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Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning and Buying Guide September 1st, 2018 Digital Back Issue Cover

Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning and Buying Guide September 2018 (Digital)

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Shopping With Confidence

You know you want top-notch products in your new kitchen, but how can you tell the really great gear from the not-good-enough? Good news: Consumer Reports is here to help. Our team of kitchen pros—editors, researchers, market experts, and more—will guide you every step of the way, sharing insights straight from our labs on everything from fridges to flooring, and more. When you’re ready to shop, turn to the Buying Guide on page 22. You’ll find thousands of ratings and reviews based on the exhaustive tests our engineers run on every product we evaluate. And our surveys of CR members reveal which brands are most likely to break, so you can avoid pricey repairs. You can trust our advice because we’re nonprofit and independent: We buy all the products we test, and we…

Shopping With Confidence

TREND WATCH Watercolor Wow Factor After a long love affair with neutrals, designers are again flirting with color and pattern. One look we like: watery, washed-out patterns, like these Duquesa Fatima tiles; walkerzanger.com. Make a Splash Finishing Touches In the 1980s, polished brass owned the kitchen. The 1990s brought in the cool gleam of chrome. Next came the warmer look of nickel and the subtle texture of brushed finishes. Today? Well … brass is back (but not as yellow or shiny as before), chrome and nickel are holding their own, and matte black is coming on strong. Basically, you can’t go wrong with any finish, and mixing is even better. Case in point: the Amp collection from CB2, $5.95 to $24.95; cb2.com. Simple Steps to Great Gallery Walls New art sources and a clever app make it…

ASK ANYONE: No matter what the occasion, eventually everyone ends up in the kitchen. And Emily Henderson, a designer and television host, is no exception. After working her styling magic in several other rooms in Nicole and Howard Lorey’s Los Angeles house—including the breakfast area—her team finally tackled the woefully out-of-date kitchen. The existing space was a hodgepodge of styles, with cabinets and built-in ovens dating back to the 1960s, drab 1980s tile, and a few newer appliances. Nothing felt cohesive, and there wasn’t nearly enough storage. Basically, the compact kitchen needed a fresh start. “Nicole and Howard wanted to modernize everything while bringing in some traditional elements that complemented the 1930s architecture of the house,” Emily says. The layout also needed some work. “We wanted to make the space a little…

Better, Not Bigger

“WHEN WE BOUGHT the house we figured we’d wait a year or two and then redo the kitchen, which was really small,” says Alex Register of the Minneapolis home he shares with his wife, Charissa, their foster child, and their dog, Oliver. “But after about six months, we cracked.” A cramped layout was just one of the flaws that pushed the couple to remodel. The space was also closed off from the first-floor living areas, which made entertaining difficult, and there was little storage, no dishwasher, and no prep space to speak of. “There was maybe 1 square foot of counter space,” says Alex, a problem for a couple that likes to cook together. Coming Up With a Plan Although they had a fairly good idea of what they wanted from the update—a…

Better, Not Bigger

Clever Clutter Busters

When cabinets and countertops are limited, follow the advice of professional organizers to avoid a cluttered mess. Make the most of walls, backsplashes, and other vertical spaces; think “double-duty” whenever possible; and don’t let a single square inch go to waste. Here, some space-expanding helpers to keep your small kitchen neat. Wall-mounted rail and hook systems offer customizable, add-on storage where you need it. Ikea Fintorp Series, $3 to $17. ikea.com Tiered racks and accessories like a cutting board can make the kitchen sink work even harder. Kohler Prolific Sink, $900. kohler.com Take a tip from Julia Child: A wall-mounted pegboard is ideal for hanging kitchen essentials. Rebrilliant Kitchen Organizer, $78. wayfair.com Keep the cabinets you have tidy with DIY organizers. Lower Cabinet Organization Starter Kit, $204. containerstore.com Hidden storage under the cutting board plus…

Clever Clutter Busters

Color Your World

Color experts keep an eye out for trends, traveling around the country and abroad taking cues from the arts, fashion, pop culture, the automotive industry, and elsewhere. And major paint manufacturers have in-house color experts who collect these trends, create new palettes, name each color, and more. Here are insights from experts at six paint brands on the paint colors they say will be popular this year, plus tips for trying them in your own space. GLIDDEN Deep Onyx (07/000) A true black, with no hints of blue, says Misty Yeomans, color marketing manager for Glidden. How to use it: Try it on an accent wall, for starters. Pair with white for contrast, and add yellow and blue accents for interest. Recommended sheen: Matte black looks stunning, Yeomans says. Try an eggshell or semigloss for…

