Choosing your home appliances
Selecting home appliances might seem like a small detail, compared to all the big decisions you need to make when designing a home, but it can actually have a ripple effect onto a lot of other decisions. For example, different fridges can have vastly different measurements and can change your whole kitchen plan. American ovens are much larger than standard European ones and again, can have a big impact on the plans. Are you getting a dishwasher? Will it be a full dishwasher or a half? All these decisions should ideally be made before finalizing any plans.
So let's get down to it…how to choose the right appliances for you.
One of the most important things to remember when purchasing appliances is that there's no right or wrong answer, and no one should decide for you. Different appliances have different pros and cons, the most important thing is…they have to work for YOU! They have to help your life run as efficiently as possible. Big fridges are amazing but if you have a smaller kitchen and your priority is storage space or countertop space, then a big fridge might not be the right fridge for you. If you have 5 loads of laundry everyday, then it might be worth spending as little more on a larger washing machine that might make the laundry situation run that much smoother. If your family are die-hard deep fryers, then investing in a good cooktop that’s easy to clean and has a good extractor fan is definitely something to think about.
I think the key to getting it right, is asking yourself the right questions:
What are my kitchen priorities?
What are the most important things you want out of your kitchen. Is it a large counter top or a big island? Is it a nice sized pantry? Would you rather sacrifice some storage/counter space and have a huge, amazing fridge? Do you want to have enough kitchen seating for family suppers or just a few bar stools for hanging out? Are the aesthetics high enough on the list, that you'd rather sacrifice other things to have a beautiful drinks station? All this should be thought about and taken into account before purchasing appliances and finalizing kitchen plans.
How do I cook? Style? Amount? Frequency?
Are you a big baker and need a top quality oven? Do you cook a lot on your cooktop? Do you grill or fry often - then you need to think about extractor fan options. Do you like to have more control over the cooktop, then gas burners might be for you…or do you have small children and like the idea of no fire, then induction’s your guy. Do you regularly cook for large amounts of people, sacrificing cabinet space for a larger oven might be worth it for you. Do you cook on a daily/weekly basis and need your kitchen to function flawlessly? Or (no judgement 😉), are you more of a take-out family and functionality isn't top of the list, you just want a really beautiful space for your family to hang out in? The questions are endless but what it really comes down to, is thinking through your kitchen life and purchasing accordingly.
What would make my laundry life function as smoothly as possible?
Is a 10kg washing machine the answer to all your problems? Or are you happy with a good quality 7kg washing machine, and put the extra money somewhere else? Do you want a condensing dryer or vent dryer? Do you rather get smaller european sized machines and have a little space on the side for laundry baskets etc? Or do you want to invest in larger American machines?
Do I want to ditch disposables and invest in a dishwasher?
This one’s pretty self-explanatory…
Hot tap vs kettle vs coffee machine
Again, it's just about asking yourself how you and your family function. Are you major nespresso people? Do you judge anyone that doesn't do pour over coffee as not real coffee drinkers? Think how you do things and if there’s anything you want to change and choose accordingly.
Water machine vs filter tap vs bottles
Water machine = v practical but…not the prettiest addition to a kitchen (sorry for the candor but let's call a spade a spade…). Filter tap = definitely prettier but still has aesthetical ramifications and people who are particular about water taste might not like the taste. Bottle = v aesthetical (because they're hidden…lol!) but not as practical…
What do I store in my fridge?
Do you need wide shallower shelves, so that everything's visible and nothing gets lost in the bottomless pit that is the back of your fridge? Or narrower but deep shelves for your weekly 20 litre chicken soup pot? Do you want extra's like an ice maker? Or water machine? Do you prefer fridge above freezer, freezer above fridge, side by side? There's so many fun options…(or am I the only person who finds fridge shopping fun…?)
To summarize: There's loads of options…just come to the appliance store prepared and you'll be fine!
Adiós for now,
P.S I'm not quite sure why I went spanish there..…but I'm gonna go with it!
