Tips and Advice

10 easy ways to choose the right appliances for your kitchen and laundry

Article by Homes to Love

It’s never too early in the home design process to start planning your dream kitchen and laundry – and choosing your appliances should be at the top of your to-do list


Whether building or renovating, selecting your appliances should be one of the first steps when designing your kitchen and laundry. This ensures you get exactly what you want, with the cabinetry built to fit around it.

New innovations in technology are a constant in the appliance industry, so it’s a good idea to do some research online to narrow down your options before you venture into a showroom to make a final decision.

1.  Fridge style

One of your biggest decisions will be whether you want a single-door or french-door fridge, and whether the freezer is positioned at the top or the bottom. Make sure you give your kitchen designer the exact dimensions so the cabinetry can be built to suit your design needs.

2. Oven size

Unless you have a huge family or a chef’s degree, a 60cm-wide built-in oven is a good option for most homes because its compact size means it can be seamlessly integrated into your kitchen design.

3. Self-cleaning

If you hate cleaning the oven (is there anyone who doesn’t?), look for one with pyrolytic self-cleaning capability, which burns off the dirt and reduces it to ash. If you have children, a kiddie lock function is a good idea.

4. Cooktop

When choosing a cooktop you may be limited by the services available at your new home site. If you don’t have piped gas you can use gas bottles, or a high-tech induction cook-top is a modern option that heats up instantly and allows for precise cooking.

5. Rangehood

Depending on the look you prefer, you can build your rangehood discreetly into cabinetry over the cooktop, or make a feature of a freestanding model in stainless steel.

6. Entertaining

  If you enjoy entertaining or baking, try to make room in your plans for a small scullery or butler’s pantry where you can hide away the mess. Consider installing a small second fridge under the counter in your scullery, or add a separate chest freezer or vertical freezer in the garage if you’re a keen fisher or hunter.

7. Washer and dryer

The size of your laundry space will determine whether you have your washer and dryer side by side or stacked (Haier has a stacking kit designed for exactly this purpose). Front-loading washers tend to be more water efficient and gentler on clothes than top loaders.

8. Dryer type

If you have an internal laundry, choose a condenser dryer, as these collect condensation in an internal tank that drains into the laundry tub, so they don’t have to be vented to the outside.

9. Heat pumps

Some kind of heating and cooling system is a must. Heat pumps are convenient for retrofitting, but if you’re embarking on a new build it’s a smart move to invest a bit more and get a comprehensive ducted system.

10. Budgeting

Remember to allow for new appliances in your new-build budget. Trust us – once you see your pristine new kitchen, you won’t want to bring your old whiteware across with you!

Start planning your kitchen and laundry today and find all the specs you need at haier.co.nz


Photography by: Kate Claridge, Helen Bankers, Haier.

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