Color Your World

Get Smart About Smart Appliances

Within the next two years, most major appliance makers tell us they will offer extensive lineups of smart appliances, part of the ever-expanding ‘internet of things.’ This means that you can use your phone or ask a voice assistant such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home to remotely control appliances or even order supplies. That’s convenient, but figuring out how different parts of the smart-home ecosystem work together can be tricky. Here’s what you need to know to get connected, with ease. Which Assistant Works With Which Brand Before you shop for smart appliances, get to know the ecosystems they connect to. Then take a look at what each of the major appliance brands is serving up.* AMAZON ECHO/ALEXA Using one of the many Amazon Echo speakers, you can use the voice assistant Alexa…

Get Smart About Smart Appliances

Today’s fridge features go far beyond simply providing a glass of ice water without having to open the door. With custom panels, you can get a built-in that matches your kitchen cabinets exactly. And forget four doors—some models have five or more. Our fridge-by-fridge guide helps you choose the right type for your family, demystifies claimed vs. usable storage space, and helps you find the quietest models so that you—and your groceries—can chill out. What to Consider Start with these basics before you browse the appliance aisle Style There’s a refrigerator configuration to suit every household. French-door models are exploding in popularity. Some consumers prefer the convenience of bottom-freezers, which put fresh food at eye level, but top-freezers and side-by-sides can make more efficient use of space in a smaller kitchen. Here’s what you…

Introducing Our New Overall Score

CONSUMER REPORTS evaluates a variety of factors for every product we test—performance, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction. Now CR is incorporating data from those assessments into one Overall Score, as we did with autos ratings two years ago. The result is a single integrated rating that will make it even easier for you to make a well-informed buying decision. Starting with refrigerators (see facing page) and washers and dryers (not covered in this issue), CR will be applying our consolidated Overall Score to all major appliances, many small appliances, and most electronics we test. By combining the results of performance tests in our labs with the data we collect through surveys of CR members, our new Overall Score gives a holistic picture of product quality. One result of this is that models from…

Introducing Our New Overall Score

Now You’re Cooking

The range is the workhorse of the kitchen, and if it’s stylish, then it’s probably the centerpiece, too. Electric radiant smoothtop ranges remain the big sellers, but you have more options than ever, including double-oven ranges for the multitasker in all of us. At Consumer Reports we buy every range we test. So we know what it’s like to pay big money for pro-style ranges. We don’t rate them on style—that’s your call—but we do test and score them on how quickly they deliver cooktop heat, simmering, baking, broiling, and self-cleaning, just as we do with all ranges we test. Spoiler: Our tests have found you can spend a lot less for top performance. Read on to find out how. What to Consider Remodeling or starting from scratch? Cooking for a crowd…

Now You’re Cooking

Style and flexibility are the biggest attractions of a cooktop and wall-oven combination. The look is modern, and you have more choices about where you can install the appliances. Most cooktops are gas or conventional smoothtop electric. But induction technology is growing in popularity as prices fall. See our ratings to find a cooktop that pairs the best performance and price. Professional installation is usually required, so don’t forget to factor in that expense as well. What to Consider To choose the right cooktop for your kitchen, take both your space and your cooking style into account Size Most cooktops are 30 or 36 inches wide, so that’s what we test. But you’ll find cooktops ranging from 21 to 48 inches. Some have five or even six burners, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have…

Easy Bake Ovens

Unlike a range, a wall oven can go wherever you want it: at waist or eye level so that you won’t have to bend to pull out heavy pans, or even under a counter. And now lower prices have made wall-oven and cooktop combinations more affordable, though most combos will still cost more than a stand-alone range. Use our ratings and reliability data as a guide as you shop, and remember that you don’t necessarily have to choose the same brand for your wall oven and cooktop. What to Consider Review these basics before you start shopping. Size Wall ovens come in a range of widths: 24, 27, 30, and 36 inches. Consumer Reports tests 30-inch-wide wall ovens, the most popular size. You’ll also find single- and double-oven styles. If you’re replacing one, it’s…

Easy Bake Ovens

Clearing the Air

It can be tempting to save space and cut costs by relying on the built-in ventilation of an over-the-counter microwave. But our past tests of range hoods have shown that if you care about venting smoke and fumes, you’re better off with a separate range hood, especially if you cook on a higher-powered stove or cooktop. We no longer test range hoods, but our in-house appliance pros can guide you to a model that’s effective and quiet, and enhances the look of your kitchen. What to Consider Before you start shopping, take a look at your space and measure your cooktop or range Ducted or Duct-Free? We don’t recommend a ductless hood because it will take the smoke and odors and disperse them throughout the kitchen and the rest of the house. Venting the…

