Choosing kitchen appliances for a custom home build sounds like it should be one of the more straightforward parts of the process. How hard can picking a fridge and a stove really be? As it turns out, once you start factoring in brand comparisons, availability issues, sizing requirements, and a budget that seems to grow with every showroom visit, this decision becomes a genuinely significant part of the overall home building journey.
We recently went through this entire process ourselves while building our custom home, and we wanted to walk through our full experience, including which brands we considered, what ultimately swayed our decisions, and a few surprises we ran into along the way. If you are currently in the middle of your own appliance search and feeling a bit overwhelmed, we hope our story helps bring some clarity to the process. Let us walk you through it. 🧑🍳✨
Where We Started Our Research 🔍
Like most homeowners going through a custom build, we did not walk into this process with a clear plan already in place. We knew we needed appliances, obviously, but we had not yet decided on a brand, budget, or even a general style direction.
🏬 We visited a couple of different kitchen appliance showrooms in our area 🔍 At those showrooms, we browsed through several well known luxury brands, including Subzero, Thermador, KitchenAid, Monogram, JennAir, and Cafe Appliances 💰 We genuinely had not planned on spending as much as we ultimately did, we simply knew we needed a properly sized range for our kitchen layout 📏 Our kitchen runs approximately nineteen feet in length, which meant a standard thirty inch range would have looked disproportionately small within the space
That last point ended up being the single biggest factor shaping our entire appliance search from the very beginning.
Why We Started With the Range First 🔥
Rather than approaching this process category by category in a random order, we quickly realized it made the most sense to start with our range selection first, since this decision would influence nearly every other appliance choice that followed.
📐 Given our kitchen’s length, we knew a 48 inch range was necessary to keep the proportions of the room feeling balanced and intentional 🏷️ Many luxury appliance brands offer promotional credits or bundled discounts when you purchase your range and refrigerator from the same manufacturer 💡 This meant our range choice would likely determine which brand we stuck with for the majority of our remaining kitchen appliances, at least if we wanted to take advantage of those brand specific promotions
With that strategy in mind, we started seriously comparing 48 inch range options across the luxury brands we had encountered in the showrooms.
The Brands We Seriously Considered 🏆
Here is a breakdown of the major contenders we evaluated during this process, along with our general impressions of each.
🖤 Cafe Appliances. We were genuinely drawn to their commercial style 48 inch range in matte black with bronze hardware. It had been showing up everywhere on our social media feeds, and we loved the bold, modern aesthetic. Unfortunately, availability issues at the time of our research made this option difficult to commit to with confidence.
⚪ Monogram. Part of the GE Appliances family, Monogram represents their highest end product line. We were immediately drawn to the clean, contemporary design of their 48 inch all gas professional range, particularly the ring lit LED detailing surrounding the brass control knobs.
❄️ Subzero and Thermador. Both carry strong reputations within the luxury appliance space, though ultimately did not end up being our final choice for the primary range.
🔧 KitchenAid. A well known name with a slightly more accessible price point compared to some of the other brands we considered, though it did not end up being the direction we chose for our primary range.
🧊 JennAir. Positioned as Whirlpool’s luxury tier, sitting above KitchenAid, JennAir ended up playing a bigger role in our final appliance package than we initially expected, though not for our range.
Comparison Table: Brands We Considered 🧾
| Brand | Parent Company | Standout Feature We Noticed | Our Impression |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Appliances | GE Appliances | Bold matte black finish with bronze hardware | Loved the look, availability was a concern |
| Monogram | GE Appliances | Contemporary design, LED accented knobs | Became our top choice for the range |
| Subzero | Sub Zero Group | Long standing luxury reputation | Strong contender, ultimately not chosen |
| Thermador | BSH Home Appliances | Professional style cooking features | Strong contender, ultimately not chosen |
| KitchenAid | Whirlpool | More accessible luxury price point | Considered but not our final pick |
| JennAir | Whirlpool | Distinctive dark interior refrigeration | Ended up choosing their column refrigeration |
Why We Ultimately Chose the Monogram Range 🔥
After comparing our top contenders extensively, we ultimately fell in love with the Monogram 48 inch all gas professional range and committed to it for our custom kitchen.
✨ The overall design felt sleek and contemporary, which aligned perfectly with our kitchen’s modern aesthetic 💡 The ring lit LED lighting around the brass control knobs added a genuinely beautiful detail that photographs well and looks even better in person 🍽️ The professional grade cooking performance gave us confidence this range would meet our needs for both everyday cooking and occasional larger gatherings
Once we committed to the Monogram range, our strategy of sticking with a single brand for promotional purposes led us to add a matching Monogram dishwasher and a Monogram drawer microwave to round out our kitchen package.
The Range Hood Decision 💨
Choosing a properly powerful range hood became an unexpectedly important part of this process for us. In our previous home, we had run into serious issues where cooking anything with significant heat, like searing steaks, would fill the entire floor with smoke and leave behind a greasy residue throughout the kitchen.
🌬️ We wanted to make absolutely sure our new range hood could handle the heat output of our new 48 inch range 👥 We spoke with two separate kitchen showroom representatives, and both independently recommended the brands Best and Zephyr for custom hood inserts ✅ We ultimately went with a Best brand range hood, specifically their CP5 Series model rated at 1200 CFM, which has performed excellently for us so far
This was a genuinely important lesson from our process. Do not treat your range hood as an afterthought, especially if you are investing in a powerful, larger range.
The Refrigerator Curveball We Did Not Expect 🧊
Here is where our appliance journey took an unexpected turn. Since we had already committed to Monogram for our range, dishwasher, and microwave, the natural next step was choosing a matching Monogram built in refrigerator and freezer to complete the set.
