers don't get the dishes nearly so dry as the American brands. My good friend loves hers but I couldn't envision my kids drying all the dishes with a towel.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to post your pictures here on Gardenweb
davidro1
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
If you can resist the temptation to get your hands onto hot or warm dishes, your dishes will be dry. Wait longer.

Total kitchen remodel - where to start?

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