We have an all Miele kitchen we installed about two years ago and love it. We got their fridge too, I like the lighting better than the sub, it was a little less expensive and I like the clean touch finish. I went with their hood too. I just put a cheap microwave on a shelf, we don't use it much, we use the combi-steam to reheat things.

If you still have room in your budget, you may want to look at Rachiele sinks. There is a thread on sinks over in the Kitchen Forum where one poster talks about them and you can search all posts vis Google on GW. I am getting one soon and I am pretty excited about it, considering it's just a sink! People who have them are gaga for them.

You also need to plan for Make Up Air in your appliance package.

I'm a fan of having all the same manufacturer when doing a high end kitchen. There's a recent thread where that point was hotly debated, but I'm firmly convinced of the value in doing it.

A few comments, based on the two ovens and the warming drawer selected.

-Two of the three items are 'pure line' and one is 'contour line.' You'll want to make all three match. One line is 'trimmed out' (my own words) with clean touch steel, and the other line is all one consistent material and one color. The inconsistency also means you'll by default be getting a different handle with each of the trim lines. Go to a Miele experience center, even if you have to travel long distance, and look at the differences. The 'contour swivel' handle is very nice, as the name implies it swivels, I think it comes standard on the contour line ovens.

-The CSO comes is a larger model, 24" in height vs 18 ins. Both are 24" wide (a trim kit needed to make 30" wide). Plumbed in is a wise choice.

Refrigeration:

For refrigeration, you could get a 24" wide Miele fridge and an 18" wide Miele freezer (giving you 42"), and use a mounting kit to position them side by side, from the front together they look like one unit. Which will sort of give the double door effect.

D/W:

The DW model you listed has interior lighting and the auto open feature at the end of a cycle. I have a model that does the auto open, and yes it works great.

Try to get matching handles styles on the DW (and the fridge freezer if you go all Miele). Miele DWs don't have all (the full range of) handle styles as the ovens, so DWs and fridges sometimes drive the selection of handles if you want consistency.

Nothing wrong with a Miele exhaust hood, I have one and it works just fine. The models from Miele have a utilitarian look, which is OK, this is not where you need a full set of bells and whistles.

Hope this helps,

the steam oven is not 30", only 24", you can add the trim piece to make it look like 30", but it is still 24". I'd upgrade to the XXL cavity one for a few hundreds more so there is no regret later. I got the DGC 6705-1 right before the XXL cavity ones were available in the US.

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the feedback.

• @plllog: Great suggestions! The model I selected is the Miele Lumen, which does have the auto-open feature you mentioned. Regarding microwave, I can see paying a little extra $ given the other appliances I suggested for a more finished look. We'll see. I'll start researching hoods in a bit. I appreciate the pointers on where to look.
• @sophie - thanks!
• @future_retiree: Good catch on the trim mismatch. I should have caveated earlier that I hadn't yet paid much attention to trim lines yet but will definitely make sure these are consistent when I finalize choices. Fortunately there is a Miele center not too far from where I live. Hope to get there next weekend. I'll check out the dishwasher, fridge and freezer options more closely. Based on SZ reviews I hadn't given much consideration to their refrigeration but several have suggested this so I'll give it more thought. I have a bias for keeping brands consistent for this kitchen but it's not 100% ironclad for me. I'll look at the larger CSO option. I do recall now that the CSO is 24" and given where it will be placed, I think the 30" trim option makes sense.
• @rych - thanks! I'll look at larger cavity option.

-joe

One more tip, call ahead and make an appointment at the experience center. Usually needed on a weekend, IME.

Great choices (we did almost the same!)

For the fridge I'd consider a 24" fridge column plus a 24" freezer column rather than the 42" french door. First, the 42" french door is a built in and I think once you understand the difference between built in and integrated you'll want the look that comes with integrated. I think 48" gives you more flexibility and it will fit into your plan. I do not recommend an 18" column freezer (there just isn't much space inside it especially if you have an ice maker).

Thanks - I'll look at those options!

I had such great experiences with my Miele kitchen. When I sold the house the DW was 14 and still going strong. I like the hidden controls with paneled front -- less likely to look dated and I needed the china/crystal cycle That's usually a just below top-of-line choice. No idea what they are calling it now. The one thing that's new in the DW world is lighting inside and I would totally go for that. Love, love the oven and the newer ones are even better designed. I'd buy it again for the rotisserie alone.

Fridge was a tough one. I hate French door so I was looking at bottom freezer 36". It was a great choice for me and provided a lot of on-door storage. The choice between Miele and SZ is very very close. Either is a good choice. My decision was that Miele was tougher as we had frequent power outages which SZ said would be a problem. Not with Miele. Miele costs less but requires a water filter replacement yearly @ approx $100/pop.

I did have things go wrong with my washer but they stood behind 100%. Service can be different depending on geography -- best check into that.

If you want everything to match, you'll need to get the Miele microwave or speed oven. Additionally I can't remember 100% but I'm pretty sure Miele was the only one to make their own microwave or at least speed oven. Everyone else is just a rebadged sharp, so depending on where you put it, sharp actually has a pretty nice microwave drawer they kept for themselves. It might not be so visibly non matching.

