Author Topic: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances  (Read 2789 times)

coffeefueled

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kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« on: February 07, 2019, 07:52:07 AM »
We're remodeling/expanding kitchen in our 1930s cottage. After getting a ridiculous $80k quote that included almost no cabinets from a well recommended build and design firm we decided to do a combination DIY and local GC (for the gas/plumbing/construction) at much lower cost. Before we can put in our cabinet order (going with cabinetjoint or cabinetauthority RTA inset cabinets) we need to decide on all the appliances which has sent me down a research rabbit hole.

I'd love to know your experiences and recommendations for 30" slide in gas ranges and counterdepth fridges. We're willing to spend around $3000 for the range because it's the priority in the kitchen. For fridges we're planning to NOT have an indoor ice or water maker - we want long lived and basic.

Does anyone have duel fuel? Is it worth it? What about LG vs Samsung vs other brands? I keep hearing I should avoid GE because of maintenance issues.

I saw the LG duel fuel two oven range on sale at costco for $2500 (LUTD4919SN). I've also looked at samsung's dual oven gas range. Thoughts?
 

KCM5

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2019, 08:20:27 AM »
What size fridge are you looking for? We have a small kitchen/house so put in a 24 inch wide counter depth fridge (https://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/BRFB1044.html. I’ve been surprised by just how usable it is. The only thing we’ve done differently is buy half gallons of milk rather than full gallons. And I’m a deer hunter so we did end up getting a small deep freeze to hold the meat in the winter.

Also, I do t know if you’re getting a new dishwasher, but we bought the cheapest whirlpool dishwasher at Home Depot and have been very happy with it. Whirlpool ranks high for reliability, the plastic tub is quiet, it looks nice, and it was $300. 10/10 would buy again!

Edited to add: we have a vintage Chambers stove. If vintage is at all your thing, I’d recommend it for the stove. Gas stoves like that last forever, look good, are a dream to cook on, and are fixable when they break! Also, the griddle on the Chambers makes the best grilled cheese and pancakes! We bought ours from someone on Craigslist for $200 but ymmv. People also refurbish them, but ours has never been refurbished and runs like a champ.
« Last Edit: February 07, 2019, 08:24:12 AM by KCM5 »

nereo

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2019, 08:28:55 AM »
CL for almost new kitchen appliances.  Seriously. It's probably among the best deals out there, since appliances are too heavy to ship and people constantly update their kitchens.  With the exception of the fridge appliances come in just a few sizes; once you decide whether you want (3.g.) a 30, 36" or 48" you can select the cabinets around that.  FWIW I've found a 36" range to be way easier to use than the 'standard' 30", which always felt cramped anytime i had more than two pans going.  Dual-fuels have historically been very problematic - in my own design i'll have a range and separate wall ovens, which sidesteps the 'dual-fuel' issue, as well as allows baking at 2x temperatures and eliminates one choke point where something's in the oven and someone is standing at the range.

For reliability I'd check out what Consumer Reports says in their annual guide - yet another reason NOT to buy new; you have no sense which models will have trouble spots.

coffeefueled

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2019, 08:51:00 AM »
Consumer reports seems to bias toward new wifi enabled samsung and LG models recently despite homeowner reviews on the CR website being unfavorable. I'm not really sure I trust CR which is why I figured I'd throw it out to the forum for advice.

Jon Bon

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2019, 09:18:45 AM »
Consumer reports seems to bias toward new wifi enabled samsung and LG models recently despite homeowner reviews on the CR website being unfavorable. I'm not really sure I trust CR which is why I figured I'd throw it out to the forum for advice.

IMO/IME trying to turn the trust old fridge into a  "Social Media, Entertainment Hub, Drink Dispensing, Meetup location" Is the worst of ideas. All the do is add a bunch of technology that breaks.

I dont know what the manufactures want to make them extremely complicated and thus unreliable but here we are.

Buy something rather simple and technology proven. I mean for pete's sake our appliances are pretty unchanged for 70 years or so. Why reinvent the wheel to make it a really shitty wheel?!


Fishindude

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2019, 09:36:57 AM »
I keep it simple.   White appliances because they are cheaper and more readily available, plus don't show all of the fingerprints as bad as black or stainless.   Not a fan of electric stoves, go with gas if possible.  I have no need for all of the water and ice dispenser stuff on outside of a refrigerator, so long as it has an ice maker, I'm good.  Get a good exhaust hood that is truly vented to the exterior, most cheap ones just recycle air through a screen and don't do much.   I can live without a microwave, it's just one more appliance to get dirty.

nereo

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2019, 10:01:18 AM »
Consumer reports seems to bias toward new wifi enabled samsung and LG models recently despite homeowner reviews on the CR website being unfavorable. I'm not really sure I trust CR which is why I figured I'd throw it out to the forum for advice.

