It's springtime and the weather is finally warming up!
For many people spring also means it's time to focus on their homes - this is why home shows always pop up in March and April-, and that often means it's time to upgrade their kitchen.
This is where Manny's can help!
Whether you're buying a new home or planning a kitchen remodel, our sales professionals here at Manny's can help you sift through the many brands, styles, and prices of kitchen appliances and guide you to putting together the kitchen ensemble that is "right" for you.
Further down this blog I'm going to present two kitchen suites: one four piece set for the budget conscious, and another, more upscale, suite. Regardless of your budget, there are certain decisions you'll have to make in each category. I'll start by listing some of these choices:
Refrigeration
Let's start with the refrigerator, as this is the appliance that gives you as a consumer the most style and size choices. It's also the category that can have the most pitfalls, and requires your salesperson to ask you the most questions in order to ensure that the model you choose fits your needs (and also actually fits inside your home!)
Some of the questions your we'll be asking you include:
- What style would you like? (French door, single door bottom freezer, side-by-side, or top freezer.)
- How much width and height do you have to work with? (usually 30", 33", or 36" wide, and anywhere from 66" to 72" in height. If you're considering a full size refrigerator then make sure you plan on 69-70" high cabinets. Note: An amazing number of kitchens in New England (my own home included) were built with 68" cabinets - that one inch is crucial!
- What color would you like? (Stainless steel is still by far the most popular.)
- Full depth or counter depth? (Even if you have the space for a full size, contemporary style refrigerator, you might want to consider a shallower fridge that doesn't stick out into the kitchen as far.)
- Will the fridge fit through the front door? (Don't laugh! - today's full-sized fridges are, in the words of one of my customers, "Behemoths.")
Cooking
Excellent! Let's move on to the range. We'll have three big questions to narrow down the field:
- Gas or electric?
- Free standing or slide-in? (Slide-in ranges have a backless, more upscale looking style., They are also generally $300-$700 pricier.)
- Width of the space? Stoves are normally built to slide into a 30" opening. Wider (as well as narrower) options are available, but these odd-ball widths are found in a very small percentage of kitchens.
Now, I have found that once the fridge and/or the stove is picked out, the remaining pieces usually fall into place quickly.
Ventilation
Two choices here: traditional vent hoods, and over-the-range microwaves which double as an exhaust hood and replace the traditional range hood.
If you're considering a hood, you'll find an amazing range of prices depending on the style (under-cabinet or chimney style), power (measured in CFM, or cubic feet per minute), lighting, and "fit and finish".
An over the range microwave/hood is a very popular option, especially in smaller kitchens as mounting the micro above the stove frees up precious counter space. Normally, but not always, our customers purchase a microhood from a brand that matches the rest of their kitchen appliances, especially the range (this keeps aesthetic features such as handles, fonts, and grade of stainless consistent.)
And last but not least...the dishwasher!
Dishwashers are universally 24" wide, with only a couple of 18" wide exceptions. As with a rangehood, pricing can vary widely.
More $$ gets you:
- Additional noise reduction (measured in decibels, or dba).
- Heavier racks, including a third rack option.
- More rack flexibility
- Better filters for better cleaning
You might be wondering at this point: Do all the appliances have to be the same brand? The simple answer: "No, they don't!" And while this is true, I have noticed over the years that most kitchens we sell do tend to be "branded." There are two strong benefits to this:
- The finishes, handles, and fonts will all match.
- REBATE MONEY COMES INTO PLAY - see below!
So, onto the kitchen suites themselves. I'll start with a basic but fully functional kitchen that we can sell you for under $2000!!
- Refrigerator: an 18 cubic foot top-freezer model, built for smaller kitchens or condos:
- Stove: an electric smooth top range with a large oven and different burner sizes on the top.
- Vent: a matching over-the-range microvent
- Dishwasher: an Energy Star rated, 24" wide, basic but decent model.
Looking for a more, for lack of a better word, upscale kitchen? Here's a good example:
- Refrigerator: a 28 cubic foot French Door refrigerator with an external ice-and-water dispenser and second internal icemaker
- Stove: a 30" wide slide-in, electric induction range (Note: not sure what induction ranges can do? Let me refer you to my blog entry from 10-29-24 titled "Why aren't you buying an induction range??")
- Vent: a matching over-range microwave with a sleeker, more modern front along with a stronger exhaust fan.
- Dishwasher: a 24" wide, extra quiet, three rack unit.
On this particular four-piece kitchen, Manny's can add a $400 rebate - in addition to the sale price!! Various rebate programs will also apply to most purchases of two or more pieces in many different brands- (please note that the appliances have to be the same brand for these "suite" rebates to kick in).
I feel "obligated " to point out that this four-piece suite rebate is NOT available at the so-called Big Box stores! I often call this the "Thank you for buying local" rebate when working with my customers.
Manny's professional sales staff can help put together a kitchen package with you, and will inform you of any rebates that apply to your purchases.
The two examples above are both very typical kitchen suites, similar to many kitchens that we have sold over the years. Of course, every kitchen is different, and everyone's taste is different.
Perhaps you are dealing with, or considering, a less common kitchen layout? If that's the case - reach out to us!
Many of our salespeople have literally decades of experience. Chances are they've encountered many unusual and unique setups; you might find their expertise invaluable!
If you have any questions, you can email me here, or - even better - you can also speak with a salesperson at any of our twelve (welcome to the family, Pittsfield!) locations, or - even better still!!- stop in and visit one of our showrooms.
One final thought. If you are about to embark on a remodel, relax and enjoy the process! Pitfalls and stumbling blocks inevitably happen to almost every project. If an issue with the appliance portion of your kitchen arises, let us know; we will help you solve the problem!