I am interested to hear opinions on this also. We are midstream in our kitchen renovation and made the decision to replace the double wall ovens and cooktop with a slide in range and hood. The two real estate agents I spoke with about it seemed to agree that double ovens were not necessary in a house of this size. I have only used them together a few times in 5 years, mainly for warming, so I will not miss them a bit, especially since I will have a warming drawer..

I am in the inverse of camp #1 which I stated in your other thread.

As for a resale. You need to consider many things. Are you quickly selling? What do your comps have? What fits the size and style of your house and neighborhood?

Personally I want to gut any kitchen I see in a house I may purchase, LOL. For the most I would think that a good layout with decent quality items are the most important elements.

The question also involved variables, i.e.:
1. the cook top in an island. I personally don't care for cook tops in islands.

2. How effective are downdrafts vs a hood?

You might want to google some threads where some of the designers here state why they do not like island cooktop setups. There are probably many other discussions across the net as well.

Gas was once noted as the chef's choice but Induction is now being favored, although they probably have uses for both.

Both induction and the oven and half would sell me.

This post was edited by snookums2 on Tue, Jan 7, 14 at 19:30

Any time that someone who is redoing their kitchen and asks about what is better for resale value, my first question back is, "How soon are you planning on reselling?"

Honestly, if the plans to sell aren't within the next 10-ish years, the people who are buying will likely want to replace what you have anyway. They'll still buy...but they'll probably figure that they will replace somewhere down the road.

Unless you have fairly near-term plans of selling your house, for the most part, put in what YOU enjoy and enjoy your kitchen. Believe me, I know about plans being uncertain - my DH and I have lived that quite a bit. And, yes, we wound up selling a house at a crazy SIGNIFICANT loss (during the housing bubble burst) and lived to tell the tale.

But, in terms of resale, it's not as if you are asking if you should totally eliminate the kitchen...you're looking at a variation...buyers like and dislike so many things - they may love your cabinets and hate your appliances. They may hate your appliances, but love your counters. Rarely are you going to have a buyer come into your house and say that they love every single thing about it. Knowing that, make it "palatable", but don't cater to the unknown buyer that may be some day in the future.

I'm more of a range person, I would consider the cooktop and wall ovens in a larger kitchen only. I really don't like to see them in a small kitchen taking up too much space, limiting counter area, storage.....

It depends entirely on the price point and size of the kitchen. For sure, he cooktop and wall oven setup costs significantly more that a range because not only do you have to buy the appliances, but you also have to buy the cabinets to house the appliances.

In a mid grade redo, where you'd be doing something like a GE Profile package, the costs of the appliances would also be greater than if you did the equivalent range. If you start talking larger pro style appliances, the costs start to even out for the appliances between ranges and separate components.

You also lose 30" of counter space, which smaller kitchens feel much more keenly than larger ones.

taking up too much space

A range takes away exactly the same amount of storage space and counter surface as a cooktop and wall oven below. In fact, you may be left with more storage space with a wall oven below because depending on the oven you can have a drawer below it.

Live_wire_oak, that is exactly why we opted for the slide--in range to replace the double wall ovens and cooktop. I now have 108" of uninterrupted counter space where my cooktop was, as well as a more open feel with a range and hood where the wall ovens were. We had originally planned on adding a single wall oven below our cooktop where the wall ovens were, but my husband really liked the location of the knobs and lock-out features of the slide-in range, so we went that route.

Most of my kitchens have had ranges with no extra ovens. It's how I grew up and feels like the default to me. But I really don't care all that much. It wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me. What I don't care for are cooktops or cleanup sinks in an island. Even that wouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker.

I would be less inclined to buy a house with a downdraft vent system regardless of whether it was on a cooktop with separate ovens or part of a range. Even if I was going to remodel, sometimes the downdraft ducting is a pain to get rid of, and then you have to do new overhead ducting.

I don't think I would rule out a house that had a range or a cooktop + wall ovens on those features alone. It would depend on the kitchen and the house.

A single wall oven would most likely be a negative for me. Wall ovens would be a plus if it was a double oven. The island cooktop would have to be carefully evaluated but would start with a strike against it. Downdraft too (those do tend to kill storage space, so thinking you will get great drawers space below may not be a workable plan). Even if storage space works out well, you do lose counter space unless the oven is installed below counter.

My preference is a non-island cooktop and double wall ovens, but in your situation, I'd probably go for the range.

Thank you all! It IS very helpful to know that the answer is truly "it depends"! I had assumed that it would be a mistake to move from the wall oven & cooktop setup to a range, but it sounds like it makes the most sense to go with whichever combination of appliances works best in the space!

About resale, we have absolutely no plans to sell anytime soon. However, with my husband's job, the possibility of a work-related move is always in the background. If that happens, we need to sell fairly quickly. So, while we are trying to make remodeling decisions that work best for us, we also want to consider how they affect the overall appeal of the house.

thanks,
Michelle

As for resale, you might also want to consider what is common in your area. Do your neighbors pretty much all have one or the other? That might help you decide not to be the odd person out. Personally, I only know 2 people who have wall ovens: my SIL who doesn't actually cook, and my friend whose oven has been broken for 15 or 20 years (yes, they're starting their remodel this month!)

If your answer is both are common, then go with what you like and what fits. Personally, I wouldn't plan an island cooktop w/downdraft given other options.

I just built a new house and put in double wall ovens,gas top range with a vent(not on the island) and I just LOVE it!!!!

You might want to google some threads where some of the designers here
state why they do not like island cooktop setups. There are probably
many other discussions across the net as well. check here: http://portableinductioncooktophq.com/