Are luxury appliances worth it?
Whether you are replacing a single appliance or remodeling an entire kitchen, you may wonder whether luxury appliances are worth it. We all want to make sure we’re getting value for our investment. The answer to whether luxury appliances are worth the price is found in several considerations, including your expectations of appliance performance, the amount of time you spend in the kitchen and what you typically cook, as well as your desire for features that offer unique conveniences. It’s also important to consider how long you plan to own your home.
Why buy a luxury refrigerator?
If you think all refrigerators are created equal, think again. The Sub-Zero refrigerator brand is considered the design standard and status symbol for many designers, real estate professionals and homeowners. Here are a few ways Sub-Zero’s luxury refrigerators are worth the investment. Most refrigerators have just one compressor to push air from the freezer into the refrigerator. This air recycling from one compartment to the other causes unwanted odor transfers, the drying and decaying of fresh food and freezer burn on frozen foods. From the beginning, Sub-Zero refrigerators were engineered with two compressors so both the refrigerator and freezer compartments would maintain optimal temperature and humidity to better preserve your food. In addition, Sub-Zero includes dual evaporators and fans for each compartment as well. This design literally adds weeks of shelf life to your food, reducing spoilage and trips to the grocery store. This equates to serious savings. A study by the Natural Resource Defense Council found that the average American family of four ends up tossing the equivalent of $2,275 of food in the trash annually.
True luxury appliances last longer and sell homes faster.
Another important consideration when deciding whether luxury appliances are worth it is that your investment in luxury appliances may ensure longevity. It’s important to note that we are talking about true luxury appliance brands like Sub-Zero, Wolf, Cove, and Best, not basic appliances that are dressed up to make them look like luxury models without the true design and engineering features. Most home industry experts say you should expect to get 10, maybe 15, years out of a typical refrigerator. Sub-Zero engineers and manufactures their refrigerators (in the U.S.) to last 20 years or more. In fact, Clarke, New England’s Official Sub-Zero and Wolf Showrooms has discovered Sub-Zero refrigerators operating well for 31 years! And this very fact explains how purchasing luxury appliances can actually add value to your home and make it more saleable. According to Forbes magazine, “if a kitchen sells the home, then Sub-Zero sells the kitchen.” And an analysis of luxury home listings conducted by Zillow reported that mentioning a Sub-Zero refrigerator in the listing netted a 38% premium over other high-end listings with less prestigious refrigerators.
Luxury cooking appliances make life easier.
Imagine a wall oven that can seamlessly enhance the way you cook. That’s the Wolf Convection Steam Oven. At first glance, it looks like a wall oven, but it’s unlike any other oven. It’s actually three ovens in one. It can be used as a traditional convection oven, in which you can roast and brown meats and vegetables or bake desserts. It can also be used exclusively as a steam oven (the appliance used by chefs in most restaurant kitchens) to steam vegetables, make rice, eggs and a myriad of other foods. Plus, it can be used as a combination steam/convection oven for the many times your food will be enhanced by the introduction of steam: think about the difference between a “baked chicken” done in a traditional oven and a delicious, moist roasted chicken. That’s the difference when you introduce a Wolf Convection Steam Oven into your kitchen plan.
Then there’s the Wolf Gourmet mode, the place where magic happens. You select the dish, and the Wolf Gourmet mode does the rest. Really. On the electronic display on the face of the oven, you select from fourteen categories of food you are putting in the oven – anything from a soufflé to a freshly made pizza to a few sweet potato wedges – and you’ll have perfect results every time.
Once you make your food choice, the climate sensor detects the volume, shape and consistency and adjusts the time, temperature and humidity for guesswork-free, delicious results. The Gourmet Mode is perfect for nearly any food. Use the “Frozen Appetizers” option and you’ll enjoy frozen egg rolls, perfectly crisp, just as though they came from the deep fryer. Want to make your potatoes in the oven, while your steaks are on the grill? No problem just select “Baked Potatoes” on the display, season your potatoes with oil, salt and pepper, pop them into the Wolf Convection Steam Oven and you’re done. They’ll be delicious.
While the Wolf Convection Steam Oven is totally unique, these luxury appliance brands offer dozens of options that may seem “worth it” when you are in the market for new appliances. Built-in coffee systems that are like having a personal barista in your home, wine storage in a myriad of sizes to store your wine selections where you cook and dine and warming drawers to keep meals perfectly warm and delicious until everyone gathers to eat. Explore the benefits these luxury appliances offer and decide if they are worth it for you…
- Wolf Coffee Systems and Warming Drawers
- Wolf Gas Range
- Wolf Dual-Fuel Range
- Sub-Zero Wine Storage
- Wolf Induction Cooking
From ranges to refrigerators and wine storage to coffee systems, many luxury appliances are worth it in different ways. They are an investment that can make life easier, your meals more delicious and your home more valuable. Are they worth it? If you’re in New England, an appointment at a Clarke showroom will help you learn about the latest kitchen technology without any pressure to purchase. Clarke doesn’t sell anything; they are brand ambassadors, so if you choose to make a purchase, your Clarke consultant will refer you to a trusted retail partner.