July 25th, 2024 | 7 min. read
Learn how to find the perfect kitchen products with our Appliance Buying Guide
With a budget between $20,000 and $30,000 for an appliance package, you can buy almost any product from any brand.
Almost.
Even at $30,000, you still have some constraints and trade-offs.
This article will guide you through your product options and the best brands to consider.
We’ll show you how to save money, even on premium products from luxury brands.
More importantly, you’ll learn about the common mistakes others make and how to avoid them.
You want your dream kitchen without the process becoming a nightmare.
Let's get started.
How to Save Money Buying Premium Appliances
Yes, you can save money buying premium appliances.
Most prices are fixed, but you have some decent promotions to consider.
Thermador, Monogram, and JennAir offer free appliances or credits when you buy qualifying products, usually free dishwashers and hoods.
You may want the rebates on more expensive items like microwave drawers, but it varies.
Miele is the most interesting, with 15% off when you buy their qualifying products.
However, the rebates are not ongoing like the other three, so make sure your salesperson communicates with you.
By the way, qualifying means refrigeration and cooking for any brand.
Sub-Zero is the least interesting, but you can get $1,000 off their Cove dishwasher when you buy Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.
How to Choose the Best Premium Kitchen Appliance Package for $20,000-$30,000
Kitchen Appliances to Consider Between $20,000-$30,000
At this price, you should ask what is important to you and how you want your kitchen to flow.
Is it a bigger refrigerator, a larger pro range, or maybe some accessories like a built-in steam or speed oven?
You can buy a pro range in almost any size—30, 36, or 48 inches—and with any fuel type: induction, all gas, or dual fuel.
For refrigeration, you can choose built-in counter-depth refrigerators with compressors on the top or integrated refrigerators that are seamless with your cabinets.
But be careful when buying a 48-inch refrigerator from Sub-Zero or Thermador for about $15,999.
When you add a 48-inch dual fuel range at about the same price, you'll blow your budget on just two appliances.
So pick a smaller refrigerator, such as a 42-inch refrigerator or a smaller 36-inch range, at $8,000-$11,000 each.
You will have plenty of money left over for the dishwasher, hood, and microwave, or perhaps you will also want a few accessories.
But that's the global view.
Your Biggest Kitchen Decision for Packages Between $20,000-30,000
From a design standpoint, the biggest decision you will make is choosing between a cooktop and wall oven versus a range.
This is similar to our last article on kitchen appliance packages for $10,000-$20,000, but now you have more choices.
Wall Ovens and Cooktops vs. Ranges
Wall ovens and cooktops can offer more features, especially in single and secondary ovens, like steam or speed options.
You also don't have to bend down to get food from a wall oven.
However, a range centralizes your cooking and requires less space.
Your kitchen cannot be planned until this decision is made, so spend some time looking at different resources to help you.
After this decision, you are just placing appliances into cabinets.
So, all you need to worry about is the brand and model, and the designer can at least order your kitchen.
Read More: How to Choose Between a Wall Oven and Cooktop vs. a Range
Advanced Appliance Features
No matter what form of cooking appliances you choose, you'll get advanced features to improve your cooking.
Here is a sample of the best:
Wolf
Wolf's pro ranges, wall ovens, and steam ovens feature their guided cooking system, Wolf Gourmet.
This system calculates time, temperature, and rack position based on the type of food and your preferred doneness.
Miele
Miele's MasterChef guided cooking program, featured in their ovens and ranges, calculates time and temperature, similar to Wolf's system.
Additionally, Miele's steam assist, available in their steam ovens and 48-inch pro ranges, is excellent for retaining flavor and nutrients in your food.
SKS
SKS has a wall oven that features both speed and steam functionality, as well as guided cooking.
Induction Cooking
Thermador
The Thermador Liberty induction cooktop has heat shift technology, allowing you to move from sautéing to simmering by simply moving the pan.
Wolf
Wolf's induction cooktops are new this year and come with an improved touch screen.
SKS
SKS also has a new induction cooktop with a 7000-watt element, almost double that of the rest of the industry.
Read More: The Best 36-Inch Induction Cooktops
Professional Gas Rangetops
Professional gas rangetops are the top of a pro range with all the available options.
You also have the option to choose a high-output gas rangetop with just burners, a grill, a French top, sous vide, or a griddle.
Induction vs. Pro Gas Cooking
You may prefer gas cooking, which is way better than electric.
Induction cooking, however, is the most advanced.
Induction cooking allows you to boil water faster, simmer at lower temperatures with less venting, and enjoy easier cleaning, all while being the safest option for children.
Professional gas does have advantages.
You can choose a grill option, French top, or sous vide.
You can also lift the pot off the burner in gas, which you cannot do for a prolonged time in induction.
The magnetic induction burners need to sense your metal pan to work.
Ventilation
You should upgrade your hood, especially if you like to cook.
You don't have to buy this $10,000 BlueStar or AGA hood.
Buy a hood that's at least 18 inches tall and 24 inches deep to capture the smoke and fumes from your cooking.
Customize your kitchen vent to blend seamlessly with your cabinets, similar to popular wood hoods.
It's simple from an appliance standpoint.
