It would be a fire hazard to recess the range. It's meant to stick out. Plus, most ranges are 26"-27" to begin with. Check the exact specs of your range, plus make sure that it's positioned so that the oven door clears the front of the cabinets.

We have the same situation and we are planning to install it just like the photo that Errant_gw posted, with a strip of counter top in the back. I kind of like this because I'd like to add a shallow shelf on the wall behind the range and this will give it extra clearance.

Thank all of you for the smart comments. I hadn't thought about running countertop behind the range as it seemed that the gap might look ugly.

LWO- I didn't know that. What's causes this risk? I'm a little embarrassed to say that this is news to me as I'm a firefighter :(

I did double check the dimensions at your suggestion and found that is is 23 11/16" . I couldn't find the install manual for this particular samsung range but found one for another nearly identical one. For that range the minimum clearance behind the range was 0".

EK- Great point. We've got no uppers on that wall so it might be nice as a location for salt, pepper and cooking oil.

I think LWO is talking about where the oven ends up--the oven door usually has to stick out past neighboring cabinets. Errant's photo is a slidein range and they're meant to have that strip in the back, but regular ranges can have it too--they just butt up against it instead of sitting on top of it. Your counter installer should not find it odd at all. We will have about 6" of a strip behind our range. Assuming your range doesn't have a backguard, it'll be nice to have an inch or two for pot handles to overhang. And a shelf!

Just keep in mind, you may want to build your hood out an additional 3", or at least get a 27" deep hood.

I used deeper than standard counters around the range, so I pulled it (and the hood) out a couple of inches. The range has a high back with controls--I built a 'frame' to fit between the stove back and the wall, extending below the counter, and painted it bisque to match the range. The frame makes a shelf that's just wide enough for salt shakers, and I don't think anyone has ever noticed that it's not part of the range.

We pulled our cabinets out in my last kitchen and had a false wall built and wrapped in granite. Loved the shelf. Google histokitch's kitchen for a good example.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2671976/finished-kitchen

First, let me say that I really regret that I didn't think of the username cluelessincolorado because it describes me with complete accuracy. Thanks to the recommendations of this group my plan is the unpublished option 4: pulling the range out and building a faux shelf around the control panel that rises in the back of the range. It vents through the front of the panel and doesn't require any clearance behind.

Thanks again, everyone.

Here is a pic of mine, which might help. The frame I built butts up to the back of the control panel, between it and the wall, and sits just a tiny bit lower, to keep the items sitting on it from sliding forward.

Thanks. That's awesome. My gap will be around 3". In staying with the bright ideas here I'll try to tile it into the backsplash.