Saturday, January 22, 2022

Appliance Update

Café Appliances in Matte White


As followers of CC know, I am planning on upgrading my kitchen appliances. I have been somewhat distracted focusing on my exterior painting project, so I am still in the research phase on the appliances and very conflicted. You will soon see why....

I went to look at the Café Appliance line, and it is quite beautiful. I have been thinking about getting it in the Matte White with bronze hardware (it looks like beautiful aged brass) and it is stunning in person. I don't dislike stainless steel, but I don't love it either and wanted to see the alternatives.


Café Range in Matte White

At this point, I have more questions than answers.

1. Even though these Café appliances are quite upscale versions of white, are white appliances a stupid idea for resale? I could decide to become an ex-pat and move to the Greek isles or Spain (I spent my early childhood living in Europe) and I don't want to drop north of $10 grand on appliances that will not add value to my home. Home prices have gone crazy in Sarasota and it is very tempting to cash out and try something new. I had not moved in twenty years, but after then moving twice in year, it is much less daunting. I am not seriously thinking about this, but I do think home improvements should be made with an eye towards increasing your home's value, especially with big ticket items.

2. I also can't decide if getting the whole suite of appliances in white and bronze isn't a bit too blingy. They look like kitchen jewelry and one can go overboard. It might be too much for my taste. They definitely make a statement.

3. And while Café appliances are well rated, they are not best in class. Should I choose from the best rated in each appliance? Of course, only GE makes the Matte White.

4. One alternative - I get the Café range which is rated highly in the white and bronze and buy the other appliances in stainless steel choosing the top rated ones. For example, an 800 Series Bosch dishwasher in stainless steel. Getting a statement range in a different color is a hot look now, but will this look dated in a few years like (I predict) the two different color kitchen cabinet look will be? I should add that there is no gas where I live, and options in upscale electric ranges are far more limited. I can't get one of those sexy commercial gas ranges. 

5. I was then debating getting all stainless steel appliances in the Café range, and adding the gorgeous bronze hardware, but that is a very expensive upgrade - for example, it adds $500 to the range cost and similar $$$$ to the other appliances. I'm not spending an additional $2,000 on upgrading hardware. The bronze hardware comes standard on the Matte White, but is a change out/customization on the stainless steel. The stainless steel comes with stainless steel hardware. Strange. The Café stainless steel without adding the bronze hardware is nothing special.

6. And this is another concern - although the Café refrigerator is quite beautiful, GE refrigerators are notoriously loud. It is even worse in an open floor plan house like mine. I can't stand machine noises. Decibel ratings are done for dishwashers, but not refrigerators. Online reviews of the Café fridge do complain of noise which is a deal breaker for me. So I found a Bosch refrigerator I love - I want a French door one but with nothing on the outside - I hate the look of the exterior ice and water dispensers. And the only ones made like that by Bosch are too tall for my space because I have a cabinet above. Yikes! 

7. To make things even more confusing, I am debating whether to buy a range with induction cooking that does sound interesting. However, induction seriously limits the cookware you use. Do any of you have induction? So as you can see, this has turned into a deep rabbit hole. And wait times are insane - next fall for some pieces.

I happily distracted myself this week finding that pretty kitchen island, so I felt like I made some progress.

I am not in a huge rush since I am not renovating the rest of the kitchen, so timing is not an issue. The supply line issues are not motivating either. You do all this research and put down a 50% deposit, just to wait for months and months to get them. My neighbor was waiting a year for her appliances and finally gave up and canceled her order and got whatever was in stock at Home Depot - that's one option! LOL

I am leaning towards getting the Café range in Matte White - I think it would go really well with my honed marble herringbone backsplash, marble topped island, and off white walls. The other appliances would be high end stainless steel from other brands. I would get a top of the line Bosch dishwasher. I don't need a microwave as there is a really nice brand new LG stainless steel one installed by the previous owners. I am still looking for a refrigerator I like.

The Café range is available as a single oven with warming drawer or as a double oven. The warming drawer seems sort of useless, but not sure I would use a double oven. I am still looking into the convection option.


Café Electric Slide In Range in Matte White with Aged 
 Bronze Hardware in Single Oven with Warming Drawer



Café Electric Range in Matte White with Aged
Bronze Hardware in Double Oven

The bottom line is this - finding appliances that are highly rated as functional and reliable, are beautiful, available, quiet, and fit into your existing footprint is quite an odyssey. Please share if you have any appliance wisdom to add to my confusion. 





48 comments:

  1. We had a huge problem with noise from our GE refrigerator. We too have an open floor plan, it was bad enough to wake us up or interfere with watching tv. You are wise to run from those. We got a LG to replace it and I can't even tell it's running. We call it our "angel" refrigerator lol. Good luck with your search!

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    1. I am so happy you left this comment. I was looking at Consumer Reports and they rate LG refrigerators extremely high and they have French door ones in the dimensions I need. I will go check them out in person today or tomorrow before football games are on. Thanks!!!

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    2. You're so welcome! It also doesn't show fingerprints. At all. "Angel" haha.

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    3. Quiet and no fingerprints - definitely an angel!

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  2. I get your concerns. All valid. I just bought all LG appliances because they were available with the shortest wait time (about 6 weeks) through Nebraska Furniture. I also looked at the GE Cafe line. I thought it would be too "dressy" for my house and look out of place. I was also wanting white appliances. I ended up with all stainless. I was a little worried about the white not quite blending well with the other white tones in my kitchen. I am getting my fix of different metals tones through new cabinet hardware and calling it a day! Good luck with this. It is a challenging road for sure!

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    1. I completely agree with the Café Matte White not blending well with all white cabinets. I generally see the Matte White used with white cabinets and I think they can clash personally. I have mid toned wood cabinets and the white with bronze would look great. I think you made a good choice wish the LG in stainless.

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  3. Get the white statement range and then get the rest of the appliances in stainless. Get the Bosch dishwasher and get the LG refrigerator. Worst case scenario, if down the road you feel the white stove will somehow hinder the house's resale potential, you can always swap it out with a generic stainless stove for the purpose of staging and selling the house.

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    1. You nailed it. Exactly my thought process. Thanks so much.

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    2. My pleasure. And thank you for such a wonderful website. It's always one of my first stops when I get on the computer each morning.

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    3. I very much appreciate you following CC so loyally and all of your always insightful comments.

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  4. I've had an induction cooktop since 2010 and I absolutely love it. It is faster, cleaner and more energy efficient than gas or electric. It's also safer and much easier to clean as well as being more cost effective to operate. There are many pans that have ferrous metal that will work at all price points. The pros far outweigh the cons. I'm a convert for sure!

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    1. I have been reading up on it and it sounds great. I have now learned that my Staub and Le Creuset cookware are all fine which was my only concern. Thanks for your input.

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  5. Buy the induction!!! I love my induction stove it cooks so much better then my previous electric stoves that I have had in the past, but the biggest plus is cleanup is so easy just wipe and go. Previous electric glasstops are a maintenance nightmare! Scrubbing with cleaners then scrapping with a razor blade almost every time you use your cooktop, and then not being pleased with the results then the dredded white ring which you will never get rid of. As for cookware, yes you will need to replace some to most of your cookware with comparable pieces but let's face it Beth since when is shopping for something been much of a problem for you?

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    1. Are you suggesting I like to shop? LOL. I did not know about the maintenance difference - that alone would make me buy induction. And I had not read about that before. Thanks so much! All my beautiful Staub and Le Creuset are fine so I am sold.

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  6. Beth, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your posts. They are my first read every morning. I’ve learned so much and you’ve shared so many great finds, some of which I’ve incorporated in my home. I’ve been following you for a long time. I used to read your blog every day before social media was a “thing”. I loved your One Room Challenges and missed you when your life turned upside down. You’re an inspiration and a very courageous woman. When did you start your blog? I found you years ago when searching Chinoiserie and there you were. Thanks for your wonderful posts!

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    1. Thank you so very much for this lovely comment and for following all these years. I started in May of 2009 and have over 5,200 posts! My life has certainly changed since I started, but I couldn't be happier. I enjoyed the One Room Challenges - I did 5. They were a lot of fun. All I have undone in this house is the garage. That will be my next project. Thanks again!

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  7. We built our open floor plan home 20 years ago having to make every decision as our own contractor. Relying on the advice of a specialized appliance store we went with sub zero fridge, thermador gas cooktop & wall oven & asko dishwasher. All stainless & very pricey! Tradeoff laminate counter tops instead of stone. 2022 all appliances still working, quiet & looking good with new counter tops!!! BEST investment!!! Visit your specialized appliance store to get ideas & speak to a knowledgeable rep. Wishing you the best finding your new kitchen appliances for looks, low noise levels & longevity.

