I'm Steve. This is Fran. Today,
we're gonna talk about affordable luxury appliances.
We did luxury, you know, for the sub zeros and everything else.
What if you want just a nice looking kitchen and you don't
want to spend thirty thousand. In this video,
we're going to talk about the brands that, you know, you can spend
say between what?
Five and twelve thousand dollars to get a really good looking,
coordinated appliances, you know,
with counter depth refrigerator, front control,
range, quiet dishwasher,
and some kind of over the range microwave,
and then we don't recommend that or, you know, hood,
some kind of combination where you we walk in a kitchen.
It's really well coordinated.
And that's what we're gonna do right now. Let's start.
Where are we starting? Alright.
So we're gonna talk about kinda high overviews of, brands.
And let's start with Samsung.
Samsung,
very innovative.
They do really, I mean, in terms of style, I mean,
we all should thank Samsung for introducing style and
appliances before it was like boxes, you know,
No one ever thought of, like,
style in a kitchen except on the super high end,
especially in just Walden's cooktops. But Samsung totally,
Totally changed that. Nice soft edges.
Good looking appliances. Very innovative.
They get the family hub where it's the Android,
computer on your on your refrigerator,
flex duo, two ovens in one. Yep. You know, cool features
like even the bespoke and the refrigerant that the very
divisive bespoke. And they're I think people hate you.
You don't put your don't put your refrigerator in the middle of your kitchen.
It's it's stove and sink in the middle of your kitchen if
you're really worried about flow. But the new bespoke,
I like because now you can upload a picture and put that
on your front. Is that even out yet?
I believe so. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think I haven't seen it.
But, but, in terms of, in terms of innovation, it's good.
I think they may tend to over innovate a little bit, like the
the water wall. Yeah. I mean, on the dishwasher,
You know, even the flex duo that I just mentioned,
it can't get the temperature on both on many of the common
temperatures you would use. Know, the family hub is great,
but, you know, we're all we're gonna use our phones still.
They're definitely a tech company that sells appliances
for sure, so they incorporate a lot of that in there.
Some of the use also, but not so much. They they were,
they were, they were on the forefront of black stainless,
which you shouldn't buy.
But one thing they've done really well is white.
I mean,
white's white was the premium color when I started in eighty
six. Now it's come back.
And they do a really nice job with that.
In terms of innovation, I would say, Hey,
the problem with Samsung, they mentioned,
is they're so popular.
The number one most popular appliance sold in the US,
number one brand is the support is nowhere near to that. So you
really gotta worry about, you know, if you're gonna buy it,
where's it gonna be fixed? And that, that,
that could be said for a lot of other brands except for maybe
G, because they offer their own service.
So from innovation, They're an s,
they're as good as they come by.
In terms of service and support, they're at C, if that.
I would say strong being low a. Yeah.
For sure. And like we always say, like,
we recommend often here is, you know,
you definitely wanna buy from someone that services
appliances if we get a much better experience.
Or whoever does a good job locally that that fixes whatever brand.
And it it varies by area whether you're you know, when
Boston, if you're in California, New York, it's,
it certainly will vary.
Alright. Let's talk about kitchenaid.
Kitchenade.
Great brand,
owned by the Whirlpool company.
Their new dishwashers are good. They've got a real quiet one,
and they've got a really fully functional one in a, you know,
kind of an unusual mix of
of of of products.
But everything else to me is,
now I'm not I'm gonna mention wifi. I I, you know,
WiFi's come a long way where you have the recipe tie ins.
You've got cameras that will look in,
you can look in and see your food.
This is a certain value of that, but not having it.
There's a lot about investment back into the product for me.
I I don't think their ranges have changed much.
I think their refrigerators need to be arrested talking
about really the most popular being single compressed or not
twin compressor, which shouldn't cost you all that
more. I mean, I'm sorry.
Single single compressor,
single evaporator versus twin evaporators. I apologize.
I I think the dishwashers are an a.
Everything else is probably a c.
It needs to be refreshed. Overall,
style is okay with the red little knob on the back.
It I give it a b. Yeah.
Cooking is definitely a little dated, you know,
that ranges have a cool baking drawer on the bottom on some of
the models where you can kinda use it as simpler.
And they've got the big, no, they get the big capacity.
But it hasn't really changed in terms of controls and
intuitiveness and refrigeration, like you said,
in counter depths,
you really kind of step up to a much more expensive model to
get something that's more comparable to other brands.
Their kind of entry level counter depth is, you know,
a little bit outdated there as well for sure. So I agree there. Yeah.
B. Yep. Let's go with the bay. Next,
we're gonna talk about l g and the l g studio line.
And the s and the SKS. And,
I think I in terms of who won during the pandemic,
these guys won during the pandemic because they make more
of the components than anybody else.
They're more reliable. As a line than most everybody else,
and no, I'm not paid to say that. You know,
we only report numbers.
