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overhilldesigns

Feedback on Appliance and Counterop Selection

9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago

Intro: I have been stalking these forums like a mad woman for ages. I must say, your collective input and breadth of knowledge and experience is amazing! I am hoping you can offer a few final thoughts on the appliance selection of my dream kitchen (I've waited 10 years using a 35+ year old kitchen in an almost 100 year old house for this day!).

Countertop: Mystery White Marble (I could not find this soft, creamy white, without flecks, in another material, like granite or quartzite. Plus, I am okay with some patina - I love to cook and want a glam, but lived in kitchen.)

Kitchen Sink: Kohler 33" Prolific https://www.us.kohler.com/us/Prolific-33-x-17-3-4-x-11-under-mount-single-bowl-kitchen-sink-with-accessories/productDetail/kitchen-sinks/1039650.htm?skuId=1039643&brandId=1092284

I have not seen this in person. I did see the Kohler Stages in person. I really liked that, but I couldn't do the width of that sink b/c I need cabinet space for my splurge of 2 dishwashers. The 33" Stages is actually a smaller bowl than the Prolific due to the drain board, which is how I ended up with the Prolific. I've read that I need to soften the edges of my marble around this drop in sink to prevent chipping, which is the one thing I am worried about with an undermount, no apron front sink set in marble. To note, I did look at The Galley and Roechelle (sp?) sinks, too. I loved them, but with everything else, they are outside of our budget.

Ovens:
Miele 30” Convection Oven Model H 6780 BP2 https://www.mieleusa.com/domestic/convection-ovens-1451.htm?mat=09769600&name=H_6780_BP2

I have the world's oldest, smallest and most uneven double wall ovens now. Anything will be better. I love to bake, and so the Moisture Plus feature of these seems awesome. I chose these over the Wolf for this reason (and for other issues related to Wolf that I've read on this site). I don't know if I will use all of the Master Chef features, mostly because I've never had them and partially b/c I have the hurbis of a chef who doesn't want a machine telling me how to cook my food. Anyway, these will be plumbed into the wall.

Dishwashers (2): Miele 24” Model G
6665 SCVi AM

https://www.mieleusa.com/domestic/dishwashers-2510.htm?mat=10410120&name=G_6665_SCVi_AMMiele

These cost a bit more than I had hoped to spend on dishwashers, but mine now are SO bad (Kenmore; they can't event remove dried ice cream remnants that have been left over after being rinsed off before being put into the DW). These were the least costly versions of the Miele DWs that offer the door open to air dry feature. I'm hoping they are worth the money.

Rangetop / Cooktop:

36” Wolf Sealed Burner Rangetop with 4 burners and infared
griddle Model SRT364G

http://www.subzero-wolf.com/wolf/cooktops-and-rangetops/range-top/36-inch-sealed-burner-rangetop-4-burners-infrared-griddle

I originally was going to do a 48" rangetop, but then I made the mistake of taking my husband, who previously showed zero interest in appliances, to a showroom in NYC. Love him, but big mistake - LOL. We are now getting the 36" rangetop (I loved the look of the brass in the Gaggeneau, but could not justify the cost given it is less powerful. The showroom tried to recommend the Viking 7 series, but I hated my last Viking range so much I just can't go there again. I looked at the Miele, but didn't like it as much.). We are getting this gas rangetop PLUS a Miele 24” Induction Cooktop Model KM 6320

https://www.mieleusa.com/domestic/cooktops-and-combisets-2473.htm?mat=09775880&name=KM_6320

Refrigerator: 36" Built-In Refrigerator - Panel
Ready Model BI-36R/O

http://www.subzero-wolf.com/sub-zero/full-size-refrigeration/builtin-refrigerators/36-inch-built-in-refrigerator-panel-ready

Everyone I know who has one LOVES it and says it is built to last. Here's hoping they are right. I looked at the integrated unit, but I brought a half sheet pan with me when I did. I bake a ton, and I often put my pans in the fridge to set before I pop them into the oven. I found that the built in units could fit the pan, but not the integrated. They aren't deep enough.

Freezer: This is my only open item. As of today, a change in my kitchen layout (required to reinforce an I-beam that connects the addition to the old house) means that my fridge and freezer no longer have to be side by side. My original plan was to get the matching freezer, but now I could swap out the

36" Built-In Freezer - Panel Ready Model BI-36F/O

http://www.subzero-wolf.com/sub-zero/full-size-refrigeration/builtin-refrigerators/36-inch-built-in-freezer-panel-ready

for either this

30" Integrated Column Freezer with Ice Maker - Panel
Ready Model IC-30FI

http://www.subzero-wolf.com/sub-zero/full-size-refrigeration/integrated-fridges/30-inch-integrated-column-freezer-ice-maker-panel-ready

or this

30" Integrated Column Freezer with Ice Maker - Panel
Ready Model IC-30FI

http://www.subzero-wolf.com/sub-zero/full-size-refrigeration/integrated-fridges/30-inch-integrated-over-under-freezer-ice-maker-panel-ready

Lastly, I will need an inexpensive, counterdepth, undercounter beverage refrigerator for my breakfast bar.

