I've had no trouble with my Thermador 6 burner stove. It's 13 years old. We are now into the 2nd week of a major remodel of the kitchen knocking out the old mudroom laundry room to make a bigger kitchen. I will keep the Thermador. I am looking at an ASKO Dishwasher. I had nixed the Miele because I want to throw silverware into the DW. But if Gary is right, then I could reconsider the Miele. It looked like the ASKO has the silverware tray on top too but without the annoying slotted utensil tray. (The difference seems to be the difference between Rome's airport and Frankfort). I want an all refrigerator column so I am looking at the Thermador. I have a full freezer in our shed 10 feet away from the kitchen . (We are cattle ranchers). So all I need inside is an ice cube maker for my smoothies. But maybe a small freezer drawer for frozen fruit for said smoothies, a couple frozen pizzas, and of course the Ketel One Vodka. (No more kids at home). Could put the 18" Thermador freezer someplace though. Other columns are Lebherr, Viking. So advice on columns? And what about beverage centers? I looked at Marvel and Viking. Yikes. My biggest problem is a separate convection/microwave. Every 10 years, it seems, we are warned of the dangers of microwaves and cancer. Is a combo convection microwave good for making that extra dish for Thanksgiving and parties? Politically I'm trying to buy as much American and local as I can (local guy making our stainless steel sink), but the next best thing are European manufacturers who have union workers who make decent salaries, not slave labor. I have to decide by tomorrow and I'm still a tad confused.

I will pile on here on the matching appliances idea. You will get much better appliances if you research each element and choose based on performance. AND, you will probably do better than any package deal if you shop your chosen appliances carefully. Look in clearance rooms, watch for rebates, etc. I noticed that you never said that you HAD to have a gas cooktop. So, since nobody else has said it...have you considered an induction range? If you have small kids in the house that will, eventually, enjoy helping you cook, you may want to look into it. You would get the responsiveness and power of a gas cooktop without the flame, combustion byproducts and heat loss. (I'm not bashing gas cooking--just stating a fact) You also could get a great performing cooktop with an electric convection oven--if that's what you wanted. They are pricey, but if you were looking at a cooktop/oven combo, you'll probably come out just about the same pricewise. I just installed an induction cooktop (after years of planning for gas, btw) and I love it--I can let my 12 and 14 year old kids go to town on it without worrying about accidently setting a towel on fire or leaving a burner on. (Induction burners turn themselves off if there's nothing on them). For me, I get power and an immediate response to adjustments. It's easy to clean up, too. If it's intriguing to you, do a search on induction. And if it holds no appeal--feel free to ignore the suggestion. I have teenagers. I'm used to it. :-p Cj

Do NOT use Home Depot or Thomasville. Home Depot forgot my toekick drawers despite being asked if she included them 5 different times. She said they were ordered. When my cabinets came in there were no drawers. I immediately went back to HD and the same designer lied and said my cabinets were too heavy for the drawers- i had pictures ftom the website with my ordered configuration. 2nd problem is Thomasville - they have shipped defective product 4 times now. Their shipper lost 1 shipment for a week and today they never showed up with the 4th attempt to give me usable cabinets. Even with a specialist agent from Thomasville I can't get this resolved. I ordered the cabinets 8 months ago. I could have special ordered cabinets for the same amount of money and had my kitchen back together by now. RUN to anyone else although I've been told Lowe's is even worse.

I don't know much about Schuler, but I would not go with Kraftmaid again. The cabinets are pretty, but the quality for what I paid is ???????? Although, so far any problems seem like they will take care of. Actually, I have Maple painted cream white. If I did it again, I would go with the Laminate.