Tips for Choosing Kitchen Appliances

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 | Custom Home Construction, General Contractors, Green Building, Home Remodeling

One of the most exciting rooms to customize when having your new home built is the kitchen. And no kitchen design is complete without the right appliances. Key factors in the selection of your new appliances include price, method and frequency of use, as well as the look and feel of the pieces.

Budgeting for the Right Appliances

Kitchen appliances typically account for about nine percent of the budget when building a new home. Therefore, the life expectancy of each of your new appliances should be a long one. Plus, whether or not your new house is a HealthyBuilt green home, you may want to consider installing EnergyStar appliances which may cost more upfront, but will save money on energy bills over time.

Use of Your Kitchen Appliances

Refrigerators can eat up the biggest chunk of your appliance budget, so choosing the right one for your home and family is vital. Some internal features to consider are shelving depth and space, Twin Cooling technology, gallon door door bins and water filters. While the external look, feel and dimensions of each piece are vital to maintaining design harmony in your kitchen, first considering your family’s cooking style and eating habits will help determine which one is right for you.

Talk to your family and make a note of how you typically use your stovetop and oven to help select the right ones for your new kitchen. Some cooks are loyal fans of gas ranges, while others prefer the sleek look of modern electric stovetops. While the overall look and feel of your kitchen appliances is important, performance and preference take the lead in selection.

The kitchen sink is becoming an increasingly popular site for putting your design eye to good use. Attractive hardware, under-counter mounts, different color options, shapes and materials all allow you to express your inner kitchen designer.

Your new kitchen appliances each serve a unique purpose, but by working with your builder, each one can be integrated into the design of your new kitchen to create an inviting space for both cooking and gathering.

Share and Enjoy: