Thank you all so much for your kind words regarding our kitchen renovation! It feels great to finally show you the space we’ve been enjoying for some time now. Micah just said to me the other day that he forgot how bad the “before” was until he saw the post. And he’s right, when you renovate yourself and time passes, it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come. There are so many elements that I love in this space, but today I want to talk about the ones that are giving the most form and function: the appliances. Appliances are such an important component to any kitchen. Going into this reno I wanted something that was not only beautiful but also made cooking as easy and enjoyable as possible for this not-so-passionate cook.
Appliances can make or break a kitchen. They can make the most basic cabinets look high end or they can make expensive cabinets appear cheap. They have a lot of power in the room you cook in, and I knew it was important to not only get the functionality right but also the design. The problem has always been that the nicest looking appliances have always cost a lot of money. Refrigerators that rival a year of college in price and ranges that cost more than my car…these have been the reality in beautifully designed and professional performance appliances.
Not anymore. We’re so excited to have partnered with Frigidaire on the renovation. Their Frigidaire Professional collection offers all of the form and function you need at a very affordable price.
In both of our homes we’ve had an electric stove, but I grew up with gas. I didn’t really cook as a kid, but I did help in the kitchen now and again and recognized the positives of gas over electric. Getting a gas range was important to me and this Frigidaire 5-burner convection range checked all of the boxes.
The gas cooks like a dream fast and even and the design is clean, sleek and industrial. Having the knobs and displays on the front as opposed to above always looks more high end. For ease the top grates are interlocking so it makes sliding heavy pots around no problem. The middle burner is oval and comes with a griddle, perfect for evenly-cooked pancakes and grilled cheese.
When you’ve got a great looking range, the best way to keep it looking high-end is to NOT put a microwave over it. I know that microwaves that vent are a total space-saver, but if you can afford to have the microwave somewhere else, anywhere else, I say do it. Ours lives in the pantry next to the fridge. Adding outlets to the pantries allowed us to store all of our appliances (ready to use) on rollouts in there, and I love not seeing them but having easy access to them! We went with a beautiful hood cover that matched the cabinets and then built this undercabinet hood into it. Hiding the hood allows the range to be the star of this side of the kitchen.
FRIGIDAIRE PROFESSIONAL DISHWASHER
Thank goodness for dishwashers, right? I don’t wash anything by hand if I can help it, and this beauty fits just about anything inside. I’m amazed at how well it cleans, but how quiet it is. The bottle washers on the top rack get the worst of Micah’s protein shake residue, yet I’ve accidently put vintage dishes that have gold detailing through and they didn’t dull at all. The blue light that shines on the floor when things are clean is one of my favorite features.
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The big, beautiful one. How about that fridge and freezer? Symmetry was important to me on this wall, and the dual fridge and freezer just made sense for the look and our needs. Functionally speaking, this right here is my favorite thing in the kitchen. Fresh food specifically fruits and vegetables is something I’m really into and our standard fridge just didn’t allow for as much as I wanted to have in the house at one time. Micah is a meat-loving guy and our side-by-side freezer didn’t cut it for all of the Costco fish and chicken. Things fit, but it was really difficult to see what you had and forget about making room for things when we had people over usually weekly. The Frigidaire Professional full fridge and full freezer put together with the trim kit is definitely the piece de resistance. It’s big, that’s for sure, but it’s all counter depth so things don’t get lost in the back like they do in a standard size fridge. It’s made outings to the store a less frequent thing and trips to the garage fridge almost non-existent.
Some of you out there are definitely scoffing at the stainless, I can feel it. I was that scoffer too! This kitchen had stainless before, and I hated cleaning the fingerprints and smudges. But all of these appliances are made with smudge-proof stainless steel that resists fingerprints and cleans easily, a claim I can attest to. Run your hands on it without leaving a trace and any smudges from dirty fingers can be wiped clean with a damp rag, no cleaner required! I couldn’t be more pleased with the Frigidaire professional line and highly recommend them to anyone looking for beautifully functioning appliances at a good price. What are your appliance must haves?
*This post is in partnership with Frigidaire. All selections, thoughts, and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Makerista possible.
Photos by Justin Salem Meyer.