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    1. Those were very smart choices. I had someone like that in NOVA whose advice I trusted but not here. I think between Consumer Reports, reading lots of online reviews, and all the comments here, I am well educated on my options. Thanks and enjoy your new countertops.

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  8. I don’t think I could live without a double oven. I love the matte white stove-think of it as a statement piece of jewelry. One amazing piece is a show stopper but too many are tacky. As for the induction cooktop, we passed on it for NY but inherited one at the Florida house. We purchased all new pots and pans but what we had was 25 years old so no great loss. It’s difficult to find a French door fridge without the exterior water/ice dispenser which I find quite ugly (and which creates maintenance issues).

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    1. Yes, I much prefer the clean lines of a French door fridge without the exterior water and ice. Café and Bosch both have beautiful ones, but ones choices are far more limited for sure. I researched and I am fine with my cookware with the induction. As for a double oven, I very rarely use my oven - I don't eat roasts or casseroles and I bake by going to Publix.

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  9. We are facing similar challenges in a new house build. On the one hand it seems easier since we get to start from scratch...on the other hand, the magnitude of choices all having to work together in an open concept plan (never had that before) is pretty fun but stressful at the moment. The budget is what makes it stressful...also considering the (distant) future resale.

    Our NYC apt had very high end appliances (paneled, counter depth SubZ fridge & Miele dishwasher) which I'd have to repeat here since less expensive choices that fit the bill are hardly available. We had a gas stainless Thermadoor oven and stainless hood and that was the only stainless in the kitchen. I prefer to minimize the number of different surfaces and colors which is even more important now that everything will be visible from the Living are and Dining areas.

    These are subjective things of course, but my inclination is to either go for all stainless appliances or panel everything but the stove and make it a white one which will play nicely with your wood cabinets. I too am considering an induction and may just go for it. Looking at Fisher and Paykel for both range and fridge. Not really crazy about the look of indiction top but the benefits outweigh that and I'd rather not have to continue cleaning gas grills for the rest of my life.

    Resale is a factor but we (you and I) have to consider where we live and who the likely buyer is. In NYC the stakes were high and the buyers were most discerning. Here at the beach, much less so, although I have to please myself in the interim and choose stuff I really like without going totally rogue. A tough balancing act and a guessing game.

    Follow your instincts because if you don't you'll be looking at your choices later and wondering why you held back. And most importantly, I'd bet good money that your taste is better than 99% of the people who live in your hood and are likely to buy there. You really can't go wrong with anything you choose so make yourself happy...life is short.

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    1. I have all stainless steel now and find it a bit dull. Have you had Fisher and Paykel? I wonder if repair on them is more of a concern when one is not in a major metropolitan area. I am just about sold on induction. It seems to check all the boxes for me. I will definitely choose what I love, but there are so many options, I think one can choose so that you both love it and are making wise decisions. I think I have done that here so far.

      I really like the idea that I could put my house on the market tomorrow and sell it in a day if I wanted to, without changing anything. The last few years have taught me that nothing is forever, and I am not looking at this as my forever home although I love it.

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  10. I'm downsizing from a four bedroom to a 1 or 2, if I can find one I like. My biggest gripe is NO window over the sink. Of course I will have to replace all
    appliances since I'm looking at houses (NOT condos) that have not been rehabbed already. I will NOT deal with a flipper. All I'm finding are these huge, huge
    fridges! I have LG now and would get their appliances again but...do they make smaller ones? More research needed...

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  11. I have the GE Cafe white electric slide in range and the white GE Cafe counter depth french door refrigerator and love them both! As you know, the refrigerator has the option of the water dispenser on the front or inside. We drink a lot of water so opted for the water dispenser on the outside. It also has a hot water option which we don't use a lot but if you are a tea drinker, this would be helpful. These two appliances are located along a wall with white cabinetry. I have a navy blue island with a stainless steel Bosch drawer microwave and a Bosch Silent Plus dishwasher with a matching navy blue cabinet front. I have an open floor plan and I do not find the refrigerator to be noisy at all.