Clearing the Air

Breakfast cereal, egg yolk, raspberry jam: What do these different foods have in common? Their dried-on, baked-on, caked-on residue is a challenging adversary for just about any dishwasher, including the ones we evaluate in our labs. In our tests, we ask more of a dishwasher than you probably ever will—we load 10 place settings with a baked-on soil, then run them through a sensor cycle using the high-temperature option (if it’s available). Our listening panel evaluates how noisy each model is. We also check energy efficiency against the government’s guidelines for the Energy Star program. Here, get a load of some of your options. What to Consider Focus on these details while you’re shopping Dimensions Conventional dishwashers are intended for a cavity measuring 24x24 inches (WxD). Fitting in your new dishwasher could be a…

Whether you love to cook, rush to pull dinner together, or live on reheated coffee and frozen pizza, a microwave has become a kitchen essential. Defrosting and reheating are common uses, but some of our tested microwaves don’t do either very well. In fact, our tests of small (compact), midsized, and large countertop, over-the-range, and built-in models found big differences in overall performance. You can see the results in our ratings on page 86. What to Consider Start with the basics before you go shopping Budget Countertop microwaves usually cost less than the other types, and midsized models start around $70. Over-the-range microwaves, or OTRs, can be had for less than $200, but most we tested cost $400 and up. Models designed only to be built into cabinetry or a wall begin at $400,…

For many of us, the daily grind can’t begin until we’ve had that first cup of piping hot coffee—so the right machine is essential. You can spend $200 or more for a coffee maker with interactive displays and the kind of stainless steel detailing you’d find on pro-style ranges. But our most recent tests show that a consistently good cup can be had for half that. A little more money buys perks such as programmability, a thermal carafe, adjustable brew strength, and more. What to Consider Take a closer look at your coffee-drinking habits to decide which type of machine will be the best fit Capacity If one cup is enough to jumpstart your day, choose a one-or two-cup drip model or single-serve machine. Need more? Choose a larger automatic drip or one of…

Any Way You Slice It

Pop-Tarts, waffles, bagels, English muffins, baguettes, and more might all travel through a toaster over the course of a month. Got a toaster oven? Then the repertoire might also include broiled pork chops or burgers, or a frozen pizza. We tested dozens of models for ease of use (and cleaning) and how well they can toast a single slice or slices. Also, we consider factors like price, capacity, and size. Check our ratings on page 99 to find the best one for you. What to Consider Start by thinking about your cooking habits and which features you need. Type Toasters brown more evenly and consistently than toaster ovens. But a toaster oven can melt a cheese sandwich, broil a hamburger, and some can roast a 4-pound chicken. When they toast, though, the ovens take…

Any Way You Slice It

Getting Organized

Cabinets can be your biggest expense when remodeling, accounting for up to 40 percent of your budget. Not only that, they help set the style of your space and can mean the difference between an efficient work area and a cluttered mess, and you’ll have them for years. So it’s important to make the right choice. Consumer Reports doesn’t test cabinets at this time, but our in-house experts can help guide your shopping decisions. Here’s what you need to know. What to Consider Before you start shopping, think about your resources, your wants, and your needs 1. Budget Cabinets fall into three categories: stock, semi-custom, and custom. Stock cabinets start around $70 per linear foot. (A typical kitchen has 25 to 30 linear feet of cabinets.) Home centers sell them fully assembled. Stores like…

Getting Organized

Quartz continues to impress our testers on every front. The man-made stone offers an increasingly realistic look, mimicking materials such as marble, granite, concrete, and more, with easier maintenance and greater durability. To test countertop options for durability, we stained, sliced, scratched, scorched, and nicked 14 materials. We rate materials because we’ve found little variation among brands. It’s important to note that in some instances, a particular finish can also affect a material’s performance. So you’ll see certain materials listed more than once in our ratings, on page 111. What to Consider Take these points into account before you begin the shopping process Sample Size Tiny swatches or pictures can’t give you a sense of how the material will look on your counters. So ask for as large a sample as the retailer can…

Covering All the Basins

For months we stained, scoured, dropped heavy objects, and put hot pots in 18 doublebowl sinks. We compared thick stainless steel with thinner versions, and heavy cast iron with lightweight acrylic and fireclay. We found that the manufacturer matters less than the material, so we have arranged our ratings by material. Here’s what else you need to know before you choose a new sink (or sinks) for your space. What to Consider Keep these points in mind before you shop Mounting Holes Most drop-in kitchen sinks come with mounting holes drilled for faucets. If you’re buying a new faucet for an existing sink or vice versa, you’ll need to match the hardware to the number and spacing of the holes in the sink. You can install a base plate to cover an extra hole…

