we redid the kitchen not too long ago and I got all new appliances. I also had a tight budget and needed to maximize appliance bang for buck. Here's what I learned:
Go look at all the big box stores - they carry different lines. Sears has lots of models, but they are often custom speced for sears the the motors and compressors are sometimes not the same as you find elsewhere (smaller). Look online. many models are available at big box stores but not on their floors. They will order them for you.
I thought I wanted stainless - I got stainless. But: if it says stainless color - it's high end paint not stainless. And: Stainless costs more than paint and is hard to keep looking clean. I almost went with black and in hind sight could have saved some dough and daily desmudging...
You can save a few hundred bucks by avoiding ice and water in the door of a fridge. Also - you get more interior space in your fridge by doing this. many samsungs have an ice maker in the bottom freezer and ice water just inside the fridge door in a tiny dispenser. I love mine. (samsung, french door, ice maker in bottom).
Get a dishwasher with a steel tub. I got a glass cooktop, downdraft jennair slide in range if we had gas in this area - I would have preferred that. GO FOR THE CONVECTION OVEN!!!! Major time saver and awesome for roasting poultry.
Install the dishwasher as close to the drain (sink) as possible. This is about clogs, good drainage etc. Position it to that you can offload dishes directly into cabinets in one motion.
Get a BIG garbage grinder - no wimpy motors.
Check the cabinet clearance between counter and upper cabinets. Many contractors keep this too short to put large appliance (KA mixer) under.
Have fun shopping
Go look at all the big box stores - they carry different lines. Sears has lots of models, but they are often custom speced for sears the the motors and compressors are sometimes not the same as you find elsewhere (smaller). Look online. many models are available at big box stores but not on their floors. They will order them for you.
I thought I wanted stainless - I got stainless. But: if it says stainless color - it's high end paint not stainless. And: Stainless costs more than paint and is hard to keep looking clean. I almost went with black and in hind sight could have saved some dough and daily desmudging...
You can save a few hundred bucks by avoiding ice and water in the door of a fridge. Also - you get more interior space in your fridge by doing this. many samsungs have an ice maker in the bottom freezer and ice water just inside the fridge door in a tiny dispenser. I love mine. (samsung, french door, ice maker in bottom).
Get a dishwasher with a steel tub. I got a glass cooktop, downdraft jennair slide in range if we had gas in this area - I would have preferred that. GO FOR THE CONVECTION OVEN!!!! Major time saver and awesome for roasting poultry.
Install the dishwasher as close to the drain (sink) as possible. This is about clogs, good drainage etc. Position it to that you can offload dishes directly into cabinets in one motion.
Get a BIG garbage grinder - no wimpy motors.
Check the cabinet clearance between counter and upper cabinets. Many contractors keep this too short to put large appliance (KA mixer) under.
Have fun shopping
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