Are you planning on moving in the near future? If not, I wouldn't worry about resale value at all. I also don't think having 1 oven would affect resale. Do you feel that you need 2 ovens? If you really want a 2nd oven, maybe you could fit it in the island.

Are you removing all the cabinetry on the current frig wall? I'm assuming you've measured, but are you sure the frig will fit where the micro is now?

If you're happy with the existing cabinets, I would replace the 36" cooktop with a 36" range. As you said, you will save $$$ not having to change all the existing cabinetry and it looks like your cabinets are in really good shape.

If you did go with the 48" range, where would the refrigerator go?

Good luck!

Malhgold: thanks for responding to my post! I don't use the 2nd oven ever. In fact, nobody ever used it. The house is 10 yo, we are 4th owners, and currently the 2nd (bottom) oven is still brand new & untouched inside.

The fridge will fit where the MW is currently after we removed the decorative arch (to the butler pantry niche on the left) . Removing the arch will add about 10" & allow the fridge to fit where the current mw is (30"cabinet). This MW cabinet is dying (broken bottom door) & I cannot find replacement doors so it makes sense to let it go. The new island will house the MW.

I never thought a/b having the 2nd oven in the island. Thanks for pointing me to that direction.

The island will be all new cabinets & new countertop.

If I go w/ the 48" range, the fridge will still go where the MW is currently. The extra space would have to come from making the cabinets flanking the cook top smaller. so instead of having 18" cabinets on both side of 36" cook top, we would have 12" spice cabinets flanking 48" range.

If we go w/ the 36" range, it will allow us to keep these cabinets a bit longer. When these cabinets die (maybe in 10 years or less) and if we are still here we will tackle the perimeter island and get our dream stove, our dream cabinets, that farmhouse sink, etc. :-)

Basically the 48" is for look because I'm pretty sure I can still cook the same bad meal w/ the 36" LOL :-D Fact is, the only thing I want is a larger center island so that the kitchen will be more children & guest friendly. It would make the kitchen a better place to hang out.

I would post a floor plan soon. Maybe that would give a better idea.

You are getting rid of the decorative arch (kind of a pity), but will you still have a door opening there? If so, it seems rather an awkward spot for a fridge, given traffic flow. Also, you would have to go cabinet depth, and with kids you may miss the space you had in your standard-depth fridge.

To me, the main advantage of a 48" range is that you have a 30" oven and an 18" oven, either of which will preheat much faster than a 36" oven. If you go with a 36" oven, it might be nice to replace the micro with a convection micro or an Advantium. If you get a 36" pro-type range, is your ventilation adequate?

Is it possible to fix the micro cabinet?

If it were my kitchen, I would put in a 36" range and leave the micro cabinet where it is, and put an Advantium there. I would remove the oven stack and put a 48" wide (wider if you can fit it) cab-depth fridge in the new space, with a pullout pantry beside it. That would be the "budget" solution. If money were not an issue, I might redo the cabs to put in more drawers, and get rid of the blind corner cab.

And I guess the true budget solution would be to simply replace the cooktop and fix the micro cab.

BTW, your kitchen looks very nice.

I have a 48" Wolf - and kept it 48" whenI renovated because I wanted to keep my lower cabinets.

I only use the second oven on Holidays. The rest of the year I use the small side. The big oven stores my roasting pan and cookie sheets. Go for the 36" and don't look back!

The sooner you can post a floor plan the better. We might be able to come up with ideas you haven't thought of.

I have a floor plan from the builder -- it gives an idea where everything is. However, it doesn't have the measurement. I will do a detailed floor plan w/ measurements later tonight when I have more time (i.e kiddos & DH in bed :-)

Note: we have the "super family room" as the option. The breakfast/everyday dining table is in front of the fireplace to right of kitchen. To the left is the formal dining.

Thanks again for all your help.

{{!gwi}}

I just finished my remodel and put in a Wolf 48 all gas range. I had a 36
range before. I had limited space so I did not want to do a separate cooktop and ovens. I did not want a 36 range because I felt the oven was too huge for my
use and that the smaller side of a 48 would be a great extra oven. So far I have used both and they are very useful and are working great for my use. I put a regular micro in the island which we don't use very often. You have a great kitchen so just make it feel the way you want to cook! Good luck,
vic

Is there anything in the nook area? How low are the windows over there?

I put in what I think is the best of best worlds: a 36" wide range and a 27" wall oven. I had a 48" range before, and I disliked having to bend over to pull things out of the oven. We have been in our new kitchen since November, and have only used the range oven once. Also, the 27" wall oven heats quicker. Or a second 24" wall oven might be useful. We used our temporary kitchen for 9 months of remodeling. It had a 24" range, and the only thing we couldn't make was a big pizza. Or maybe a combination second oven/microwave? Or an extra little countertop oven in your pantry?
Also, I think 12" wide spice cabinets will look skimpy and be less functional.

Are you planning to completely close off the arch? How will you get to your formal dining room? You will NEVER use it if you do that.

We planned on a 36" stove and went to 55 1/2" and we adore it. We use all three ovens to their fullest :) As well as the entire cook top. You won't regret it!!

We also have a 12" spice pull out on the side of our stove...it's a great size IMO. We have a lot of stuff in there!

Personally, unless you want to do a major remodel, I'd put some seating in the nook and just update what you want to update. If you don't want a traditional dining table, the seating could be a bistro set or pub table, a couple of comfy reading chairs and a coffee table or trunk (handy for kid stuff). You have a large home, a huge family room and a nice space -- why cramp things up to put seating in the kitchen when you have unused space to the side? If resale is an consideration at any point, I think it would be a real setback to have a cramped kitchen in a large home.

Sorry I couldn't get back to this thread right away. Have been busy considering paint colors for my kids rooms.

Vicnsb: We have a small toaster oven that we use ALOT. Our wall oven -- not as often. I only use the oven to bake cupcake & cookies for the kids.

Malhgold: there's nothing in the nook. Floor to window sill is about 40".

astridh: If we remove the left appliances wall, the kitchen will have only 1 wall left (stove/oven wall). Everything will be under counter -- that's the challenge. I'm not closing off the arch. I'm removing the arch so that the fridge can fit next to the range.

Igloo: I'm glad that you like the 12" spice. Right now, the only things I have in those 2 cabinets are spices (use a lot of those while I cook!)

lascatx: The reason I want a larger island is because I like to teach my kids how to cook and the current island isn't conducive to such activity (being narrow, no sitting space, and too close to the oven/fridge). Also, when I entertain, there isn't enough room around the island for prepping help (and people love to help when we entertain).

There was a grey modern kitchen posted a couple of months ago that had a space similar to yours. From what I remember, they had the straight part of the island similar to yours and then sort of made it into an "L" shape with the shorter end going where your nook is. There was seating on the shorter end and the longer end, but maybe in your case you could do it only on the shorter end.

I've tried searching for this kitchen with the different elements that I remember but have had no luck. Maybe if you start a different post asking for layout help you'd get more responses. Then, maybe someone else will remember the kitchen I am talking about. You could link this post in the new one.

for me, the size of the rest of the house is a key factor, if you are looking for resale interest...if your home is four to five bedrooms - potentially a larger family would be interested in it and then i think the larger range, two ovens is important..if it is a smaller home, hence attracting smaller families, go smaller with the range and ovens....we are a family of six - lived with a very small kitchen - renovated to 48" with griddle and double wall oven...i would not be interested in a home with less than 5 - 6 burners and only one oven, if i were to be looking now - to me, the kitchen size, as the dining room, living areas etc, should all be proportionate to the number of people who could potentially be living in the home.