If you’re reading this, it might mean that you’ve finally reached the best stage of your kitchen remodel — the part where you get to pick out what’s going in it. Or maybe you’re just getting started, customizing and building your kitchen from scratch. Either way, choosing high-end appliances that will make you feel like a top chef every time you whip up a weekend breakfast for the family or host a full-fledged dinner party is the fun part. Or at least, it should be.

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to choosing the appliances that are right for your space. So it makes sense that outfitting your kitchen can sometimes seem just about as intimidating as it is exciting. Asking yourself about the basics is a good place to start. Questions like “Does a range or a cooktop/built-in oven combo make the most sense for me?”, “Which refrigerator style will fit in with my needs?”, and “How should I customize my dishwasher?” will help you begin to get a better idea about what you want out of your new kitchen.

One thing’s for sure: For a luxury kitchen with lasting appeal, you want well-designed pieces that seamlessly blend style and functionality. Enter Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, the refrigeration, cooking, and dishwashing specialists who’ve spent over 75 years working with homeowners to bring their ideal kitchens to life. With this guide to industry-leading designs, you’ll have your kitchen fully stocked with high-quality appliances in no time.

Picking the right cooking appliance

If an artist is only as good as the tools they use, then a cook is only as good as theirs, too. And there are no tools in a chef’s repertoire that are quite as essential as cooktops, ovens, and ranges, which is why it’s so important to pick the best ones for the job of cooking your meals to perfection. Adding Wolf to your kitchen lineup can help with that. It also means you’ll be bringing dependability, responsive temperature control, and impeccable performance to your culinary adventures. 

Before anything else, the big question to ask yourself is: Which design — range, cooktop, built-in oven, or combination of them — is the best fit for your needs? While a range offers the two-in-one convenience of both a cooktop and oven in a single appliance, there are more places a built-in oven can go, the most exciting of which is in the wall at eye level. Goodbye, bending over to take out a roast! On the other hand, if you opt for a wall oven (or ovens — you may choose to purchase a double oven if you do a lot of cooking) it means you’ll need a separate cooktop. Each option has its benefits and tradeoffs, but by pairing styles that suit your cooking needs, you can create a completely custom experience. 

Speaking of cooktops, there’s so much more to consider when choosing yours beyond deciding whether you prefer gas or electric. Take induction cooking, for instance. Wolf induction ranges and cooktops transfer energy directly into your compatible cookware, which makes for more efficient, yet powerful heating and responsive temperature changes. It could be exactly what you need if you want precise control and an easy-to-clean, scratch-resistant glass surface. And with module cooktops, you can have an induction cooktop side-by-side with a gas cooktop, grill module, or even a steamer or deep-fryer. It’s one of the best ways to maximize your cooking capabilities and make your kitchen completely custom for your needs. 

Keeping it cool

If ovens and ranges are the stars of the kitchen, then refrigerators are the anchor — they may not get as much time in the spotlight, but the right one makes all the difference. As the unsung hero of cooking, your refrigerator is so much more than a place to keep leftovers, and this is especially true of Sub-Zero models. Each one is designed to be custom-fit into the surrounding cabinetry in your kitchen (this is what’s referred to as a “built-in” by design pros), which means more opportunities for customization.

Are you working with a more compact floor plan? Then an over-and-under stacked refrigerator/freezer, or a side-by-side with its half-sized doors, could be your best option. Tired of bending down to see what you’ve got sitting in the lower reaches of your refrigerator? With the freezer on the bottom, an over-and-under design puts those bottom refrigerator shelves right at eye level. Looking to add more areas for meal prep? An undercounter model might be just what you need to get that extra space for storing prepped foods, or if you want a more minimalist look for your kitchen.

As pioneers in preservation technology for over 75 years, Sub-Zero has been leading the pack when it comes to keeping food fresher longer — a difference you’ll see and taste. And if you’re looking for extra touches of convenience like glass doors and Wi-Fi compatibility for monitoring temperature and adjusting ice production from your phone, you’ll find those, too. 

Don’t sweat the cleanup 

Ah, washing up — the part of the meal that nobody looks forward to but everyone has to tackle. However, with a workhorse of a dishwasher as part of your clean-up crew, getting your plates and glasses to sparkle doesn’t have to be a chore. 

Enter the Cove dishwasher. It packs a serious punch in terms of thoughtful design, customization, and of course, cleaning your dishes. Designed with 43 spray jets, three spray arms, and a four-stage filtration system, this dishwasher ensures every plate, glass, and utensil comes out sparkling and dry. Plus, custom wash modes and the adjustable interior racks make it easy to accommodate every kind of meal cleanup.

Either side of the top rack, which is specially designed for washing silverware, can be removed to accommodate taller stemware below. Doing a load of larger pots and pans? No need to worry about fitting them into a space that normally holds your plates and bowls. A height-adjustable middle rack plus two different options for holding cutlery equals more room when you need it. 

Do you want guests to be surprised when you tell them that actually, “Yes, there is a dishwasher in this kitchen”? Add custom handles and cabinetry to make it all but disappear into the woodwork. You can take some bonus points for the nearly silent operation, too.

Keep customizing

With these essentials, you’ll have everything you need for a gourmet cooking experience — but there’s no reason to stop there. From wine storage to warming drawers and microwaves to built-in coffee systems, you’ll find options for customizing nearly every corner of your kitchen with Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove. With a space that’s not just beautifully designed but packed with powerful, long-lasting appliances, your kitchen will be a dream for years to come.