Matchy matchy for kitchen applicances?

[Zoomer]

I am driving myself insane trying to work this out so please help me...do you 'match' your kitchen appliances?

We're (finally) renovating our kitchen and are installing a column thing from IKEA, so the oven and microwave will be on top of each other.

I cannot for the life of me find an oven that meets my requirements that has a matching microwave that also meets my requirements.

My current oven preference is this one: https://www.boulanger.com/ref/1202018 but there is no microwave with a grill that goes with it, and the microwaves from the same company are outrageously expensive for something that just nukes food.

So now I'm looking at this microwave instead: https://www.boulanger.com/ref/1171212

Would it look silly? Will I be cursing myself for not matching or will anyone even notice?

[Derek Nimmo]

I dnt think anyone would notice the difference between the two things you've linked to.

I tried to at least have my kitchen top appliances in matching finish but for one reason or another it's ended up a mix of chrome, black and white.

And I've learnt to live with it pretty well, and can't say I notice it on a daily basis. But then again I don't like my kitchen much anyway it's definitely not a room that sparks joy (although getting rid of a lot of clutter might help).

[H1ppychick]

I wouldn't stress on the matchi-ness of stuff. I think few if any people would notice.

I think, if anything, having non-matching stuff would indicate more strongly that you Have Opinions, and have bought things for Specific Reasons, rather than blindly just buying a "kit" kitchen.

[Zoomer]

Thanks both. I've been waiting ten years for this new kitchen so I might be overthinking it slightly. Majorly.

I like the idea of Having Opinions, Hippy. I don't really (except for not wanting a 'connected' oven) but it would be nice to give people the false impression that I do.

[bramblerose]

This is mine.

The oven is "ours" and the microwave was inherited from we got the house. They don't match and are different makes.

There was an oven like ours but it wasn't as good so we swapped before we sold our house

[Marth]

Personally I would be ok with different if they were both "best in show" so to speak

[emma_p]

I think they look similar so even if they're not the same brand they will totally work together. Ours are similar in colour (NEFF microwave and Rangemaster both in stainless steel) and I think they look good together.

The main thing is that the oven you chose is self cleaning! I LOVE those and really miss not having one.

[bramblerose]

I have just noticed ours are both AEG

I could have sworn our oven was a Neff

[Zoomer]

Brambs! Is that a double oven?

Damn right it's self-cleaning, emma ! The cooker that we inherited with the house was a horrible manky thing and I have vowed to never again have a manky oven. As God is my witness...! :dramalama:

I don't know about "best in show", Marth, but at least what suits me best given my budget. Although, tbf, even if was loaded, I don't know if I could bring myself to spend 5k on a sodding microwave.

Thanks all, I am reassured.

[sally maclennane]

Yeah, I wouldn't bother about different brands/appearance as long as the finish is similar. Mine are all stainless steel - the ovens are Neff as I wanted the Hide & Slide ones, the hob is Neff too, the microwave is Lamona which is Howdens own brand, the dishwasher is AEG.

[Estrella]

I don’t have matchy currently but did in my old house - but they were IKEA brand (I really liked them!)

[bramblerose]

Brambs! Is that a double oven?

I know

Yes, it is a double oven, although we rarely use the bottom one unless it's a big cooking day as the top one has all the functions of the bottom one.

[Cosmopolitan]

All my appliances are IKEA and I hate them all. They beep for the slightest reason, the oven temp is erratic already (it's 3yrs old) and the microwave never remembers that I always want it at 900, I'm endlessly adjusting it.

[Kenickie]

I think they match! I wouldn't be bothered about the same brand if the look is similar.

That said, I don't have any opinions about microwaves other than they need actual numbers to press rather than a dial. I don't think I'd ever use one to grill even if it could. Mine is just used for cooking frozen veg/heating milk/cooking porridge/reheating stuff.

[Zoomer]

That's mostly what I use mine for too, Ken, but also I like to make grilled cheese sandwiches from time-to-time without having to put on the oven.

[Zoomer]

I was put off IKEA appliances by reviews like Cos's. Although we are having an IKEA dishwasher, because apparently it's awkward to get an integrated one into their kitchens otherwise. The hob is Siemens, so nothing at all will match!

[Marth]

Brambs! Is that a double oven?

Damn right it's self-cleaning, emma ! The cooker that we inherited with the house was a horrible manky thing and I have vowed to never again have a manky oven. As God is my witness...! :dramalama:

I don't know about "best in show", Marth, but at least what suits me best given my budget. Although, tbf, even if was loaded, I don't know if I could bring myself to spend 5k on a sodding microwave.

Thanks all, I am reassured.

I meant more than if I felt that Brand A was good for Microwaves and Brand B better for ovens then that would be my preference over the brands being the same (but a bit rubbish )

[Zoomer]

Well, after all that I did go for matchy. I want in to see the oven today and the customer service perdon dug up the matching microwave, which was mislabelled on the site as free-standing, but is in fact, a built-in. So I bought both.

[Disco]

Dream matching heaven

[emma_p]

That is exciting! When's the kitchen due to be installed?