Having the right kitchen appliances for your kitchen remodel is crucial to making the space functional and easy to use. Before choosing appliances, you want to consider how high-end you would like to go. If you are a chef or a baker who plans to use the restaurant-quality features, then you will be able to justify the higher pricing.
Luckily, for homeowners who like the luxury of professional-grade appliances but aren’t in the market for professional-grade pricing, there is a wide range of mid-range and high-end models that may fit into your budget.
Before making any major appliance decisions, it is essential to work on the kitchen’s layout to ensure that you choose appliances that will fit in with the design flow.
We’ve put together some tips on choosing the right appliances while considering the design of your kitchen.
When buying a freestanding refrigerator/freezer, be sure to consider that most models will stick out about 6 or 7 inches beyond your countertops’ depth. If this is an issue for the look you are trying to achieve, you can purchase counter-depth models that will look like they are built-in. When choosing a refrigerator/freezer, two types of compressors that determine the quality of the unit:
You also need to determine the configuration that you want. You can choose from a French-door model with a refrigerator on top and a freezer section on the bottom of the unit. Some units may feature two side-by-side freezer drawers or a refrigerator drawer. A great but more expensive option would be to have a separate freezer and refrigerator. You will need to determine if you want a unit with water and ice in the door or if you want a water purification system.
While traditional ovens can get the job done, a popular option is the efficient convection oven to circulate heat faster and more evenly for easy cooking. If you are more of a baker, a traditional oven can bake, roast, and broil. You may decide to go big have both installed side-by-side for the ultimate cooking and baking station.
When choosing a cooktop, you will need to consider whether you want gas, induction, or electric. The most significant consideration you need to make is which one is the most efficient. With a gas cooktop, you lose about 40 percent of the heat from the burner to the pan whare as with induction heat, you lose the least amount of heat from burner to pan.
Induction heat is making a comeback in popularity and is a time-saver that can do things like boil water faster than even the highest performing gas cooktop. If you choose to shop for gas, you want to look at the British Thermal Units or BTUs. This is the energy content measurement with higher reforming ranges having 9,200 BTU or more. You also want to ask about the variable control, which will tell you how long you can maintain a simmer without losing the flame.
Once you’ve chosen the right cooktop, it’s essential to consider a ventilation system to remove exhaust from the kitchen. You can choose from exterior blowers or in-line blowers for ventilation. For example, if you have a four-range cooktop, be sure to choose a ventilation system that can perform at 400 cfms or better. These are available in a variety of designs and materials to suit your kitchen’s style.
Choosing a sink should be done while choosing cabinetry to ensure that there is a seamless fit. You also need to plan for an undermount style, where the sink will be installed before the countertops. You can purchase sinks in a variety of shapes, sizes, depths, and colors. Popular sink materials include:
Dishwashers have come a long way. There are now drawer dishwashers available that are easier to load. They can also be installed at different heights to suit your specific needs. They also work well for small loads. Traditional dishwashers are still popular and can be seamlessly blended in with your cabinetry.
Microwaves are helpful tools for reheating food and other kitchen tasks, but they can take up a decent amount of space no matter where you place them. If you’re going to sacrifice valuable counter space, you will want your microwave to do it all. You should consider a convection microwave that works like an oven, so you don’t have to purchase a double oven. You can save space with a microwave drawer that can be tucked in among your base cabinets.
While these are great for entertaining to keep appetizers or your main entrée warm, anyone can benefit from a warming drawer. You can use them to prepare your dishes in advance, keeping them warm so they can be served simultaneously. Your food will maintain moisture and stay warm rather than reheating them in the microwave and ending up with soggy food.
Once you’ve nailed down the types of appliances you want to outfit your kitchen with, you will need to determine which type of finish you want for your appliances. The standard finish for kitchen appliances is stainless steel. This material is rated by gauge with appliances ranging from 8 – 30-gauge steel. The higher the gauge of steel, the sleeker and shinier the steel surface will be. A higher gauge also means the steel is of higher quality meaning it will be more durable, easy to clean and maintain, and has a longer lifespan.
When it comes to Kitchen remodeling for Latrobe homeowners, you can rely on Kitchen & Bath Galleria. With our Inspired By You design process, we will work closely with you to create a deeply customized kitchen to perfectly suit the needs of you and your family. You can also check out our guide to kitchen remodeling for more helpful information.
Greg is the owner of Kitchen & Bath and has been providing designing and building services since 1986. With that much experience, he's become an expert in several types of home renovations.
