So, after researching via Consumer Reports and looking at the various options, I settled on a Frigidaire induction stove and a Whirlpool bottom freezer-style refrigerator. I also chose to go with a family-owned appliance place in nearby city given my frustrations with Home Depot and that front door project they did for me last year. My town's Facebook group gave this place high marks so decided to give them a try.

My current fridge is 20 years old (!) and the stove is even older...it's 28 years old!!  My records show I bought it in 1998. Where does the time fly? It's a miracle they are both still functioning since the guy at the store said any new appliances today only last 5 to 8 years. I don't know if that's a sales and marketing thing designed to have you buying more appliances, but if not, that is shocking. I can't imagine going through this that frequently, not to mention the cost.

I think I got a very good deal because when I was checking with the store to see if they might have the models I was interested in on the floor so I could look at them in person, she mentioned they had a scratch and dent of the fridge in their other location, so I went there to see it and there's a very small ding on one side, and I saw no damage on the front. The side will be completely hidden by my built-in cabinetry. So that's the one I bought, for just $1,099. I actually paid more than that ($1242) in 2006 when I bought my old one! The normal price of this fridge is $500 higher, so that was a great discount.

I also decided, bucking my normf, to spend $239 on a 5-year warranty on the induction stove. (The appliances come with a 1-year warranty.) Historically, I have usually felt that warranties are a waste of money, but in this case, if you don't use the warranty at all during the 5 years, they will refund you half the cost of the warranty, so I really feel it's a minimal cost to me for some added peace of mind with new technology. (I did the same thing when I purchased my Samsung washer/dryer set because the dryer uses a heat pump to dry the clothes very energy-efficiently. Which I liked, but just not being familiar with the technology, I was afraid it might break down and be costly to repair. As it turned out, it never broke down.)

At the store he told me that if I have any problem with the stove and they have to come out more than twice to try to fix it but can't, they will just replace the stove entirely.

They are supposed to be delivered on Wednesday and I'm feeling nervous about their arrival since 1) i have a partial paver driveway and depending on size of truck, not sure I should let them drive on it, but also very aware these appliances are heavy, 2) I have 11 stairs leading to my front door and I'm praying they don't crack a bluestone and, 3) the front door (old house) is very narrow, at just 31 inches.

The fridge has an ice maker but I'm unsure whether I want them to hook it up or not. I was reading in Consumer Reports that ice/water dispensers and ice makers are the 2 most common things to break down on a fridge. Given that I have a wood floor in the kitchen, maybe it would be better to just not connect the line and stick to old-fashioned ice trays? I don't know...opinions?

Anyway, I will be very excited to get these new appliances.

To make room for the 70" high fridge, I had to get someone to cut an overhang piece of trim on the cabinet above the fridge. I thought this added step would delay my appliance purchase by weeks; I called a bunch of people who didn't respond and the one person who did respond (recommended on my town Facebook page once again) said he could stop by to take a look that day. He came over and spent quite a lot of time going over what he would do, bringing his tools in from his vehicle to show me, etc. He was just a handyman. His price was extremely reasonable. Then he said, well, if you want, I could do it now. I decided to take the plunge and trust that he knew what he was doing. The cut had to be done neatly since it was a kitchen cabinet. He did a good job and all I had to do was paint it with some paint leftover from when I had the cabinets refinished a few years ago.

So now, it seems, many new fridges are around 70" high. The one I have now is 66". You wouldn't think 4 extra inches would make that much difference, but the one I saw sure seemed spacious. Of course, it was empty. The real tests will be when I get to fill it up.