If you want to really splurge, the Thermador 48 pro grand with steam oven is a workhorse. We love ours. Use the steam oven all the time.

Also separated fridge and freezer and very happy- Thermador columns.

Have you looked at induction?

I haven't, but I'm guessing I should? ;)

What is your current kitchen hook up? Do you have gas or a 50 amp electric circuit? If you don't already have the electric circuit, could you even add one without having to redo your whole panel? (Or, should you redo your whole panel... And while you're at it add space for that subpanel you've been hankering for so that you can run tools in the garage…)

I don't really like appliance packages because it seems to me they give you one really great functioning appliance and the rest don't work that well. I would select one appliance and note its color and the style of handle and try to have the rest of the appliances with more or less the same look, but I would aim for the best functionality.

Yes buy the best for function vs buying a package. Packages are for builders so they can make the kitchens look pretty.

Thanks all.

Lily'smom, it was taking about the Frigidaire/Elec/Therm columns.

What are the best functioning appliances in each category? All my cooking has been on low end electric. Which is why I have no opinion on the cooking part, but I do know I love a big fridge!

At the moment you have the range plotted on an interior wall. My first question is therefor ventilation - are you going to be able to duct an 8" (for example) vent pipe up through the ceiling or along/in the wall and out toward the deck? You're not firing a Thermador 48 pro grand with steam oven, to use that example, with a recirculating hood.

Good advice above. Let me add a few more practical tradeoffs to ponder.

Some cooks (like johnsoro25) need and really give a workout to an eight burner stove. Others will not. From your description of your family's schedules and cooking style, it sounds like regular stove and a separate steam oven (plus a separate microwave) might be more useful to you.

Also consider how much of your countertops and cabinets you want to give up to a stove.

Stevep2005 pointed to ventilation. "Best functioning" range hood for 48" range will be 54" wide (very expensive and causing a loss of additional cabinet space). A big hood likely will require a make-up-air (MUA) system to avoid backdrafting HVAC and water heaters and the fireplace you have in the adjoining room. (Another large expense.)

Big fridge/freezer space is worth it to you. You can search here on model numbers. I think we've had several discussions of the Thermadors you were looking at.

For dishwashers, consider that Thermador is part of BSH. The company also includes Bosch which has its dishwasher factories. Bosch DWs get pretty generally favorable reviews. Pretty much all of them qualify as "best functioning" with the differences between models being quietness and features (such as third racks, extra cycles, and finishes.) Only you can decide the extent to which those additions are important to you. The other brand here with the most highly favorable comments is Miele.

Thanks stevep2005 & jwvideo!

The max range I was considering was 36". I was told I could vent outside, but I'll have to inquire about the vent size. Not sure how they'd run it or if they'd adjust based on hood size.

I like the look; while I think separate oven/cooktop might be nice, the "L" limits my thinking and creates more issues. (cooktop next to wall oven seems cramped; wall ovens next to fridge seems dumb) Putting the range on the short wall allows me to get a huge fridge and not seem crowded.

What does a MUA unit cost? (1k is cool - 7k is not cool)

These discussions are helping a ton! I was thinking about the following:

36" range on short wall - no idea on brand

Big fridge/freezer on long wall with a tall wall oven cabinet on the sink side to hold my steam oven/microwave.

How's that sound? (That would take up the red question mark below. Do I add one more cabinet section in there? Move dishwasher to the right of sink?)

Any thoughts on what to put on the left of the freezer? Beverage center? Ice Maker? Pantry cabinet?

EDIT: As I typed this I thought adding another cabinet might push the fridge too far away. As it sits, the range to center of fridge is about 12', fridge to sink 6', sink to range 4'. Oy. This is getting complicated.

Yes what is most of your cooking?

For example, when I figured out DH's and my habits, it changed what we wanted in the kitchen. For example:

We eat out 3-4x a week.

We came from a condo where barbecuing wasn't allowed but we anticipate having a barbecue in our new build.

Having said that, I occasionally bake, and maybe once a month I'll make a roast or bake fish in the oven. Originally I was looking at the Bosch side opening ovens and realized that for us, it would be a waste of money for the rare times I use an oven. So I went with the Bosch lower end convection oven. Still good quality but with the 3 item Bosch discount it comes in at a very good price.

I had considered a steam oven too, but felt with our eating out habits, etc, it too would be a waste for us.

Most of my cooking when we won't be barbecuing, is done on the cooktop. I love to make soups, sauces and stir fry and saute, so I made sure to buy a quality 36" five hob induction Bosch cooktop and put a good quality hood over it.