Where they really struck gold is the counter max Yeah.
Where where you can get a counter depth refrigerator
that's like almost twenty seven cubic feet. I mean,
that's that's huge for counter depth. Now, The downside,
it's one inch thicker on the door.
So if you're putting on the end,
you want to be mindful of that. But now they get like,
I think they have five Conramax refrigerators where you get the
Instaview, you tap it twice and, you know, you can see
inside. It's got external dispenser, external dispenser,
you know, they've got a good line of refrigeration.
They'll we're not talking about laundry,
though laundry is the best, you know,
their stoves with induction are really reliable.
I don't think the edges on the stover is nice of Samsung.
In terms of reliability,
it's there's no questions or better line. Yeah.
And if you step up to that studio line,
which is really a great value for what it gives,
really nice looking.
If you're even if you're looking like built in like
cooktops wall ovens,
I think the studio is probably the best value for the money
that you get out there. Yeah.
And they're and they're and their dishwashers use steam.
They've got a steam generator in the front.
Does very well in our tests. Yeah.
And is the most reliable dishwasher and has a line,
very reliable. This is to me as,
a notch below in style of Samsung,
but way better in reliability and way better in functionality.
This to me is either an S or an A. Yeah. Absolutely.
I would definitely I like to do a lot.
I would absolutely go with at least a high a day. Okay. Yeah. Alright. Next,
let's talk about GE and their cafe and profile lines.
I like cafe.
I like cafe And I think people should look at it because it's different. Yeah.
Everything we're talking about here with the exception of, well,
wine you shouldn't buy in another wine that's got
limited. One's got the three colors white,
which is now the new premium color. It's got, black,
and then you got six,
handle stuff. So you could put black and copper,
which we show in our showroom is in white brass,
which is very New England D.
And I like it because it's it's different.
And I think people want different. And, you know,
we sell blue star, which is a premium range,
and seventy five percent of the people are custom color.
I think you want different.
I mean,
this is one of the only lines that do it and do it affordably.
And they've got some decent features on their dishwashers.
They've got the cured dispenser,
the range on,
on the refrigerator where you can get coffee as well.
You get your double ovens in induction
and in gas with the largest capacity.
But here's the thing,
if you're not going with colors in a handle style,
you're really buying a profile,
and you could buy the profile in a lot of ways with a few less features
for a lot less money. So Kathy for Color and, you know, kinda
Yeah, different features, differentiated features,
but the profile is really a nice line in stainless,
you know, with, you know, just some less functionality.
What do you think? That was good.
You can you you've covered pretty much Yeah.
I haven't talked too much. No. That was good.
That was excellent.
You gotta I would add if you're looking at built in wall ovens
too in the cafe line,
you kinda get that French door style with you don't get really
a lot. And, you know,
you use some of the higher end like a blue star,
you get you don't really see that in kind of that affordable
luxury. So I really like Cafe.
It gives you something different,
some cool colors with the matte black, the matte white.
We've had some in the showrooms too.
We've mixed some of those kinda handles. Like we did the,
the black handles with the matte black.
There's some really cool ways that you can kind of
personalize it to some degree there.
So I like the black and copper. Yep. What do you think?
I think, I go with an a overall. Yeah. Alright.
You get the next one. I talk too much.
That one. Well, the next one's bird a zone a. So, you know,
not necessarily a brand that personally,
I don't have a ton of experience. We don't really sell it here.
You know, we talk a lot about that style,
that pro style European Italian style range,
and it's definitely out there more as a look,
not necessarily a lot of function and performance.
You know, you kinda get that nice counter depth
look in the in the range that's not sticking out from your
counters, but the capacity is really small.
We always talk about the power on those burners that are just really low,
especially when you're can never mind comparing them to a
pro range you compare them to a Samsung, an LG, a kitchen Ag,
anybody that we've really talked to,
really low power there as well.
So I think you can get a lot more value in in other brands.
And if you're looking at something like a bird designing Well,
the only thing that you could the only thing you could do
about a bird designing, now they have a full line,
and I'm just wondering where they're sourcing all their
stuff from, because it's primarily a range company. And
again, when you talk about their ranges, you get,
even on their profession, you get one or two you know, when, you know,
you get the big burner and then you get similar burners, really.
It goes high to low.
Functionality wise, I just don't think this is it.
However, if you were gonna buy one,
this is perfect for like a builder or someone who wants to
flip a house and wants,
but the one thing that Italian do really well Italian
companies is the stuff looks great.
It doesn't perform very well whether you're talking about
smeg or any of the other six Italian names are coming into
the market, but they look beautiful.
They're just beautiful products
that you regret if you really cook on them.
That's that I can say,
and you're gonna regret if if you need them fixed.
But from a look standpoint, You know,
it's kinda like a museum piece. Don't touch the painting,
you know. I mean, but, yeah, I think we could do.
If you're looking for colors, you flip in your house,
definitely. And for everything else, it's a c.
