Does Sub-Zero Really Make The Best Refrigerators On The market?
So we just got through reading the recent issue of dwell magazine’s “100 Kitchens We Love” and something occurred to us: there were an awful lot of Sub-Zero refrigerators mentioned in the credits section. Naturally, we decided to tally them up and came up with an interesting (to us, at least) finding.
As expected, many of the familiar mid- to high-end brands were fairly well represented in the projects—GE Monogram, Miele, Fisher Paykel, Gaggenau, Whirlpool KitchenAid. But they all pale in comparison to the number of Sub-Zero mentions.
On our unofficial count, 26 of the 100 kitchens featured a Sub-Zero refrigerator. Based on that math, that’s 26 percent—26! What accounts for this Sub-Love?
Well, for one, just look at the damn things! They are freaking amazing in their modernist simplicity—you know, less is more and all that stuff. Plus, the company continues to innovate (or, some might say, bite from the Europeans) with undercounter refrigeration, slim profiles, and integrated units. It’s no wonder that, as we reported here earlier this year, Sub-Zero is the go-to brand when Hollywood producers want to convey wealth and power.
But that doesn’t mean the brand is any better than, say, Kenmore or GE or Whirlpool. In fact, if you believe Consumer Reports, the brand is actually worst. To be fair, CR has said that most of the major luxury brands—including Viking Range Corp., Thermador, Dacor, and Jenn-Air—pretty much suck when it comes to dependability. In short, they are repair prone.
I know at least two friends who inherited Sub-Zero refrigerators and repeatedly had to fork over serious dough to fix the little buggers. These were older units so it’s hard to say with certainty what was going on. Plus, a high-end appliance executive once told me that luxury brands are “fragile” and break easily because they are loaded with sophisticated electronics that are easily damaged from power outages, improper use, etc. So the debate rages on.
***courtesy of http://homeiq.wordpress.com
SHOP THE NEW NAMES
Fagor and Blomberg appliances are high end but half the cost of the Aga, Viking and Sub-Zero. You are still getting all the high end factors and benefits but not emptying out your wallet. Both Fagor and Blomberg are very sleek and are perfect for all kitchens no matter the size. Here are some great facts for both.
Blomberg: Bottom mounted Freezer. hygION antibacterial protection, safety glass shelves, hygiene plus antibacterial odor filter, Engerystar, vegetable drawers, bottle holder, frost free, reversible door, etc
BRFB 1040 comes up to be about $1500 for a 24" wide Stainless Steel Column
Columns can be added together or kept single
Fagor: Bottom mounted Freezer, BIO filter, multi-fresh and double fresh compartments, anti-bacterial coating, RoHs compliant and constructed of 99% recyclable materials, frost free, etc
3FCA-68NF X come up to be about $1800 for a 24" wide Stainless Steel Column
Columns can be added together or kept single
Both Blomberg and Fagor are great European companies and we carry both lines. So come in today and see what you can do with your refrigeration without emptying out your wallet. You should be able to have your dream kitchen no matter what the circumstances.
