Great list. I posted mine a few days ago. Doesn't it feel great to finally have your completed list and know that there is no going back. This forum along with building a new home, decorating, paint, bath, laundry, kitchen are the best!!!It makes you wonder how we all survived before the Garden Web??

Congratulations, but that really doesn't help me decide where to buy!

Wow, are you opening a restaurant in your home? Good for you! I'm a builder by occupation and have thought about putting in a salamander, but figured the infrared broiler in the oven would do fine. Miele is also a great brand. On the hood, are you getting baffle filters? I've shied away from them due to noise. I specify Vent-a-Hoods about 95% of the time and haven't had a buyer issue with them from a noise or cleaning standpoint. Good luck!

Wow, are you opening a restaurant in your home?
lol - I figure, why not. I like to cook and getting this kind of stuff is about the same price as Viking/Wolf (maybe even less).

I'm a builder by occupation and have thought about putting in a salamander
I'm a fanatic about steak. The best steakhouses in the world cook their steaks in infrared broilers (aka Salamanders).

On the hood, are you getting baffle filters?
The WP29 has new combination baffles that have both baffle and screen filters. I haven't seen it in person but Best claims it's the best of both types.

I have the same three main brands, but in more, uh, petite versions (24+18 Thermador, 6-burner BS, Lower Miele).

Like the Thermador so far. Tricky to install. Search for my post on installation tips. Blue Star so far is amazing to cook on. Had a bunch of quality control issues, all worked through with BlueStar and Eurostoves. Happy with it. It is a cook's range, not an interior decorator's range. Miele -- well, still learning how to load it to get it to really get the gook off pots without first rinsing. Everyone says scrape, but don't rinse. We often have a little hand washing when we empty the dishwasher. Dishes do sit for up to a day, though.

Good luck. It felt GREAT when I placed my order. Then I was wracked with doubt. Everything was OK in the end.

Wow, now THAT's an enviable list! Good luck with it all!

(BTW - I don't know if this has been covered elsewhere, but where does the salamander go? Venting?)

I have the same three main brands, but in more, uh, petite versions (24+18 Thermador, 6-burner BS, Lower Miele).
This is my shrine to the Gods of cooking. I'm half serious about having a recording of a choir that I can play when I show it to people - you know "Ahh-uhh-ahhhhhh".

Like the Thermador so far. Tricky to install.
The guys at Universal Appliance mentioned this, too. My KD has installed them before, but I'll be make sure the contractor understands any issues.

where does the salamander go? Venting?
Bluestar has a backsplash with a shelf where the salamander sits. You can see it in this picture: http://www.prizer-painter.com/pdfs/Bluestar_Salamander.pdf - For venting, I'm hoping the 1500 CFM Best hood does the job. If anyone thinks it won't, please let me know!

Thanks for the link.

My only questions are, how high is the bottom of that shelf, and how far does it stick out? Based on the picture, it looks a couple inches higher than the salamander is tall (16") and comes out almost as far as the salamander (15"). I didn't see your exact config on the web site, but if these assumptions are correct then I would want to make sure the 22Ks are up front so you don't have problems with the maneuvering and airflow of tall stock pots.

I should hope that 1500 CFM suffices!

Looks awesome though - can't wait to see pictures of the final result.

Yes, I'm putting the 22Ks up front (costs $250! Annoying).

Not sure about your config, but in my 6 burner, the "new" config has the two 22K burners up front by default.