I've been using the search function and have found lots of good info on this forum. We are starting a kitchen reno in a month or two. It is a small kitchen, (roughly 200 square feet), and we will have a small eat in cafe table in the room as well.

For appliances I have already purchased 3 from electrolux. A French door stainless 36"/27 cu/ft fridge with ice in the freezer not on the door. We have purchased and electrolux ss wall oven, (designer), and a stainless elux d/w. (610).

Now on to the questions...

Gas cooktops. We want a 36" drop-in with sealed burners. Controls must be top mounted, not front.

Elux, Thermador, Dacor, and Miele all being considered. The biggest strike against Elux and Thermador is the brushed stainless. We prefer the bead blasted finish for clean up concerns. I would like to hear from anyone who has experienced with a brushed finish stainless cooktop and hear the positives/negatives for keeping them clean. Miele is really pricey here in Canada, and the Dacor has a spotty reliablity history. We are having the hardest time deciding which way to go here as this is our primary cooking appliance.

Microwave. We have been looking at the Elux drop down door micro that matches our Designer series Oven. However it is really pricey, we don't use the micro alot, and have also thought about just getting a sharp/panasonic instead.

Range hood. There is a local company here in BC I would love to hear if anyone has any good/bad experience with. There prices are very good but I have no idea on quality. ( http://www.kitchenhoods.ca/catalog/specials.php ) We want a 36" wide high cfm overhead wall mounted fan with no glass that is reasonably quiet.