Looking for advice....

[mixergal]

My husband and I need a dishwasher. It is just that simple. We hate doing dishes, and my husband has a higher tolerance for messes than I do - which means I end up doing all of the household dishes. That wouldn't be so bad, but I love to cook. My kitchen is small, and I only have onne cupboard that would be suitable for dishwasher housing. Because storage is such a hot commodity for me, it would have to be a pretty cool dishwasher for me to be willing to sacrifice cabinet space. I could go with a portable, but again my kitchen is small, so it would have to be stylish as it would be readily seen.

So, here's what I'm looking for:

Turquoise, chrome, or yellow are preferred. Pink is fine with me, but it would take convincing for my hubby. White is okay too, but not preferred.

Something I can trust as my "daily driver". I'm willing to give up style for function - but only to a point. We have the dishwasher from my mother-in-law's estate, but I can't convince myself to chop up my pretty cabinets for it because it is so ugly - black on black. It would just be too dark in my blonde wood kitchen. Hubby says its a good one and cleans well.

Any suggestions? I included a picture of my sink area and the cupboard I would have to sacrifice for a built-in. It would be worth it for the right machine. My cupboards aren't as dark and stained as they look in the pictures - that's just artifacting from Photoshop making a panarama from 3 pictures. They're actually a lovely blonde color with copper colored pulls and hinges. So, copper would be a good color too - but bright penny copper not dark coppertone.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

-Sherri (please save my dishpan hands!)

 

[volvoguy87]

Nice Coffeemaster C30...

Me again,

I would recommend a Kitchenaid of the 21 series or older. They come as built ins or portables. They do a great job fast (compared to new ones) and are known for reliability. Also, parts are available. Some older portables are top-loading, but most are front loading.

The Custom line is usually the BOL (Bottom of the Line) and the Supurba is the TOL (Top of the Line). They are all hurricanes in a box that will clean your dishes.

The 18 series and newer models feature upper wash arms which makes loading more flexible. 17 series and older models have a lower wash arm but no upper one, so you can't put bowls and large things on the bottom rack that will block the spray to the top rack. The 19 series heats the water for all cycles and results in a longer cycle than the others. Many folks here don't like the 19 series as much as the others for this reason.

Kitchenaid used to be made by Hobart but changed hands in the mid 1980s, eventually ending up in the hands of Whirlpool. The 21 series was in production during this time.

My favorites to look at are the 10 and 12 series, but they are harder to find parts for and may not have flexible enough racking for your needs. Also, those don't grow on trees (damn!).

I'm sure others here will chime in with good advice. Otherwise, check Craigslist!
Dave

 

[goatfarmer]

I have a GE Potscrubber portable, in white, if you feel the need. I can get a pic, if so inclined....

 

[goatfarmer]

BTW, nice Hardwick range....

 

[yogitunes]

what really concerns me is you have an indent in the counter that makes the counter even with the door way....

most dishwashers are 24 inches deep by 24 inches wide...and putting a machine there may protrude past the doorway and the counter won't cover the top

measure first before you take out the cabinet

if you do put a dishwasher there...just be careful of an open door while someone is walking thru into the kitchen and doesn't notice it's open

just some advice

 

[mixergal]

Wow Goatfarmer!

Do you know I just got up and walked into the kitchen and no s---, my range is a Hardwick. Your mojo is strong!

-Sherri

Oh, and thanks! The only thing that doesn't work on it is the clock - the electric starters on the burners work fine, and the oven heats up and keeps its temp well.

Here it is:

 

[mixergal]

Goatfarmer's GE Potscrubber

Yes, I would like to see a pic, if its not too much trouble - thanks! You can email it to me if you don't want to post it here.

And you're right, yogitunes - I will have to measure my cupboards to see if they're deep enough if I decide to go built-in. I'd really rather go portable and not lose the storage. The doorway you see between the stove and the sink area leads to what we use as a sitting room. I've been thinking about converting it to a pantry/sewing room and a portable could live in there until needed.

-Sherri

 

[mixergal]

Hi Dave

I missed your compliment on the c30 Coffeemaster - thanks. That's my regular coffee pot - its easy to get spoiled on vacuum coffee once you've had it.

-Sherri

 

[qsd-dan]

Kitchen needs a 70's Amana Radarange microwave (only the best!) and a Kitchenaid 18-21 series dishwasher (another "best"). Not only do these 2 appliances surpass today's garbage, it'll make the entire kitchen 100% period correct.

 

[mixergal]

it'll make the entire kitchen 100% period correct

Umm...(looks at shoes embarrassed)...maybe not 100% period correct - you haven't seen my fridge. It's new (less than 5 years old)- from mom's estate. I don't know what the old one was - I still have it in the garage. The gasket was wonky, so we swapped it for the newer one. I'm starting to think I may want to dig it out of the garage. I don't think I can talk hubby into that. I may have to live with a new fridge. If it helps the old one was a fairly plain white fridge of indiscriminate age....we were planning on keeping it in the garage for cookout stuff.

