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Best Luxury Appliance Brands (2024 Update)

November 17th, 2023 | 13 min. read

By Steve Sheinkopf

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Best Luxury Appliance Brands (2024 Update)

Are you planning to create your dream kitchen?

You might have some specific ideas in mind, like a professional range or a combination steam oven, wall oven, and designer coffee maker.

In this article, you will learn all about the best appliance brands for your dream kitchen and their advantages and disadvantages.

We'll also cover common issues people don't often discuss when buying luxury brands and we’ll provide tips to avoid them.

The goal of this article is to provide you with the information you need to get started on your kitchen project.

Let’s get started.

Why This Article Is Worth Your Time

I have been working at Yale full-time for 37 years. Many of the staff have 20 years plus of experience.

We also have completed over 300,000 service calls in less than ten years.

I lived in Brookline and redesigned the galley kitchen before selling and moving to Boston.

first-renovation

I renovated my apartment in 2013 and redeveloped a burnt-out Brownstone in 2017.

second-renovation

So, I understand what you are about to undertake.

With all that experience, I regret some of the mistakes I made. So, I have written this blog to help you avoid making similar ones.

If you are having issues, then download a buying guide.

You can also watch some of our videos and check out our webinars like How Design Your Dream Kitchen with Luxury Appliances.

Good luck, and leave a comment below with any questions.

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What Makes a Kitchen Luxury or High-End?

Luxury kitchens are based on premium refrigerators, cooking, and ventilation.

You also have better dishwasher options, but the other categories are more important.

Refrigeration

SubZero-Columns-Model-IC-24CI-IW-18

You should expect pro-style or integrated refrigerators in a luxury kitchen.

A pro-style refrigerator has a compressor on the top. An integrated refrigerator is hidden with a custom cabinet front.

Both options are either cabinet-depth or flush to the cabinet for better aesthetics.

Cooking

blog-yaleappliance-comhubfsYale-Home-Show-Framingham-Wolf-Kitchen

The professional range is the luxury appliance of choice for cooking. You can also consider a wall oven and rangetop.

It's the most important decision in your kitchen design and will dictate the flow of the space.

Pro ranges are centralized, whereas your wall oven can be placed anywhere.

Ventilation

wolf-pro-range-display-yale-appliance

Ventilation is another aspect of luxury kitchens.

You can buy a high CFM pro hood or customize your vent with a wood enclosure.

Many companies will promote downdrafts for their minimalist look. However, they don't adequately vent your kitchen.

Ventilation should be a key consideration because your gas or induction range produces harmful pollutants best vented outside.

Ultimately, your top three priorities when designing a kitchen should be cooking, ventilation, and refrigeration - in that order.

In traditional kitchen design, it's best to have the main refrigerator positioned on the outer edge of the kitchen space, while keeping the cooking appliances like the stove and oven in the center.

Additionally, having a smaller fridge nearby for easy access to pre-cut vegetables or snacks for the kids can be very convenient.

Now that we have some guidelines let's look at the best luxury appliance brands for 2024.

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Short on time? Download our free Appliance Buying Guide.

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Best Luxury Appliance Brands for 2024

La Cornue

la-cornue-chateau-supreme

La Cornue, a French-made range company, is owned by US-based Middleby. Their ranges are completely customizable with 50 color options.

Your ability to customize the range truly sets La Cornue apart.

For instance, you can buy Drake's (the rapper, not the cake owner) range, the Château Suprême, at $130,000, as shown above.

How about a pink Suzanne Kasler range? At Yale, we display La Cornue ranges in their most popular colors.

la-cornue-chateau-in-pink (1)

You can customize the range's cooktop into any configuration.

Your La Cornue range could have an induction cooktop, a grill, gas burners, a wok burner, a griddle, or a French top.

It's all made to order, so almost any combination is possible.

However, La Cornue ranges can cost up to ten times more than other brands.

The oven has an arched top for natural convection, and the oven can be customized in electric or gas.

Electric is better for baking, whereas gas heat is better for roasting and broiling. On the larger ranges, you can buy one of each.

Pros: La Cornue has 50 colors and ten trims to complement any style.

They offer a lower-priced series called CornuFé, with standard convection ovens at affordable prices and limited customization options.

Cons: La Cornue lacks smart features such as a clock and timer, despite being highly customizable and visually appealing.

Read More: What's the Difference Between the La Cornue Château and the CornuFé Series Ranges?

Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove

Sub-Zero

Is A Sub-Zero Refrigerator Worth The Money - Twitter

Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove are still well-known luxury appliance companies. They are American-owned and operated, with Arizona, Kentucky, and Wisconsin factories.

Sub-Zero has the most refrigerators offered in various sizes.

They focus on keeping food fresh longer, and their features consist of vacuum-sealed doors, air filtration, and an air purifier.

Sub-Zero's air scrubber cleans ethylene gases of spoiled foods to keep food fresh.

Recently, they updated their refrigerators with "Split Climate" for more air circulation in the crisper bins.

They are also the best for preserving wine by keeping light, heat, humidity, and vibration from destroying the tannins of the wine.

Sub-Zero has three series:

Sub-Zero-Refrigeration-Series

  • The Pro Series: Stainless inside and outside to emulate a restaurant refrigerator.
  • The Built-In Classic Series: Available in 30, 36, 42, and 48 inches. It's available in several configurations such as bottom mount, side-by-side, and French door. You can buy the Classic in stainless or panel-ready.
  • The Designer Series: It's available in 18, 24, 30, and 36 inches in several refrigerators, freezers, and combination units. The Designer Series is made to fit seamlessly in cabinets and looks great with cabinet panels.

Wolf

Wolf-48-inch-professional-gas-range-with-infrared-charbroiler

The Wolf line, consisting of ranges, cooktops, and rangetops has menu-driven controls.

Wolf's ranges feature their VertiCross convection system. This provides a more consistent heat than the standard convection fan.

Wolf has always had a guide-based cooking system in their gas ranges.

However, they have recently expanded the Wolf Gourmet system to their dual fuel ranges along with an LCD screen and smart integration.

With Wolf Gourmet, you can easily cook your food in the oven by selecting how you want it cooked.

The range will automatically provide you with the optimal time, temperature, and rack position, making the cooking process much more efficient and hassle-free.

wolf-pro-range-with-a-french-top-1

Along with BlueStar and La Cornue, Wolf features a French top configuration.

A French top can cook many foods on the same surface at different temperatures. Wolf offers a full array of speed and steam-cooking products as well.

Wolf and Sub-Zero are some of the most reliable luxury appliance brands sold based on over 33,000 service calls logged last year.

Pros: Sub-Zero refrigerators keep food fresh longer with special features like air purifiers and sealed doors.

Wolf offers easy-to-use ranges and cooktops with even heating and smart cooking guides.

Both are known for being reliable and well-made.

Cons: Sub-Zero might have the most features but it is also the most expensive refrigerator.

Wolf's gas pro ranges need updating for self-cleaning and more output (their grill, griddle, and French top are amongst the best).

Lastly, Sub-Zero and Wolf’s current lead times are longer than usual due to their well-earned popularity.

Read More: Are Wolf Professional Ranges Worth It?

Gaggenau

Gaggenau-Kitchen-at-Yale-Appliance-in-Boston-AIS-2023

If you want truly unique-looking appliances, then Gaggenau is a good consideration with its modern yet minimal design.

Gaggenau is the best appliance brand for the experienced chef.

Their wall ovens have 17 different modes for any type of food and can be controlled in one-degree increments.

GAGGENAU-BS485612-steam-oven-installed-over-a-30-inch-wall-oven

You can also control the percentage of steam in their wall ovens to cook any food perfectly.

The wall ovens have side-swing doors, so you can access your food more easily than by lifting over a drop-down door.

Pros: Gaggenau is the best for precision cooking. The styling is also unique, so your appliances won't be like any other.

Cons: The controls on Gaggenau are mode-driven rather than intuitive, like Miele and Wolf.

You can do more with Gaggenau, but you have to spend more time learning.

Their refrigeration is similar to Thermador, just with a higher price tag.

True Refrigerators

True-Professional-Side-By-Side-Refrigeration-in-Cobalt-Blue

I almost want a game room just for one of these refrigerators.

You can buy a True refrigerator in a 36, 42, or 48-inch refrigerator or a designer refrigerator, freezer, beverage, or wine column, as shown here in bright yellow:

true-refrigeration-in-yellow

True refrigerators have 14 different color options to choose from, as well as six hardware options for hinge accents.

It's interesting looking at all the possible combos on their website, like a cobalt blue refrigerator with brass hinges.

The company is family-owned and American-made, based in St Louis, and manufactures many of the components to their refrigerator.

