I don't have 12 years industry experience but I do know how to spell GE Monogram. IMO Great, Top notch Fridge - Sub Zero BI48S/O n/a 48" built-in side x side, panel ready Range Top - Capital Culinarian CGRT366NG s/s 36" gas rangetop, 6 burner Microwave - Sharp KB6524PS s/s 24" microwave drawer Fine Warming Drawer - Kitchen Aid KEWS105SSS s/s 30" warming drawer Bar / Wine Storage - U-Line 2275ZWCOL-00 n/a 24" undercounter wine unit, 2 zone I like the least. Hood - Vent-a-Hood PRH18342SS s/s 42"w x 18"h Professional style hood, 1350 cfm equivalent When a company is selling you a "magical" systen that is just as good as other companies with higher specifications beware. At least have the sales rep show you how you clean this system. I would look at Prestige,Modern Aire, even the 1000cfm Kobe before I would buy the VAH. Bar Ice Machine - U-Line CLR2160B-40 black 15" undercounter clear ice machine This is likely to last you 2-4 years before it starts giving you headaches. I would get the Hoshizaki.I think all the appliances on your preliminary list are made in the USA and with the exception of Sharp are American companies. The Hoshi is made in Georgia and is a lot more reliable.It is not a little better but a lot better.It is twice the price but worth it IMO. A notch below is Manitowoc. They make under-counter ice-makers for Sub-Zero. Very expensive. They sell equivalent units under their own brand without residential warranties. Double Oven - Viking VEDO130SS s/s 30" "1" series double oven, upper convection (CLEARANCE ITEM) I would strongly prefer the Wolf.It seems Viking oven reliability has improved the last year or two but I would not pull the trigger. Companies like DCS have tradtional knob design. I would look there before buying Viking. I would probably get something else. Washing Machine - Whirlpool WFW94HEXR red 4.3 cu ft Duet front-load washer Dryer - Whirlpool WED94HEXR red 7.4 cu ft Duet electric dryer If it has to be Red & American then there is really no choice. If it just has to be red I would get the equivalent Samsungs. If it does not have to red just made in the USA I would hunt down a pair of Bosch Vision on clearance. Highest washer temps for USA available washer at 170 degrees. On board heater engages in all cycles.True European Wash or as close as USA available machines get. It divides cycles into 12 temperature zones and washes at least 3 minutes in each zone. Removing 99.9% stains and not allowing 99.9% of stains to set it. Dishwasher - Kitchen Aid KUDE40FXSS s/s 24" undercounter dishwasher I would read through linked thread and similar before pulling trigger. I still like made in the USA Bosch better and Miele best. Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchenaid dishwasher vent issues

Sounds like you made a very good choice. I'm facing the same situation; Monogram, or Thermadore Pkg. I'm looking at the 36" BI French Pantry Door Fridge, Elec/Conv. Wall Oven and Advantium, or speed oven/micro comb Thermadore has and the 36" Induction cooktop. Very hard to decide which pkg. is better. I'm leaning towards the Thermadore, but I didn't like the Oven, Speed Oven/Micro combination as one has turn knobs and the speed oven is touch screen??? So wierd on that level of appliances they wouldn't match the controls since one sits just above the other. In the GE Monogram, the BI refrigerator didn't seem to have the best use of space with the 1 long slide out drawer amd 2 small crispers and not as many option to move door shelves vs 2 long slide out drawers on the Thermadore. We need the BI refrigerator due to small kitchen walkways, but I'm a bit concerned about reaching the top shelf on the BI refrigerators as I'm 5'3". I can reach the front of the shelf, but not the back??? Has anyone vertically challenged as I had a problem with the height of the 36" French Door Thermadore/GE Monogram BI??? I'm hearing Thermadore's pricing is going up by 7% February 1st!

jennyaz: The Thermador package I got was: -36" bottom freezer fridge -30" induction cook top -steam/convection oven -30" big oven (under steam oven) -36" hood -dishwasher, sapphire, I think, has 3rd shelf on top Got good pricing on all the appliances and the dishwasher and hood for "free" as part of the promotion. Also got 3rd year of Mfr. warranty for using a certified installer. I'm only a few weeks in, but so far pretty impressed. Some impressions: -really like the fridge, the layout, lighting, ease of use, quietness, temperature stability, etc. It's a quality piece. Can be finicky to set up, install guy spent over an hour tweaking it, said Thermadors are like that, but once done right, stay that way -still getting used to the dishwasher, it's really quiet and easy to use. Also does a great job cleaning the dishes (the purpose, right?), the tines are closer together than what I am used to and this has annoyed me a little. Haven't been able to fit dishes in as easily as I think I should be able o. There's lot of adjustability that I haven't explored yet, so this concern may go away -the induction cook top, great. Can't believe how fast and accurate it is and how easy to keep clean. Can't see what the argument is for gas anymore -the steam oven could be the star of the show. Haven't used the steam feature much yet, but the convection part is great. No comment on the big oven because it hasn't been used yet! Makes me wonder if we couldn't have gotten by without it -I'm in hood hell. It's a big (24" deep) wall hood, looks and works great, but I keep smashing my head into it! I'm 6'2". My wife doesn't have this problem, but I would encourage anyone building a new kitchen to examine the height and depth of things around the cook top before ordering these appliances We have had a few little things go wrong and Themador and the install company responded quickly to reslove. In my area there is an actual Thermador service person (Thermador employee) in addition to 3rd party authorized service options. This was a factor for me in deciding to go with Thermador. So, so far I'm impressed and happy. Hope that helps.

Who are you buying them from? If it's a large independent dealer, you should be able to do just as well getting the appliances you want rather than the "packages" which are designed by the makers to make you think you have to stick with them so make them more money. Most appliance stores have a discount for contractors and interior designers. Usually the same percentage (10-20% depending on local custom, usually more in the 10-15% range). Sometimes, there will be more for one or the other group because of connections, volume, promotion, whim etc. Since you're doing a major remodel and looking at mid- to high- end appliances, I'm thinking you have at least a general contractor, or maybe a plumber/gc. Even if you don't, since you're buying a whole suite of appliances, the store may give you the contractor's discount anyway. If that isn't possible, you still have negotiating room. While the store may be locked into fairly narrow contracted price floors (as if they were selling fine art!), they have other ways they can give you discounts. They can give you a free dishwasher, for instance (a common occurrence), and/or free delivery and/or installation. They may also pay for an extended warranty, though those aren't worth nearly as much, dollar for dollar, as something tangible. They're more for emotional support. So, given that, I'd choose SZ/Wolf or Thermador. Thermador may cost less (depending on exchange) and it's fine. Wolf has great ovens, but there are a few potential problems (I think the jury is still out on whether they've 100% beaten an issue with the enamel). I prefer the layout of the SubZero refrigerators. If you're getting gas, I love the Wolf double stacked burners. I prefer Thermador's dishwasher to the Asko, which is what I think you get with SZ/W. That's without even considering Miele, Liebherr, BlueStar ranges, etc.