Freestanding or integrated appliances?

When thinking about appliances for your kitchen, you can opt for an integrated or a freestanding appliance. Your perfect appliance will depend on what type of kitchen you have, and the style you want to create.

What are integrated appliances?

An integrated appliance fits in with the overall aesthetic of a kitchen by being partially or fully built into a unit or cupboard. The large majority of appliances have their doors fixed to a cupboard door, so they cannot be seen and incorporate into the existing theme in the kitchen. Some appliances like ovens can be housed inside units that are built higher, and the doors are usually visible.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of integrated appliances?

Advantages 

A major advantage of integrated appliances is that they are usually hidden, and the overall aesthetic can be maintained. This means that the design of the kitchen will continue throughout, as opposed to having appliances that stand out and disrupt this continuity.

Integrated appliances are housed inside cupboards, and this means that they are often more sturdy than their freestanding counterparts due to having the support of these units.

Disadvantages 

There are fewer brands making integrated appliances compared to those offering freestanding ones. This means that there is less choice, and integrated appliances are usually more expensive.

They are more difficult to install than freestanding appliances, which adds extra expense, as they often need an electrician to install them safely. Linked to this is the fact that they are harder to repair, which means engineers often charge higher rates. And when it comes to moving house, integrated appliances aren’t easy to simply unplug and take with you in the way that freestanding ones are.

What are freestanding appliances?

Dishwashers, ovens, fridges, freezers, washing machines and others can all be purchased as freestanding appliances. This means that they stand freely in your kitchen and aren’t housed inside a unit or a cupboard like integrated ones.
Freestanding appliances are visible and can be placed in specific places in the kitchen, depending on their size and the space that’s available.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of freestanding appliances?

Advantages 

With so much choice on offer, freestanding appliances offer consumers plenty of options to suit their tastes. This means that a range of brands, colours and price ranges can be considered when looking for freestanding appliances.
Freestanding appliances are made in a variety of sizes, which means it’s more likely to find an appliance that exactly matches the needs of consumers in terms of capacity and space.

Flexibility is also something that freestanding appliances offer; they can be placed in various places in your kitchen, and can be easily taken with you when you move house.

Disadvantages 

Freestanding appliances often stand out more than integrated ones, which means that you may not get a uniform feel throughout your kitchen. It also means that they may not match your existing units. It’s also worth remembering that as they are freestanding, they may not be exactly the same depth or size as the rest of your units, which may affect the overall aesthetic you want to achieve.

Neff offers high-end appliances

Neff is a German-based manufacturer that offers a range of high-end kitchen appliances, including integrated ovens. One of the unique features of Neff integrated ovens is the Slide&Hide system which allows the oven door to be hidden away, giving you greater access to the oven itself. This provides you with more space and makes it easier to bake, check and taste your dishes. If you’re looking to create some culinary masterpieces, then a Neff integrated oven that uses VarioSteam could be an ideal solution. VarioSteam provides the right amount of moisture depending on what you’re creating. Once you dish is cooked, you can take advantage of the Neff Pyrolytic cleaning button, which will burn food debris and deposits away – all you need to do is wipe away the ash that’s left.

Bosch has a range of reliable appliances that look the part

Bosch is a German company that manufactures a range of integrated and freestanding appliances. Whether you’re looking for washing machines, ovens, fridge freezers or dishwashers, Bosch has plenty to choose from. Bosch boasts a range of appliances that make use of innovative and exciting features, so you can be sure that the appliance you choose is the right one for you.

Take advantage of our half-price delivery and installation promotion starting on the 25th July and ending on the 1st September

For customers that spend over £250 on integrated appliances in a single transaction, we are offering half-price delivery and installation.

Why not take advantage of our special promotion and start searching for your next appliance today?