Let’s talk appliances! Is anyone else excited? Joshua sure is! So is Elizabeth. Technically we ordered appliances back in week 24, but let’s talk about them today because its just too cold to think about doing anything out at the house at the moment. We’ve been dreaming about the most efficient way of cleaning dishes and clothes, refrigerating food, and transforming ingredients into edible masterpieces since we moved from South Carolina in 2020. Many of the pictures here are several years old, that we’ve collected over many appliance shopping dates.

Since we’re a 100% electric house, with the hopes of going fully sustainable in the future with solar panels, every appliance we’ll be looking at must first be highly efficient and second be run entirely using alternating current. Also, we’re very happy to let you know we worked with Jay over at Lee Supply in Carmel. He has been extremely knowledgeable and great to work with. Lee Supply might be the best-kept secret in appliance showrooms in all of Indiana.

Full-Size Refrigerator

In terms of cooling space, more is better, as far as Joshua is concerned. Elizabeth cares deeply about having a clean and simple front side of the fridge as well as maximizing what we can store in the door, so nothing with ice or water dispenser on the outer door would make it to our discerning list of refrigerators. And while everyone can do their own research, we found that while LG and Samsung have extremely compelling options (even bigger capacities!), they were simply not as reliable as you would want.

It was rather challenging finding showrooms that had real full-depth refrigerators. Almost everyone was showing, and purchasing, cabinet-depth refrigerators. We wanted the biggest most reliable fridge we find. It so happens GE Profile had a new (As of late 2023) 28.7 cu ft smart refrigerator (PGE29BYTFS) that included an inner door pitcher, giving us chilled filtered water that could be removed and used much quicker than waiting for a cup to fill up. Also, and this wasn’t the reason we decided on it, but it something we really liked: The whole back of the fridge is an LED light-up panel. Gorgeous in person. Sold!

Induction Cooktop

OK, let’s talk induction. When it came to selecting an induction cooktop for SugarField, we delved into the world of European brands known for their prevalence in the market and we compared them with known US brands. Exploring various new entries showcasing "cook anywhere" surfaces, we ultimately opted for the induction cooktop with the best repair ratings and an interface that resonated well with Josh's preferences, all while staying within a reasonable budget, the GE Monogram 30” Induction Cooktop (ZHU30RSTSS).

Induction cooking, known for its efficiency and precision, works by transferring electromagnetic energy directly to the cookware, resulting in quicker heating and more precise temperature control compared to traditional gas or electric cooktops. Its safety features, such as cool surfaces and automatic shut-off when cookware is removed, further solidified our decision to choose this modern cooking tech. We do not have experience with this newish form of heating cookware, but we’ve watched more hours of explainers on YouTube than anyone should. It’s proven technology, and arguably one of the most efficient ways to heat things that the home cook can use.

Vent Hood

We had two major requirements for this vent hood: 1) It has to look the part. 2) It has to be operable via remote because it will be located well above where it should be to have any real impact. Will the vent hood move air? Yes. But so will the window that opens right next to the cooktop. We asked Jay from Lee Supply to find us something that would work and he came up with the gorgeous Faber Inca Lux Plus Model # INLP28SSV. It does have a 600 CFM capability, but I (Josh) think we would need at least 1200 CFM to really have a shot at moving enough air to actually have meaningful airflow from so far off the cook top surface. So this thing will definitely move air, but it likely won’t save us from our burning mishaps quite like other designs. Ultimately, though, how often do you really use your vent hood? Do you also open windows so that the static pressure in the house doesn’t increase? Yeah, we plan to do that too.

Wall Oven

Deciding on the perfect oven for our custom home at SugarField was not easy. After much deliberation, we settled on a wall oven to enhance accessibility in our later years and to maximize the storage potential beneath our cooktop.

Exploring various options and brands, we finally chose the KitchenAid KOCE500ESS - a dual microwave and oven combination. What truly sealed the deal for us was the shared interface for both the microwave and oven functions. The seamless integration of controls, along with the elegant handles and cohesive design, captured our hearts.

A standout feature of this oven is its versatility. Apart from traditional microwave and oven capabilities, the KOCE500ESS microwave also offers convection heating. This means we have the convenience of a small oven and the capacity of a large oven all within a single unit. The space efficiency and multifunctionality of this KitchenAid model truly impressed us, making it the perfect choice.

Dishwasher

Are you still with us? You must love appliances as much as we do! We had the most amazing dishwasher back in South Carolina. It was old and probably not nearly the highest-end version of what it did. It came with the house, along with amazing water pressure. Honestly, it was probably the water pressure, but it taught me (Josh) that a good reliable dishwasher really does the job, regardless of how many modes and fancy jets it has. Elizabeth and I wanted Bosch because of the reliability, with a handle that was on the outside, 500 series. We never really saw a dishwasher we didn’t like the look of, this one was totally decided on purely on spec and reliability ratings. The non-recessed handle option helped seal the deal. Model number #SHS65CM5N. Josh never could find the SHS version of the Bosch 500. It’s a rare thing. We’ll definitely try to show some pictures once it arrives because the internet is a big place to not have even one photo of this thing.

Washer Dryer Heat Pump

And finally, the one I (Josh) am super duper excited about! The Washer Dryer Combo! Did you know you can get a ventless dryer? What’s this? Tell me more! Ventless dryers are a convenient option for many homeowners, as they don't require a vent to the outside of the home, allowing for more flexible placement within the laundry area. Additionally, the energy efficiency of heat pump technology in ventless dryers not only saves on energy consumption but also reduces the need to recondition the air in your home, making it a win-win for both convenience and energy impact.

Did you know you can get a stacked washer dryer that has it’s shared controls in the middle of the unit? Yes, dear reader, you heard right. Not only is the most energy efficient dryer stacked with the smartest interface ever to grace a stackable unit, it was released only about a year ago. This is the future of laundry. Ventless dryer, using heat pump technology, and interfaces that combine functions so you don’t have to stand on a ladder to see your cycle selections. We selected the WKHC202HBA LG WashTower with Electric Ventless Heat Pump Dryer. It’s going to be incredible. So pumped about this.

Also, huge shout out to Yale Appliances. I (Josh) have watched many hours of appliance reviews at this and I can uniformly declare that Yale Appliances has the best YouTube appliance reviews, period.