What is her reason for wanting the same brand throughout the kitchen? If it is because she wants the finishes to match, then I think you should make the attempt to convince her otherwise. I have a Bosch Benchmark range, Bosch 800 DW and Blomberg refrigerator. I had a couple of sleepless nights worrying about mismatched stainless steel as my DW and refrigerator are literally two inches apart from each other. And it was all for naught. They look great adjacent to each other, even though the handles are a little different and the grain is slightly different. My father, who showed me every other flaw in the kitchen, stared and stared at the two appliances and concluded that they look the same to him.

If you've read some of the postings on the forum about single brand package deals, then you already know why a salesperson might push in that direction and why it isn't always the best route to ensure a good chance of performance and reliability in all components.

The options/models offered package deals never quite satisfied my basic requirements for one or more of the appliances, e.g., I didn't want an OTR microwave, or I needed a particular size in the refrigerator with no in-th-door ice/water dispenser.

I do recognize that package pricing may be attractive and you can save a lot of time in not researching and shopping multiple brands and models. If you know your basic requirements for range, DW, refrigerator, and you find a package that has all you want in each component and the brand is highly rated, then maybe it is the way to go.

Tell her that no brand makes the best of everything, and that appliances from different manufacturers will usually be functionally superior to a package. And you aren't really compromising on looks either since different brands finishes match each other well.

That said I think there are some brands that can be good bets for packages. Bosch is one of those. Their dishwashers and cooking are good. They rebadge a counter depth french door from Whirlpool that is good, and their in-house built in refrigeration is good. But their side-by-sides aren't so good, and neither is their standard depth french door.

I would start by posting a list of the sizes and types of appliances you're looking for.

This post was edited by hvtech42 on Wed, Feb 4, 15 at 17:25

You can always put panels on the dishwasher and fridge, which means they would be taken out of the equation. Then you can focus on the range, microwave and hood, reducing the items she needs to "match". I think the range is the most important item overall as far as performance, so I would decide on that first.

I have been reading this forum for years and am just now choosing appliances for our remodel. If you have any indication of brands you want, read through treads on this forum and see if others have found them to be what has worked out well for them.
I haven't found any brand to have requirements in each appliance to meet my needs. That being said, I have shopped carefully and found great deals on appliances. I gave myself 2 brands in each appliance and would have been happy with either.
I have 2 electrolux wall ovens,and LG counter depth fridge, a Miele dishwasher and am getting a Bosch induction cooktop.
Ovens and dishwasher based on my own research and recommendations from this forum and the dishwasher is the same. Cooktop based on internet reviews and the layout, electrical requirements and the fact that I want a stainless steel surround.
I have looked at all one brand and just couldn't find one that I feltwould satisfy all of my wants and needs.
I have had all one brand in prior homes and can honestly say there were things I always wished had been different. I now have an all GE kitchen(not chosen by me).
I really like to range but hate the dishwasher and the fridge.
Had and all Maytag before and hated the fridge but loved the dishwasher and fridge.
I would go to a large appliance store where they have a good variety on display and hopefully some hooked up for you to use.
I find it interesting that you want variety and she doesn't. you must be the one who cooks.

I am of the opinion that no one manufacturer makes the best product of every type. Most have their strong points. Miele seems to get a good score on most appliances, but are very expensive in USA and have a limited distributorship and service area. Bosch has a solid dishwasher from what I have read, but I have seen little here on their ranges and refrigerators (sometimes a good thing!).

I took the approach of evolving to three brands in my kitchen, all in black color, and from 5 feet away, you would have a hard time knowing they did not come from the same company, let alone are wildly different in age. My kitchen now has:
-GE Spacemaker Microwave (18 years old)
-KitchenAid counter-depth french door refrigerator (4 years old)
-KitchenAid convection range (3 years old)
-Miele dishwasher (1 year old)

It started out as the following 18 years ago:
-black GE Spacemaker range
-black GE Profile dishwasher
-bisque Caloric range (came from former home)
-bisque Amana side-by-side refrigerator (came from former home)

Believe it or not, black was a fairly new theme in USA about 20 years ago, with bisque and white the dominant colors. As bad as that sounds they were almond, olive green, and orange (yikes!) only 10-20 years before that.

So as appliances failed, I replaced them with a theme (black) that was seemed fairly timeless (at least after 15-20 years) and followed what I consider my best appliance at the time (microwave), while not breaking the bank (stainless steel).

The GE microwave had a distinctive black curved handle, and so I played off that when I acquired the refrigerator (emergency replacement) and later the range (scratch and dent at a massive discount in a non-emergency situation) and they are an amazing match for units over a decade apart from different manufacturers.

For the dishwasher, I opted for a handle-less version strictly for clearance issues to the island in front of it. I took Miele over KitchenAid because of what I had read at GardenWeb from owner experiences (wise choice) and it is now my best appliance.

So in summary- three brands in two generations, and nobody that enters my home but me knows they are completely unrelated.

IMHO - spend wisely by buying appliance by brand reputation first, color/handles match second, and brand match third.

