Confirm the appliance models that determine the housing, door front, ventilation or connections before approving your cabinets and installation schedule. For cooking, choose between a conventional oven and a combination oven based on the space available, the features you want and the capacity of the specific model. For your dishwasher and fridge, also check how the door will fit and follow the installation instructions.
If your tall units, housings, door fronts and connections haven’t been finalised yet, choose your appliance models early enough to give the kitchen fitter their installation diagrams. The French National Consumer Institute notes that choosing appliances is part of planning a kitchen installation.
If you’re deciding between a conventional oven and a combination oven with a microwave, first compare the space available and the capacity you need for the dishes you cook. Electrolux product specifications show that built-in dimensions vary by model.
If the cabinet and door front are staying in place, measure the housing and check the ventilation and door fixing before choosing a model. Bosch’s installation advice highlights these points for integrated appliances.
Start with anything that could affect your kitchen plan, then check the features and delivery schedule against your project.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Housing, door front and ventilation | Compare the installation diagram with your planned cabinet; check the hinges, door panel and clearances specified for each model. | If the cabinets haven’t been made yet, I want to avoid finding that a door front or housing prevents me from installing the appliance I’ve chosen. Around 31% of consumers rank this technical compatibility as their top priority. |
| Conventional or combination oven | Check the cooking functions you want, the oven capacity and the built-in dimensions of the model. | When space is limited in a tall unit, I need to choose between an oven with a dedicated cooking cavity and an appliance that combines oven and microwave functions. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Capacity and everyday use | Depending on the appliance, compare its usable volume, place settings or the usage specifications listed on its product page. | Once I know the appliance will fit, I need a capacity that suits my household’s cooking, washing or storage needs. Around 25% of consumers put these everyday needs first. |
| Delivery and installation | Confirm the chosen models, what services are included, and the delivery and installation dates or lead times. | If installing the cabinets depends on the appliances arriving, I want to coordinate both stages without having to change the plan part-way through. For around 19% of consumers, the schedule and services are their main concern. |
The external width alone doesn’t tell you whether an oven, dishwasher or fridge will fit in the cabinet and work with its door front. Bosch and Electrolux product specifications show that measurements and configurations vary by model.
Give your kitchen fitter the exact model number and its installation diagram before the cabinets and door fronts are made.
Changing the model after manufacture could mean altering the cabinet or door front.
It’s not enough for the appliance to fit in the tall unit: airflow is part of the installation. In its installation advice, Bosch recommends leaving at least 200 cm² of free space behind and beneath the fridge; the instructions for your chosen model should always take precedence.
Before finalising the tall unit, ask the cabinet maker to check the clearances specified in the appliance instructions.
A combination oven brings several cooking functions together, but its cavity and housing still need to suit the dishes you cook. A study by the French National Consumer Institute and ADEME, covering four combination ovens and ten built-in conventional convection ovens, doesn’t support the conclusion that one category is always more energy-efficient.
Start with the dishes you cook, whether you need a microwave and the space available, then compare specific models.
In a fitted kitchen, appliance delivery and cabinet installation are linked. In France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers that essential product characteristics and, where applicable, delivery or performance deadlines must be provided before a contract is agreed.
Make sure the project documents specify the models, the services included, and the delivery and installation dates or lead times.
Bosch’s guidance on refrigeration and dishwashing can help you check the housing, ventilation and door integration.
Its oven specifications show how cooking configurations and the space needed in a tall unit can vary.
Whirlpool’s advice on built-in ovens draws attention to the position of the electrical connection and the need for airflow.
These models include a built-in oven, integrated dishwashers and a built-in fridge-freezer for a fitted kitchen. Before choosing one, check its instructions against your cabinet plan and the planned door front.
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Worth considering if you’re planning a built-in oven and want a 78 L cavity. This model is listed at 2 100 W; check the housing dimensions and electrical requirements in its instructions before finalising the cabinet design.
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Consider this if you’re planning a 60 cm built-in dishwasher and need space for 13 place settings. Its description lists an energy rating of B; check the instructions for the required housing dimensions, door front and hinges for your cabinet.
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Worth considering for a tall unit designed to house an 188 L fridge-freezer with the freezer compartment at the top. The description specifies a single door and an energy rating of E; check the dimensions, door-front fixing and ventilation requirements in the instructions before finalising the housing.
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Consider this if you’re looking for a fully integrated 60 cm dishwasher with space for 14 place settings. Its description lists an energy rating of C; have the required housing dimensions and door-front limits checked before the cabinet is made.
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Worth considering for a kitchen planned around a 60 cm built-in dishwasher with space for 14 place settings. This white model is listed with an energy rating of E; check the required housing dimensions and the compatibility of the door front and hinges in its instructions.
Yes, as long as each model is compatible with the housings and door fronts already made, but you’ll have fewer options than if you choose before production. Measure the spaces and check the instructions for hinge, door-panel and ventilation requirements. Bosch, for example, recommends measuring the housing before buying a built-in dishwasher.
No. You can’t draw a conclusion based on the category alone. A study by the French National Consumer Institute and ADEME compared four combination ovens with ten built-in conventional convection ovens and found that results depend on the model and how it’s used. Compare the appliances you’re considering based on the way you usually cook.
Make sure the exact models and planned services are identified, along with the delivery and installation dates or lead times. In France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers that essential product characteristics and applicable deadlines must be clearly communicated before a contract is agreed. Check that the appliance schedule aligns with the cabinet installation.