All about kitchen !!
I am going to remove all appliances & renovate my kitchen in 2-3 weeks. I want to make it the best I can. Please let me hear your experiences, adviced&recommendations etc for my questions below; -Refrigerate– side by side door vs top freezer, with ice cube maker vs without it?, any good function and brand?…
I am going to remove all appliances & renovate my kitchen in 2-3 weeks. I want to make it the best I can. Please let me hear your experiences, adviced&recommendations etc for my questions below;
-Refrigerate– side by side door vs top freezer, with ice cube maker vs without it?, any good function and brand?
-Kitchen Sink– ceramic vs stainless steel? double bowl vs single?
-Faucets– any good shape and brand?
-Kitchen vent– any good brand?
-Range & oven — is Viking range good? any good brand of range and oven? separate range and oven vs together?
-Laundry and dryer(not kitchen related)– which brand is resonable, energy saving and durable? Gas dryer vs electric? how to hook up dryer?
Thank you!!!
I would like to share my recent very unfortunate and ongoing experience with Drimmer’s. In June, we bought as part of a kitchen redo: a Gaggenau refrigerator ; its stainless steel doors ; a Bosch stove ; a Perla stove hood ; a GE Monogram microwave; and a Maytag washer dryer unit. The equipment was delivered in Aug. The total bill was over $11,000.
All the equipment except the stove and dryer turned out to be damaged or defective. The stove hood was dented, and the fan made a deafening noise. The refrigerator doors were dented. The trim on the microwave was peeling off. The washing machine wouldn’t run at all. The icemaker on the refrigerator didn’t work and the unit leaked onto the floor. We were told to call the manufacturers. Our contractor did so. He asked Drimmer’s to replace the stove hood, but they claimed the dent was his fault first, then gave him such a hard time he bought a new one himself. The only things Drimmer’s has replaced were the doors, but left the old ones in the hallway blocking the way. (Too big to dispose of ourselves.)
For the last month service people have come and gone for the refrigerator and washer, each claiming that a part is needed and promising to order it. Last night, my 8-year-old son opened the fridge door, and the 700-pound refrigerator fell on him. Miraculously, he was saved from being crushed only because the corner of the open door stopped the refrigerator from falling all the way.
We’ve called repeatedly. Our contractor even went so far as to go out to speak with Mr. Drimmer, the owner, and was told that “people buy Mercedes that don’t work. They call the company.â€
There are numerous companies involved in this shipment, and it seems an astonishing coincidence that all of them happened to sell us damaged or non-functioning equipment on the same day. We’ve called Gaggenau, which asks us why the distributor won’t replace the fridge. They’re sending someone on Sept. 30. Meanwhile, we will have to buy a substitute fridge.
I used S&W appliances in Williamsburgh and found them very helpful and with better prices than Drimmers. (I bought a thermador range and dishwasher from them.)
The best place for appliances is Drimmers on Coney Island Avenue. I use them personally and professionally.
The only appliance I own that I didn’t get there was a Staber washing machine. It’s not the swankest, but it is way more energy efficient than anything else out there and 100% user serviceable (if and when that day comes.
Thank you for the important info very much!!
All are so useful!!
Deeply appreciated!
My two cents:
-Refrigerate– I hate side by side, they’re useless for fitting anything into them. They’re being phased out of most appliance lines. It’s all about the bottom drawer freezer now.
-Kitchen Sink– I always want a huge single bowl for washing big pots. I have had both ceramic and steel. If you get steel splurge on the expensive heavy duty sink because the thinner steel will make the sink noisy as things hit the sides and bottoms in the sink.
-Faucets– I don’t believe appliances need to be pricey imports, I’m a big fan of the better models in the American brands, but one thing to definitely splurge on is a good faucet. For whatever reason, the mid-level brands are flimsy. We bought Franke, the one with the built-in filtered water option connected to the under counter filter.
-Kitchen vent– Our stove is next to the window so we didn’t vent to the outside, and I know it’s fine because our neighbors with vents get as much odor in their house from cooking as we do. But if your stove is not literally right next to a window you should vent to the outside. I’d pick one based on aesthetics and noise it makes, not brand.
-Range & oven — If you have the space which few Brooklyn kitchens too, it is better to have a counter top range and cabinet/wall mount pair of ovens. But it’s not worth giving up cabinet space for that, in a small kitchen. Look in any Brooklyn kitchen, the cabinets are packed full.
Gardenweb is excellent, if a bit overwhelming. The only caveat is that it’s a national board, so many people are not dealing with small kitchens and other issues specific to NYC.
Here’s a link I saved from one months-long, very detailed discussion titled “Best (kitchen) advice from this forum?”
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0720293613004.html
10:50, I think I’m getting a CS1601. I don’t actually have it yet, still another six weeks away from building the kitchen. I like the style, the height, altho I’m a little unsure about the long-term reliability of the door handles.
I bought from Appliance Center, 241 37th Street. My wife works next door, they met Drimmers’ price, and they seemed much more interested in our business.
Agree with cmu, especially re Sub-Zero. I don’t see where the extra money is in the appliance.
There are other good brands, I’d stay away from GE right now as they are getting out of the consumer appliance biz.
When you say the “best I can” hope you do not mean crappy over-priced stuff like Subzero and Viking, both of which are purely status symbols. Go for appliances that are good value and highly efficient. Don’t fall into the trap of buying stuff just because you can afford to.
That said, to answer some specifics:
Bottom freezer is somewhat more efficient. Side-by-side the worst. Icemakers are a waste of money. Buy the smallest fridge you need, not what you may need once or twice a year.
Gas dryer is twice as efficient as electric! Front load washer is much better, uses less water and is easier on clothes.
s/s sinks are noisier than ceramic but don’t chip. Otherwise it’s a wash. If you go s/s, get a heavy one.
Anything with more than 4 burners is a waste. A convection oven is useful if you bake a lot.
Vent the hood to the oustide.
I am momo, Thank you for your info and advice. I will check garden web,Liebherr, wolf! Thanks!
This is my first kitchen, I am so excited and nervous. I appriciate any kind of advice related to kitchen!! I have kitchen layout, 200 inch long, no island. No window in my kitchen, I need to have a kitchen vent for sure. I might be able to get ideal kitchen with my first one, but I want to try! Please give me any advices related to KITCHEN!!!
Thank you so much!!
momo