A New Kitchen

Wolf vs Viking, etc, etc.....You can still buy very good, functional, aesthetically pleasing and well featured items at a budget....Have a look at the video.



Kitchen is pretty nice, isn't it. She renovated it with us 6 years ago with Frigidaire Professional appliances.

Rock, Walk And Frigidaire

Every year, WAAF features a great charity event called the Walk And Rock For Change. Their radio personalities walk to Boston over three days (usually in bitter cold) for the local Food Banks around New England. The listeners also request songs for donations. This event has generated over 1 million dollars since its inception.

I have always loved this event, since they charged me $500 for my Peaches N Herb request (it's a rock station). This is a great event and a worthy cause. If you have a few dollars, here is WAAF's website. Remember, $1 buys two meals...

Now to our regularly scheduled post:

Last week, Steve Shipley was our featured guest chef, and he loved using the Frigidaire hybrid induction cooktop.

The reasons:

Griddle burner: For bigger plates, etc.

Temperature readings: More precise cooking

Dual Zone induction: For fast boiling and simmering on larger pots

Secondary induction: For more of the above albeit owith smaller pots

Why you should like it: When induction was first introduced, the price was $3500 plus. This cooktop is $1389.

Products To Consider

I have often posted about rebates, which can be enormous. Have a look at a few examples...

Frigidaire FDB2433 - This is Frigidaire's best selling stainless dishwasher, and it is $299 after $250 in rebates. Not bad for an integrated dishwasher.

Bosch SHE43P25 - This is the best selling Bosch dishwasher. It is all stainless, quiet and water saving. It is $649 after $150 in rebates.

Frigidaire FAFS4272 - The new Frigidaire washer is bigger, uses less water and has a steam option. It is $449 after $300 in rebates.

Bosch WFVC4400 - This is a great washer. It is big, water and energy efficient. It is $569 after $200 in rebates.

It must be end of the year, and companies have quotas to fill...

Products I Would Buy Now

Black Friday has become Black November. Appliance manufacturers are no longer ceding Holiday business to electronics and apparel . In fact, they are starting early.

Examples as follows:

Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher - $199 after a ton of rebates. It's only available in black, but this is a very good dishwasher at $329-$349.

Bosch Dishwasher - $399....Normally sells well at $629. Good cycles, stainless tank and super quiet.

Bosch washer - $499 (normally $749). This will save you money even if your's is new. It is 4.5 cubic feet and uses very little water, electricity and detergent.

Frigidaire Electric stove - $299 in white, black...$399 stainless. Self-cleaning ceran priced well.

Frigidaire gas range - $499 white, black...$599 is stainless. Five burner with griddle burner.

Frigidaires' New Niche

Frigidaire has a new front load washer. This company has traditionally operated under the radar by being the low cost supplier and actually having decent products.

Lets have a peek...

Upgrades:

1. Bigger - from 3.5 to 4.2 cubic feet.....

2. More Features....Hey why not

3. Steam...It seems like it is now something we cannot live without

Now the price. Presently, through November, there are $300 in rebates, so the price drops to $449. Buy it at this price (although the Bosch has similar rebates to $499, but lets stay on point).

However, without rebates this brand is vulnerable, at $749, Frigidaire no longer becomes a value.

How About a Free Dishwasher?

The most widely accepted promotion is the Thermador 1-2 Free promo, which seems to be ongoing. You buy a built in refrigerator, a cooking product and receive a free dishwasher.

Not surprisingly, another manufacturer has followed with an identical promotion, but only October 21-31. Very surprisngly, its Frigidaire with their Pro line.

Have a look...

Buy a Pro Refrigerator

Stove

Over-the-Range Microwave

And this is yours free (don't worry they will make it up on volume)

Frigidaire is testing the waters for sales impact for just 10 days, but their other rebates programs are still valid and can work in conjunction with a free dishwasher.

Frigidaire Rebates

It's an almost herd mentality. Once one company rebates, then all of them join the fray. I could be writing this post about GE, Viking, Electrolux, SubZero, Thermador or Wolf. But Frigidaire is the subject. This is a good, basic stainless steel package, which sold for $1999 4 years ago.

Have a look:

Self cleaning range FFEF3048

Dishwasher FFBD2407LS

Over The Range Microwave FFMV164LS

Stainless refrigerator FFHT186LS

$1659 after rebates.....Frigidaire used to own this commodity stainless market, but their rebates stem out of fear from a newly aggressive GE....who incidentally have a $1659 package of their own.

Reduction of Induction

Diva was the company to market an induction cooktop in the late 1990s (GE and JennAir tried unsuccessfully in the 80s). Induction is the dominant cooking technology. It is faster to boil and simmers, emits much less heat for easier venting and is child safe (not child proof).

Back then the cooktop sold for $5500

Today it is much different as you can be hybrid induction with half electric and half induction burners as well as all induction

Cooktops:

Hybrid: 1599

All induction: 2400

This is interesting, you can buy this Frigidaire hybrid range with convection and a warming drawer for the same price as the cooktop...hard to believe.

Hybrid: $1599

All induction $2499

Pro Electric Alternatives

Lets go back to the Wolf Gas/electric (Hi George) DF304.