All suggestions and comments would be most appreciated. Thank you!!

Comments (12)

  • 9 years ago

    What are you planning for a 66" hood and makeup air for your home? As someone who has a Miele induction 30" and a 15" miele gas wok hob, if you don't need the gas, you may want to skip it. Or get a smaller gas unit like the miele, Gaggenau or wolf gas wok burner. There are several users who had both setups on the forum with an induction and gas hob who got rid of the gas hob over time. I live in a high power outage area, in the event of a power outage, I have a grill outdoor and could have made do with a portable gas burner like they use in the cooking schools.

    Good luck!

    overhilldesigns thanked homepro01
  • 9 years ago

    overhilldesigns, I'm sorry that I don't have any feedback on your choices but I beg you to please post pictures when your kitchen is done! Just from your appliance and countertop choices, I would love to see your kitchen to drool --I mean-- look over.


    ...ok, fine, I really do mean drool over :)

    overhilldesigns thanked mtnfever (9b AZ/HZ 11)
  • 9 years ago

    I believe SZ is the only one that makes a 36" all fridge - at least they were when I was doing my kitchen 2 years ago. We did the integrated "over and under" in both the fridge and freezer. I love the two bottom drawers. They are deep. You can adjust the dividers or remove them depending on your needs. I love being able to get several large casseroles in my bottom fridge drawer. I bet your sheet pans would fit there! As far as your oven - I have the moisture plus. I don't find it extremely useful mainly because if I want to add steam I use my combi steam oven. Did you consider stacking one with a 30" convection? They are awesome - many threads here about them. It is my go to oven. Miele makes a great dishwasher. The open air drying works great. We went total induction and have not been sorry.

    overhilldesigns thanked Kim G
  • 9 years ago

    Miele, Thermador and Gaggenau have always made 36" all fridges. Also, Viking does too. The Thermador, Miele and Gaggenau have always been integrated models.

  • 9 years ago

    I went with the built in vs integrated SZ fridge bc it is deep enough to fit a half sheet pan sideways (my current stand alone can fit them lengthwise bc of its depth) without any door interference. Although the external dimensions of the integrated are the same as the BI, the internal are not. A pan cannot fit, which surprised me. (Also, in not very tall and have difficulty reaching the top shelf of the integrated. If I lower it, then I can't store my taller items.)

  • 9 years ago

    Re the hood - the gas range top will have a traditional hood hidden inside a cabinet cover. The induction will have its own pop up downdraft system.

  • 9 years ago

    Overhill,

    Why would the induction have a downdraft versus a regular hood? My Liebherr will fit a half sheet pan. I will have to remove the shelves in the door but it has not been an issue for me. I am surprised the integrated SZ would not hold a half sheet pan. Understand your concerns about the taller height of the integrated unit.

    overhilldesigns thanked homepro01
  • 9 years ago

    The rangetop is under a hood that is centered between two windows. The induction is to the right of the range top under a window. As such, it needs a downdraft. Plus, induction, particularly 24" of it, requires less venting b/c it doesn't throw off heat.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My 36" SZ integrated fridge that has one tall upper door and 2 bottom drawers can fit a 1/2 sheet pan side by side long ways front to back on the deli drawer (bottom) shelf if the items in the door shelf are not taller than the deli drawer or as the above poster mentioned you can remove them. You can likely do the same with the other shelves but I didn't experiment. I keep my shorter items in the bottom door shelf so removing a couple would not be a biggie. That shelf is also not quite as deep as the other door shelves so it holds a lot of pepper sauces. As far as the height issue with integrated - I am barely 5ft. We put our tall items (milk/Juice/etc) on the top shelf as it is lowered enough that I can reach most items without a step stool. We also adjusted one door shelf to hold 2L bottles and other tall items. I did test out the bottom drawer and to my surprise it would not hold a half sheet pan long side front to back.Just got back in town last night to test out. You can use shelf dividers to stack multiple pans on the deli drawer shelf. To be honest - I love the look of the integrated versus built in. I have a very modern kitchen so trying to blend the appliances in with the cabinets was something I wanted to achieve. Everyone has their own objectives and priorities.

    I stand corrected on 36" all fridge integrated units. I did see one on the MIele website. Not on thermador nor liebherr. I don't even look at Gagenau - not in my price range.

    I have induction and rarely run my vent above speed 2 occasionally a 3 but I am not a heavy vent hood user. I think you will be fine with a pop up. I also think you will love induction.

    overhilldesigns thanked Kim G
  • 9 years ago

    Read up on downdraft venting. It's not nearly as good.

    Also like someone else mentioned read up more on induction or go try induction because most folks here who have both or had gas and switched to induction will not go back to gas.

    overhilldesigns thanked cpartist
  • 9 years ago

    I will confess it - I am excited to try the induction (I did see it boil water in a show room, for what that's worth...it was a Wolf, which boiled quickly but was curiously loud). That said, I will also confess I'm SUCH a sucker for that blue flame. I don't need to see a dial, I just know the temp by looking. I know - I sound like an old fart confounded by new technology! I just don't think I'm ready to make the leap all in.