Good afternoon. I've searched Forums for some threads on this but couldn't find anything so if someone is aware of one, please link and i'll go there.

We are in the early stages of a custom build and was looking for feedback on kitchen appliances I should pay attention to and those I should avoid. Consider myself above average in the kitchen so not looking for low end options but probably not looking for the highest either. Been in a 50 year old house in a small kitchen with an induction cooktop and an oven/microwave combo so looking to upgrade. Plan on having a flat top in the outdoor kitchen.

Specifically looking for feedback on range, oven, fridge and microwave (drawer).

Thanks.
Stewart

Also interested as we'll be building relatively soon

We did a kitchen renovation last summer and were pleased with the appliances installed. We went with BlueStar gas range - "48 with the dual ovens and a griddle. We had a Wolf before - good unit as well, but I do like our BlueStar. We went with a Bosch SS fridge - really like this unit. I wasn't sure about the water dispenser on the inside, but it a good unit and the ice makes is fantastic. We did Miele on the dishwasher - I never had one before, in fact, I was looking at Asko initially, but picked up the Miele and it's solid. The micro drawer is the Sharp unit - haven't had an issue with it. Not necessarily an appliance, but we did pick up a Shaws sink - totally like this tank. I worked with the guys at Jarrell in Dallas - paid cash and picked up a discount. They also held the appliances until we were ready to install, which was convenient.

Ge Cafe series dual fuel range and built in wall fridge have served us well. Pricing is on par with the commercial stuff from Kitchenaid

Don't get a dishwasher. Waste of space that could be used for more drawer space. If the CW objects tell her you married a dishwasher. Seriously though, don't get a dishwasher.

(custom cabinetmaker here)

I always go into design and planning meetings with the same questions:

How long are you going to be in your house?
How much performance do you expect from your appliances?
What is your budget as a dollar figure, or as a percentage of the whole kitchen?

Having been involved in likely over 400 kitchens to some degree in my career, the overwhelming favorite is Wolf/SubZero. It used to be Viking back in the 90's, but they cheapened things and repair frequency became high. Wolf and SubZero merged a while ago, they are American made, mostly Wisconsin and Arizona. Expensive, and currently about a 10 month wait, but once you buy it, you will hardly have to ever do anything other than basic maintenance (cleaning coils every 6 months on ref, new igniter in oven maybe every 10 years). 20+ years on the ref is easy where most other refs (LG, GE, etc) are made to last 5-7 years. (If you do go with an all gas range, verify that the plumber running the gas line does the appropriate size. It may sound weird but several times plumbers just put in a 'what we always do' size pipe, and it is too small for the range demand.) Most stores will have Wolf/SubZ as the same fixed price. But you can work them a bit to do a 'package' and have them throw in the hood or something else?

Thermador makes a very good range, very nice looking (people tend to like the look of these over Wolf), about the same price. You can split hairs over more BTU's and other features, but when you get to that level, IMO these are minor differences. Can't speak much about Dacor, Bosch, Miele in the ref/range department due to lack of involvement with these. BlueStar makes a good product, made in PA, interesting looks.

DW, Miele hands down. Quiet, cleans well, install once, hardly ever touch it again. Not sure if 'panel ready' types are available these days yet. Bosch and KitchenAid make good products at a lower price point.

Drawer micro...have only done one in my career, a Sharp, people tend to shy away from the drawer type after testing them. They are just not used to reaching down to pick things up and out. Plus they would rather have the space in the base cabinets so we put a basic one somewhere in an upper or pantry cabinet.

Sink, any, minor differences.

Faucet, Rohl. Lifetime free replacement but likely never need it.

Garbage disposal, Insinkerator batch feed (much safer than switch operated)

That's all I got for now, let me know any questions.

We currently have a Bosch dishwasher, and the in-laws have had Bosch both in their old and new house. All three have been great. Low maintenance, clean really well, and easily the quietest dishwashers I've ever been around. You could be standing next to them and not know they're running.

It's not very common, but If I were doing my own custom build, adding a salamander over the range would be one of my top wishlist items.

custom built 6 years ago: Wolf dual fuel 48 in range w/ 6 burners and griddle, Subzero fridge with custom panel front w/o ice or water dispenser (don't like the look of door dispenser, plus they're messy), inexpensive Whirlpool freezer with icemaker (in walk-in pantry, just behind fridge), Ventahood (1200 cfm), Asko dishwasher (part of package, very quiet, open kitchen), inexpensive Sharp countertop microwave (decided against drawer microwave, too expensive for "just a microwave," and when it breaks, I have to replace with another expensive microwave), big green egg on patio, I don't drink coffee but a lot of friends have built in coffee makers. Wish I had plumbed in a pot-filler over my range cooktop. The best thing about our design is the large walk-in pantry---extra storage and counter space, 3rd sink (prep sink on island, larger farmhouse sink). We had to go with the large pantry because we don't have any upper cabinets in kitchen, lots of windows, hill country views.

Never get a Bosch dishwasher or Samsung fridge. I can tell you that much

Did a total house reno about a year ago. We went with Thermador for everything.