The appliances were provided in partnership with KitchenAid
When I began planning our kitchen remodel, I felt both excited and a little overwhelmed. A remodel involves many choices, from paint color and flooring to hardware, and while aesthetics matter, function has to come first. Choosing appliances that fit the space and our lifestyle was one of the most important steps in the process.
One of the things I most looked forward to was having brand-new appliances. We hadn’t had a new stove or refrigerator in years, so upgrading those pieces was a real highlight. Because our kitchen felt like a puzzle, each appliance had to be the right size, style, and have the features we needed. After researching many options, I chose KitchenAid because their models offered the layout and functionality I wanted.
We’ve used our KitchenAid appliances since Christmas, and they’ve performed beautifully. Below I’ll explain how we chose them and share favorite features from each piece.
Refrigerator
Because we weren’t changing the exterior door opening or pantry location, a counter-depth French door refrigerator was the best fit for both efficiency and style. The 22 cu. ft., 36-inch-wide counter-depth French door model gave us the right dimensions and interior layout for our space.
The double doors and lower freezer pull out smoothly without hitting cabinets and include stops so everything opens safely. Our Dutch door can open fully as well, though in a compact kitchen you sometimes have to close one door briefly to open another — a small compromise for the overall fit.
This model is slightly taller than a standard counter-depth refrigerator, which gave us a little extra storage without sacrificing the slim profile. I prefer counter-depth refrigerators because their interior organization — shelves, bins, and a pull-out snack drawer — makes food easier to find and prevents items from getting lost in deep corners.
The handle design gives a professional, tactile look and doesn’t show fingerprints. The small colored caps on the handle ends are a thoughtful detail, and they can be swapped for a different finish if desired. The freezer drawer and interior pull-out organization are user-friendly and work very well for our family.
Range
After choosing the refrigerator, we focused on the range. Although we had considered electric to avoid installing a gas line, we discovered the previous owners had already installed a gas line in the ideal spot, which made selecting a dual-fuel commercial-style range an easy decision. Dual-fuel means an electric oven (with convection options) and a gas cooktop — a great combination for baking and stovetop cooking.
We chose a 30″ freestanding range because it left ample counter space on either side, which is ideal when planning a functional cooking zone. The cooktop layout fits four pots or pans comfortably — something my husband requested — and the surface is easy to clean, which was important to me. The range also features a convenient touch pad control for the oven and timers.
Design-wise, we love the industrial details like the chunky knobs and cast-iron grates, which contribute texture and presence to the kitchen without overwhelming the space.
Range Hood
With a gas cooktop, strong ventilation is essential. We used an under-cabinet hood mounted below a custom cabinet, which keeps controls accessible and the exterior design clean. Ideally a hood should be as wide as or wider than the cooktop to capture steam and fumes efficiently; our 36″ hood vents directly through the roof so smells and smoke are exhausted outside, keeping the kitchen air fresh.
Dishwasher
For the long stretch of cabinetry on one wall, we didn’t want to interrupt the visual flow with a visible appliance. A panel-ready dishwasher allowed the door to accept a cabinet panel, creating a seamless look. The controls are hidden on the top edge of the door so the exterior remains clean and unobtrusive, while the interior offers thoughtful features like a pullout top rack for flat utensils and spatulas, freeing up space in the main rack.
The panel-ready dishwasher blends with our cabinetry and creates a balanced look around the sink area. It operates quietly and does an excellent job cleaning dishes every cycle.
Summary
After four months with the completed kitchen, we’re very happy with how the appliances perform and how they fit into the space. Choosing counter-depth refrigeration, a 30″ dual-fuel range, a properly sized hood, and a panel-ready dishwasher gave us a kitchen that looks cohesive and functions beautifully.
KITCHENAID APPLIANCES IN OUR KITCHEN
- 46 dBA Dishwasher with ProScrub option — panel-ready with top controls
- Under-the-cabinet ventilation hood, 36″ for powerful exhaust
- 30″ 4-Burner Dual-Fuel Freestanding Range, commercial style
- 22 cu. ft. 36″ Width Counter-Depth French Door Refrigerator with interior dispense
- KitchenAid stand mixer and cast-iron cookware included in our kitchen collection
Disclosure: KitchenAid partnered with this blog by providing appliances for our remodel. As always, all opinions, design choices, and decisions are my own.