We are building a new home. I am putting most of the budget into the Kitchen and Master bath… We just poured and will start framing Monday. Soooo Excited! We are General Contractors. I would like some opinions on my appliance choices before I get too far into framing.
48″ DCS Gas Range 6 buners and a griddle
48″ DCS Stainless hood vent
48″ GE Monogram refer (integrated)
Fisher Pakel Dish Drawers (intergrated)
Built in Sharp R90 with Trim kit
U-line 15″ clear ice maker (integrated into Island)
U-line 15″ beverage center ( integrated into island)
ISE 7000 Disposal with air botton on counter
Any comments on these would really be appreciated!
I am new here and we are building a Horse Ranch in Cal. I am looking forward to spending time here and getting feed back along the building process!
Thank You all for your time.
Replies
hi
being your own gc is a very tough task !! Do you have any exsperince in this feild ??All i do is kitchen remodels and small additions owner gcs are the worst no offense maily because everyone doesnt properly inform them or they specify exaclty what they need want or when it should be on site . the appliances are very important not to mention the cost of them !! The exact loctaions for the ref water connections all related electric info and so on . what type counters what type sink , faucet , any filter systems for the water,instant hot etc . Kitchen lighting wow theres a big one lol,are you aware of all the diffrent types , functions and styles ( go to the american lighting institiute wb site )LOTS OF DETAILS IN KITCHENS !! GOOD LUCK
You are wise to be making selections early. They greatly affect rough in of wiring, piping, water, and so forth, both in capacity and location.
I'm not familiar with much of what you listed, but I will say I can't see spending big money on a garbage disposal. The standard mid range hardware store disposals work thoroughly well. For your wall switch ask the electrician for an industrial grade 20 amp switch instead of the 79 cent 15 amp bargin switch. It will last longer. To put money in a fancy disposal is just throwing money . . . well, you can guess the metaphor.
You may also want to select hardware for your cabinet doors which latch, so you don't loose the contents in a tremor.
I agree about not spending too much on the waste disposal - especially if you have a septic system, because you are only likely to use it for small amounts of sludge. I have 2 waste disposals (2 separate sink areas) and one of them has a switch right behind the panel infront of the sink where builders usually put a little tilt-out tray. I'm only 5'1" so I really appreciate not having to reach over the sink to turn on the waste disposal.
Also, I'm not familiar with the dish-drawers, but I know they cost a fortune. I got a Bosch that you can use just the top half if desired. I love my Bosch - the flip up & down racks, 2-tier cup & glass racks, and sanitizer that does not use dry heat (never melts plastic, I even throw styrofoam cups in there!) Best of all, it uses very small amount of detergent & is almost silent operating, and cost is only slightly more than an average Kenmore/Whirlpool.
I put one of my sinks right next to the range - if you have 36" or more range top, there is plenty of room for the pots. I wouldn't waste money on a "pot filler" useless trend - you can use the spray from a good faucet on the sink. If the sink is next to the range, you can drain cooked stuff more easily and safely, which is more necessary than convenient filling with cold water anyhow. I did not install a panel at the bottom of my range - I like the appearance of the legs, and can easily sweep under there. I got a Dynasty 36" range, with a wok-burner and convection oven - I think these are made somewhere in California - you might check those out.
What are you going to put in the bathroom?
You may want to check the assorted kitchen appliance argume...ah, discussions on Cooks' Talk over on the Fine Cooking side of the house.
Discussions even progress to vacuum cleaners.
Unfortunately, Stupendous Man's cape is caught in mild-mannered Calvin's zipper! Curses! Calvin
You need to get a real kitchen designer on the kitchen, and stop looking at just the hardware....A 48" range is ok in a smaller kitchen , but if you have the room, a seperate oven bank and a rangetop/cook top will serve you much better.
I agree on kitchen designer.
I strongly recommend consulting back issues of fine homebuilding, especially the K&B issues. Also the Drawing Board articles by Sarah Susanka(?) Good articleS on island sizes AND "INFORMAL DINING" AREAS (E.G. BENCH SEATING, ETC. Also see her not too big house books..really nice.
