How to choose kitchen appliances: the top 6 things to consider

The heart of the home is generally the most appliance-heavy room of any house so there’s lots to consider. Choosing kitchen appliances can be a daunting task if you’re embarking on a new build or a kitchen renovation for the first time. Here’s five things not to miss.

The first thing to consider when selecting kitchen appliances is how they will be used. For example, empty nesters are likely to use the oven in a very different way to large families. Understanding how the kitchen is used is the best way to narrow down what type of appliances would be best suited. “Part of this is also considering who will be using the appliances,” Heathcotes' Richie Hancock says. 

“If, as an example, a homeowner uses a kitchen to cater for large groups or entertains regularly, then larger, more versatile ovens are likely to be the best option. Future proofing is another important part of appliance choice, so if appliances are being selected for a home in which the occupants plan to retire, for example, then ease of use and placement options will be a central consideration.”

Perhaps a family’s culinary tastes are simple and easy-to-cook meals ideal for the whole family to enjoy and these meals are predominantly cooked on the stovetop. “If the main method of cooking in the home is on the stovetop rather than in the oven, it’s likely a smaller oven would be the best option with more budget allocated to specifying a gas or induction cooktop. Conversely, for a home where baking and cooking in the oven are the predominant methods of food preparation, an oven may become the priority in terms of cooking appliances.”

In a household where more exotic meals incorporating a wide range of aromatic ingredients are the norm, other considerations come into play, Richie says. “Information such as this about the style of food prepared is always important as it provides another insight into the best type of appliances for the project. Using aromatic ingredients, for example, is likely to require careful consideration of the type and placement of the rangehood to ensure aromas are removed from the interior of the home at the time they are created.”

While it is usually the domain of a kitchen designer to advise the best spatial layout of a kitchen, it’s an important thing to consider before embarking on a new build or renovation, Richie says. “If you are renovating, this can be a more valuable process to go through as you’ll be aware of any constraints in the existing space and no doubt have some idea of what would improve the current kitchen. Things to consider are, for example, window placement and whether or not the kitchen is an entertainer’s space or a more private family space. Windows are particularly important if you’re considering the placement of an appliance underneath one. A cooktop located beneath a window will require a down draught extraction system as the window will likely prevent an overhead rangehood so if a priority is an overhead rangehood then placement will become important. Similarly, if the kitchen is used for entertaining then the placement of appliances used for food preparation may work better in a place where the cook can also socialise, while dishwashers and cleaning appliances may be better suited to more discreet locations.”

“If you’re set on a particular appliance, it’s best to use this as the basis for choosing the rest of the appliances to create an appliance grouping that works well together,” Richie says. “A client whose kitchen we recently fitted out had one item that was a ‘must have’ so we began with that. His desire was to incorporate a plumbed-in coffee machine so that formed the basis of the appliance choices after the best coffee machine was chosen.”

Many contemporary kitchen designs incorporate integrated appliances to create articulate a sense of minimalism. “While this means the appliances may be hidden from view, it can also create a statement kitchen. What it does mean is that appliances chosen do not necessarily need to be the same brand, colour or finish as they won’t be visible features of the space, however it’s important appliances are selected that are compatible with cabinetry integration.”

For homeowners Doug and Catherine White, the decision to renovate their 1970s kitchen came after living in the home and using the existing kitchen for some months. The pair share the home with their daughter, and as Doug explains, the three family members enjoy cooking and preparing food at the same time. “So this was something we wanted to consider from the outset with appliance choice,” he says.

“We initially worked with a kitchen designer to look at the spatial aspects of the new kitchen and then with Heathcotes to decide on the best appliances for the space, which our kitchen designer was then able to incorporate into the design.

“What we discussed with Heathcotes were our ‘must haves’, which included a plumbed-in coffee machine and cooking appliances that allowed us all to work in the kitchen at the same time. We decided on one large Bosch oven and a second smaller Miele combination microwave/oven to allow for different meals to be prepared simultaneously. 

“With the help of Heathcotes we then selected a range of other appliances that worked in with these central items, including a Bosch induction cooktop and dishwasher, a Fisher & Paykel fridge/freezer and a Miele washer and dryer,” Doug says.

“We wanted to create a minimalist look so we selected appliances that could be integrated into the cabinetry. The process of selecting all the appliances for our kitchen was a really successful one as we worked closely with both our kitchen designer and Heathcotes to choose pieces that worked for our particular situation. We found the staff to be particularly knowledgeable and able to find us pieces that worked within our requirements across a range of their brands.”

Heathcotes is a family-run business based in the Waikato, which has specialised in home appliances since 1946.