    The only real issue I had was getting the stove top clean after each use. After reading up on this, I purchased all stainless steel cookware and this took care of the problem. I highly recommend this line. They are showstoppers and everyone who sees my kitchen loves the Cafe appliances. I am a Realtor and felt that these appliances added value not to mention that I personally just loved them. If you would like pictures, let me know--I am happy to send them to you. Hope this helps.

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    1. Your kitchen sounds beautiful. My problem is that I really don't want all four in the White Matte Café. I can't do a panel on the Bosch dishwasher I want because these are existing custom cabinets and my microwave is not hidden in an island. I think I am getting the induction range which is supposed to be easier to clean.

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  12. I was replacing all of the appliances in the house I bought, but didn't want all stainless steel because I thought it would be too industrial-looking for the type of house I own. I really wanted some white appliances, but found that they were ridiculously expensive or had bad reviews. I ended up with all stainless, so I'm adding some elements that will soften that "industrial" look. And I went with the best appliances I could afford even though they are from difference manufacturers and the kitchen looks fine. I have an LG French door fridge that I love! It's quiet and cleverly organized. My Bosch dishwasher is also incredibly quiet. A suggestion regarding gas ranges...a friend of mine really wanted a gas range, but the house he bought had no access to gas in his area. He had the range hooked up to a large propane tank which he put in the back yard and disguised the area with fencing.

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    1. I like the idea of an LG French door fridge and Bosch dishwasher. I am in a gated community with hundreds of rules - not kidding. There are rules on things you never even would think could have a rule. Needless to say, no propane tanks and no fencing. I think I am getting an induction range which sounds better than a regular electric. Thank you!

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  13. So many great comments here....loved every word Delta had to offer....I just want to share what little I can bring to the table just to inform you. We installed an 800 series Bosch dishwasher in August of 2019 and it is so quiet that if I didn't have their lovely little red indicator light shining down onto the flooring indicating it is operating, I would not know it. That makes me happy. We went with white to match other appliances we were not replacing. My brother owns a successful plumbing company in another city. He had recommended the Bosch. Now we are about to replace our refrigerator due to age. I don't want to wait for it to go. My brother swears by LG. They had a French door LG in their previous home and 5 years ago when they built a new home they purchased all LG appliances. Last year the compressor on the LG fridge went out. Fortunately it was under warranty but it was 4 months from start to finish, getting the replacement approved, ordered from somewhere else in the world and once it finally showed up, getting it installed. They lived out of a small "overflow" refrigerator they keep in their garage all those months and it was inconvenient but he still swears he will never own anything but LG again. He does recommend purchasing any extended warranty they offer, just in case, even though the company contends that they have rectified the issue (that caused the compressor failure) across the board on their models. We are not ever interested in purchasing those warranties but in this instance when this fridge is about $4K, we are probably going to do so. We purchased an LG washer/dryer in April 2020 and have been very pleased with it as well. Beth, you are one of the most well-informed people I know....you are relentless in doing your research so I have no doubt that you will arrive at a decision that makes the most sense for you. Always trust your judgment...you know what you are doing. You won't rush into anything...you are careful. It WILL be completely AMAZING!!! Can't wait to see it all.

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    1. Thank you for this. When I bought this home, there was a brand new LG washing machine and microwave and I like them both very much. I am now researching LG French door refrigerators. I may check out the ones with the door in door and craft ice makers - those look like neat features, although I prefer the look of a French door fridge with nothing on the outside. I will definitely do the Bosch dishwasher - a no brainer. I agree on the extended warranties. My appliance place told me he never recommended them or bought them himself in the past, but highly recommends them now. Things are just not made to last anymore.

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  14. Just get the Bosch dishwasher, even if you don’t get anything else. You will love it.

    Also, I would not make my home purchase decisions based on re-sale value. Let the next folks change whatever they like; it’s my house now. Cheers!

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    1. I will definitely get the Bosch dishwasher, especially since I hate noise. Thanks for your input.

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  15. Definitely go with a Bosch dishwasher. They are the best! The white one I ordered last summer did not match my white cabinets so I covered it with a Lillian August peel and stick wallpaper which is wonderful. It is not paper, but vinyl, and can be cleaned easily. I would say stay away from LG ANYTHING! I have had a bunch of their appliances, still have a $4.5 thousand dollar fridge and a washer and dryer. Every last LG I have ever had has had to have major work done on it, not all of it covered by the extended warranty. I know others who have had similar experiences. Right now more than ever I do not like having workers in my house plus there is the inconvenience of having an appliance out of commission. Often they can't get the parts. Personally I am very over stainless, finding it a pain in the A$$ to keep fingerprint free, and I don't even have any kids around. (Only a husband.) I want all white appliances from now on, because over the years I have had gold, avocado, brown, almond, black, white and stainless. White is best in my humble opinion.

