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What to Look for When Selecting Kitchen Appliances

July 16, 2024

Today, I want to chat about something that can truly make or break your kitchen design: choosing the right appliances. It’s one of the first things you need to tackle when planning your space, and trust me, it’s more important than you might think. There are tons of amazing options out there, and picking the right ones can make your life so much easier! So, let’s dive into everything you need to know about kitchen appliances.

Where to Put Your Appliances

Once you know which appliances you need, the next step is figuring out where to put them. The placement of your appliances can really impact how you move around your kitchen, so think about how you cook and what makes the most sense for you.

Clouz Houz Tip: Start with the working triangle concept. This means positioning your sink, stove, and fridge in a triangular setup to make cooking more efficient. But remember, it’s all about what works best for your routine and space.

Stylish and Functional Appliances

Who says practical can’t be stylish? When picking appliances, look for brands that fit your budget and quality standards, while also adding a touch of style to your kitchen. Some of my current go-to brands are GE Cafe and Blue Star because they balance functionality with great design. We chose this Ilve Stainless Steel range with brass accents for our kitchen. It’s the first time I have tried this brand, and so far I am a big fan!

Integrated vs. Freestanding Appliances

Integrated appliances are perfect for achieving a sleek, seamless look in your kitchen. These appliances are designed to blend in with your cabinetry, making them almost invisible. For our Tumalo project, we chose the Forte brand for our panel-ready refrigerator. Given that panel-ready appliances can sometimes cost upwards of $10,000, we opted for two 24″ refrigerators with freezers below to stay within budget. We used this approach for the fridge/freezer and dishwasher in our Tumalo project, because I knew if I kept them panel ready it would read “larger” and more inclusive than breaking up the cabinets with stainless appliances. Make sense?

The Interior Collective was a great source of inspiration for this project, read more to explain why we went this route!

One trend I’m loving right now is the hidden vent hood. For a long time, big industrial hoods were all the rage, but now more people are opting for hoods that blend into the cabinetry. It keeps the kitchen looking clean and uncluttered. Lately, I’ve been obsessing about plaster hoods for the hood vent insert. Hide-A-Vent is my favorite for this type of installation.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right appliances is a team effort. Lean on your architect, interior designer, appliance salesperson, and builder for advice on layout, style, and functionality. Your job is to know what’s out there and think about how your family cooks and does chores. From there, your design team can help you nail down the details.

Picking kitchen appliances might seem daunting, but with a little guidance and some thoughtful planning, you can create a space that’s both functional and beautiful. Good luck, and remember, keeping things simple and intentional is always beautiful. ❤️

Want to read more about our kitchen design? Check out our complete Kitchen Reveal!

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Everyone wants their home to feel elevated. What most people don’t realize is that it rarely comes from choosing the most expensive countertop or the prettiest light fixture.

During every project, we’re constantly asking ourselves, “Will this actually make life better?” Does this layout make unloading groceries easier? Is there somewhere to put the toaster instead of leaving it on the counter? Will there be enough storage for the things this family actually owns? Is this chair beautiful... and somewhere you’ll want to sit every night?

I think people assume we spend our days obsessing over fabrics and finishes. Truthfully, we spend just as much time talking through layouts, storage, and the tiny decisions you’ll appreciate every single day. Those conversations don’t always show up in a highlight reel, but they’re usually the reason a home feels so good to live in.

You don’t have to have every decision figured out before reaching out. Most of our clients come to us because they know something isn’t working—they just need help seeing what’s possible. Schedule an hour consultation with me and we can talk through your project (link in bio)!

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Everyone wants their home to feel elevated. What most people don’t realize is that it rarely comes from choosing the most expensive countertop or the prettiest light fixture. During every project, we’re constantly asking ourselves, “Will this actually make life better?” Does this layout make unloading groceries easier? Is there somewhere to put the toaster instead of leaving it on the counter? Will there be enough storage for the things this family actually owns? Is this chair beautiful... and somewhere you’ll want to sit every night? I think people assume we spend our days obsessing over fabrics and finishes. Truthfully, we spend just as much time talking through layouts, storage, and the tiny decisions you’ll appreciate every single day. Those conversations don’t always show up in a highlight reel, but they’re usually the reason a home feels so good to live in. You don’t have to have every decision figured out before reaching out. Most of our clients come to us because they know something isn’t working—they just need help seeing what’s possible. Schedule an hour consultation with me and we can talk through your project (link in bio)!

Life is too short for a room that doesn’t make you happy. Color is @farrowandball Setting Plaster🩷

39 3
Open
Life is too short for a room that doesn’t make you happy. Color is @farrowandball Setting Plaster🩷

POV: You want a home you love... but you don’t have the budget to do it all at once.

And then you find our studio!

I’d rather see you create one room you absolutely love than stretch yourself across an entire house and feel like nothing is ever finished. One finished room gives you momentum. It reminds you why you started. And it gives you a clear vision for everything that comes next.

One of the things we help clients with is deciding where to begin. Together, we create a roadmap that allows your home to evolve thoughtfully over time-without feeling pieced together.

You don’t have to do it all this year. You just have to know what comes first.

