We have the Jenn-air 48" built in fridge, (since 2006).
We really like it, It's quiet, well lit inside, has independent temp settings for 3 different areas of the Fridge, (Main compartment, Meat keeper & Chrisper or Veggie/fruit keeper.It has digital displays for all of these that show the actual temp, (Not the set temps) unless you press the set buttons. It has glass shelves
that are adjustbale, some with a crank handle.It has been trouble free (bought it in 2006).

From what we read on GW, I would pass on the other Jenn-Air appliances.

The Kitchenaid DW should be in the running, or the Miele.
We see too many mixed reviews on the Bosch, Some like
"The Older Boschs were built better", "The only Bosch DW I would buy now is the German model", "The Bosch DW was quiet when we installed it but has got considerably louder now---Several posts like that. There are positive post, of course about the Bosch DW, but they are nowhere as "Consistenty Good" as those reviews we see for the Mieles and KA's.

I would stay away from KA Ovens, we continue to see problems with those, especially after self-cleaning, but sometimes just baking at a high temp (450-500) for a prolonged time can blow either the thermal fuse or the circuit board.

Wolf and Elux ovens seem to get the most consistently good reviews on GW.

I would look at the Capital Cullinarian or the Blue Star as far as ranges go, and AG , not DF, you just are paying more for the DF, you won't get the great Infra Red Broiler that both Blue Star and Capital offer.

Should you feel you need a wall oven, Then you can go with an Electric oven there.

Most of us on GW do not buy appliances of all the same brand, We pick the manufacturer that makes the best appliance for the "Intended job", and NO Manufacturer makes the "Best" Appliance for all applications.

Good Luck with your decisions!

Gary

The builder is probably pushing the one brand because he gets a deal on it. He may be passing this discount on to you so that anything else is an "upgrade", or he may have the profit he makes on selling you the appliances at full price figured into his profit for the job. If he seems upset by your decision to get different appliances he might have been over-relying on the little bit of profit to be had there (some builders make very small profits and have cash flow problems, some make out like bandits, and most are at the mercy of markets that change between the start and finish of a project).

People are generally happy with Jenn-Air fridges. I don't specially know about the DW's since those don't get discussed much, but the general favorite of American DW's is the KitchenAid, and the Jenn-Air is a gussied up version of the same.

Although people do like the door dispensers, a lot of folks have moved away from side-by-side fridges and given the dispensers up. You aren't as limited on size with wider fridge and freezer compartments. Besides the Jenn-Air (and KitchenAid), a lot of people are happy with some of the Korean fridges.

Miele is the the most enthused about dishwasher, though other brands have been catching up on features. Miele is European style (being German) and doesn't have a drying element. It relies on a full load of fairly massy dishes to, along with the stainless tub, retain heat from the wash cycle. If you have a lot of plastics they'll probably come out damp. Trade off is some towelling (or air drying) for electricity savings. KitchenAid (and Jenn-Air) have the American heating elements.

There are something like three microwave makers and all the other brands are made by these three. I think that's Sharp, Panasonic and GE. There are some expensive, built-in, MW's where you can look at the features, controls and manual and figure out which inexpensive, countertop model they are with the maker's badge. What you're paying for is looks. Many people just put in a cubby that'll hold any old microwave and put a countertop model in it, rather than a built-in. That also makes it easy to abuse the MW (think kids or exploding whatever) and change it out easily. For some people, the look of a cheap microwave spoils their kitchens and an extra couple hundred dollars for pretty is worth every penny.

I don't know anything about ranges. :)

Re online retailers, they can be useful if you desire something that you just can't afford, but by undercutting the locals you're also helping to drive them out of business. Part of what you're paying for locally is the showroom, where you can see and feel what you're getting, and the expertise of the salesmen. Also, the store's might in dealing with any issues that come up with your appliance. If you have a good store, these things can be worth thousands of dollars to you. Some stores are so lousy, you're actually better off ordering online.

Some appliances are better off being installed by someone who is trained in that brand. Miele gives you an extra year of warranty if their appliances are installed by Miele certified installers. I think one or two other companies do that as well. Some appliances just need to be plugged in and pushed into place, but with electronic controls nowadays they're fewer and far between.

If you buy online, how are you going to handle problems? What if an appliance is damaged? What if it has an appearance issue (scratches, defects, etc.)? What if it's a lemon? A decent online retailer will stand behind their products, but those aren't going to be the 40% difference ones. There are plenty of horror stories about people being stuck with, and fighting for months over, online purchased appliances that had issues.

The best online retailers are bricks and mortar stores that hopped online early and have learned how to handle the issues. They have some specials and deals but there isn't a big mark-up on appliances, so you're never going to see that big a difference, except maybe on a heavily used demonstration model. Even floor models usually aren't cut that hard.

If you're buying from Craig's List, beware foreclosures who are essentially stealing the appliances from the bank.

All the best with your new home!

Search Dacor on this forum and other online reviews.
There is so much info on this forum and many things you may not have even heard of. You might consider a French range, dual fuel or all gas. They all have their fans and detractors.

I have Wolf DF and love it. I like all the modes on the oven.

I have a 48 KA frig and it works well and I like the layout. You couldn't go wrong with SubZero either except I wouldn't have the pro 48 because the ice is in the bottom drawer and there is a food storage drawer with a grate bottom above it that allows debris to drop through.

I have a Bosch DW and like it , but there have been a few complaints.

Did you ask your local dealers if they do price-matching? Near here a lot of them do. It never hurts to ask. I think it is VERY important to buy from someplace with a lot of incentive to keep YOU happy after your appliances are installed. That doesn't work with internet shopping.

As has been said here, good follow-up servicing is definitely worth a few extra dollars on the purchase price. Plus - they have to get the appliance(s) all the way to installed in your home, so any shipping or installation damage is on them, not you.