TOP 5 TIPS FOR SELECTING APPLIANCES

One of the biggest decisions you make when building a new home or renovating your kitchen is the appliances.  These are items you’ll likely use everyday and should be carefully selected.  A ton of factors go into the model selection but here’s our top 5 things to consider and research prior to purchasing your appliance package:

1/ Budget.  Every project has a budget no matter how big or small and appliances have a massive range in cost.  Things like brand name, aesthetics, advanced technology, and size play a huge role in how much you’ll be spending.  I always recommend visiting an appliance showroom VERY early on in your project.  Seeing the models in person is the only way you’ll get a true feel for aesthetics and size or function.  The website images just don’t portray scale and colours well enough to make a decision from online research.  You may fall in love with a specific statement range or decide you’d like an extra large fridge, etc. Knowing this from the very beginning will allow you to work those features into the construction budget from the beginning and avoid any surprises or sticker shock. 

2/ Reliability and Warranty.  As with most things during the construction process, warranty is a big factor to consider.  The warranty details can be different from supplier to supplier, and you want to make sure you’re covered for a period of time you’re comfortable with to potentially save significant costs down the road.  Similar to that, do your research and read customer reviews.  If there are a good number of bad reviews, take that seriously and possibly look into other options.  Always consult with your appliance salesperson as well on brand reputations.  Appliances are always getting upgraded and one year a certain brand may have a very good quality range and the next it could be not so great.  It’s always changing and it’s smart to not have brand loyalty with appliances and have an open mind.

3/ Size and Space.  Make sure the size of your appliances makes sense scale wise in relation to the overall space.  If you have a large kitchen, a 30” range may look small and therefore cheap in the space.  Working alongside a cabinet designer and/or an interior designer to help guide you on the appropriate size is always recommended.  Being able to see the size differences in drawings or renderings is also extremely helpful if you have trouble visualizing.  Another thing that gets overlooked a lot is access to the space and making sure your door openings, stairways, etc. are large enough to fit the appliances through during delivery.  Pay extra attention if you’re in a condo or apartment building as there are usually tighter corners in hallways, etc.

4/ Functionality.  Think about the features and functions that are the most important to you.  If you’re cooking for a family or like to bake a lot, a convection oven or dual fuel range may be something you want to prioritize.  A counter depth fridge may be a must for you but due to the loss of depth, you make want to upgrade from a 30” to 36” fridge or up to a 42”.  Also think about your microwave location.  Do you want a drawer microwave that’s lower down or built in microwave or microwave oven?  There’s also a lot of smart technology being introduced to various appliances. Is that something you think you’ll use and want to prioritize? Again, always do your research and read as many customer reviews as you can to make sure the features being marketed are reliable long term.

5/ Style and Aesthetics.  Think about the overall style of your space and select appliances that compliment the overall design.  Another great option to consider is integrated or paneled appliances.  This is something I always recommend when thinking about your fridge and dishwasher.  Eliminating the visual block of stainless steel almost always makes a kitchen feel larger.  Continuing the look of your cabinets over the appliances keeps your eye moving across the room and makes sure the space doesn’t feel too ‘busy’.  Of course, that’s completely personal preference and some people love the look of stainless steel.  Always do what makes sense for you and your style.  The same goes for hood fans.  You can get a freestanding stainless steel hood fan or you could opt for an under cabinet fan insert and do a millwork feature over your range.

At the end of the day, there’s tons of options in all aesthetics and budgets.  Have fun shopping and stay true to your lifestyle and function needs.

Here’s some of our favourite kitchen design inspiration with appliance packages that work so well:

This sleek kitchen has integrated appliances to keep a minimal and modern look while adding interest with the wine cabinet feature.

This kitchen is the perfect combination of modern, traditional, sleek and detailed. The gorgeous statement range paired with the minimal curved hoodfan feature is stunning and the perfect balance.

This kitchen is another great example of an integrated/paneled fridge but also has hits of stainless steel with the wall oven and built in espresso machine.

Another great example of wall ovens, this time paired with a cooktop and using a black finish on the wall ovens to seamlessly tie into the dark cabinetry. Using stainless steel in this application would've really drawn the eye directly to those wall ovens, causing a bit of a distraction from the clean overall aesthetic.

I hope these tips help you feel more confident walking into an appliance showroom. Happy Shopping!!

*all images are from pinterest