We have a 2+ old SZ-736. Was fine for one year. Then summer came around and it suddenly got very loud. SZ repairman replaced the fan and that seemed to solve the problem until the next summer when it got even louder. For round two, the repairman again replaced the fan but when that didn't solve it, he also replaced the motor with a larger one, explaining that he thought the standard motor wasn't keeping up with the demands of summer heat, humidity and 3 teens constantly opening the door all day long. That worked; no more loud noise. Both times the issue was solved under warranty with no hassle. And while I'd just as soon there had been no problems at all, I was relieved that SZ/Wolf stood behind the product and got it fixed. BTW, repairman did show me one common source of noise that people can fix all by themselves: keep plastic zip lock bags and such away from the fan grate so that the corners of the plastic bags don't end up poking through the grate and into the path of the whirling fan blades (remember the rhythmic thwacking sound of playing cards stuck in bicycle spokes when you were a kid? Same thing...).

fori - loved the comment about the fridge hiding. It really does look like that in the drawing. taggie, I too like the 48 but think it's too big and don't like the transition on the right (i.e., no wall). greendesigns - thanks. Tupperware is a good idea. I tend to pack as much into whatever space I have (and regularly throw out stuff from the fridge I've forgotten about). I looked at the Electrolux but found some bad reviews. Another option I've considered is the 32" Frigidaire Pro. lascatx - I do have a big case of fridge envy, you're right, but I'm not sold on the freestanding fridge yet. I hear what you're saying about symmetry. motherof3sons - thanks, problem is, I know what I don't like (what I have)... something is just not right with the sink wall the way it is. Speaking of your tile, I'm ready to come help you tile, just to see how it looks:) ci_lantro - thanks for the dissenting opinion (always good to hear), but I do like the wall. I am going to start a new thread to continue design on this. Thanks all! Here is a link that might be useful: New thread with 36 inch and walls This post was edited by oldbat2be on Wed, Feb 13, 13 at 8:30

A SubZero, if not horribly abused, should last for decades. Since you've already jumped over the money hurdle, that shouldn't be a biggie, and by having the unit for so long, you'll skip the remodelling expenses of replacing it. You've already also agreed to the space involved You've already decided you like the divisions, or you wouldn't have chosen it. I ended up with Miele and a Marvel u/c drawer fridge. I LOVE the drawers, and I love that the bottom section of the Miele is all drawers, so I think you'll really enjoy those. Be thoughtful how you use them. For instance, if you have kids always opening the fridge, you can put snacks and drinks for them in one drawer and have them only opening one section. Con: having to keep the fridge tidy enough to be on display constantly. I'm often embarrassed to have a cousin or friend opening my fridge because I have bunches of kale sitting on the milk, and stuff like that. Pro: You can see what you're looking for before you open the door of the main cooler, keeping the cold in more. Smeary hands on the stainless and glass? That's true no matter what the materials are, so it depends on your tolerance for things looking anything but out of the carton pristine. Pro: If something unexpected comes up and you have to move, you can take it with you because it's freestanding. Con: Stuff can roll underneath because it's freestanding. Really, though, it's a SubZero. What's not to love?

So...I didn't really consider the speed ovens until they were brought up recently on the thread. Now that I've looked at them, aside from the increased cost and loss of a turntable, are there any downsides to swapping the Miele microwave with a Miele speed oven? It looks like the footprint is identical, which would be my primary concern with this change. I didn't really set out to get three ovens, but given that I really want the standard convection oven, the combi-steam oven, and a microwave, it seems like it's worth considering this change. Given the desire for fast reheating, etc with wife and kids, having a microwave is necessary. Also, is it still advisable to keep the warming drawer? From what I've read, some have suggested the the speed oven and/or steam oven can replace a warming drawer, but @pillog's thoughts on this post have convinced me that I'm not completely insane for wanting to keep this in the layout. (Biasing towards Thanksgiving/large group cooking as opposed to everyday needs.) The layout would be: Main stack: convection oven (bottom); warming drawer (middle); speed oven/microwave (mainly due to the fact that the XXL Miele CSO won't trim match with the 30" convection oven but the microwave will: post and post) Separate stack (opposite side, beneath counter): CSO Thanks for everyone's thoughts on this design, it's been really helpful. -joe