I don't think it matters at all if the appliances don't match, brand-wise. Better to shop for them individually, and get the features on each that most appeal to you. You can even get different colors of each, if that's what strikes your fancy!

I agree. The finish (i.e. stainless or other) must be the same, and it's good to look for complimentary details (like, all straight handles), but other than that, go for those appliances whose features best serve your needs/wishes.

All of my major appliances come from different manufactures (Thermador cooktop and exhaust; Bosch DW; Kitchenaid Convection/Micro/Oven; Jenn Air Fridge. BTW - Stay away from JennAir: I went for the French Door style fridge when it was the only game in town, and the compressor died within the first 6 months. Tho they replaced that part, I lost hundreds of dollars worth of pre-party perishables when the compressor died on a Friday afternoon. I was refrigerator-less for almost a week. Customer Service essentially said "too bad for you!" No more Jennair's for me).

The finish unites the overall look.

Mine aren't all the same brand, nor all the same finish, and I like it like that! So there you go! ;^)

We have black and white appliances. Different brands and even one from a way different decade. Do what feels right to you. There are no appliance police!

All stainless, but every single one a diff brand:

Samsung CD FD fridge
Electrolux Icon dbl ovens
Sharp m/w
Bosch d/w
Bertazonni cooktop
Summit undercounter icemaker
(haven't chosen hood yet, but loved my Zephyr hood in last kitchen)

There is no one manufacturer that makes everything I value most in each appliance. As I spend more time in the kitchen than any other room in the house, it's important to me that I LOVE using each appliance.

I tried to pay attention to complementary hardware/handles, but that can eventually drive you to distraction - causing you to stray from what it was that you loved about a particular appliance in the first place.

I'm living in my mother's newly-built home while I build my new house, and I'm coming to hate the fact that everything has "KitchenAid" on it. Especially when I'm not impressed by the performance of the oven/mw wall combo.

(Not to mention that she has wall-to-wall upper cabinets, most of which will stay empty. Such a waste of space, and even a little clausterphobic *sp?*! I had two uppers last time in a fairly large kitchen, and will likely do the same this time.)

I thought the samething at first when we started our remodel. Then I found out you should just go with the features that you need/want. I guess though it's best to keep a similar look. We got sub-zero fridge, wolf ovens, miele cooktops, kitchen aid dishwashers, jennair microwaves, and it's great.

I don't have the same brand, or the same color. My DW and convection micro are black Kenmores, the hood, frig, and range and GE Stainless. The range is actually black/stainless. I kind of like it that way . . . I don't even notice, and neither do other people when they come in. I just posted my finished kitchen, so you can look at that thread and see what I mean.

I guess I am the odd one here....I really like my matching appliances!!

Mine are all stainless, but all different manufacturers.

Thermador fridge/freezer
Capital Range
Viking Hood
Fisher & Paykel dishdrawers
Kenmore m/w Pizza Oven combo

The appliances don't have to match brand-wise, but they should have some sort of uniform color theme.

We have a S/S Dacor Millennia slide in range on our island with a 42" stainless Broan range hood with an exterior mount motor, which is excellent. This helps the island stand out, which looks nice imo. The remaining appliances around the kitchen are black, from the Miele oven to the dishwasher.

haha, can you imagine if there was an appliance police? i would be in big trouble.

we have mismatched stuff, though more for cost than by choice. we replaced our DW, cooktop, and hood with stainless steel, but our oven, micro, and fridge are white (and there must be 5-6 brands represented). i'm actually starting to think it'll be better not to have $ to switch to all steel...too much steel around might be too industrial or matchy-matchy for me, and my kitchen is not large enough to lessen that impact.

but back to your question...by virtue of asking about appliance branding, i'm guessing you like things all matched up? in which case, if there was something to have mismatched, i would say the gas cooktop would be a good candidate. cooktop branding is usually not so obvious, and also not as visible at eye level as the fridge or wall-mounted appliances (oven, micro, etc).