Which brand should I buy?

[pwhite8314]

So I’m in the process of building my own house, which means a new kitchen with all-new appliances, as we sold our last lot with the old house. I suspect there’s not a catch-all brand that will work for all the bits (washing, refridgeration, cooking etc), but I’d welcome some advice. Here’s my short(ish) list, based purely on looks, functionality, and general brand reputation.

Hob
Gas hobs only…
Smeg – the best looking for a contemporary kitchen
Neff – though I’n far from convinced about this brand, buth others in the know seem to rate them highly.
Siemens – classic German looks
Fisher/Paykel – again, good looking but simple hobs

Oven
My preference is strongly for a gas oven, but that limits my choice a bit too much…
Smeg – for the same reason
Baumatic – Not sure about the brand, but nice feature set
Siemens – same reason

range
Although we’re likely to go for hob/cooker, the Range option isn’t ruled out yet.
Mercury – bullet-proof range, but a tad pricey!
Smeg – I hate the fiddly knobs though

Dishwasher
Fisher/Paykel – Any views on the 2 drawer version?
Smeg, again.
AEG/Bosche – Aren’t these the same thing? Certainly look identical

Fridge
This is a difficult choice; I like the idea of having the ice machine, but don’t really like the big US fridges; might still go for one though.
Smeg – mostly for the retro fridges
Maytag – Default choice for US-style?
Bosch – I’ve always gone for Bosche fridges/freezers, and never regretted it. My last one was a 50’s style retro fridge in Vanilla, and it was wonderful (but not big enough).

Washing machine
Don’t say Meile to me! Until they employ a designer that’s not living in the 80’s, I just can’t consider them, no matter how well they’re built.
Gorenge – I’d never heard of them until I saw an add in a hotel magazine, but interesting features
Dyson – I suspect nobody will agree with this one?
Bosch – for the build quality.

I think that covers everything! As you can hopefully see, I’m sort of going for fairly modern, high-quality appliances, but rather tha just going on looks alone, I’d really like to hear what the real views are on the quality of these things.

Maybe I should have split this into a few posts?

Anyway, thanks in advance

Pete

[gegsy]

Re: Which brand should I buy?

Hob
Gas hobs only…

Neff – though I’n far from convinced about this brand, buth others in the know seem to rate them highly.
Siemens – classic German looks
Fisher/Paykel – again, good looking but simple hobs

Oven
My preference is strongly for a gas oven, but that limits my choice a bit too much…

Siemens – same reason

range
Although we’re likely to go for hob/cooker, the Range option isn’t ruled out yet.
Mercury – bullet-proof range, but a tad pricey!
Leisure – Rangemaster

Dishwasher
Fisher/Paykel – Any views on the 2 drawer version?

Bosch

Fridge
This is a difficult choice; I like the idea of having the ice machine, but don’t really like the big US fridges; might still go for one though.

Maytag – Default choice for US-style?

Washing machine
Don’t say Meile to me! Until they employ a designer that’s not living in the 80’s, I just can’t consider them, no matter how well they’re built.
MIELE – Who cxares about looks, you tellin me you gonna watch it all cycle Dyson – I suspect nobody will agree with this one? You are kidding right ??
Bosch – for the build quality.

Greg

[clyde]

Re: Which brand should I buy?

pwhite8314 wrote:
Washing machine
Don’t say Meile to me! Until they employ a designer that’s not living in the 80’s, I just can’t consider them, no matter how well they’re built.
Pete

If your bothered about the looks
Check out miele’s intergrated stuff http://www.miele.co.uk/

Clyde 8)

[admin]

Re: Which brand should I buy?

I’m happy with all my Neff stuff which I had put in with my new kitchen two years ago. Especially my fridge which is very spacious. Everything is integrated (give me clean wooden lines over looking at applainces any day) except my Bosch washing machine which is hidden in a cupboard in the hallway. I don’t agree with the superior engineering on it, bits keep falling off. I don’t think it washes delicates that well either.

Nice review on Miele washing machine build quality at
http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/

And on the Miele thing.. I saw in the kitchen shop last week that they have this really nice built-in Nespresso coffe maker that I saw in the kitchen shop..time for a refit.. ? LOL

[pwhite8314]

Re: Which brand should I buy?

I’ve read the washerhelp site and it is a very good write up, which makes the ugly styling all the more annoying, as Miele would be the natural choice otherwise.

The problem I have with Neff is that my In-Laws (where we’re living whilst we build a new house) have all Neff which is also a couple of years old.

The hob is really annoying – though I’d be interested to know if you think this is an installation error – when you light it (turn the knob and push down), unless you keep it pushed down for about 10 seconds, the hob goes out again. A minor detail, but it’s these things that count. The Microwave has gone wrong twice in 2 years. The dishwasher is AEG, and other than a hunger for salt is far better than our old one (a crappy Ariston).

[Martin]

Re: Which brand should I buy?

pwhite8314 wrote:– though I’d be interested to know if you think this is an installation error – when you light it (turn the knob and push down), unless you keep it pushed down for about 10 seconds, the hob goes out again.

Not a fault as it uses a ‘Thermocouple device’ that needs heat applied to it in order to operate. The benefit safety feature of such a device means that should the flame be extinguised for whatever reason, the gas supply will be shut off within a few seconds of that happening 😀

Martin

[pwhite8314]

So that’s a good thing then, but having to stand there trying to peek under a pan to see if the hob is lit isn’t great. Do some of the better models have an auto ignition that just keeps sparking until the thermocouple is happy?

[Martin]

pwhite8314 wrote:Do some of the better models have an auto ignition that just keeps sparking until the thermocouple is happy?

Not that I’m aware of, no. 🙁

I much prefer the ones without thermocouple devices that one simply turns on the gas then hits the spark generator button. Most of the current range of hobs use this method, it doesn’t have that safety factor yours has though but solves the problem you mentioned.

Martin

[admin]

Re: Which brand should I buy?

The ignition thing on the cooker can be a little bit annoying and I am glad that it’s come up as when I have complained about it, my hubby has said it’s clearly user error ..he really ought to try things out himself sometimes 😆

Glad to hear it’s a safety reason, i am paranoid about fire/gas.

I haven’t really noticed hassle having to peer beneath pans as I tend to light it, and my flames do sometimes go out (if i have my extractor at top power) – maybe it’s to do with height and angle. Or patience levels (see above re my husband’s comments on user error 😆 )

When we moved into our flat we couldn’t afford to do the kitchen for a couple of years so lived with the Neff stuff that had been here for 15 years and it all worked fine and didn’t have to get any repairs done. But after we got all new stuff even with adding another appliance that we use every day (a dishwasher) our electricity bills have halved so the new stuff is obviously more energy efficient.

Re the Miele issue. Does it really matter what it looks like? Does anyone want to look at a washing machine even if it’s better looking than the Miele? Why not just integrated or put it in a cupboard. My washing machine is accessed via a cupboard in the hallway but it’s actually part of the kitchen in that it’s backed into the corner unit of the kitchen to use that space. (luckily i have a lovely friend who is an architect who designed everything nicely)

[admin]

Re: Which brand should I buy?

Just to clarify that I was the person who was guest higher up saying I had my new Neff appliances put in two years ago (forgot to put my name in)

[Author]

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