    Ellen

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    1. I also like white appliances, but I wish more manufacturers would make an upscale version like the Café Matte White. To me, many white appliances look down market/rental unit. That's a shame on the LG, but I hear his about everything - I don't think any of the appliances are made like they use to be.

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  16. just got new appliances last fall - I went with all Bosch - started with dishwasher, then induction stove (like ti) and a large refrigerator freezer- (they have two compressors in them - one for fridge one for freezer unit - so far very happy with all of them! my two cents..

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    1. I think Bosch is great. Unfortunately, they make their French door fridges too tall for many kitchens like mine. I am getting a Bosch dishwasher and looking into their induction range. Thanks.

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  17. I designed a kitchen remotely last year and we used a white Bertazonni stove with intentionally slightly off white cabinets in Cornforth White F and B. We love the white stove and don't think it will look dated. Also, a Liehbherr French door refrigerator with panels and panels on the dish washer. Personally, I don't like the French doors, I had them in a house we were staying in for a month and felt that I was always reaching around the door to put something on the counter. There is a before and after on my IG account if you have interest. Nancy.Keyes.Design

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    1. Beautiful - I just checked it out. I will look into the Bertazonni range in the induction. Interesting about the French door - they are overwhelmingly the post popular style. Thanks so much.

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    2. A head's up for those following this post looking for info on appliances. I just researched Bertazonni and they have absolutely horrible ratings and customer reviews. Apparently the company made improvements in the past couple of years, but the most recent reviews continue to complain of terrible customer service, awful fan noise, and heating up the entire house. I think they are like Italian cars - all about looks and not reliability or functionality. And having it self cleaning is an expensive upgrade!

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  18. On the positive side, you have lots of choices. You know what your budget is, and you know what you like, Beth. Having so many choices can make things confusing. If you know someone in the real estate business, you might ask them about the resale value major appliances will add to a house or condo.

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    1. I didn't know I had a budget - LOL. The issue is really more my constraints because there is no gas and because I am using my existing appliance dimensions as I am keeping all the cabinets. Any real estate agent will tell you stainless steel.

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  19. Beth, I love this post! Agree with you on everything. We bought a builder's spec house 18 yrs. ago at the start of a new gated community. (Neighborhood turned out great!!) They wanted to have something finished to show potential buyers I guess. The layout was complete but I chose all my own finishes. To my husband's chagrin I can be a bit frugal. :( I was overwhelmed and kids were little. I decided to bring the refrigerator from our old house because I I was thinking it was brand new (it was actually a couple years old) and let the builder choose dishwasher and range/microwave. All were white. Refrig ended up looking terrible, we soon replaced it and had new one built in and paneled. That's still fine and looks great. Dishwasher broke down and has been replaced with Bosch stainless. White range and microwave are still working fine (Whirlpool) but look terrible. There's a crack in the handle on the microwave and they just look dated. The interior of the oven makes it look like it came from a junk yard. But I don't know what to choose to replace. White or stainless. 18 years ago I thought stainless was a trend!! GE made something called White Ice which was gorgeous but alas they discontinued it. Any ideas are welcome!! :) Sorry to be so long winded!! We all seem to have strong feeling on appliance scenarios! The stove/microwave is the bane of my existence. I need to take action very soon. LOL! Cathy Temple

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    1. I hope all these comments give you some guidance. Sounds like the range and microwave are ready to go!

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  20. What about the Zline and Forno Convection gas ranges? I have been shopping for a 36 " and can't decide...We looked at Big Chill & North Star, but above our budget.

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    1. You must have missed that I don't have gas in my community and can't have propane, so those are out.

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  21. Would not worry. The cafe line is timeless in appearance. We got the refrigerator at our last house. Would have eventually changed out the entire kitchen but once we were not staying, I was sad to let go of the cafe refrigerator. Did not include it in sale and buyer ended up paying for it to stay. Cleans up far better than stainless, including black stainless I have now. Had no issues with it.

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    1. I agree - I am just concerned about noise issues with it. Thanks!

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