Appliances
Appliances are a big element of a kitchen renovation and one that many people agonize over. The sizing of most appliances is standardized but variations do exist especially once we start getting into the higher end options. I often recommend that clients choose appliances early on in the process as they anchor the cabinetry layout. These days there are so many options, whether you want standard, high-end or commercial styles, so it can take a bit of time to figure out what makes and models you prefer.
Let’s start with Refrigerators.
Some of the features to consider in a fridge are:
Free standing, built-in or integrated versions.
Free standing fridges start with two main options:
Counter depth = the fridge box is the same depth as your countertop before the doors (usually 24”) vs
Standard Depth = the fridge box is deeper than your countertop (usually 30” deep plus the door thickness)
Built-in versions are the mid-point between a standard and integrated option – they basically look built into your cabinetry, but the doors still stick past the countertop depth.
Integrated versions cost the most and are flush to the adjacent cabinetry and do the best job of camouflaging when panel ready versions are chosen.
Exterior finish/colour - white, black, stainless steel, panel-ready
Door style – single/side-by-side/French Doors/freezer underneath or above
Ice/Water – internal or external, or none
Interior configuration – shelves, crisper drawers
What exactly does “panel ready” means?
Panel ready means that the appliance comes without a finished front on it, and it can be clad in a custom panel, either to match the cabinetry doors or even a panel painted with chalkboard paint. Your cabinetry supplier/installer or contractor will usually charge a little bit extra for them as they can be challenging to get installed correctly. It can be an effective design detail especially in a small space.
appliances hidden by panels and chalkboard paint
Fridge and freezer hidden by panels with chalkboard paint
Ranges
Some of the features to consider are:
Fuel type: Electric, Gas, Induction
Number of burners: standard is four burners on your cooktop. Sometimes you can squeeze five of them into a 30” wide range. Once you get into wanting five or six, you get into a 36” wide overall.
Slide-in vs free-standing style.
Single or double oven or warming drawer option in it.
What kind of heat:
Conventional (heat is stationary)
Convection (heat is blown around by fans = more consistent heat)
Dual-fuel: gas powered on cooktop, electric powered convection in the oven
Cooktops & Wall Ovens
Splitting up a range into two or more components will cost more in the end and take up a little more space in your kitchen but can provide customized functionality if you have the real estate to spare.
Cooktops
Options also come in electric, gas or induction.
Various numbers of burners
Higher end offerings can come in modules – burners, grills, griddles, teppanyaki grills, steamers, fryers.
Range from 15” to 36” or wider.
Wall ovens
Come in various sizes – mine is a European brand at 24” wide but a North American standard is 30”.
Various fuels: conventional or convection.
Steam options
Single or double options, or more, banked in a row.
High-end brands also have the ability to mix and match regular ovens with steam ovens or warming drawers and even espresso machine in a series or bank of appliances.
Island cooktop with downdraft fan
Dishwashers
Some of the features to consider are:
Number and rack configuration – some of the higher end brands have a 3rd rack just for cutlery.
Location of controls – front, top, inside
Panel ready, exterior colour/finish (most common are black, white, stainless steel).
Dishwasher drawer style vs conventional (flip down). Sometimes they are combined.
Hood Fans
Traditional style fans are typically triangular shaped, protrude away from the cabinetry and have an upper unit above. They have a light, and the fan speed can be adjusted.
Built-in hoods are integrated into the upper cabinetry, so you don’t really see them at all. Chimney, wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted options are often used as a design element.
Downdraft fans are a great option for cooktops in islands or peninsulas to avoid having a ceiling mounted fan obstructing sight lines. They pop up out of the countertop, James Bond style, and vents down through the floor and out of the house. They tend to get a bit of a bad rap for not quite as effective extraction of steam and smells. In this case you really do get what you pay for, so you want to make sure you choose a really good quality brand.
The main considerations regardless of what option you consider are:
Vented or self-circulating - most building codes require direct venting but if you can’t, self-circulating has charcoal filters that you need to change out every now and then that absorb the moisture and cooking smells.
The blower CFMs (cubic feet per minute) that the fan is extracting. The higher the CFMs, the better the fan. A word of warning: sometimes you have high CFMs but it makes a lot of noise, so again, you get what you pay for.
Microwave & Hood Fan Combos
I’m going to go on a little rant about the microwave/hood fan combos that you see a lot in condos. Typically asking this one appliance to do two things doesn’t work out very well. If you are in a condo, and you have the space, I would highly recommend that you choose two separate things and not try to do the combo deal.
We’ve gone through the major appliances here. There are microwaves, and counter-top appliances, and a few other specialized things, but I think we’ll just touch on these key ones for today. I know that with all the options, making a decision may feel overwhelming but as always refer to your foundational work and parameters for the kitchen renovation plan so you don’t end up drinking the Kool-Aid in the showroom and get all starry-eyed about all these different options that the salesperson might be showing you.
What are your needs?
Do you do a lot of cooking and baking from scratch? Perhaps double ovens and a larger fridge or separate fridge and freezer would make your life easier.
What is your budget?
If I know in advance that a client may look to upgrade at some point, we discuss what option that may be and try to future proof by allowing for the opening size of the future version and infill with panels or fillers as needed for the more budget friendly option now.
Another note on budget is that most appliance stores have showroom models, scratch and dent options or clearance centres, and sometimes you can find great deals by checking these options out.
Specific brands and stores often have promotions that you can take advantage of as well so it pays to start looking around early on and be on the lookout for them. Christmas time and Boxing Day sales are a good time to shop around.
Do Your Research
Regardless of what appliances you buy, Measure! Measure! Measure! Make sure it fits through your doors and other access points into the house/space.
Investigate each appliance that you are considering – what’s its rating? What do the reviews say? There’s NO point in buying a lemon just because it looks pretty.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match from different brands – especially if you are considering panel ready versions. Not every appliance from a particular brand has great performance and even if the stainless steel looks lightly different from one appliance to another, I’d still go with a more reliable option in a different brand
As far as smart technology integration goes for appliances, I’m not convinced it adds much value to my life. However, many appliances do have options for it.
My final thoughts on appliances are:
Don’t be tempted by gimmicks.
Go for well established brands.
For more information, check out our podcast All Things Renovation at www.AllThingsRenovation.com . The second series of episodes focuses on kitchen renovations.