The following contribution is from another author.
In the last couple of years, high-end kitchen appliances grew in popularity. Many homeowners decide to invest in them for different reasons. While some want to add a touch of luxury to their kitchen, others seek out more practical benefits that come with owning professional-grade appliances. Thanks to this growth in interest, brands like Thermador, Viking, Lacanche, or Wolf became well-known manufacturers.
Nevertheless, finding the right appliance for your kitchen does not only revolve around choosing between basic and luxury devices. It also features a decision whether to opt for built-in or freestanding units. Here, you will find the pros and cons both of these approaches provide. If you are a home cook and are not sure what type of kitchen appliances will complement the look of your kitchen better, read on.
Freestanding Appliances
Selecting freestanding appliances over built-in products is a traditional way to design your kitchen. This proven method features many benefits. Here are a few of them.
Pros:
- Mobility: Want to place a refrigerator right next to your dishwasher and modern coffee tables? No problem! Freestanding appliances are easily transportable and allow you to rearrange your kitchen whenever and however you want to do it.
- Affordability: Even when you want to buy a luxury appliance for your kitchen, you do not have to spend an incredible amount of money. Well-known appliance brands like Miele, Sub-Zero, or Gaggenau offer a wide range of freestanding products that can be a cheaper addition to your interiors than built-in appliances.
- Easy installation: Whether you are looking for refrigerators or cooking appliances, buying a freestanding product can save you a lot of trouble with installation. Additionally, freestanding devices usually offer the same level of technology as their more expensive and unmovable counterparts.
While freestanding appliances are high-performance products, they also come with some problems. Here is a shortlist of those that are especially notable.
Cons:
- Short life expectancy: Freestanding steam ovens, refrigerators, and other home appliances usually do not stand the test of time as well as their built-in counterparts.
- Size limitations: Freestanding refrigerators usually offer less freezer space than a built-in refrigerator. Unfortunately, the same goes for other kitchen appliances like a steam oven or gas ranges.
Built-In Appliances
Built-in appliances offer cutting-edge technology that can make any new kitchen more practical. However, they also provide other advantages that are worth mentioning. Here are some of them.
Pros:
- Aesthetic design: Built-in products made from high-quality stainless steel and cast iron compose well with most kitchen interiors. Every integrated appliance can quickly elevate your kitchen design to another level. If the style is what you are after, consider buying some built-in appliances.
- Long life expectancy: Built-in appliances often last longer than freestanding ones. In this regard, a wall oven you bought years ago might be able to produce the same amount of heat from its burner as a new one fresh from the shop.
- Space: Thanks to its modular refrigeration and freezer columns, a built-in refrigerator will usually offer more space than a freestanding one.
- Flexibility: Many built-in kitchen appliances compensate for their lack of mobility with additional features they provide. For example, an induction cooktop can give you an option to cook with gas while your oven can be electric. Moreover, they can be custom-made to match the rest of your kitchen’s design.
- Safety: Built-in appliances come with many safety features. For instance, they can be installed at the eye-level of an adult to prevent children from opening the oven door and getting burned.
Sub-Zero, La Cornue, or Jenn-Air — no matter which brand will supply you with your built-in appliances, they will not be perfect. Here are a few shortcomings they might feature.
Cons:
- Costs: Matching superior performance with a seamless design can be pretty expensive. In the case of built-in products, the term ‘luxury appliances’ seems to describe the situation perfectly.
- Lack of mobility: When your brand-new Aga kitchen range has been fixed to the floor, removing it can prove to be a daunting task. It would be best to carefully plan your kitchen layout before setting your built-in luxury appliances in place.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, high-end kitchen appliances can widely differ from each other. Nonetheless, what makes all of them a sound investment is their top-notch quality.
Whether you buy your appliance from a small Italian manufacturer or a famous brand like Miele, you should always consider the type of device you need. Even heat ovens and induction cooktops present you with a meaningful choice that will impact your kitchen’s design.
Hopefully, now you know whether freestanding or built-in appliances fit your style. Keep in mind their unique pros and cons, and you should have no problem creating the kitchen space all your family members will love. Good luck!
