High end kitchen appliances worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are buying a Wolf, you are buying it for the name. Or, more accurately, the red knobs, so everyone will know you spend a lot on your appliances. There are other high-end appliances that actually increase functionality, so may be "worth" the premium - a Wolf does not. It's basically a marketing scheme.

We have a wolf and chose black knobs because we didn't want the red. We've been very happy with it. Also have a sub zero because we have a narrow kitchen and the extra few inches of depth made a difference. So sometimes it is about functionality.

Our beach house has the next tier of appliances (Kitchen Aid and Jenn Air) and they are pretty crappy. We are going to replace them all. The fridge freezes half the food, the stovetop barely gets hot enough to boil water, the dishwasher has had to be repaired. But from a resale perspective for the previous owner they were a plus - we thought they were good quality until we started using them.

OK, I'll bite - what functionality does the Wolf provide that justifies the increased price?

[Anonymous]

We got a 60" Platinum Bluestar and it's great. We "broke" the package. Our builder had a 25% discount for Wolf (which is why you see them in all the high end new builds). We got a Blue Star range top, Miele steam oven/convec combo. I don't like to bend down for the ovens as I'm getting older. Subzero fridge (only because of the discount). Otherwise, I like the Miele fridge. Miele dishwasher. It may seem over the top but if you're going through the trouble of redesign / build, look for the best of each category.

[Anonymous]

Oh, we had a Wolf in our last house and the Blue Star is better.. Things heat up faster and you have the wok option etc.. You can customize knob colors but we just went with the standard. We have the griddle on two burners. We use it for pancakes.

[Anonymous]

Wolf owner here - good to know about bluestar. Will check it out. I love my wolf but I am open!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here -- thanks for the advice! Our reasoning for the subzero is that it will be freestanding against a small wall -- we thought the subzero looked the best for a not ideal situation. The previous owners had a subzero and we love it (and it's 28 years old). Would love to hear other fridge options if anyone has suggestions!

We love our subzero and it definitely keeps food fresher. Vegetables and fruits last longer.

Yeah, I bought a used sub-zero off craigslist for $1000 10 years ago and its been amazing. food lasts so much longer. I've had two service calls for about $200 each for the fridge in that time. new house will be getting a new fridge-only subzero for the kitchen, will just get a regular freezer for the pantry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not only are Viking and SubZero very high maintenance, commercial ovens and ranges are fire hazards. They get MUCH hotter than typical home appliances and home building codes don't take this into consideration . Don't install one unless you hire a contractor who can upgrade cabinets and drywall adjoining the oven/range to improve fire safety.

You are correct that commercial ranges (garland, imperial, etc) are fire hazards in a residential setting, as they are supposed to be installed in non-combustible areas with fire suppression. High-BTU residential ranges like BlueStar, Viking, Capital, DCS are more expensive precisely because UL-listing and the insulation required to be able to install them near cabinetry increases the costs quite a lot.

To be clear, if you buy a commercial range off rasmus or something, and shove it in your home kitchen, you are very likely voiding your home/fire insurance. If you want high BTU in the home, you need to pony up for the more expensive BlueStar or Wolf or Viking, etc.

My SubZero has never been high-maintenance. I would lose more in spoiled food over a few years than I'd save in a cheaper fridge, and moreover it wouldn't integrate into my kitchen. I've seen folks have problems with Viking wall ovens. I have seen problems with SubZero ice makers (i don't use mine, no water hookup.). I've seen folks have problems with an igniter on a blue star, but a match works fine. It all depends on what you want and what types of problems you are willing to solve. I paid more in my last home to put in an all-mechanical gas stove, as I wanted to be able to use it without problems during a power outage. Also, I refused to buy a range that had a "chicken nugget" button on it. But your mileage may vary.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have an Ilve range?

[Anonymous]

How is it possible that SubZero refrigerators "keep food fresher for longer"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible that SubZero refrigerators "keep food fresher for longer"?

they have really solid temperature and humidity regulation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is it possible that SubZero refrigerators "keep food fresher for longer"?

they have really solid temperature and humidity regulation.

+1

I just moved into a new build with a Sub Zero and it does seem to keep veggies and fruits fresher for longer. For what it's worth, I really like it but I was surprised the outer stainless steel shell does not hold a magnet so no hanging up your kids artwork on the fridge. Also, Sub Zero does not do water dispensers which was a bummer. I have one with french doors and from time to time, if you open the left door slowly and try to close it, the middle lever smacks the right hand door and won't close.

These are the only downsides to the fridge and like I said, I really like it.

The higher end dishwashers (Miehle, Bosch) are really nice as well. Having 3 racks is really awesome.

Get a high end 48 range if you can make it work in your kitchen, you will not regret it. Whether you get 6 burners or 4 burners and a grill in the middle is up to you. Having the extra oven space below the burners is nice.

Also, a steam oven is a game changer for making steamed veggies. So easy.

If you can afford it, go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might look into Liebherr refrigerators. Ours is extra tall and counter depth and can be ganged together to form a double unit. It comes all stainless or without panels to customize. We are very happy with this fridge because it looks and works so beautifully, but also, it is amazingly quiet.

I have Miele for everything else. Love the dishwasher and laundry but HATE the speed oven. Oh it works beautifully and looks even better, but you CANNOT clean it. It's repulsive after cooking certain meals and takes hours of scrubbing.

Love my Liebherr fridge. Also chose Miele for most of the rest. Induction cooktop is amazing. Hood was super pricey but looks very cool.

[Anonymous]

My last house had KitchenAid fridge & oven. My new house has Sub Z and Viking. The Sub Z does keep food fresh longer, but the KitchenAid oven was so much easier to use.

[Anonymous]

Our subzero uses a ton of electricity and periodically leaks all over the floor. My neighbor has the same one and the same problems.

[Anonymous]

Hate the Viking appliances in our house. They never work properly, they’re annoying and expensive to repair, and they’re insanely expensive to replace, so we keep putting up with the repair issues. I wish the previous owners who did the remodel had chosen differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You might look into Liebherr refrigerators. Ours is extra tall and counter depth and can be ganged together to form a double unit. It comes all stainless or without panels to customize. We are very happy with this fridge because it looks and works so beautifully, but also, it is amazingly quiet.

I have Miele for everything else. Love the dishwasher and laundry but HATE the speed oven. Oh it works beautifully and looks even better, but you CANNOT clean it. It's repulsive after cooking certain meals and takes hours of scrubbing.

Stay away from Miele. It took them one month to ship a basic part from Germany for a 4 year old dishwasher. Their customer service aka call center is dreadful too.