Hoo boy - do I have to sleep in the doghouse tonight?

-Sherri

 

[qsd-dan]

Hoo boy - do I have to sleep in the doghouse tonight?

Naw, Most of us here are guilty of using some modern appliances. I have a newer fridge as well, but after many repairs in between 3 replacements (under warranty) the next fridge I get when this POS dies WILL be vintage, for sure.

Hold on to that older fridge though. It will save you a big headache when the newer one dies so you'll be able to save the perishables.

 

[reversajet]

Would you consider this?

I feel your pain in having to give up valuable storage space for a major appliance, and I'm not sure you mentioned the family situation, but if it's just the two of you, I can tell you we are loving our GE 18" dishwasher! And I had room for a full size but found the two of us weren't filling it often enough to run daily, and a brilliant club member talked me out of a Dishdrawer system and the KitchenAid Briva for this gem... Using it every other day, it holds all the cups, bowls and plates you could use, and, except for pots and pans, which I see your double sink can handle, this space saver would fit nicely to its right with some countertop modification, and you'd only be losing a narrow cookie sheet cabinet. If there is a Euro model available on wheels, you're even luckier. Plenty of power, flexible racking and shortest cycle is quick enough to do 2 loads in succession. We've had it two years without complaint.

 

[mixergal]

Why yes, reversajet,

it is just hubby and me - and my pet children I'm willing to consider anything - I like the look of that machine - nice and compact, but holds quite a bit. We do entertain a lot - particularly during the holidays - how fast does it run through a whole cycle? I'm thinking of how many loads I would have to run on Thanksgiving Still beats handwashing dishes for a large, formal meal for 10 adults! What does it look like on the outside? Thanks for the suggestion.
-Sherri

 

[xraytech]

Sherri,

If for some reason you ended up with a new(er) dishwasher or a white one you can always remove the panel and paint it to whatever color you want.

 

[yogitunes]

2 things if I may....

1. how about a microwave hood combination over the stove...free up counter space on this side...and maybe add a cabinet above that...more storage...or maybe a nice carved shelf for display!...I know it's not vintage, but you have limitations and we have to compromise.

2. for the dishwasher...how about a danby counter top unit...hold a fair amount of dishes considering it's you and the hubby....now that may not help much during the holidays but that's only an ocassional thing(maybe a used portable to pull out for the big events...and the small one for the daily stuff)...now this would sit next to your sink and hook up to the faucet or you could have it permanently hooked up...and your coffee maker and canister set would sit on top...no loss of space, just raised up a little....

hope this helps!

 

[turquoisedude]

Everythingold

Sherri, we have a board member in Grands Rapids (everythingold is his 'handle') who has an appliance repair and resale shop who has found some very cool stuff! I would bet that you could find a nice vintage dishwasher there. The idea of taking a more 'modern' machine and painting the front panel would work, too. Personally, if I had my choice, I would love to get a KitchenAid - one in turquoise was posted here not that long ago! I don't own one myself but I hear they are great performers.
Actually, I am working on trying to purchase a GE in turquoise from an estate sale in Grand Haven...

 

[reversajet]

To be honest...

I don't think anybody would admit that service for 10 on Thanksgiving wouldn't require at least TWO full size machines, but... I'm sorry to say that's the one day we probably wouldn't use the machine at all! Talking about good china, crystal, silver... But if you have sturdy dishware and the greasy pots & pans are done in the sink, a couple of loads with flash drying would get you through the day. Actually, the cycle flexibility lets you bypass 4 longer cycles on the dial. I crank mine right down to the "China/Crystal" setting which gives a prewash, wash and two rinses with beautiful results. I have in 2 years never seen it leave anything on a load (including spots and errant coffee grounds) with a powerful 2 level wash and extra top rack height. Admittedly, there were a few times you'd wish it would fit one last glass or bowl if it was an inch wider... but I watch people run their full size machines poorly loaded with a lot of wasted space, so I guess you adapt to what you have.
The unit may actually be a re-badged/re-decorated Danby unit and the website shows a newer improved "no-knob" model, but if I had to replace it tomorrow I'd do the same thing.

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[maytagbear]

There is an 18 inch portable

and it's sold under the Frigidaire label(also Kenmore-Sears), and unlike their 24 inch models, it cleans rather well.

Your kitchen is very charming.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[everythingold]

18-21 series Kitchen Aid

I agree 100%, you can have the aluminum panels powder coated any color you want. Turquoise would look nice. I have a stack of Amana RadaRanges too if you need one. matt