There are a few manufacturers that seem to have well regarded offerings in cooktops, ovens, fridges, and dishwashers (Miele and Bosch come to mind). I'd focus first on getting what functions well, what fits well in your kitchen, and what is in your budget -- then let looks follow. Check to see how the interior space is laid out, how the interior lighting looks, and how the controls work. There can be a lot of variation between manufacturers in these areas although you'll also discover that appliances from the same parent company such as Whirlpool, Kitchenaid and Maytag may look remarkably similar with just a few cosmetic changes. Even at the high end its very obvious Bosch/Thermador and Miele refrigerators are cousins that come out of the same factory. If you get really good you can sometimes tell who manufactured specific Kenmore models.

If everything is stainless with slightly different handles no one will notice they are a different brand.

Frieda June is spot on. Go with the best appliance for the job that fits in your price point and fits your specific needs. We have a Maytag refrig, Whirlpool DW, and GE profile slide-in range.

My last kitchen had Kitchen Aid range, Miele DW and LG fridge. Nobody noticed the difference.

Love this thread. I thought I was going rouge when I finally chose my appliances based on performance over aesthetics! Thanks for making me feel normal!

Thanks! does anyone have example pics? My DW will be on the same wall as the range but I just cannot wrap my head (or eyes) around a wide "flat" curved handle on a Whirlpool DW next to a tubular handle on a KitchenAid range. I get function over form however... Aiyeeee!!

My last home was custom also but I went with everything matching (Frigidaire Pro) to ease my mind, but as stated earlier, often wondered about the matchy-matchy. I guess I could go with say, a flat front DW where the brand badge is inconspicuous or non-existent on the front... Also love the GE Café Line with the "french door" oven! Believe Viking has one as well.

I like similar handles, but am OK to vary the finishes. I have a black glass refrigerator and range, black painted dishwasher, stainless microwave, almond sink. All different brands. Each of my appliances has some design element in common with another appliance, so it all works. For example, fridge has black glass and stainless towel bar handles, range has black glass, almond trim and black painted tubular handle, dishwasher has black painted metal, no handle and stainless interior, sink is almond cast iron and matches range, stainless microwave has black glass, no handle. I picked the appliances that looked the nicest to me. Most of them have a combination of multiple finishes which helps.

Look for design elements to repeat: color, shape, line, sheen, texture.

Don't get all matchy matchy. If you mix brands, stick to one style (transitional/modern/etc). Some of the major brands have different looks for the same appliance. Don't worry too much about the handles matching. No one will care or notice unless you are stacking ovens.

Our kitchen has a GE range, LG fridge, and Kitchen Aid dishwasher. The microwave is also a GE, but from a different line than the range, and it's in a corner out of the way. If you are having an OTR microwave, you might want one that matches the range since you will be looking at them at the same time. I chose the appliance I liked best for the job is was doing and the $$ I wanted to spend. The handles are a little different, but I'm sure nobody cares. And if they did, so what? Get what you like.

Are you sure you can't get similar "professional" style handles on all of the appliances? If that is what you mean by "tubular" that might be possible. Extra money, but possible.

May one have for example, all KA appliances plus all or most KA kitchen accessories such as food processor, cookware, utensils etc.?

Not sure what "may one" means - of course one "may", but there may be better alternatives too.

Mike, you can do whatever you want. Well you only have to answer to wifey.

I have a KA mixer, a Cuisinart FP, a Vitamix, and I love my Joseph Joseph utensils. I haven't walked into any squabbling in the kitchen yet. :-)

Go with the top performers in each category of appliance that's within your budget. It has the advantage of making it look like you know what you're doing. Unless the appliances are right next to each other, it won't matter. As I read somewhere (can't remember, so I can't give proper attribution), "You can get a full suite of Miele appliances, but how are you going to excuse actually buying a Miele refrigerator?" In addition, I have seen complaints that some appliances, all of the same brand (Kenmore, in that case), had different stainless steel finishes because they source from different manufacturers. Also, I'm never buying a Kitchenaid range again - mine blew up after self-cleaning, and, worse, it couldn't be repaired because the parts were no longer made (although it was only middle-aged by my standards). Look at the reliability data in Consumer Reports, and check out the blogs at Yale Appliance. So I've ordered a Thermador cooktop, Zephyr hood, Bosch dishwasher (they have three handle options), and GE Profile wall oven and refrigerator because these are right next to each other and the GEs were the best compromise choice for my budget. Gaggenau (high-end Bosch/Thermador) wall ovens are things of beauty, but out of my price range.

Muttsrule - please explain what you are getting at by your quote above "You can get a full suite of Miele appliances, but how are you going to excuse actually buying a Miele refrigerator?" I didn't understand it, or how it fits into the previous points made earlier in this thread.

I took the point as being that, as good as Miele appliances are, they don't do everything well, and apparently the writer felt an example of that was a Miele refrigerator. So if you buy all your appliances from one brand, at least one or two of those appliances probably won't be the best for the money in its class and/or might have reliability problems. For most of us who cook a lot, getting a matched suite of appliances would not outweigh performance disparities (unless we got some fabulous deal).

I'm going totally eclectic with a Bosch refrigerator, Miele dishwasher that's panel ready to match the maple cabinets, GE Cafe range and then another line of GE microwave that got better reviews than the cafe micro. Also, my fridge and sink are white and my stove and microwave are stainless. I would have liked to avoid all stainless, but the Cafe range didn't come in white.

I was just saying to DH tonight that I love my Miele fridge! I didn't buy it as part of an "appliance suite". Not sure why it is singled out as not a good option.

Sherri1058 - I have only heard marvelous reviews for the Miele fridge, several on this forum. In fact, out of the many fridges which get both positive and negative reviews, the Miele fridge seems to have all positive. That is why I asked Muttsrule to clarify his/her comment. So actually, I would not get a full suite of Miele appliances, but I would most definitely choose the Miele fridge it it were in my budget. (I have a Miele DW (love!), with an old KA sxs fridge. I am waiting for that old KA fridge to die, but it just....won't LOL).

I solved the DW handle not matching problem by getting a Bosch without a handle. Both fridge and wall oven have flat/curved handles that look pretty similar. Agree with buying best in class for your needs but I did try to at least have the handles vaguely match...