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Reviewing the Kitchen Appliances

Because this is an affordable house, most of the items in the kitchen were builder-supplied. The kitchen features oak cabinets and laminated countertops. With affordable homes, it's important to acquire appliances in the most efficient way. Big builders can buy everything wholesale but smaller builders often have to depend on the local mom-and-pop suppliers. BrandSource has an online network of 2,500 dealers who are locally owned but buy in bulk so the savings are passed on to the consumer. The main door of the refrigerator is at eye level and the freezer is a pull-out drawer down below. There are two separate compartments in the freezer so items do not get buried at the bottom. A dishwasher from Fisher-Paykel features two drawer modules instead of one so smaller loads can be run more regularly. The dishwasher is Energy Star rated and is extremely efficient. An electric range from GE completes the package.

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Clip Transcript For:

Reviewing the Kitchen Appliances

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" a closer look at the kitchen. -- the kitchen looks great move the I assume everything is kind of builder supply down here right is this an affordable house. And so what you've got is nice oak cabinets and nice plastic laminated counters Monica and then you've done a great job I -- congratulations but one of the key things with affordable houses is to do all the shopping for these types of appliances in the most efficient way. Big builders can buy everything wholesale but smaller builders sometimes have to depend on the local mom and pop suppliers and through brand source and the Internet. We've got a terrific. Kind of network of 2500 dealers that are locally owned but they buy in -- so they can really pass on the savings. And the great thing about this concept is that you've got the refrigerator portion up at eye level of food news on a daily basis is right there and freezers down below and got two separate compartments. In the freezer so that you don't have to you know be digging through the bottom. The chest. And these haven't really been installed yet so we also have these Fisher cycle. Dishwashers. Which I really think is a great idea because instead of one big dishwasher you've got two modules is at war. And they're extremely energy efficient their energy star they only use a couple of gallons to do all washer. You could you know if you if you just have a small load you just do one of them have you got a parties and both. And we've got a GE electric range and that completes the package it's a nice kitchen in an affordable house."

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Kitchenware for Easy Living and Entertaining

The open-plan family room of the Punta Gorda house overlooks the canal on one side and opens onto the living area and kitchen on the other. Cecile Hemphill of Oh Cecile in San Francisco shows Bob the cookware and accessories that now fill the cupboards. Starting with Chantal cookware in bright colors, a teapot with a whistle, a Lodge pre-seasoned cast iron skillet, and a Joyce Chen wok, Hemphill has completely outfitted the kitchen for cooking and entertaining. The drawers are filled with Oxo ergonomically designed cooking utensils. Ironwood Gourmet's Acacia wood cutting boards stand ready on the counters, as does bright-colored Chantal ceramic ware that goes from the freezer to the oven to the table. Bob also remarks on the Whirlpool side-by-side refrigerator-freezer that measures and dispenses water. All of the appliances are from Whirlpool, including the dishwasher and front-loading washer and dryer. Bob and Hemphill remark on the overall design of the kitchen, the openess and the size of the elements, which are perfectly scaled and large enough for easy living and frequent entertaining.

Appliances for the New Family Space

A half bathroom and a laundry were also installed in the basement of the Melrose home. These systems were installed using a pump system because the room is below street level and needs to have wastewater pumped up to the sewer lines. A SwanStone Deep Laundry Sink was put in place with a Moen faucet. A Whirlpool front-loading washer and dryer set was also installed. In order to fit so much material in a limited space, the homeowners shopped for appliances using Brandsource.com, which gave the couple detailed information on different brands, including sizes and shapes. Brandsource carries information from over 2,500 retail outlets and features $10 billion in products. The appliances were installed by a local dealer. The washing machine is a Whirlpool Duet, which features extra-large capacity, is energy efficient, and has storage in the bottom. A large freezer from Amana was installed along with a refrigerator-freezer and a GE microwave. A GE wine cooler chills beverages in the other room. The TV is a 50-inch Samsung flat panel. A 42-inch plasma Samsung TV was also installed in the master bedroom. A smaller television set was installed in the children's room. A stainless-steel grill was put in the backyard.

Installing Cherry Cabinets

Bob is in the final I'On development home for Cherry cabinet installation, Northland refrigerator and wine storage system.

Time for a New Fridge?

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. After years of leftover science experiments, Thanksgiving dinners and midnight snacks, he s probably served you well, but old Mr. Fridge is adding more to your electric bill than he s worth. Your refrigerator hogs more electricity than almost anything else in your house. If it s an older model, it s using twice as much as a new Energy Star certified model would to keep the same milk cold. A new fridge is a big purchase, and there will be a small fee to dispose of the old one. But some electrical utilities are actually giving rebates of $150 or more to customers who replace their old refrigerators with new, energy-efficient models. To find out what s offered in your state, check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiencies, or D-S-I-R-E. Even without the rebate, buying an Energy Star certified refrigerator makes sense. A mid-size fridge more than 10 years old can cost $100 a year to run. Today s Energy Star compliant models cost half that much: some use less energy than a continuously running 75-watt light bulb. And with so many great new features like digital temperature control, French doors and even an alarm to tell you when the door s been left open a new fridge is a great investment that works for your family 24 hours a day! Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008