True offers all stainless-steel models with or without a factory-made glass window.

Most of their line is approved and rated for even outdoor use.

If you want a different-looking statement piece, then consider True refrigeration.

Pros: True has beautiful refrigeration designs, and their refrigerators are highly durable.

Cons: You can't place a custom cabinet panel on a True refrigerator. They only sell refrigerators, freezers, and ice makers. The larger units do not have an ice maker.

Read More: True vs. Sub-Zero Professional Refrigeration

Miele

Miele-kitchen-at-yale-appliance-in-hanover

Miele is known for its great styling, which has been imitated by many companies.

Miele's developed their menu-driven MasterChef program and Steam Assist ten years ago.

Miele's wall and pro range ovens feature Steam Assist, which introduces three bursts of steam along with dry heat to cook your food.

Miele's pro ranges and steam ovens have M-Touch controls, making them also simple to use. Miele’s ovens also feature the MasterChef guided cooking program.

Do you want sourdough bread? Then, hit the button for sourdough.

Do you want roast beef medium well? Press the button for roast beef, enter the weight and how you want it cooked, and the MasterChef will take the guesswork out of cooking.

Miele's new G 7000, lower-priced G 5000 series dishwashers, and compact laundry are some of the best in the industry.

Pros: Miele features fantastic cooking technology. Their compact laundry sets and dishwashers are excellent.

Cons: Miele's Contemporary styling may not fit every kitchen. Their pro ranges are somewhat underpowered, with a 19,500 BTU burner in the front and only 12,000 in the back.

Read More: Best Miele Dishwashers

Thermador

Thermador-kitchen-display-at-yale-appliance-in-hanover-2

Thermador had changed the styling of their lineup a couple of years ago. Their strength has always been cooking with their Star Burner and ExtraLow simmering features.

Thermador professional ranges are reasonable and are available in two series, the Pro Harmony and Pro Grand, with steam available in larger 48- and 60-inch sizes.

They also have the most extensive integrated refrigerators with new stainless interiors. Their refrigerators have better bin storage, allowing you to push to open and pull with a handle.

The drying system of their dishwashers uses zeolite, a volcanic mineral, for a 20-minute wash and dry cycle (when available).

Thermador has the most wall oven options with side-swing doors, steam, and combination wall ovens.

Thermador-steam-and-wall-oven

They also have one of the best Wi-Fi experiences with their HomeConnect app.

Pros: Thermador has a good selection of products throughout the line. The raised Star burner is easier to clean than the others. In addition, Thermador has reasonable prices.

Cons: Although their cooking appliances are new, they feature single convection only. They also lack menu-driven controls like Wolf and Miele. 

Read More: Should You Buy a Thermador Professional Range?

Signature Kitchen Suite (SKS)

SKS-range-at-Yale-Appliance-In-Hanover-1

SKS is the premium line of LG. LG is the most reliable brand sold at Yale.

Their 48-inch range has 23,000 and 15,000 BTU sealed burners, induction, and a sous vide panel on the stovetop.

The simmer burner on their stove is now the best for maintaining a constant temperature of 100 BTU.

Their ovens are convection in the main oven with a full steam oven in the side oven.

Their column-style refrigerators have the largest internal capacity and are all stainless on the inside.

SKS-Refrigerator-Column-(1)

The whole SKS line is Wi-Fi enabled through LG's ThinQ App.

SKS may not have the brand reputation of the others, but they are worth considering.

Pros: SKS has a solid reliability and availability (so far), and their appliances are well-featured. Also, their refrigerators have a large capacity for more storage space.

Cons: SKS has a limited amount of products. Interestingly, they have a sous vide panel for their stovetops but no grill option.

Read More: Should You Buy a Signature Kitchen Suite Professional Range?

Monogram

monogram-brass-kitchen-range-hood-and-professional-range-at-yale-appliance-in-hanover

Monogram appliances are all new.

We decided to sell Monogram after 15 years because the features are compelling.

Their ranges feature 23,000 BTU sealed burners, infrared grills, and an articulating seven-inch display.

The refrigerators have an interesting design with cold air flow above each shelf and a crisper to express chill or thaw.

Dishwashers have specially designed bottle washes.

They have a decent rebate program and excellent smart functionality with their SmartHQ app tied to Hestan Cue cooking, so the flame adjusts automatically.

Stylistically, you have a nice brass accent on the burners and knobs. You can even buy the doors in brass as well.

