Packages are for those concerned with decorating their kitchen with pretty rather than cooking in it. Cooks choose best in class for each appliance. Because no one does great in each category. And never ever do an OTR. Cooking requires ventilation, as a primary concern, as the other half of the heating the food equation. Cooks put in a real, externally vented, system, potential with the required make up air.

No brand is best at everything. I would pick the best for each appliance that your $$ can buy. Definitely prefer NO OTR microwave.

I recommend Bosch regularly. They make good products that won't break the bank. I don't know much about Kitchen Aid's ranges, but if you think you'd be willing to splurge a bit, I'd also take a look at Dacor. Probably more comparable to Thermador in price.

if you think you'd be willing to splurge a bit, I'd also take a look at Dacor. Probably more comparable to Thermador in price.

Actually Dacor is Samsung. Should not be comparable to Thermador in price, and if it is, that is a ripoff. Samsung fridges work fairly well, but the problem is that when they don't, repairs are quite difficult and customer service is absent.

To the OP, I'd not get the package unless the price is too good to resist. And as others have said, can you avoid the OTR MW, and put in a hood instead? For the individual appliances, I'd get the Bosch DW, Bosch range, and KitchenAid fridge.

@mmiller, the Samsung acquisition of Dacor was a fairly recent development. It hasn't, to my knowledge, impacted the quality of the appliances, based on my attendance at KBIS earlier this year.

Also? Thermador is made by Bosch. Monogram is made by GE. All of these brands have luxury lines in a similar strategy used by car manufacturers. Same basic chassis with a few more bells and whistles to justify the premium price. You can buy a VW Golf or an Audi A3. Same diff; better bragging rights. :-)

Thanks for the replies. The reason I’m getting an OTR microwave/micro hood is because we don’t have the possibility to vent to outside the house, and it’s a small kitchen where there isn’t really space to put a microwave anywhere except for over the range. I think I am leaning towards Bosch because of their reliability and reputation, and also because a package will look nice and match. If anybody else has any experience with either Bosch or Kitchenaid appliances, or has any other suggestions, that would be awesome.

I absolutely love my Bosch dishwasher, but their other kitchen appliances are made by various manufacturers and are not worth the expense IMHO. I would likely purchase KitchenAid fridge, stove, and microwave. Our nearly 11 year old Whirlpool fridge, stove, and microwave have never skipped a beat despite having poor quality on certain parts. Just a few broken trim pieces here and there. But for dishwasher, I highly recommend Bosch!

Consumer Reports (consumerreports.org/join - $10/month digital) has ratings of all those types of appliances. Follow up with owners' anecdotal reviews on such sites as Home Depot and Best Buy. No manufacturer makes the best performing or most reliable appliances of all types.