Kathryn says
I aporeciatwxthis timely post. But would you still have purchased them if you didn’t receive compensation or free appliances? I always wonder in post a like this. Not trying to be negative because I’m looking for new appliances and I want to know how something really works. What do you like and what don’t you like. Would you buy it if you had to spend all of your own money? Would you buy it again? If you had not been compensated, would you have chosen Wolf or Viking or another brand? Thanks….I’m definitely going to check out this product but I haven’t found them to be much less than the high end items out there.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Hi Kathryn,
I appreciate your questions. I would have certainly bought these because they are the nicest looking appliances we could have realistically afforded on our own. They are definitely more cost-effective than the professional lines you mentioned…at least half the price. I’ve only had them a few months, but my experience has been nothing but wonderful so far. The fridge/freezer is the perfect size and I can see everything in there. Nothing going bad in the back! The gas range and oven heat up so quickly and cook more evenly than anything we’ve had before. It’s all easy to clean and I am completely satisfied at this point. Hope that helps, I would definitely look into them more if you’re looking for something beautiful and affordable!
Kathryn says
Thanks so much! It is hard to spend alot of money when there isn’t a way to actually test the products so we rely on the experience and opinion of others.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Totally understand! Best of luck!
Patty Alexander says
Hello, what color are the cabinets please?
themakerista@gmail.com says
They are Kraftmaid’s Sage. It’s such a great color that changes throughout the day and feels unique but still neutral, I definitely recommend!
Dana Metheney says
Your new kitchen is absolutely stunning I am numb, couldn’t believe my eyes, loved every detail about it. Thank you so much for sharing your such an inspiration.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Oh, that’s so sweet, Dana! Thanks for your kind words and following along!
Lori says
So gorgeous. Every line, every angle, every curve, every detail–are all so inviting and luscious.Well done.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thank you very much!
Jamie says
Your kitchen is lovely! And I COMPLETELY agree with the microwave comment! They’re just not attractive haha. xo
themakerista@gmail.com says
It’s true! I should have mentioned (just added it) where we put the microwave. I love having it in the pantry. It is easy to access but out of sight!
Nicole M says
That fridge is a dream! Someday.
Quick question … What is the mini appliance to the left of the sink? And do you have a microwave hidden in a cabinet somewhere?
themakerista@gmail.com says
Oh, that’s a trash compactor. 🙂 The house had one when we moved in and I loved it so much (to my surprise) that I didn’t wait to give it up. 🙂 Yes, the microwave, toaster and blender all live in the pantry cabinets next to the fridge. They’re plugged in and ready for use on pull out shelves…it’s the perfect set up!
Lori says
It’s all ways wonderful when function, affordability and great design meet, and even better to hear about it before a reno! I don’t know when we will do ours but I’ve always drooled over counter depth fridge and freezers but they were way out of budget. I was excited when I saw your post! I would also love to see how you organized your pantry. It looks like you put sooo much thought into your kitchen. I was also impressed with how upscale everything looks in a kitchen that’s not humongous. You usually only see a kitchen that nice that’s bigger than a living room. It really helped me to see how it could be done on a smaller scale. Thanks for sharing.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thank you! Yes, I’ve been planning this space for quite some time, it’s not something I rushed into and each decision was very much obsessed over. Just ask my husband, ha. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words Lori and have a great week!
Peggy says
Beautiful Gwen. I’ve been sharing your posts with hubby and that’s s first. I really appreciate the information you provide as its meaningful to the rest of us cooking and cleaning everyday. Will you show us your appliance garage ?
themakerista@gmail.com says
I definitely will show you inside the cabinets at some point. Right now the microwave is on the right side and the toaster/blender is on the left. It works really well for us!
Ann says
I am in LOVE with your frig/freezer combo and with this affordable option it may be a reality in my next kitchen remodel. But, when i was looking at the appliances closer online i didn’t notice an ice maker. Were you able to install an ice maker? if not, what do you do for ice?
themakerista@gmail.com says
It has an ice maker, but the kind inside the freezer. It’s maybe not as convenient as the door version we mainly see now, but I don’t mind having to reach in for the beauty and other conveniences that come with it. 🙂
Katie says
Hi there! I love that you posted these pictures. We are building a new house and my must have was this full size fridge and freezer! I just had a question about your cabinets that flank the fridge and freezer set- what is their depth? I’m just not sure how deep I should make the whole opening as I don’t want the fridge sticking too far out, or sinking too far in- so, what depth do you suggest? Any other dimension help would be greatly appreciated. Of course I checked the spec sheet; but talking to a real person who is actually using these appliances is better in my opinion!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Hi, Katie! I believe standard depth for cabinets is 24″. This is a counter depth fridge/freezer, so it’s 24.” One thing I learned…I would actually have bumped the cabinets out an inch or two to make room for the plug…something we didn’t take into consideration. This looks great, but it would have looked even better to be completely flush. Also, put flooring under the cabinets or shim them up to meet the floor because it will make your range flush with the counter and if you’re tall, give you a bit more height. Hope this helps and thanks for reading!