Crown Heights Reno: appliances
March 25, 2007
good morning, mr. phelps...
one of the next big hurdles is appliances.
the reality is that 25 years ago i moved into a loft that had formerly belonged to a caterer. the focal point of the kitchen was a 10 burner commercial garland range with 2 ovens, no salamander, no broiler, a hood that wasn't hooked up and it was a bitch to clean.
the double porcelain sink had come off the street and when i left, the original kitchenaid dishwasher was still running. the only appliance that i replaced was a glass doored restaurant refrigerator and my criteria at that point in time for a new one was to get the largest freezer i could find (i was a photographer and i kept my color paper & film, yes film, in the freezer.)
i cook a lot and i was perfectly happy with this setup...
but now i am agonizing over every appliance
and this confuses me far more than tile.
i am not, at ♥ , a consumer
so,
your mission,
should you choose to accept,
is to weigh in on the previous 4 posts
with any feelings/experiences/wisdom you care to share:
stoves/ovens
refrigerators
laundry
fixtures
what's cookin'
the stove
i suppose it makes sense that the stove and the oven constitute by far my biggest dilemma...
background
since this is a 2 family, the house will have 2 kitchens,
the main kitchen on the parlor floor with a smaller one on the ground floor.
i cook a lot but mostly stove top
i do not make a large amount of roast meats
i have been known to do thanksgiving for 14
i don't bake that often now, but bread making is is an eventual goal
i don't microwave
i do (finally) want a broiler
main kitchen:
i definitely want 6 burners
i can either do a complete stove or a separate cook top & oven
since i will have an additional oven downstairs, i am only putting one in this kitchen
2nd kitchen:
there is an existing gas stove that, if it proves to be functional, i will keep
otherwise i will need to purchase a separate (inexpensive & small) cook top and a 2nd oven
questions
any feelings on separate vs. combined when it comes to the stove/oven?
what are the things you love/hate about your own set-up?
or
what would you do differently if you were starting from scratch?
brands:
i have been looking at the thermadors...
but what about viking or ge or ... ?
ovens:
gas vs electric?
what about dual?
is it the 21st century and i should have convection?
bonus question:
does anyone else covet the cobalt blue enameled interior of the wolf ovens?
lg has this with their complete stove, but it's only 4 burners
i know i am going to have at least one ridiculous splurge, and it will most likely be color related, but considering how often i really use the oven, even i am having a hard time going top of the line solely because of an interior finish
(nb. i did however go one model up on my trek (to get a purple fade) because i felt a red bike just wasn't "me". that was 15 years ago, i still have the bike and have replaced the fork with one that is a completely different color but i've never regretted that decision)
keepin' it chilled
the refrigerator
no, i am not actually going for one of these,
(tho i won't say i wasn't tempted)
i just happen to be a sucker for anything pink & green
background:
i honestly loved the first refrigerator i bought
but it broke on a late summer weekend
and i had a freezer full of freshly frozen soups & sauces;
my winter's supply of summer bounty.
i panicked and bought blindly:
something that was too small, badly laid out, not adequately customizable
and i can honestly say
that i every time i opened the door of that new fridge,
i felt a little stab in my heart, i hated it that much
requirements:
30": so we are talking top freezer, no double doors
maximum fresh food storage (as i'll have extra freezer space in the downstairs fridge)
i was thinking the lg...
i guess reliability is the big issue here...
(there seem to be so many subzero service traumas)
share your cold storage stories here...
fluff 'n fold
laundry
background:
i admit it, i am spoiled in this area
and i am so over the laundromat
2 more appliances that i haven't had to buy in eons...
so some of the finer improvements are probably lost on me
requirements
water/energy efficient
front loading for both washer & dryer (we will be using them side by side)
durable
large load
i put EVERYTHING in the washer
i use lots of garment bags
wash in cold water
and hang stuff up
i need a delicate cycle but i am not a nut about this
i want something that will last and that i don't feel too terrible about running
as far as drying goes...
again efficiency is more important than a myriad of cycles that i will never use