You just buy the liner, motor, filter, and lights in one package.
Dishwashers
For a dishwasher, I would still stick with a quiet dishwasher from Bosch, KitchenAid, or Miele. Spend anywhere from $1,000-$2,500.
If you are paneling your dishwasher, stick with a European brand like Bosch, Miele, or even Asko. They won't protrude and will look seamless with your cabinets.
Steam Ovens
A steam oven costs $4,000-$7,000, but steam is the best cooking method.
I have a steam oven. It just improves the flavor of any food by adding moisture and helps retain nutrients.
The new ovens can even reheat food so it's crispy. The best brands to consider are Miele and Wolf.
If you have opted for a smaller pro range or refrigerator, you can afford a steam oven on this budget.
Speed Ovens
Speed ovens are a microwave convection combination, so you can cook in a microwave, a separate oven, or both using the combination setting.
A speed oven will cost between $2,000-$3,000.
Wine, Beverage, and Secondary Refrigerators
You also may have room for secondary refrigerators like wine storage or undercounter refrigeration.
Beverage centers are refrigerators with some room for wine. The better wine storage systems will have different zones and better temperature controls so your wine won't spoil.
Kitchen Sinks & Faucets
Depending on what else you purchased, look at a Galley sink. They are pretty interesting with all the accessories.
For more traditional kitchens, look at the apron, aka farm sink.
Best Brands to Consider For an Appliance Package Between $20-30,000
Sub-Zero and Wolf
You will spend close to $30,000 if you want to buy an appliance package from Sub-Zero and Wolf.
Their refrigerators are considered the best, along with great dual fuel pro ranges, wall ovens, and steam ovens.
Miele
Miele's M Touch oven controls are intuitive and will improve your cooking with their steam assist functionality.
If you shop in an appliance store, ask for a demo of their steam oven.
Their refrigerators are more limited in selection.
Strange Fact: Miele, Thermador, Bosch built-ins, and Gaggenau are all made in the same Turkish factory.
Their dishwashers are excellent as well.
They offer 15% off their appliance packages at different times of the year, so stay in touch with your salesperson to ensure you get that deal.
Thermador
Thermador has their new larger 42 and 48-inch refrigerators along with their Star Burner pro ranges.
They have some fantastic induction cooking with the Liberty and Freedom technology.
Star burners are the main feature of their popular professional ranges.
SKS, Monogram, and BlueStar
These brands are all worth considering for different reasons.
Monogram offers style at a lower price than the others, while SKS offers steam and sous vide functionality in its ranges.
BlueStar offers high output in their ranges and 1,000 different color options.
A few luxury brands, like True, Gaggenau, and La Cornue, are a bit pricier than the $30,000 budgeted.
Where Do You Buy Your Luxury Appliances
You are about to buy the equivalent of a small to mid-sized car.
When you buy a car, you research online, look at reviews, compare models, and consider the best versus the less-than-reputable dealers.
Which is exactly what you need to do for this purchase.
Read Reviews and Ratings
Research online reviews and ratings for the appliances you are considering. Look for feedback on reliability, performance, and customer service.
For dealers, I am not sure box stores sell the brands you will be considering, so choose from the best dealers in your area.
Check every product and store on Google, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Google ratings should be no less than 4.6 stars, and Yelp should have no less than 3.8 stars.
For the Better Business Bureau, almost every company has an A+ rating, especially if they are a member. Look at the number of complaints and their resolution.
Kitchen Appliance Package Delivery
You are now considering refrigerators and ranges weighing well over 500 pounds on your new, softer hardwood floors.
Check delivery in all these reviews because there is a shortage of decent skilled labor.
You don't want that shortage damaging your new floors.
Here is a free worksheet to compare all the stores and their policies:
Kitchen Package Installation
Back to that lack of labor.
Many general contractors are no longer including installation.
You need to find out whether a subcontractor, your appliance store, the cabinet shop, or the general contractor is doing this work.
Bonus points if you find out they are insured.
Appliance Service
Yale Appliance Service Team
Miele, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Thermador, Monogram, BlueStar, La Cornue, and SKS are all fine brands.
However, all appliances break, including the best brands.
The tiebreaker is whoever has the best available service in your area.
Prepare to Buy Appliances (Don't Skip These Two Steps)
Before you shop, spend a minute and prepare. This will take a minute but save you a ton of hassle later.
1. Plan Your Kitchen Layout First
What will your kitchen be? Built-in or freestanding? You cannot change your mind once the kitchen has been ordered, so spend time here.
2. Prioritize Your Needs
You have a lot to consider. Figure out what you value. Do you want a bigger fridge or a more commercial-looking range?
Key Takeaways
You have some great choices.
Your first choice is between a wall oven and cooktop versus a range.
After that, you have to prioritize among all your options and brands.
However, your equal priority is to consider your best partners, including not just appliance stores but cabinet shops and general contractors.
Once you find the best people and make good decisions about how to use your kitchen, you will truly have your dream kitchen.
Additional Resources
Looking for more help on appliances? Get our free Appliance Buying Guide with the 10 most frequently asked questions, their answers, features on the major brands, and advice for the best buying strategies. Well over 1 million people have read a Yale Guide.
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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.