You will learn about repair services later in the article. However, Monogram has its own service network through GE.

It's hard to believe you could spend $30,000 or more without any repair services, but that is the reality for most brands.

Pros: Monogram has an excellent service department, competitively priced products, and a good rebate program.

Cons: The selection is fairly limited on the range side.

BlueStar

BlueStar-Kitchen-at-Yale-Appliance-in-Hanover-2023

Their new dual fuel range is excellent, with their new X-8 sealed burner delivering 25,000 BTUs on the front burners and 18,000 on the back.

They now have a seven-inch LCD clock and touch controls on their dual fuel range.

BlueStar is a range company, and you can buy any type of pro range from 24 to 60 inches with six series of ranges.

BlueStar ranges have a French top, grill, griddle, and even a series with French doors in a limited size.

In all gas, their Platinum series is one of the few with pure convection blown from the back for more even temperatures than a regular convection oven.

Their pro refrigerators are all metal on the inside and are designed to fit a sheet pan.

Also, you can completely customize your range with 1000 different colors and 10 trim options. For colors and customization, BlueStar is the best on this list.

Seventy-five percent of Bluestar ranges sold at Yale are customized.

Without question, if you want a unique look in your kitchen, BlueStar, next to La Cornue, is your best choice.

Pros: BlueStar has 1000 color options. Plus, you can choose your high-output stovetop configuration with many options in every size.

Cons: BlueStar is not for everyone. All the gas ranges are basic without clocks and certainly without smart functionality.

Unlike the others, BlueStar does not have a full line of appliances. They only offer cooking, ventilation, and refrigeration appliances.

Read More: Best BlueStar Professional Ranges

Viking

Viking-Rose-Bold-Professional-Range

In many ways, Viking was the first luxury brand - debuting the first pro range in 1987. Over the years, they added other appliances to round out a whole suite.

Their best ranges are the Tuscany and their 7 Series pro ranges. The 7 Series range has its most powerful sealed burners at 23,000 BTU.

Their Rose Bold range is beautiful, and their new Benjamen Moore colors are worth checking out.

After years of issues, they now have a promising new line of refrigerators and an excellent CEO in Scott Grugel.

Pros: Viking has an extensive range line, great name recognition, and 17 colors to choose from.

Cons: Viking has been plagued by service-related issues in the past, especially for refrigerators and dishwashers.

We do not sell or service Viking, so it is worth checking with your local dealer before you buy a Viking appliance.

Fisher & Paykel

Fisher-and-Paykel-Professional-Appliances

Fisher & Paykel has some impressive pro ranges. They feature a combination of induction and gas burners.

Their 48-inch range is half gas at 23,000 and 15,000 BTU burners, with the other half being induction.

They also offer column-style refrigerators. Their dishdrawer dishwasher has always been different, and their wall ovens offer a wide range of cooking modes.

Pros: Fisher & Paykel's pro ranges mix gas and induction cooking for more cooking options. They also offer special refrigerators, unique dishwashers, and versatile ovens.

Cons: It's limited in terms of selection. The columns are only 30, 24, and 18 inches wide. Thirty-six inches is the most popular.

Read More: Should You Buy the Fisher & Paykel 48-Inch Dual Fuel Range With Induction?

JennAir

Jenn-Air Kitchen at Yale Appliance in Boston

With their current lineup, JennAir won Best New Products at the Architectural Digest show in 2018.

Their highly styled products are available in the Rise and Noir series.

JennAir's pro ranges have always been popular, but their new series changes the brand's look and perception. Their wall ovens have always been the easiest to use.

JennAir's wall ovens will calculate the time temperature and even show you how the food will look before cooking it.

Pros: The whole line is well-styled and available with Wi-Fi connectivity. JennAir elevates your cooking with their cooking app for fresh recipes.

Cons: However, the line has been plagued by poor availability. It almost locked into its 2018 introduction and hasn't evolved to keep up with some of the more current brands.

