Most of us mix and match brands - it's very common and things will look fine together - choose the best appliance in each category.

We recently bought a package of the same appliances because we wanted all the handles (pro-style) to match. It is a matter of personal preference and many do mix and match. Another reason we did this is because the package we got (Jenn-Air) included a free dishwasher, free installation and extra 1 year warranty.

Try not to get an Appliance Package. No manufacturers makes all appliances well, most make one or two appliances well, and the rest not so good. For example, Kitchenaid makes great refrigerators and dishwashers, but not very good wall ovens. Furthermore, many manufacturers don't make all their appliances, but buy from another manufacturer, and then re-badge them. So you think you are getting, e.g. a fancy pricey Viking microwave, but it's just a plain ol' Sharp microwave with a Viking door.

Also, if you buy all one brand, you are increasing your "appliance risk". By that I mean if something breaks on one of your appliances, and you don't get satisfaction from the manufacturer, you are stuck dealing with that manufacturer for all your appliances. Better to diversify, just like in the stock market!

Also, the matchy-matchy look is considered dated. Don't worry about matching handles. As to matching stainless steel, often appliances within the same brand have stainless steel that looks different. And a cooktop most of all you don't have to worry about matching! Just look in any high-end design magazine, and you will see that they use different brand appliances in a kitchen. So, don't worry about it. It's often a way salespeople make you afraid NOT to choose the package. Remember, salespeople's incentives are usually greater for selling a package than selling individual brands. They also don't want you to shop elsewhere and buy a brand they don't carry. Easier just to quick sell you a package.

You aren't really saving money with an appliance package. You may be getting appliances with features you don't want or need (but are paying for), and at the same time, getting appliances without the features you want, cause you are stuck with whatever combo the package has. If they throw in a "free dishwasher", is it really "free", if it doesn't work well, or is repair-prone? I'd rather get the DW I want, than the "free" one.

The Electrolux ovens are nice, but I'm always getting issues with the display panel. Even my floor display had to be serviced a couple of times because parts of the display was failing. other than that, it's a great wall oven.

The LG refrig I don't recommend, or any LG product for the fact that getting parts when your appliance needs to be serviced can be difficult.

For dishwashers, nothing, and I mean nothing beats a Miele. Well worth the investment, and it will outlive the other items easily. They start at $1299, but their entry level model is better than 99% of the dishwashers on any sales floor.

Doing the JennAir package like a previous person mentioned is pretty good. If you buy the wall oven with the cooktop, you get the dishwasher free, and that runs thru the end of the year.

Good Luck

Thanks, for everyones responses. I was fine with the different brands, but the husband was on the fence. We still have another 5 months to chose the appliance but right now my head is spinning.

Not sure what we will end-up with, might need to see if we can save in other areas and increase our budget for appliances.

Mel

Akchicago - What if you are happy with the "free one". As I said it is personal preference but buying packages with incentives will save you money such as combos being run by Jenn-Air, Wolf/Sub Zero, Thermador, etc. If that is not what one wants fine but to say there is no savings is ridiculous!

Sskit, I stand by my advice. You stand by your appliance package if that's what you think is best. The OP asked for opinions, and my opinion is that in the long run, you aren't saving money by buying a package that the manufacturer puts together for you, and gives big incentive to the salespeople to sell. If you have bought a package you are happy with, please tell us what it is, what your experience has been with each of the appliances in the package, and why you are much happier with it than you would have been if you'd bought appliances individually.

All Jenn-Air Pro Style Stainless Steel:

36" Range - 6 burners 90,000btu total, convection oven
30" convection wall oven
24" dishwasher (top one JA offers)
36" french door cabinet depth refrigerator
Installation and Delivery of all of the above.
2 Year Warranty (extra year)

Like I said not for everyone but it worked for us. Blanket statements like the dishwasher will not work because it is free are ridiculous!!!
$8,147

Sskit - you are misquoting me. Did I say that? No. I said, "..is it really "free" if it doesn't work well, or is repair-prone?" (note the word IF). With a package, the "free" dishwasher is not the buyer's choice. It is the manufacturer's choice. I would rather use my own judgement and brains and pick the appliance that has a good history, isn't a discontinued model, isn't a model that the manufacturer over-produced and now has to unload, isn't the model that the store needs to move to give room for more inventory, or isn't the model that lacks the features I want. Sskit, you seem really upset about appliances packages. Chill. It's really not worth all your exclamation points and indignation. As I said, if that's what you think is best, that's great. The OP asked for opinions, right? Mine is I prefer to choose my own appliances, based on my assessment of them, and what I want to spend on each individual one.

We turned down the Builder's matching Kitchen Aid package. Some of his pieces ranked well on Consumer Reports, but I wanted a better rangetop (CC or BS did not make a top, and by now, F&P bought out DCS boo-hoo.... ).
So we did the mix-n-match thing with Viking rangetop, Bosch dishwasher, Viking double-ovens, and a black LG french-door fridge from Sears. Black & stainless in a cherry, granite, and wood kitchen.

I am going to love it, and cook many tasty meals ! Doesn't bother me that they're different brands....we like each for their unique attributes.

Good luck!

You didn't mention a hood. Where does that fit in in the overall kitchen budget? I'm assuming you'll be buying that within the 6-8K budget. That will be tight. And are you buying a new microwave also?

I echo the opinion to get whichever appliance meets your needs in each category. No need to match handles. None of my new appliances match each other.

Ak - exactly chill. If you read what I said I agreed that many do mix and match while some do not a matter of personal preference.

Your comment that there is no savings with purchasing a package is the point that we seem to disagree on. In my case a free top of the line JA DW, free installation and a cash rebate certainly made it work for us.

Have a great weekend.