Note exactly what I was recommending.  Go into their files and look at their reliability data for specific models that fit your criteria, which is based on user surveys. The bad ones stick out regardless of how 'wowed' the testers were when evaluating a new appliance with no user history. I agree with others that simpler is better, unless you are the sort to really want the IoT on your fridge.

FWIW Samsung refrigerators have a known defrosting issue which (thankfully) is very easy and free to fix.  But the S. Korean company has had a lot of trouble-spots as of late with many of their appliances.

starbuck

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2019, 10:33:20 AM »
I'd love to know your experiences and recommendations for 30" slide in gas ranges and counterdepth fridges. We're willing to spend around $3000 for the range because it's the priority in the kitchen. For fridges we're planning to NOT have an indoor ice or water maker - we want long lived and basic.

We bought a Fisher & Paykel counter depth fridge 2 years ago and I LOVE it. It's really well designed and fits in with our vintage stove and old house (we bought it in white.) This is the model: https://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/RF170WDXX5.html

It's well lit and easy to clean. It's spacious but not such a behemoth that it overwhelms the room. It just works really well and looks nice doing it. Highly recommend!

J Boogie

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #8 on: February 07, 2019, 01:26:25 PM »
I got a Dacor gas range plus stove, it's totally awesome. No fancy lcd screens or anything, can't program the oven but I kind of prefer it this way.

Dacor dishwasher too. Awesome buy.

Papa bear

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2019, 06:30:02 PM »
I do NOT recommend Samsung appliances. In fact, there are DIY threads on MMM on fixing your Samsung appliances because they are so poorly engineered. Major issues with my fridge and other people I know with theirs.  Had more people complain about their ranges as well (though mine has been fine). I’ve had a few other friends that have multiple rentals and flips that have had very poor luck with LG recently, but I can’t give any first hand info on that.


I’ve been having great luck with whirlpool and I’ve been putting them in higher end rentals.  Even tenants don’t break those.  So, in my opinion, whirlpool is the winner today. 




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lthenderson

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2019, 06:51:56 AM »
We are down the same rabbit hole. One of the things I found out is that counterdepth refrigerators are horribly expensive. In the end, we went the much cheaper route of using a normal depth refrigerator and bumping the cabinetry out along that part of the wall to give the illusion of counterdepth.

For the stove, we are going with a cooktop and wall double ovens so I can't recommend anything there. I can recommend however for any major appliance purchase, the first place you should call is your local repairman and see what brands he can repair and which brands he repairs most often. In our area, you cannot get any parts for anything made by LG without a six month wait. We found this out the hard way a few years ago having to live without Kenmore badged/LG made refrigerator for six months.  For our cooktop, we got one from GE. It is three years old and I have broken four of the six knobs on it already but the parts to fix it were cheap and plentiful so I won't complain. Since those are the only mechanical parts and there aren't any computerized parts, I have stocked up on knobs and am happy.

affordablehousing

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2019, 05:25:05 PM »
Samsung blows HUGE chunks. Avoid them like the plague. If you're in a reasonable market where people want decent appliances in a home, we thought a combination of Bosch and Fisher & Paykel delivered huge value. From AJ Madison the Bosch range, Bosch dishwasher (all others are crap) Fisher & Paykel counter depth fridge (agreed ice makers are just an invitation for a breakdown), and Bosch microwave/vent was ~$4,400. We got great compliments on it, and got a definite premium on rental rates because of it.

BudgetSlasher

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #12 on: February 28, 2019, 05:56:27 PM »
All of our appliance in the kitchen (oven, speed oven, warming drawer, dishwasher, and refrigerator) except the drop in cooktop (Miele) are Bosch.

Our counter depth refrigerator is a last year's model. It was in a display kitchen at Lowe's and I watched the price drop and drop again. Finally when it was ~$1,500 off we bought it. The manufacturer's warranty started the day we bought it.

Only problem was it fit in our new kitchen design but not the old kitchen layout . . . so we had an oddly placed refrigerator until the remodel started.

As for the slide in range . . . well there are good brands and there are not-so-good brands. There are professional grade (something like blue star) and there is pro-style (some kitchenaides) and there is fancy (wolf/viking/thermador) and so on. Most people I know swear by a gas cooktop and electric oven combo (though I know quite a few, ourselves included that love induction as the cooking method). As far as oven's go gas tends to be moister and electric tend to be more precise on temperature (moisture may be a pro or a con depending on what you cook).