Covering All the Basins

Finding Your Flow

If you’re remodeling or upgrading your kitchen, a new faucet can be an important part of its fresh look and function. You’ll find a wide variety to choose from, at all price levels, most with lifetime warranties (for the original buyer) that cover defects and even finishes. Faucets have become so reliable, we found few performance differences among brands. That’s why we no longer rate faucets. This expert guide can help you navigate the different options on the market. On the Market There are two main types of faucets. If you are replacing an older faucet, your choice may be limited to the configuration of your current sink and/or counter. But if you’re buying a new sink and faucet, consider the pros and cons of each type. Single-Handle Move the handle to one side…

Finding Your Flow

All flooring looks great out of the box, but the true test is what happens once life takes over. Good news: Our tests revealed a variety of options that pair stain resistance with lasting style, many with the warm look of wood that so many shoppers want. In fact, you may be surprised at how fresh some durable "old" materials—like laminate and vinyl—look now. Use this guide to make the right choice for your life, your home, and your budget. What to Consider These factors can help you make the right choice Traffic In busy areas, choose a product that aced our foot-traffic tests. For less busy areas, consider one of the top engineered-wood or bamboo floors for their easy installations and natural veneers. Setting Before you buy, pick up samples of materials you're considering. Compare…

Strokes of Brilliance

Walk into any home center or paint store and you’ll see just how confusing it can be to buy a can of paint. So we've tested 21 interior paints in a variety of finishes to help you find the best one for the job and your budget. Keep in mind that it always makes sense to buy the high-estquality paint you can afford. That said, price doesn't always guarantee performance. Check our ratings on page 131 before you buy. What to Consider Take your time deciding on new paint. You'll probably live with the finish for years. Color Look at the biggest paint chips a store offers. A store’s lighting affects your impression of a color, so step outside to get another look in natural light. Once home, place the chips on walls next…

Strokes of Brilliance

Where to Shop and Save

If you need to replace an appliance, you can’t go wrong by shopping at Abt Electronics and Appliances or at Amazon.com. Both retailers got high marks from more than 42,000 Consumer Reports’ members who told us about their experiences buying more than 62,000 major and small appliances from chain and independent retailers and manufacturers across the country. ONCE AGAIN, we found that the biggest stores weren’t necessarily the best. Abt, for example, has one store in suburban Chicago but ships across the country. It topped our ratings of major appliance retailers for the eighth year in a row. Not to be outdone, it was the 12th year that Amazon was among the top small appliance sellers. Where the Buyers Are While most appliance purchases are still made in walk-in stores, online purchases are…

Where to Shop and Save

DESIGN NOTES Update 5 Top left, Heather Marx, hmxaa.com Bright Outlook 6-9 Emily Henderson Interior Design, stylebyemilyhenderson.com Better, Not Bigger 10-13 Kate Roos Design, kateroosdesign.com; Integrity Construction & Exteriors, integrity-construction-inc.com Colors Worth Trying 15 deVOL Kitchens, devolkitchens.co.uk; Kishani Perera, kishaniperera.com 16 Sherwin-Williams, sherwinwilliams.com BUYING GUIDE Refrigerators 25 GE, geappliances.com Ranges 43 Thermador, thermador.com Cooktops 57 LG, lg.com Wall Ovens 65 Dacor, dacor.com Range Hoods 70 Teresa Cain of Interior Solutions Design Group, interiorsolutionsdesigngroup.com 71 Right, Joanna Goodman of Christopher Architecture & Interiors, christopherai.com Dishwashers 73 KitchenAid, kitchenaid.com Microwaves 83 Dacor, dacor.com Cabinets 101 Sophie Burke Design, sophieburkedesign.com 102 Top left, Liselotte Kragh of Abita Studio, abitastudio.com 102-103 Middle, Kelly Deck Design, kellydeck.com 103 Bottom from left, Merillat, merillat.com; Lynda Fisher, The Countertop Shoppe, mycountertopshoppe.com; Julie Deuble of Sierra Unlimited Construction, houzz.com/pro/jdeuble; Troico, troico.ca 105 Top, Anna Burke Interiors, annaburkeinteriors.com; bottom, Matthew Rhodes of Rhodes Creations, rhodescreations.com Countertops 108 Right, Kate Roos Design, kateroosdesign.com 110 3. GEOS, eos-surfaces.com, Recycled Glass in Ocean Shell; 7. Corian,…

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