The kitchen needs work. Beauty is secondary. If your room looks beautiful but you can’t cook, you’ve failed. The biggest deciding factor in the renovation is kitchen appliances. The options are endless. Prices range from a few hundred dollars for basic models to five figures for professional designer pieces. Which one should I buy?
Many designers and Realtors ask questions such as: Should I buy matching set of appliances from the same manufacturer?
Sounds very logical. The uniform looks cool. But is it really smart? Let’s break it down.
Aesthetic Considerations
Obviously you don’t want a confusing jumble of styles. But here’s the truth about finishes. Almost all manufactured kitchen appliances are white. Black is also standard. High-end models are also available in stainless steel. It is not difficult to find appliances in matching colors from several different manufacturers.
Of course, the handle may be slightly different. Some brands of stainless steel may have a warmer tone than others. If these small imperfections bother you, you might want to buy a matching set from the same brand. Create a unified look. But for most people this is a superficial concern.
Resale Value Myths
Consider that kitchen appliances increase the resale value of your home. They won’t. This is a persistent myth that costs homeowners money. Prospective buyers probably don’t care if the refrigerator fits the oven. In fact, they may see mismatched appliances as a sign that you selected based on performance and budget, not just style. Or they might just tear them out and start over. Buy for your needs, not for some hypothetical buyer who may never exist.
The Functional Reality
There is no functional benefit to purchasing matching set. Unless you buy ultra-high-end kitchen rig with linked computer systems (which hardly exists these days), the appliances work independently. Maytag dishwashers work well alongside Kenmore ovens and Bosch microwaves. People don’t have to be from the same family to live side by side.
In fact, there are strong functional reason not to buy a matching set. Look at consumer ratings. No manufacturer received the highest rating in all categories. Brands can make great products, but their dishwashers are mediocre. Freestanding refrigerators can be great, but microwave ovens can be terrible. Forcing a reply is guaranteed to degrade the performance of some devices. You sacrifice quality for a logo.
The One Exception: Rebates
Is it generally bad to buy all equipment from one manufacturer? Almost. However, there are exceptions to this rule. The exception is money back.
Manufacturer rebate programs sometimes exist. We give in cash or with a gift card, depending on the amount. For example, General Electric offers a $500 gift card when you buy four GE appliances. Three devices could yield $300. Local stores may also offer similar deals to clear inventory.
If the rebate is big enough, it might be worth it. A $500 rebate means a lot. If you have to buy a top-of-the-line dishwasher for less than a mediocre dishwasher, you can go for it. Let’s go shopping. Compare the rebate amount with the potential quality drop. Sometimes the math works. Other times not so much.
The choice is not just about style. It’s about value. And value is complex.