As said in a previous post, this is a great range. But what if you only have electric? You can bury a propane tank in your yard and convert the range to propane.

There are, however,better alternatives in actual electric as follows:

Electrolux EIS65JS

Repeat after me: Induction is faster than gas. Seriously. It also simmers better and is virtual childsafe. It also requires less ventilation, because it emits much less heat into the room than gas. With that in mind, Electrolux is a great range with intuitive controls, convection oven and yet another oven below. Price is $2500 less than the Wolf.

Frigidaire FPCS3085

Frigidaire is Electrolux Light. This unit has 2 induction burners, convection oven and a warming drawer underneath. At $2049, the Frigidaire is $1150 less than the Electrolux and $3150 less than the Wolf.

Buy an induction range...and bury a pool in the yard instead of a tank.

Pro Alternatives

Ah...The Wolf dual fuel DF304

Wolf is one of my favs. Each burner has 15,000 BTU at its high yet simmers at 500 BTU. It has electric convection for even baking. In short, this is a great range, but at $5599, it should be.

Unlike in years past, there are good lesser-expensive alternatives.

GE Cafe C2SG9800

I like the Cafe. It has five burners with one at 17,000 BTU and one dedicated simmer at 5,000 BTU. It also has an electric convection oven and yet another oven below. Price of the Cafe is $2599 (in dual fuel as described).

Frigidaire FPDS308K

Frigidaire is a great value brand. For $1729, this range has a 17,000 BTU burner and a dedicated simmer with an electric convection oven and a warming drawer below.

Wolf still has a better top as all their burners have power and the ability to simmer, but for $3000-3800 less, there are other choices to consider.

Tomorrow, we will look at electric...

Kitchen Of The Year...Part 2

Welcome to Monday

Part 2 of our renovation of the House Beautiful "Kitchen of The Year" (video below). In part 1, we specified the best. In part 2, we deliver a very nice kitchen on budget.

Have a Look:

Refrigeration
House Beautiful: JennAir JB36NXRW
Yale Beautiful: Bosch B22CS30

Ok, its a side by side...but the Bosch B22 is attractive, counter depth and stainless. At $1700+ after rebates, this unit is around 5-6,000 cheaper than the JennAir.

Wall Oven
House Beautiful: JennAir JJW2830
Yale Beautiful: Bosch HBL3550

Bosch does not have gadgets, just stainless steel and convection. At $2300, it is also $3,000 cheaper than HB.

Cooktop:
House Beautiful: JennAir JED3536
Yale Beautiful: Frigidaire FPCC3085

Lets see, ours is 2 burner induction...Theirs is not. Our vent is easier to clean and way more powerful.

Sinks:
House Beautiful: No idea
Yale Beautiful: Majestic M24 and Franke NAX110

Simple, popular D-shape sinks...If I had to guess, you would save probably $3,000-5,000 between this and the HB.

Lights:
House Beautiful: German import
Yale Beautiful: Tech Lighting canopy with your choice of pendants...

I have been thinking about this one all weekend. Ok, part of the weekend. Look at the canopy and combine it with any pendant to customize your own light.

House Beautiful video



Well, we are at least $15-20,000 less expensive than House Beautiful.

What do you think?

Frigidaire French Door

Frigidaire has finally marketed a french door refrigerator. This is good for consumers in general. Since they are a quality, yet low price producer, other companies will suddenly re-market their products at lower prices.

Have a gander:

Frigidaire 28 cubic foot french door...

Is $300 cheaper than a Bosch 26 cubic foot...

and $600 less than this GE profile unit (GE does have the cool touchscreen)...

Unfortunately, Frigidaire chose the wrong segment to attack first. Most consumers by the french door smaller or counter depth. Hopefully, they will be on the market soon.

Do This OR That

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. I was away in Kennebunckport and saw some blog worthy material. Last couple of years I have focused on renovating more cost effectively. This post will be a continuation....Have a look.

The SubZero 600 series. You have to love the vacuum seal, self sealing crispers and overall fit and finish of these units. Then again at around $11,000, these units should be pretty good.

We show them panelled. Stainless built-ins look like this together (different units than the 600 series).

At The Captain Lords Inn in Kennebunkport, there lies a pretty good alternative. The Frigidaire Commercial Series, complete with wheels at the bottom. Nice looking and under $3000 for the set.

Things To Consider

Following are a few interesting items to consider in no particular order...

Bosch SHE5AL05

At $539 after rebate, this is Boschs' least expensive dishwasher. Its quiet and water efficient. We are actually installing Bosch dishwashers free June 25 through the 27th...

Frigidaire FPCC3685K

I am warming up to hybrid (half induction/half electric) cooktops. Induction at lower prices.

Frigidaire FPCS3085LF

Hybrid induction, warming drawer and convection at $2049....not bad (same price as GE Profile wihout induction and warmer).

Bosch B22CS30SNS

Its inexpensive for a shallow depth at $1799....then Bosch is offering tons of package rebates.

KitchenAid KFCS22EVMS

Big, shallow, french door...with $300 in rebates.