Completely off topic - Kitchen Appliance Forums

I used consumner reports and ended up with all kitchen aid architech, expensive but not in the range of the Thermador or Viking gear, and frequently ranked better by CR.

My wife and I have renovated our kitchen five years ago, and have just finished a more major renovation on our second floor. I also recently completed photographing (my profession) a book on kitchens for a major publisher. I can give you a few additional pointers to Kennyt's good advice:

If you start to consider the kitchen jewelry category: avoid Viking (consumer reports will reflect this as well, for the same reason). Though our Viking stove works great, We've had it for five years and had a repair person our twice already (warranty, but not encouraging). My folks also have Viking and have had numerous repairs, and in my recent kitchen shoot (19 kitchens), I heard nothing but similar reports about Viking (and there were many). One woman had to return her huge Viking fridge, not once, but twice, for problems that could not be repaired. This is on a brand new $5k+ fridge!

One item I'd be delighted to recommend is a Bosch diswasher. Quiet as a churchmouse and does a great job. Not a single problem in five years. On the job recently completed, the majority of dishwashers were either Bosch or Fisher Paykel (two drawers), which most folks were delighted with as well. Both are expensive though.

Other than that, I'd agree, check CR for more moderate and sensible choices. epinions has real-world reviews on many appliances (take those with a healthy dose of salt, as you would anything on the Internet).

Marco

Gotta second Marco on the Bosch dishwasher! We did a reno on our kitchen/dining room about three years ago, put in a Bosch and still am amazed at how quiet it is. It also has a stainless steel interior, which many do not. And best of all, it is real world priced.

If you are going for the professional kitchen approach, Viking looks good, but the consumer models have had some reliability "issues". Wolf ranges are a hardy alternative as are the Gagenau(sp?) from France. In the upmarket 'fridge department Subzero is far more reliable than Viking.

General Electric's Monogram series of appliances are getting some good press as well.

Best of luck in your project!!

The thyratron in your microwave is actually a tube. So your kitchen already has a tube system. Wow, ain't bein' an audiophile great?