On to your choices:
48" DCS Gas Range 6 buners and a griddledUNFAMILIAR WITH DCS..WE'RE LOOKING AT DACOR FOR ANOTHER HOUSE. REALLY LIKE OUR GARLAND BUT IT'S NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. STAY AWAY FROM THERMADOR; BOTH MOM AND MOTHER-IN-LAW HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIRS.. WE LIKE OUR DACOR WALL OVEN.
48" DCS Stainless hood ventCONSIDER WIDER..SEE fhb ARTICLE
48" GE Monogram refer (integrated)WE LOVE OUR SUBZERO
Fisher Pakel Dish Drawers (intergrated)WE HAVE A MIELE AND A KITCHEN AID. LIKE THE KA BETTER. ALSO CONSIDER THE RACKS THAT COME WITH IT. THE RACKS ON THE MIELE DO NOT HAVE A VERY USEFUL CONFIGURATION. MAKE SURE THE dw HAS AN "AIR GAP" IF NEEDED..SEE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
Built in Sharp R90 with Trim kitMICRO? MY MOM HAS ONE BUT I DON'T CARE FOR THE TRIM KIT..LOOKS A LITTLE CHEESY
U-line 15" clear ice maker (integrated into Island)
U-line 15" beverage center ( integrated into island)
ISE 7000 Disposal with air botton on counter
HOW ABOUT CABINETS? I STILL THINK KENNEBEC TAKES THE PRIZE (HIGH PRICE AND LONG WAIT BUT VERY NICE). REMEMBER AT LEAST ONE DOUBLE TRASH BIN..ONE CAN FOR TRASH, ONE FOR RECYCLING. CORNER CABINETS..WE HAVE ONE LAZY SUSAN AND ONE WITH STATIONARY SHELVES AND A "FOLDING" DOOR. THE ONE WITH THE SHELVES ACCOMMODATES ALOT MORE. IF YOU HAVE UNDERCABINET LIGHTING REMEMBER 2 THINGS: YOU NEED A "LIGHT BAR" SO YOU DO NOT SEE THE LIGHTS (HALOGEN HOCKEY PUCKS ARE VERY NICE) ; HOWEVER, WILL MY KITCHEN AID FIT UNDER IT?
GRANITE COUNTERTOPS? LIKE OURS ALOT.
FLOORING..WE HAVE QUARRY TILE OVER SLAB..NICE BUT ROUGH ON THE BACK AFTER A DAY OF COOKING. WE WILL PROBABLY DO WOOD IN OUR NEW REMODEL. NEED THAT "GIVE" IN THE FLOOR.
FAUCETS? SINKS? IF YOU ARE DOING GRANITE AND SS SINKS, UNDERMOUNT IS THE WAY. ALSO, ON OURS THE GRANITE OPENING IS A BIT SMALLER THAN THE SINK, SO YOU DO NOT SEE THE EDGE OF THE SINK..ON OTHERS WHERE THE OPENING IS A BIT LARGER, YOU SEE THE "LIP" OF THE SINK AND i DON'T THINK IT LOOKS AS NICE. BOTH OF OUR SINKS (WE HAVE 2) HAVE A BIG BOWL AND A SMALL SIDE BOWL. ON ONE THE SIDE BOWL IS ALMOST TOO SMALL TO BE USEFUL. I WOULD STRAY AWAY FROM THE DOUBLES AND GET A NICE BIG ONE..TWO SEPARATE BIG BOWLS IS VERY NICE IF THERE ARE 2 COOKS IN THE HOUSE (LIKE US)..2 DW'S TOO IF YOU ENTERTAIN.
DO YOU HAVE LOTS OF COUNTER SPACE FOR ALLYOUR TOYS? WE LEAVE OUT OUR KITCHEN AID MIXER, CUISINART, BLENDER, JUICER..THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE USED THIS WAY II THINK.
WE USED TO HAVE A "GARDEN WINDOW" IN FRONT OF OUR SINK..THE ORCHIDS DID REALLY WELL THERE..IT WAS VERY NICE BUT HAD TO GO ON THE REMODEL.
HAVE FUN..
jOHNNY