Our Maytag is a French door top and freezer bottom. Only way to go. I think it uses too much energy but it has been good.

The GE side by side has been garbage, it came with the house. It uses electricity like it were free. Seems to constantly cycle even when nicely cleaned. We keep thinking we are going to redo the upstairs kitchen and it just never happens.

I'd suggest sticking to basic colors. I grew up in a house with stainless countertops and appliances. They were easy to clean and work with. They did get mared but it was hard to do ;-) I'd do it again but I must say using a very light Silestone and white appliances in the house we built in Texas was really nice and cheery! Wife wanted black here and the black granite and black appliances are a bit gloomy even when off-set with light colors all around.

As far as strange colors, I remember the avacado appliances in the '70s. Couldn't give them away! Times change....

Kenmore (from Sears) has worked good for me.

Also, last washer I bought was used (Magic Chef) from Craig's List for $50.00 which INCLUDED delivery. Has worked great ever since. My previous girlfriend could not understand the concept of buying older models for their durability over newer models which aren't built as good. That's why she is the previous girlfriend I guess....

Pretty much true. It gets to be stupid expensive to repair appliances if you can't do it yourself.
The Jenn Aire (Maytag) side by side in my kitchen is 11 years old, but I have replaced the adaptive defrost control PCB twice and the defrost termination stat and heaters once. First repair was just after warranty was up.

our GE side by side crapped out at 13yrs (came with the house) and we replaced it with a samsung french doors with the freezer on the bottom, its huge and takes the same space as the old one. so far so good, going on year 2.

My Frigidaire failed messily and could not be repaired. I felt that 8 years was too short a life for a major appliance. I replaced it with a commercial fridge.

How long are you planning to stay in the house? We have a 22 year old Sub Zero; still going strong- even moved it into the laundry room so the wife could have a new sub zero with ice dispenser.

They're expensive as hell but you get what you pay for. Look for discontinued models at appliance distributors and you could be very happy- that's what we did when we bought the new one.

And I agree with almost everyone here- do not buy General Electric products. Our first houses had them and they were terrible.

And if you're not willing to fork over for Sub Zero look at the Korean, Japanese or German appliances recommended.

Forgot Sub Zero. In-Law's house has one, about 12 years old. Compressor went out, cheap to fix and part was easily sourced. Only hiccup in 12 years. Still works great and they love it!

The irony in this post is awesome.

Our original Maytag/Whirlpool fridge was a quiet, roomy, and nice bottom-freezer fridge.
It lasted 3.5 years until the copper line through the evaporation pan corroded and broke. Designed lemon.

There was supposed to be a 5 year warrenty on parts.
During the visit of the second tech(the first refered was not "factory authorized"), Whirlpool customer service then claimed there was no warrenty.
The cost of parts(inc/compressor) were over half the $750 repair for the $850 fridge. Even after replacing those, it's no guarrentee that copper dust and water isn't trapped somewhere in the system.

We lived out of coolers for two weeks based on a promise for nothing.
Bought a Frigidaire.

Is everything made junk these days?

Just bought a samsung (rfg297hdrs). 29 c ft, hope it's a good one. Home depot has it for $1750, originally a $2600 frig. Fingers crossed!

We have the freezer drawer type and I hate it. It is an inefficient use of space IMO.

I usually go to pacific sales and ask the guys who work there.

I know I know, but it's true. they're non-commissioned and are very knowledgable. Not just flunkies or sales guys.

I've bought one fridge, a dishwasher, an oven and a stove top from them over the past 20 years and the only thing that's ever needed service was a relay on the fridge compressor. Paid the $60 for diagnosis then bought one myself for $15 and installed it. Much better than the $120 (plus $60) the guy wanted to charge me for it.

The fridge is a westinghouse and has gotta be over 15 years old or more, the only problem is the vegetable drawer is broken and you can't buy a replacement.
I'm gonna ride that one til it's totally dead.

I have a 16 year old Kirkland side by side. No problems in that time.

All our appliances are Bosch, although good I have been slightly disappointed in the fridge/freezer combo. After 15 years I had to replace the attachment area which was completely destroyed by the hinges. A DIY job, I think it's good for another 5 years. It's completely in SS, no fake SS anywhere (1,500 € in 1996). I would never, ever give money for a Korean or other Asian brand but that's just me.