😔 Unfortunately, when we went to actually place our order, we discovered the Monogram 48 inch side by side built in refrigerator we wanted was not available at all ⏳ Our appliance representative told us the estimated wait time could stretch to eighteen months or potentially longer, with genuine uncertainty around the actual timeline 🚫 We were offered the option of installing a temporary refrigerator while waiting for the actual unit to eventually arrive, but that solution did not sit well with us given the length and uncertainty of the wait
This setback forced us to pivot our refrigeration plans entirely, which ultimately led us toward JennAir’s column refrigeration system instead, a decision we have written about separately in more detail regarding our long term experience with that specific product.
Comparison Table: Our Final Appliance Package 🧾
| Appliance | Brand | Model Highlight | Why We Chose It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range | Monogram | 48 inch all gas professional | Design and cooking performance |
| Dishwasher | Monogram | Matching brand set | Promotional bundling, cohesive look |
| Drawer Microwave | Monogram | Matching brand set | Convenience, matching aesthetic |
| Range Hood | Best | CP5 Series, 1200 CFM | Recommended by two separate showroom reps |
| Refrigerator | JennAir | Column refrigerator | Monogram fridge unavailable, loved the interior design |
| Freezer | JennAir | Column freezer | Paired with refrigerator, increased capacity |
Lessons We Learned About Availability and Timing ⏳
One of the biggest surprises throughout this entire process was just how significantly availability could impact our final decisions, regardless of our original preferences.
📦 High demand luxury appliances, particularly larger built in units, can carry genuinely long wait times depending on the specific model and current supply chain conditions 🗓️ We would strongly recommend beginning your appliance research and ordering process as early as possible within your build timeline, rather than waiting until later stages of construction 🔄 Having a backup plan or being open to adjusting your original brand preferences can save you significant stress if your first choice becomes unavailable partway through the process
This lesson alone might be the single most valuable takeaway from our entire appliance selection journey.
How We Approached Our Overall Budget 💰
Going into this process, we genuinely did not intend to spend as much as we ultimately did. Our budget grew gradually as we prioritized certain factors along the way.
📈 We started with the mindset of simply needing a properly proportioned range for our kitchen size 🧊 As we researched refrigeration options, ensuring adequate fridge and freezer capacity became an increasingly important priority, which pushed our budget higher than initially planned 🏷️ Sticking primarily within a couple of brands for promotional bundling purposes helped offset some of the increased spending through available credits and discounts
If we could offer one piece of budgeting advice to other homeowners starting this process, it would be to set a rough initial budget, but remain mentally prepared for that number to shift as your priorities become clearer throughout the research process.
Where We Purchased Our Appliances 🛒
For those curious about the actual purchasing process, we sourced our appliances through a combination of retailers depending on the specific brand and product.
🏪 Build With Ferguson became one of our primary sources for several of our major appliance purchases 🛍️ We also compared pricing and availability across other retailers, including Wayfair, Home Depot, and Lowe’s, depending on the specific product 💳 Comparing pricing across multiple retailers for the same exact model occasionally revealed meaningful differences worth taking the time to research
Taking the extra time to compare pricing across a few different retailers for the same specific model numbers ended up saving us a reasonable amount without any compromise on the actual products we received.
Tips for Your Own Kitchen Appliance Search 🎯
Based on everything we learned throughout this process, here are our top recommendations for anyone currently navigating their own custom kitchen appliance search.
📏 Start by measuring your kitchen space accurately to determine what size range and refrigeration will actually look proportionate within your layout 🏷️ Research brand specific promotions early, since sticking to one or two brands can meaningfully reduce your overall spending through bundled credits 🌬️ Do not treat your range hood as an afterthought, especially if you are investing in a powerful range with significant heat output ⏳ Begin your ordering process early in your build timeline to avoid getting caught off guard by unexpected availability delays 🔄 Stay flexible and open to pivoting toward a different brand if your original first choice becomes unavailable or delayed significantly
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
How far in advance should we start researching kitchen appliances for a custom build? Based on our own experience with unexpected availability delays, we would strongly recommend starting your research and ordering process as early as possible, ideally well before your kitchen installation phase begins.
Is it worth sticking to a single appliance brand throughout your kitchen? For us, sticking primarily to one or two brands allowed us to take advantage of promotional bundling discounts, though ultimately availability issues led us to mix brands between our range and our refrigeration.
What size range is appropriate for a larger kitchen? This depends on your specific kitchen’s proportions, but for our nineteen foot long kitchen, a 48 inch range felt necessary to maintain visual balance within the space.
How important is the range hood in the overall appliance decision? Extremely important, in our experience. A properly powerful range hood, matched appropriately to your range’s heat output, makes a significant difference in your everyday cooking experience.
What should we do if our preferred appliance becomes unavailable during the ordering process? Staying flexible and researching comparable alternatives early can help prevent significant delays to your overall build timeline if your original choice runs into availability issues.
Final Thoughts 💭
Choosing kitchen appliances for our custom home ended up being a far more involved process than we initially anticipated, filled with brand comparisons, unexpected availability setbacks, and a budget that grew gradually as our priorities became clearer. But looking back, we genuinely feel good about where we landed with our final Monogram and JennAir combination, even though it looked quite different from our original plan.
If you are currently navigating this same process for your own custom home, we hope our experience offers some helpful perspective, both in terms of what to prioritize and what surprises to prepare for along the way. Take your time, start early, and remember that even a few unexpected pivots along the way can still lead you to appliances you end up genuinely loving in your finished kitchen. 🍳🏡