Kitchen and Laundry Appliances in New Construction: What's Popular in North Texas

Walk through a few new model homes around the Metroplex and you’ll notice the kitchens keep getting more ambitious: bigger ranges, second dishwashers, beverage refrigerators, and laundry rooms in places they never used to be. Some of these features make daily life easier. Others look great in a model home and matter less once you move in.

Over my career, I’ve represented both buyers and builders in new construction, and I’ve asked a lot of questions about which features people actually use. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Cooking: gas, electric, or induction

In my experience, the cooktop is where buyers feel most strongly. Most people already know whether they want gas or electric, and that preference rarely changes.

Gas cooktop: Still the favorite of many serious home cooks in North Texas. You get instant heat you can see, and a gas cooktop can usually still be lit with a match during a power outage. The tradeoff is that gas releases combustion byproducts into the kitchen, so a range hood vented to the outside matters. Grates and burners also take more effort to clean.

Electric smooth-top: The standard in homes without gas service. It’s easy to wipe clean and inexpensive to buy and repair. It heats and cools more slowly than gas, so it takes a little more planning when you need to turn the heat down fast.

Induction: Showing up more often in higher-end homes. It uses a magnetic field to heat the pan directly, so it’s fast and responsive, the cooktop surface stays cooler, and less heat spills into the kitchen, which counts for something in a Texas summer. It costs more upfront, needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit, and only works with magnetic cookware. A quick test: if a magnet sticks to the bottom of your pan, it will work.

Induction also has some built-in safety advantages. The cooktop only heats when a pan is on it, so there’s no glowing burner left on by mistake. Many models shut off automatically when the pan is removed, and some also shut off if a pan boils dry or overheats. If you’ve ever walked away from a pot and forgotten it, that peace of mind is worth a lot. Check the owner’s manual to see which features a specific model has.

Commercial-style ranges

Large professional-style ranges, often 36 to 48 inches wide with six or more burners and a griddle, have become a centerpiece in many upper-end kitchens. They’re impressive and cook beautifully, but they come with a few things to plan for.

• The hood matters as much as the range. A powerful range needs a powerful hood vented to the outside, not one that just recirculates air.
• A big hood can need fresh air. Many cities’ building codes require a way to bring outside air into the house when a range hood moves more than 400 cubic feet of air per minute, so the house isn’t starved for air. Ask the builder how that’s handled.
• Repairs take a specialist. Not every appliance repair company works on high-end brands, and parts can take longer to arrive.

Double ovens and wall ovens

A double wall oven, or a range paired with a separate wall oven, is popular with people who cook for a crowd or bake often. It’s especially handy on holidays. If you rarely use more than one oven, the space might serve you better as extra cabinets.

Double dishwashers

A second dishwasher is one of the more practical upgrades in a large kitchen. It’s useful for big gatherings, for keeping clean and dirty dishes separate, or for adding a dishwasher drawer at an island prep sink. It does take up cabinet space, so look at what storage you’re giving up.

Beverage centers and wine refrigerators

Under-counter beverage and wine refrigerators keep drinks out of the main refrigerator and are a favorite for entertaining. A built-in model needs to vent from the front. A freestanding unit tucked under a counter can overheat and wear out early. They also add a little noise and heat, so think about where yours will sit.

Ice makers

A built-in ice maker under the counter turns out far more ice than a refrigerator’s ice maker, and many make clear or “nugget” ice. It’s a favorite for entertaining. Plan for a water line and a drain, or a drain pump if there’s no floor drain nearby. Our hard water also means the unit needs regular cleaning and descaling to keep working well. They cost more than you might expect, and a new one can take a day to fill its bin.

Refrigeration beyond the kitchen

Column refrigerators and freezers: Separate full-height refrigerator and freezer columns, often paneled to match the cabinets, are a hallmark of luxury kitchens. They look seamless and let you choose how much space goes to each. They cost considerably more than a standard refrigerator.

Refrigerated drawers: Drawers built into an island or a pantry for produce, drinks, or snacks. They’re convenient, but they hold less than you might expect for the price.

Garage refrigerators: Many North Texas garages get extremely hot in summer, and a standard refrigerator isn’t designed for that. Look for a model the manufacturer rates as “garage-ready,” and check the owner’s manual for the temperature range it’s built to handle.

Laundry rooms

Laundry that connects to the primary closet: One of the most popular floor plan features I see is a laundry room with a door into the primary closet. You can take clothes out of the dryer and hang them up a few steps away, without carrying baskets through the house.

Two sets of washers and dryers: Some larger homes now have a second laundry setup. Sometimes it’s two stackable sets side by side in the same laundry room, so you can run more loads at once. Other homes have a second laundry room, often upstairs or near a secondary suite, so laundry happens close to where the clothes live. Either way, it means two sets of machines to buy and maintain, and more places a leak can start.

Wherever the laundry room is, check where the dryer vent runs and how long it is, because a long vent run takes longer to dry clothes and needs regular cleaning. Ask whether there’s a floor drain or a pan under the washer, especially when the laundry room sits next to a closet or above finished living space.

Appeal versus value

As a former appraiser, I’ll add one note. A feature buyers love isn’t automatically a feature that adds dollar-for-dollar value. Appraisers look at what buyers in your specific market have actually paid for. In upper-tier neighborhoods, a commercial-style range or double dishwasher may be expected. In others, it may help a home stand out without changing the appraisal much. Choose the features you’ll use and enjoy, and think of resale as a bonus.

How to check for yourself

• Ask the builder for the appliance package in writing, including the make, model, and size of each appliance, and whether you can upgrade.
• Look up each model on the manufacturer’s website for the warranty, installation requirements, and where to find authorized repair service.
• Check the yellow EnergyGuide label and EnergyStar.gov to compare estimated yearly operating costs.
• For a big range hood, ask how outside air is brought in, and confirm with your city’s building department if you’re not sure.
• For a garage refrigerator, read the temperature range in the owner’s manual before you buy.
• At the pre-drywall walkthrough, check where the range hood and dryer vents run.

If you’re interested in property in the DFW area, I’m happy to help.