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Customizing Your Luxury Kitchen

wolf-wall-ovens-at-yale-appliance-in-hanover

You can customize your kitchen with specialty appliances such as:

  • Coffee Makers: Wolf, Miele, and Gaggenau will allow you to brew your own coffee. My sister brews a delicious blueberry latte in her Miele coffee system.
  • Steam Ovens: Steam makes almost any food taste better by adding moisture and retaining nutrients. Regular ovens and especially microwaves bake out nutrients, texture, and flavor (I have a steam oven and love it).
  • Speed Ovens: Speed ovens are microwave and convection oven combinations, so you can cook in a microwave or smaller oven. However, you can also cook in combination ovens without the microwave texture.
  • Warming Drawers: A warming drawer will allow you to keep food warm for up to three hours with dehydration. It's great if you cook and serve at different times.
  • Undercounter Refrigerators or Wine Units: You can do almost any configuration in refrigeration, from drawers to wine units to beverage centers (combo refrigerator and ice maker), ice makers, and separate freezers.

Do Luxury Appliances Need to Be Smart or Wi-Fi Enabled?

Many manufacturers have promoted smart technology or the ability to operate your appliance remotely.

Smart appliances offer great future potential and are rapidly evolving.

A few have tie-ins to Innit, Side Chef, and Hestan Cue, so you can follow step by step.

Then again, a few brands like BlueStar and even La Cornue offer no functionality. Not even a clock.

In summary, smart technology and Wi-Fi are good features for appliances but not essential for a luxury kitchen. Once again, it depends on how you cook and whether you will use the apps.

How Much Does a High-End or Luxury Kitchen Cost?

A high-end kitchen costs $30,000-$70,000 for a professional range, refrigerator, professional range hood, and dishwasher.

However, prices will vary between brands and options.

You can buy a La Cornue range for $150,000.

You could add other elements like a coffee system, speed oven, and wine storage and spend much more than $25,000 easily.

In summary, a luxury kitchen costs $30,000, depending on your brand and appliance selections.

Now, let's talk about problems for every luxury brand.

3 Luxury Kitchen Appliance Problems

1. Delivery

Delivery, especially in Boston, is a problem. Before buying your appliances, ensure you have a good delivery service available.

A delivery team must lift and navigate 600-pound luxury appliances into your home on increasingly soft floors in a tight area.

A lot can happen during the delivery of a Sub-Zero, Viking, or Thermador appliance in terms of damage to your house and appliances.

Never sign any delivery without a full inspection.

Google reviews for the delivery experience before you buy appliances from any store. Download our delivery checklist to compare stores.

2. Installation

Installation wasn't a problem until recently. Your contractor is usually under contract to install your appliance.

However, with the tight labor market for skilled labor, installation could now be your problem.

Installing specialized appliances is also tougher than ever.

We now have 18 installation teams daily installing what contractors aren't comfortable with.

If you're installing the appliances yourself, you may need to relocate your electrical and water connections.

3. Service

Service is the biggest problem in this industry. You must inquire about service before the sale. If the dealer doesn't have service, find out who they refer to.

Ask, investigate, and read reviews.

The average technician can't handle your new Thermador range with a steam oven.

Find out who can service your appliance in your area. If there’s no local service available, don’t buy that brand.

Read More: Why Doesn’t Every Appliance Brand and Store Offer Service?

Key Takeaways

Luxury appliances have evolved into some of your home's most advanced products.

You will be happy with any number of brands on this list. It depends on what you value.

However, service is a problem in certain areas.

You may think you will receive that "Lexus" or "Mercedes" service treatment, but most companies on this list do not have repair services.

Besides exploring your options, it’s important to know if repair services are available for the brands you’re considering.

You will love cooking on a pro range, induction cooking surface, or steam oven. Just make sure you can get it fixed.

Additional Resources

Have questions on premium appliances?Get the Yale Appliance BuyingGuidewith features, specs, and detailed profiles on Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele, Viking, La Cornue, Thermador, and more. Over 1 million people have read a Yale buying guide.

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Steve Sheinkopf

Steve Sheinkopf is the third-generation CEO of Yale Appliance and a lifelong Bostonian. He has over 38 years of experience in the appliance industry, and he is a trusted source of information for consumers on how to buy and repair appliances.

Steve has also been featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Consumer Reports, The Boston Globe, Bloomberg Radio, the New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Entrepreneur, for his knowledge of how to buy appliances and appliance repair.

Steve is passionate about helping consumers find the best appliances for their needs, and he is always happy to answer questions and provide advice. He is a valuable resource for consumers who are looking for information on appliance buying, repair, and maintenance.

Despite being the worst goalie in history, Steve is a fan of the Bruins and college hockey, loves to read, and is a Peloton biker. The love of his life is his daughter, Sophie.

A Note About Pricing

Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.