Laundryvet

I agree with all of the above - choose appliances based on quality regardless of brand continuity. Often, they'll match very well (provided they're all the same finish) and many may not know they're different brands. Personally, I don't like all appliances to match, much like I don't like complete bedroom furniture sets, but if you do, buying panel-ready models can give you the best of both worlds.

I read somewhere that the all matching appliances "suite" concept came from real estate developers who bought cargoes of appliances from one manufacturer which saved money for them due to both volume and to ease of installation since every kitchen could be installed the same way. Then they pushed "matching suite appliances!" as a "selling point" to gullible buyers. So, when I see a kitchen with all matching appliances, my impression is that it's part of a cost-saving effort, and/or the homeowner did not care enough to shop for the best appliance of each brand, but just bought the appliances in a hurry.

If you are worried about the stainless steel finish matching, it has been discussed several times on this forum that often finishes aren't the exact same even within the same brand due to manufacturers making their appliances in different factories, with a different run of stainless steel, etc. People tend to fixate on the finish in their buying anxiety. Once installed, no one will notice if the stainless steel finish isn't identical, including you.

By buying all one suite of appliances, you will make your salesperson happy. Their commission is higher for those kinds of sales.

What is interesting is that some lower-priced appliances perform better than higher-end ones - sometimes. So it is to your spending advantage to check out (this forum) to see where you should spend on an appliance and where you can save.

No manufacturer makes all appliances well. Some are better at ovens or some are better at fridges etc. You are not really making the best decision if your first priority in buying appliances is that they all match.

This post was edited by Mrs_Nyefnyef on Thu, Feb 5, 15 at 8:15

While I agree with everything above, how do you each use the kitchen? If you never/minimally do then some people like looks over function and that is what makes them happy. Go matchy. If you would appreciate the difference in function and are the one cooking, it should go your way. If you have to end up matching, Bosch might be the way to go.

All great advice, thanks for all of the good replies to a newbie here on the forums. Very welcoming and inviting.

So yes, I am the main cook in the household, and I do very much enjoy it. I am really looking forward to having some real good performing appliances finally. Recently upgraded my 13 year old gas grill with a good Weber one, oh boy the difference, so I imagine getting the new appliances will trump that experience, so I am pretty giddy about the whole transformation.

I showed my wife this thread last night, I think there were about 5 replies then, and she being the stubborn one, is still pretty adamant about the brand being the same. I am going to try another angle when we go back to look at appliances this weekend, maybe I'll call the salesperson we spoke with last time beforehand and let him in on the plan to convince different brands. heheheee

If she wins out on this battle, I have pretty much decided on the bosch 800 series lineup with the speed/oven combo. I also will see about what models are available in our budget will accept panels, that could be an option.

Thanks again everyone for your wonderful replies, very much appreciated.

This mania for matchy-matchy appliances is of fairly recent vintage, I think, and due largely to the combined efforts of appliance marketing departments, zealous interior/kitchen designers, The Food Network, big box retailers, and the perceived cache of a desirable "label". I know my mom would never have given a thought to having her appliances match - she just wanted to have the best or most dependable one she could afford in every category.

Appliances are tools; they can absolutely be decorative tools, but they're still tools. As with luggage sets, allowing yourself to be seduced into putting form so far above function pretty much guarantees you'll end up with one or two things that are great for you, and a bunch of other stuff that either doesn't completely suit your needs or disappoints on one level or another.

Unless, as has been noted, the kitchen is for show and not for go. In that case, I'd match the hell out of it with zero shame, lol.

Would she buy the same brand of shoes to match her jeans or other parts of her outfit? No, you buy what is the best for each item, not a matched set. Now I know that jean companies don't make shoes, just trying to illustrate a point, you wouldn't do this in other areas (for the most part) so why do it with appliances?

There are other examples as well.

Do a search on here or other web sites for people that have posted pictures of their kitchens with non-matching appliances to see how great they look.

Phil

Make it a compromise situation. Don't let her give you the illusion of choice. Who does most of the work in the kitchen? That is where it matters. Form is as if not more important than function to some. Good luck

All matching brand appliances usually = cheap builder grade stuff that came with the house or a discount "package" deal so you could skimp on costs when you bought them. Neither which will impress anyone. As others have mentioned, using a panelled dishwasher and fridge will remove any potential style mismatches with those, and the cooktop, oven(s) (or range) are inherently different in appearance even when made by the same manufacturer.

i think choosing appliances from one brand is more rational....1 you face one company....2 the appearance of your kitchen gets better 3 you have this opportunity to get more offs

I agree regarding buying each appliance on its own merits.

FWIW, after copious research including visits to good appliance stores, I am basically going with Bosch - Bosch Benchmark Induction Cooktop; Bosch Benchmark Side Opening Oven. I already own a Bosch Dishwasher so that's moot.

I am going with a Sharp microwave drawer but that's irrelevant to your post except that it is going under the Bosch Benchmark oven and I don't give a tinker's darn whether it "matches" since I am opting for functionality - they are both black and stainless steel in the end.

I am NOT going with a Bosch refrigerator because the salesperson advised against it and pointed me towards either KA or Jennair because the Bosch model had plastic freezer drawers/shelves in the model I was considering. I would have considered other refrigerators including the GE Profile but I like the 72" model in the counter depth model offered by both KA and Jennair.