Subzero Built in's can be installed flush so they have the more integrated look, but they do still have the grill or a panel on top. 2 integrated columns will cost a fair bit more than the 1 built in. And the largest integrated piece is only 36"

Miele fridges are just Thermador fridges with better crispers so take that into account if you go that route.

Thanks - I am likely to go with the Miele MW primarily for aesthetics of where it will be placed. I might take a look at the Sharp M/W just in case though.

Miele microwaves are actually SpeedOvens. For some dishes, that's extremely convenient. For instance, many potato dishes (baked potato, au gratin, ...) cook much faster this way.

Also, having a second small oven is nice. It might mean you don't need to get another dedicated oven or warming drawer. But whether that'll work depends a lot on your specific cooking style.

Hi M - are you sure about that? I think this is a Microwave:

* https://www.mieleusa.com/domestic/microwave-ovens-1482.htm?mat=09762450&name=M_6160_TC

I know Miele also makes speed ovens, but I think they have differences:

* https://www.mieleusa.com/domestic/speed-ovens-1457.htm?mat=09769640&name=H_6700_BM

-joe

Ah, you're of course right. I had complete blanked on that. If I'm paying at least 10 times what a "normal" microwave costs, then I wasn't going to do that just for the looks. It's easy enough to fit a $150 microwave into an "appliance garage" after all.

So, for me, the Miele model only makes sense if it comes with the convection SpeedOven (which of course costs even more, even when choosing the cheapest model). But of course you're correct and there is the middle ground. And if looks are important to you, then that's an option.

Sorry for my misleading message.

are you even looking at their speed ovens? if you are thinking about getting their MW, you should seriously check out their speed ovens. I got one of their cheapest speed ovens, only few hundred bucks more than their top of the line MW, the only thing you give up is the turntable, but it is so much versatile, not only you can use it as your 2nd or 3rd convection oven, but you can also use it as a warming draw (set it in convection oven mode at 170F).

I was lucky enough to have the room to put in a snack center near the family room. 24" undercounter fridge and a space for a cheap microwave (we bought the Panasonic genius prestige off Amazon when we moved in - great microwave) and my kids and husband can destroy them at their leisure, far far away from my fancy ovens! Of course I love the fancy sharp microwave drawer, but I realized my boys were just going to climb on it to get to the counter. BTW my mom loves her Monogram advantium. She uses it constantly. I would seriously consider putting a speed oven in like the other posters. Until the boys are off at college, I'll stick to the $200 microwave....

So...I didn't really consider the speed ovens until they were brought up recently on the thread. Now that I've looked at them, aside from the increased cost and loss of a turntable, are there any downsides to swapping the Miele microwave with a Miele speed oven? It looks like the footprint is identical, which would be my primary concern with this change.

I didn't really set out to get three ovens, but given that I really want the standard convection oven, the combi-steam oven, and a microwave, it seems like it's worth considering this change. Given the desire for fast reheating, etc with wife and kids, having a microwave is necessary.

Also, is it still advisable to keep the warming drawer? From what I've read, some have suggested the the speed oven and/or steam oven can replace a warming drawer, but @pillog's thoughts on this post have convinced me that I'm not completely insane for wanting to keep this in the layout. (Biasing towards Thanksgiving/large group cooking as opposed to everyday needs.)

The layout would be:

• Main stack: convection oven (bottom); warming drawer (middle); speed oven/microwave (mainly due to the fact that the XXL Miele CSO won't trim match with the 30" convection oven but the microwave will: post and post)
• Separate stack (opposite side, beneath counter): CSO

Thanks for everyone's thoughts on this design, it's been really helpful.

-joe

If you have the space and if money isn't the limiting factor, there obviously wouldn't be anything to stop you from getting a warming drawer. You might want to double-check though that your stack doesn't get too tall. A microwave oven that is mounted really high up is awkward to use.

Having said that, it is extremely rare for me to need a warming drawer. Even for Thanksgiving I am usually really good at juggling foods around, so that I can make do without. Maybe, if I had a warmer drawer, I'd think of ways to use it?

But in the big picture of things, I personally prefer the extra cabinet space. Your mileage may vary. Depends a lot on your anticipated use cases. I am not sure anybody can make this decision for you.

To me, it's just in line with asking whether I should get a drawer vacuum sealer for sous vide cooking. I absolutely drool over it and can see the use for it. But what holds me back is the permanent waste of valuable cabinet space.

Other than the extra $$ I see no downside in doing a speed oven instead of the microwave. Of course that is exactly what I did, and I have no regrets. We use the speed oven as my second oven many nights and for holidays it is great having that extra oven. Last Thanksgiving my 30" wall oven became the "warming" drawer and dishes finished they stayed warm there and last minute items finished in the CSO and Speed oven. I didn't even consider a warming drawer with these 3 ovens and I still keep my Cuisinart Toaster Oven in the pantry as a last resort if needed. Your need for a warming drawer is a personnel choice based on how you cook and your needs. I think Pillog's suggestion to make sure it is not mounted low but more under the counter is well taken to make it accessible.

On yes or no question for including a warming drawer. I got one in a recent remodel, and then wondered if the space could have been put to better use. But I came around and am glad I included it. I use it for a things well beyond keeping food warm, slow roasting garden tomatoes is the latest thing.

A shallow sample of several friends who cooks, several have said "I wish I had one."