"Fresh Monniker" > wrote in message
news
> "Vox Humana" > wrote:
>
> >Maybe. However I don't think that the target market for
professional-look
> >residential ranges would buy an inexpensive knock-off, no matter how
good.
> >Just like they wouldn't park a Hyundai in the driveway even it was equal
to
> >a BMW.
>
> Think again. Remember back when they laughed at the notion of a
> $40,000 *Japanese* car? Lexus was a joke until people drove it. Now,
> you can buy a $70,000 VW!
>
> Quality and value will sell. As I understand, DCS started because
> they saw that there was money to be made undercutting the old guard.
> Bluestar is winning orders even with no advertising and minimal
> distribution.
>
> >That name badge glued to the front of the range is at least as
> >important and the quarter ton of stainless and cast iron.
>
> I suspect not, unless you in the La Cornue/AGA realm.
>
> >I just toured the local Homarama. There were about 16 homes ranging from
> >$900K to $2 million. I thought the kitchens were unimpressive for homes
of
> >that price range. The homes under $1 million had KitchenAid appliances.
> >The upper-end homes had Wolfe or Viking. None had more than one
dishwasher.
> >I didn't see any compactors. One had a built-in ice maker. A few had
> >refrigerator drawer in the wet bar. Far too many had cooktops in islands
> >with telescoping downdraft vents. I guess for $2 million dollars I
expected
> >something akin a catering kitchen. I got the idea that the kitchens were
> >purely for display.
>
> I agree about high end houses not having the features an enthusiast
> would expect. Then again, that is why one does a custom build,
> instead of buying a spec home. You want the dough to go where you
> value it most. I am also amazed that a $1.5m home doesn't have
> radiant floor heat, for instance.
>
> But the fact is that most people don't care to cook, and don't care
> about appliances.
>
> Now, let's talk about the poor layout of those homes, the wasted
> space, and... have you looked up at the cheap, inadequate, and poorly
> laid out light fixtures (aside from one or two "art" chandeliers of
> dubious taste)?
>
> (BTW, KA appliances can be fine. We are specifying two of their
> dishwashers as our cost-no-object choice. A Whirlpool icemaker is
> also as good as the best - same inside.)

I guess we can agree on the cheap light fixtures. Most of the homes were
dotted with six inch "builder's best" can lights fitted with cheap bulbs. I
toured at night (to avoid the heat and the crowds) and they were poorly
lighted. I was very surprised to see that non of them had electronic
lighting controls. I have been using X-10 controls for years in my modest
home. I wouldn't want to be without some home automation. Most of the
homes did have decent sound systems.