For how much the DW loves to cook, I would find 6 extra inches and do a 36 slide in (unless you want to do separate cooktop and oven, either in cabinet or under counter) and pick up a Thermador (Bosch brand) 36 slide in off CL for close to your ~2.5k price point (there is a 36" for 2.75k all gas within driving distance of me now). They do make 30 versions, but they are harder to come by and have less burners).

yodella

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #13 on: February 28, 2019, 06:07:05 PM »
We have a duel fuel because I am an avid hobby baker, and the electric convection in the oven was important to me. It works great and I have no regrets about it.

Longwaytogo

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2019, 07:36:49 AM »
I'd love to know your experiences and recommendations for 30" slide in gas ranges and counterdepth fridges. We're willing to spend around $3000 for the range because it's the priority in the kitchen. For fridges we're planning to NOT have an indoor ice or water maker - we want long lived and basic.

Does anyone have duel fuel? Is it worth it? What about LG vs Samsung vs other brands? I keep hearing I should avoid GE because of maintenance issues.

I saw the LG duel fuel two oven range on sale at costco for $2500 (LUTD4919SN). I've also looked at samsung's dual oven gas range. Thoughts?

If your wiling to spend $3K are you interested in the more commercial look/quality?

I LOVE my dual fuel we've had for about 15 years. Electric oven and gas top is the best of both worlds IMO. Whenever we travel and have places with electric cook-tops they drive me NUTS.

I am a remodeling contractor and we don't specialize in kitchens but do at least 3-4 a year on average probably and we have seen pretty horrible life/service with Samsung. Have not used LG much.


A few years ago a Customer spec-ed this Kucht brand I had never heard of. It seemed too good to be true because it was a $3K range similar to Wolf/Viking $10K+ units. And I had to order it off Amazon which seemed a bit odd to me at the time for an expensive appliance. But it looked great and three years in they are pretty happy with it. We also had an issue with the conversion from natural gas to propane and their customer service was super helpful and responsive to get it fixed with us on the phone.

I just spoke with them in Vegas last week at the international builders show and they have really been expanding. They are even at Home depot now, still at amazon too I think. they started with 36 and 48 inch which are the two most popular "commercial style" sizes but they have a 30" now that looked great. Probably what I'll go with in a couple years when/if my current one dies. It's well under $3K and the coordinating Dishwasher is about $800 and looked pretty decent as well.

http://kucht.com/online/

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kucht-Pro-Style-30-in-4-2-cu-ft-Dual-Fuel-Range-with-Sealed-Burners-and-Convection-Oven-in-Stainless-Steel-KRD306F/300425221?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD29A%7CMulti%7CNA%7CPLA%7CMajor_Appliances%7c71700000032407466%7c58700003840694625%7c92700030982803212&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzePjBRCRARIsAGkrSm76S5X6SF0TPfl48eUMHhIVMajX_i9o_BunxW5yCoY0OYJJdH19XhMaAvRBEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Consumer reports website seems to be locked for members? But the magazine they had there it was pretty highly rated. Again I've had only one experience with them but it looked pretty nice to me for the price. So just another option.


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Another thing I often do when remodeling is see if it's possible to create a recessed area in the stud cavity behind the fridge (almost like a medicine cabinet would be). Tough if there is plumbing, HVAC, electrical or if it's a load bearing wall. But often times we have made it work and then you can get the look of counter depth without the price, along with typically a larger cubic foot fridge.

lthenderson

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #15 on: March 01, 2019, 08:20:26 AM »
For fridges we're planning to NOT have an indoor ice or water maker - we want long lived and basic.

Rereading though things I thought I would add that I would perhaps reconsider this thought. If you go with the ice maker/water dispenser, you will have a lot more options to choose from. Also, I know this from experience, these are pretty easily replaced as units these days. I've replaced the ice maker on our fridge once. You just pick up the unit off of eBay or Amazon and with a screwdriver it takes about fifteen minutes to replace. Well worth the price and time for the convenience they provide.

ontheway2

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #16 on: March 01, 2019, 11:00:08 AM »
This is the counter depth version of the fridge we have. I really like that it has internal filtered water so it is cleaner looking than on the door, more energy efficient, etc. I also really like the French door type

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-20-cu-ft-Counter-Depth-French-Door-Refrigerator-with-Ice-Maker-Fingerprint-Resistant-Stainless-Steel-ENERGY-STAR/1000287229

coffeefueled

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Re: kitchen remodel - tell me about your appliances
« Reply #17 on: March 05, 2019, 08:07:49 AM »
Thank you to everyone for your advice! I think we've settled on the Jenn-air dual fuel slide in range (not their pro version which is much more expensive). From everything I read it has a really good repair record. We like the 5 burners and love that it has a baking drawer at the bottom. That way we can avoid Samsung/LG and still get the convenience of two ovens without adding a wall oven.

We also decided on a mid-range Bosch dishwasher. Fridge is still up in the air. I'm going to demo the wall this weekend to see if we have enough room to recess a fullsize.

 

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