Thanks Applnut. I've been trying to find some opinions on Blue Star but man, there are certain things that keep drawing me to them. I love that the PLatinum range you can swap out the grill for a griddle or just go back to grates. I really want a range top with a larger griddle but I don't want a lower oven b/c of bending down. I guess no one makes exactly what I want- range top with 6-8 burners that swap out griddle or grill, large one piece griddle. Wall oven with french doors with rotisserie. I didn't realize that Blue Star had such a bad rep lately.

So, I did a brief internet search and came up with this from Honeywell Cable's website. "Are manufacturers required to use UL for their compliance testing? No. In fact, this misconception has misled many to believe that they don’t have a choice in third-party testing partners. The only major requirement is that the laboratory performing the testing is an OSHA-recognized NRTL. The ETL Listed Mark serves as an indicator of compliance with applicable product safety standards." Also, this from Intertek's website. Intertek is the lab that issues the ETL mark. Do local inspectors know the ETL Listed Mark? Yes. Inspectors and the Authorities Having Jurisdiction recognize and accept the ETL Mark as proof of product compliance throughout North America and in some areas of South America. Here's a link to Intertek's website. Intertek Labs HTH

After about a year of planning and deliberation, here's the final line up! Bluestar 48" rangetop w 24" griddle Bluestar French door, new electric wall oven Wolf M Series combi-steam Wolf Warming drawer Kitchen-Aid 30" convection microwave 36" SubZero built-in french door 24" SZ beverage center 15" SZ Ice maker 24" Bosch Benchmark DW 18" Bosch 800 Series DW How I decided on the Wolf combi-steam: I went to see both the Wolf and Miele units in person. I narrowed it down to those two based on Wolf's looks and Miele's plumbing. I knew that the Miele and Gagg were both plumbed but I didn't give enough weight to the fact that Miele doesn't have a drain. When I saw the Miele in person, I realized that emptying and cleaning the tray was really what I thought I was going to avoid by getting the plumbed unit but in fact that was not the case. The Wolf doesn't have a broiler, but I've got one stacked above it in the BlueStar and am not bothered at the thought of moving from one oven to the other. I also have the Searzall + Blowtorch, so I won't be at a loss for browned, melted goodness. The one thing I still long for is Miele's M touch operating system. The menus were so clear and thoughtfully designed. The Masterchef feature looked like a dream, for both an experienced cook like myself and for those who don't like to cook at all. Alas, I can't have it all. I'm sure I'll find my way with the Wolf. The microwave was decided purely by looks. I had planned on buying a unit from one of the main manufacturers (Sharp or Panasonic) but the Kitchen-Aid was the best looking, by far, with the rest of the new pro-style appliances and their handles. I also really loved the button panel across the bottom, the fact that it still has a number pad (as opposed to a dial or the other newfangled styles), and that it has a pull door, as opposed to a push button (one of my inexplicable pet peeves.) There's also a popcorn addict in the house and we're very intrigued by their popcorn popping technology. Something about how it recognizes when it's done the same way we would, when the pops slow down to 1-2 seconds apart. I have to tell you, it was so nice to write all of that without a tinge of doubt. I know I did as much research as I could, asked all the questions and am going to get the kitchen of my dreams. I hope you do too!

The fans run but you can barely hear them. They are necessary to keep the electronics cool. (Interestingly, they don't heat up the kitchen.) Yes, they are louder than the Miele dishwasher, but not as loud as the hood. Normal conversation is not an issue. I suspect that the cabinet where it's installed has a lot to do with the noise level. However, as I only have the cabinet in my house to go by, I can't do a cabinet vs. noise comparison. In any case, after the bread comes out of the oven and is placed on the cooling rack, when the oven fans stop it's time to wrap the bread. I don't have any issues with the display but it is a little sensitive--I have a lot more issues with the Wolf induction touch control, which messes up with damp hands and/or every spill. Note that the oven's display and circuit board are held on with two nuts. Removing the top cover and tightening the nuts should fix any looseness issue. (This is much easier to do before the oven is installed.) I've never actually tested the temperature. However, it must be okay because I use the temperature setting and cooking time shown in the recipes and the food is done plus or minus five minutes. I believe there is a way to adjust the temperature through the control panel.