Listen as an Italian, you know,
there's there's some compliments there. I'm both
offended, but there's a nice compliment there.
So
but I completely agree on the, on the brands.
No question about it. We talk about that. That's alright.
What was that?
I I've I've come to to take that with the Italian brands around here.
So what do you think? C. K. Next, let's go with electrolux.
You know, electrolux, at one time, did a great job.
They started with nothing.
They built a brand with very modern styling.
Answer functionality.
They had the first with the turkey button and the proof
button and and all some other stuff, but, you know,
they even changed that style at twenty years.
And
I just don't think it's, it's price point, price wise,
style wise, what
was modern. And again,
that's just my opinion because we haven't sold it in a while
to be transparent.
But I just
I I just think people can do better than this. Yeah. Lower capacity.
They're small capacity wheelie in their ovens as well,
and it's you know,
they've almost put better features in some of their
Frigidaire pro lines. Yeah. Frigida Pro's decent.
And this one, I I I would say, you know, see
Let's go with the c. So next, let's talk about Fisher Payco.
A unique line for sure. Yeah.
Fisher Payco is what we did in luxury and now it's a horrible
luxury. They they do a nice job Again, you've got red, black,
white, and stainless.
They do a nice job of that. Their stuff's got an edge.
I think people kinda like it because it's unique.
And I think I think a lot of people,
if you're looking for a unique product,
this is a decent product.
I think it's a little it's probably on the upper end,
even for their affordable luxury line.
But it's, it's decent. It's got some functionality.
I like their, their drawers because you have to bend as
much. You know, and if you don't use as much,
you can always just you know, use just that top drawer.
I think the stoves are decent. Yeah.
The refrigeration
is counter depth It's very edgy, somewhat expensive,
for the cubic footage you get.
But I think it's kind of like a nice urban line, you know,
for I I see it as empty nester or, or, you know, first, first,
first purchase. It's very decent,
but kind of expensive for what it Yeah.
Definitely kind of on a higher end of the affordable luxury,
but if you're looking for maybe a larger induction range,
a thirty six inch range, or a thirty six inch gas range,
you know, they do a really good job there.
Definitely a lower price point than some of the other pro
lines that are doing the thirty six inch. And then, yeah,
the counter depth refrigeration,
but if you're looking to maybe enter that kind of built in
integrated refrigeration space and not spend, you know,
twelve thousand dollars. Yeah.
You can get a nice thirty six by seventy two integrated
refrigerator there that really, really nice.
Yeah. Absolutely. If you're on a panel something, you know,
kitchenaid has one, but the door sticks out.
So it looks like someone like
pasted a door on it, but this is really nice.
It's nice and seamless.
And you're not spending a fortune for it. I think this is a
a strong b line. It's something you should consider.
It's not for everybody, certainly.
Yeah. Depending on where you're comparing them, you know,
I'd definitely put them in a as a low a, strong b for sure,
you know, and they and they're very flexible. Obviously,
as we've kind of put them into luxury, affordable luxury,
you can kind of go a lot of different ways with them. So, alright.
Next, we're gonna end it with Bosch. Bosch.
This is a really interesting company. I mean,
this is a dishwasher company that's just kind of blundered
into other products, it seems. But one thing I like about this
is their induction is very reliable definitely.
Induction is the most reliable of all of them.
And and whether we're talking about ranges or cooktops,
I I think they're they're refrigerators you know,
the twin compression story,
which is kind of the same as subzero in terms of twin
compressed totally different fridges.
That's that's that's a decent fridge too. Although, it's
small, when we talk about, you know,
twenty one cubic feet versus the counter max of twenty,
twenty six point five,
limited line, great dishwashers,
good overall value.
But again, how many you're only buying one appliance?
You don't need, like, you know, even LG's got, like,
twenty or thirty stoves, you know, Bosch has got two.
But you only buy one. So that should be fine.
I just provided this the one you want. What do you think?
Yeah. Overall, you know, really phenomenal dishwashers.
The refrigeration is really nice. Induction in general.
They do a really nice job tops and cool like heat shift
features and some of their brands, some of their models
rather. Yeah, cooktops in general, I'd say really good.
Their gas cooktops really good.
I think cooking is definitely where they're a little behind.
Maybe some of the others,
they could definitely use an upgrade in wall ovens and ovens
in general. Overall, I'd say the good solid line.
Yeah. It's decent.
It's it's it's very it's the most limited of what it is,
but once again, you're only buying one.
So This is either a low a or strong b for me.
In terms of dishwashers, it's an S or an A.
In terms of induction,
it's really one you should consider because it's reliable.
For everything else, refrigerator
might be kind of small, but still very decent.
I'd say low a strong b. Sounds good. What do you think? Snowing.
What do you think? Strong big. Sean big. Sean big. Let's go.
Alright. So that's the last one.
Alright. That's it for us. If, you like the ranking videos,
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