I wanted an integrated fridge that would allow fruits and veggies to last longer so I chose the Bosch to get the 3 item discount. Bosch is made by the same company that makes Thermador and the two FD fridges are virtually identical with Bosch being a slightly lower price.

We do lots of dishes and since our kitchen is somewhat open to our living area, we chose the Miele dishwasher. I wanted a quality one where I could rearrange racks etc.

And DH uses the MW all the time, and I use it several times a week, so we went with a Sharp MW drawer.

All that works for us. Now what will your family need? Spend on the appliances you'll use the most and save a bit on those that will get less use.

And definitely look into induction. Cleaner, more responsive, etc.

Great stuff! Over any two week period, I'll cook 85% of the items below:

-baked or grilled chicken (either a meal, for salads, maybe fajitas)
-steak (grilled or pan seared the broiled)
-roasted chicken
-2 to 4 crock pot meals
-scrambled eggs w/ bacon
-a stir fry

We usually have rice or potatoes and a bunch of veggies (prepared all ways) on the side.

1 or 2x a month I bake a dessert. (pies, crisps, pastries)

I used to love cooking stuff from Bon Appetite, but 2 young kids took away that Sunday fun. It'll come back.

Once the new house is done, will do more grilling or slow cooking.

We never eat out, but do like pizza and I do like making my own. (sometimes)

We eat lots of fruit and veggies, and someday, I'll have a nugget ice machine.

Now I need to relate this to appliances.

So now you have a direction to go in. Then you need to figure out what is important in each appliance for you and then do your research.

Once you've narrowed it down to 2 or 3 choices for each appliance, then come post here for additional thoughts.

Well, after lots of thinking, visiting show rooms, and tons of spreadsheet work to create a utility function, I have narrowed down my thoughts:

1) I looked at most appliance brands, but tried to maximize rebates

2) While a built-in super fridge would be great, I've opted to not get one

3) The highest cost package (using built-ins & range) was Thermador @ $15,500

4) The lowest cost package (using the 36" twins & range) was Frigidaire Pro @ $8,100

5) Switching to wall/cooktop increased cost a bit

6) If I take fridges out of the equation, the max range package was $8,200; lowest was $5,200

7) On Black Friday, any appliance that doesn't have UMRP could be significantly cheaper - THIS could change everything.

As it stands, I came out with the following packages:

36" Pro Range - Jenn-Air Range, Ventahood 36" Pro, Bosch DW (probably 800 series), Jenn-Air CD 72" Fridge, Counter Microwave with trim kit ($9,700)

Cooktop/Wall Oven - Jenn-Air 30" Induction, Jenn-Air 30" Single Oven, Bosch DW (probably 800 series), Ventahood 48", Wolf 15" Multiburner, Counter Micro with trim kit, Jenn-Air CD 72" Fridge ($11,100)

Went with Jenn-Air because the rebate is $1300 off any item. Let's me get a fridge, buy a Bosch DW, and save some money. I like the idea of the induction & gas burner for stir frying. Final layout is based on kitchen planning. Splitting the cooking takes up a good bit of counter space but we'll see.

For my future steam oven, I don't think I can put it in a microwave cabinet space (so I could still have the counter open underneath). If we go wall oven, easy to leave it open. If we go range, I'll buy a counter top version.

Any thoughts on those appliances?

This could all change if come Black Friday a package made up of Bosch, Electrolux, Frigidaire is hugely discounted. At that point, I'd probably go with wall oven/cooktop with the Wolf and some type of Fridge. I don't want a 30" range.

I don't know enough about the different appliances you've chosen. I have Jenn-Air in my rental now and did in my last rental. Decent quality but I wouldn't run out and buy them.

Additionally, I'm not sure the Black Friday sales will give much off on the appliances you're looking at, with maybe the exception of the Fridgidaires. Again the pros may know better, but I believe the price is what it is with the higher end brands.

One other thought. The savings between your two packages is $1400. Not chump change, but I'm thinking it won't break your bank either, so when you consider this is something you're going to be using for many years, which one will work better for you.

Yeah, I just poked around to see what the Labor Day deals looked like, nothing on any of them. (Except Frigidaire)

Money won't decide the package, just functionality. Given that, I'd like to maximize my rebate. That would leave these combos as the base:

Thermador - All cooking for free dishwasher

Jenn-Air - All cooking + another for $1300

Bosch - 3+ items for 10%; cooking + DW

Electrolux is just 100-400 per item (around 500)

MW is gonna just be basic. I like the 72" tall Jenn-Air fridge, but could go elsewhere. Any other model I should look at?

Any good brands with rebates? Monogram would be the same as JennAir/Thermador.

What do considered the good 36" ranges, wall ovens, cooktops?