If you’re wondering where to start, we’d love to help. Feel free to message me and we can set up a 15 min discovery call!

21 2
Open
POV: You want a home you love... but you don’t have the budget to do it all at once. And then you find our studio! I’d rather see you create one room you absolutely love than stretch yourself across an entire house and feel like nothing is ever finished. One finished room gives you momentum. It reminds you why you started. And it gives you a clear vision for everything that comes next. One of the things we help clients with is deciding where to begin. Together, we create a roadmap that allows your home to evolve thoughtfully over time-without feeling pieced together. You don’t have to do it all this year. You just have to know what comes first. If you’re wondering where to start, we’d love to help. Feel free to message me and we can set up a 15 min discovery call!

New project in Bend, Oregon.🤍

We just signed on with the sweetest family, and one of the first things they said was, “We don’t really love our house.” A home can be objectively beautiful and still not feel good to live in.

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Instead of making the kitchen bigger, we’re making it smarter. One move solved several problems at once: more storage, a better dining area, and enough square footage to give the living room the footprint it deserved.

Now we’re moving into one of my favorite phases... layering in materials. This is why I love the conceptual phase. Before a single cabinet is ordered, we’re already changing the way this family will live in their home.

If you’ve been looking around your own home thinking, “I know this could work better, I just don’t know how,” we’d love to help. Whether you’re planning a renovation, reworking your layout, or just need an expert eye before making expensive decisions, that’s exactly what we have to offer!

Check out our services through the link in our bio or send this post to a friend who’s struggling with this exact thing.

49 3
Open
New project in Bend, Oregon.🤍 We just signed on with the sweetest family, and one of the first things they said was, “We don’t really love our house.” A home can be objectively beautiful and still not feel good to live in. In this house, the kitchen, dining room and living room are all one big great room. It sounds ideal until you realize the dining table is taking up the exact real estate the living room desperately needs. Instead of making the kitchen bigger, we’re making it smarter. One move solved several problems at once: more storage, a better dining area, and enough square footage to give the living room the footprint it deserved. Now we’re moving into one of my favorite phases... layering in materials. This is why I love the conceptual phase. Before a single cabinet is ordered, we’re already changing the way this family will live in their home. If you’ve been looking around your own home thinking, “I know this could work better, I just don’t know how,” we’d love to help. Whether you’re planning a renovation, reworking your layout, or just need an expert eye before making expensive decisions, that’s exactly what we have to offer! Check out our services through the link in our bio or send this post to a friend who’s struggling with this exact thing.

While renovations are an investment, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned after years of designing homes is this:
It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about where you spend it.

The homes that feel the most elevated aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones where every decision was made with intention.

That’s the philosophy behind everything we do. We help our clients understand where it’s worth investing, where they can save without sacrificing the overall look, and how to create a home that feels layered, timeless, and beautifully functional. Because a thoughtfully planned home will always feel more luxurious than one filled with expensive choices that don’t work together.

Good design isn’t about spending more.
It’s about making every dollar work harder for you-and creating a home you’ll love living in every single day.

If you’re planning a renovation or a furnishing project, we’d love to help. Learn more through the link in our bio.

28 3
Open
While renovations are an investment, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned after years of designing homes is this: It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about where you spend it. The homes that feel the most elevated aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones where every decision was made with intention. That’s the philosophy behind everything we do. We help our clients understand where it’s worth investing, where they can save without sacrificing the overall look, and how to create a home that feels layered, timeless, and beautifully functional. Because a thoughtfully planned home will always feel more luxurious than one filled with expensive choices that don’t work together. Good design isn’t about spending more. It’s about making every dollar work harder for you-and creating a home you’ll love living in every single day. If you’re planning a renovation or a furnishing project, we’d love to help. Learn more through the link in our bio.

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The funny thing is... I don’t think this is really about houses. I think all of us have something in our lives that feels unfinished, overlooked, or in need of another chance. I’ve learned that the middle of the story rarely looks like the ending. And sometimes the most beautiful things aren’t built from scratch. They’re simply revealed.
For anyone who’s ever had to start over... I’m rooting for you!

145 8
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People often ask why renovations have always been my favorite. The easy answer is that I love watching a transformation. But if I’m honest, I think it’s something much deeper than that. Years ago, our family walked through a season that forced us to start over. It wasn’t something I would have chosen, but looking back, it changed the way I see everything. Homes. People. Even myself. I stopped looking at what something was and started paying attention to what it could become. Maybe that’s why fixer-uppers have always felt so familiar to me. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re starting over. I know what it’s like to wonder if something beautiful can come from a season that feels uncertain. That’s why I love renovations. They’re hopeful. Every wall that comes down makes room for something new. Every decision is an act of believing that what’s ahead can be better than what was there before. The funny thing is... I don’t think this is really about houses. I think all of us have something in our lives that feels unfinished, overlooked, or in need of another chance. I’ve learned that the middle of the story rarely looks like the ending. And sometimes the most beautiful things aren’t built from scratch. They’re simply revealed. For anyone who’s ever had to start over... I’m rooting for you!
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64654 Cook Ave Suite 3,
Bend, OR 97703, US

Located inside Tumalo Home

(503)422-5682