Well, in the pictures, at least, it doesn't look hideous. Living with it for awhile should be okay. Jenn-Air and KitchenAid have the same parent company nowadays. I don't know where the differences are between them, but more people seem dissatisfied with Jenn-Air. Perhaps it's a price to utility difference?

I can't really advise you about ranges, but thought I'd throw this out there: If you removed that small cabinet between the fridge and the range, you could fit a larger range, though you'd also have to modify the upper cabinet. Is there an actual vent duct with that microwave? More than a better range, I'd want a real hood! (Um...I did. I put in a hood in my live with it for 8 years kitchen.) I think that kitchen would be quite liveable with a good hood and a better range. If you went for that, which is a little more outlay, but potentially something that could feed into the new kitchen, you could make the interim much better.

Thanks pllog.. I also was thinking about that as well. Would love the ditch the microwave and put a real hood in. Trust me the range that is in there now is rough. Not sure how its even possible but they burn the top of the glass and it melted. So its gotta go. The house has propane hence why i was looking to go dual fuel. Plus i prefer an electric oven. I do a lot of entertaining at home and cook a ton. I will have to look into maybe going bigger and see how much it would cost to do what you suggested as well. I am just reading to much online seems like all the brands suck. Not finding a ton of objective posts about real pro's and Con's.. Again thanks for the suggestion.

I don't think it would be safe to put a range right up against the frig. Bluestar makes some nifty 30"s https://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/RCS304BV2.html?mv_pc=fr&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=RCS304BV2&gclid=CjwKEAjw-r27BRCzsNyzrMrM-j0SJACp2TiBtnxD_ypqLW7J5GvSihIqSxhE0qT2giY7lYkA5i2UOBoC63Xw_wcB It is a cute kitchen with nice work spaces. It sure looks like you could easily remove the MW cabinets and the ones flanking it and put in a 48" hood. then, when you renovate, you could at least reuse the hood maybe.

Would the frig fit where the coffee station is across from the island? Not a perfect set-up, but perhaps you could at least get the range and ventilation you want.

Thanks Nightowl.. I have looked into the BlueStar Ranges. Read some good stuff on them. I know this may sound silly but since I will not be the only person to use the range. I do like a timer and some other logic for the oven. Others in the household like those features.. But that being said I will add BlueStar back on the list.

Have you considered switching to induction? I realize you're a chef used to gas, but maybe induction would be a good trade off?

Looked into induction. I am sure it's decent to cook on just prefer gas.

Night owl, what do you mean by "not safe"? I had ovens next to fridges for 26 years in my previous home with no issues, so I'm curious.

RE - range next to frig. I am not a code expert and the local authority would rule in this as well. I just looked up a 30" Bluestar installation - it requires 6 inches between it and a flammable surface. I would think refrigerators are flammable. Not to mention the total PIA logistically it would be to have a cooktop right up against something.

Appreciate all the responses. Anyone have any input as far as the ranges posted? Any feedback on the kitchenAid range?

I don't think refrigerators are considered flammable.

Valid point. I don't usually fill all the burners at once. I was thinking the extra burner for a griddle more than for an extra pot or pan. Not easy to find a local spot that carries a bunch of the higher end stuff and had it in stock. Will have to see if I can find something local.

Where are you located geographically Andrew? Best Buy in certain regions have Pacific sales within them and they carry most brands excluding Gaggenau and Bluestar. You will find Kitchenaid, JennAir and Bosch in their displays. Some also display Miele appliances. HH Gregg in my area also has a nice showroom with higher end appliances. Even if you have no where locally, I would plan a day trip to a location where I can see these ranges. You will find it difficult to see Gas ranges in operation but you will at least be able to place your pots on the configuration of the burners to determine if a particular range will work for you.

Good luck!

Thanks homepro.... I am just outside of philly so probably won't need to travel real far to find a showroom with the ranges I am looking for. Some reason I am just having trouble narrowing down the field.

I agree that taking some pots and trying them on for size is a good idea. It's hard to pick the "for now" appliances, but the cooking ones are important enough to get the best you can and get it right.

BlueStars are reputed to run hot, so if you go that way, you might want to put an insulating panel on the side, but I've never heard of a range not being able to be slap against a fridge. The reason for not is when you have a lot of heat leakage it makes the fridge work harder. Flammable stuff is wood cabinets and wall paper.

Pillog I guess I don't understand that concern. He has a 30" range with a cabinet between the range and fridge and he's replacing it with another 30" range so there will still be a cabinet between it and the fridge... I agree putting a hot range near the fridge could make the fridge run more - but that could happen in any kitchen-but how do you see the fire danger increasing?

Since you are not planning on this as your forever set up, you may want to look on craigslist and see if somebody is dismantling appliances from their high-end unused spec kitchen and you could just use a "used" appliance for the next couple of years.

I think he was referring to going with a bigger range and removing that one cabinet so it would butt right up against the fridge. Someone suggested that as an option since I was planning a remodel down the road and would be better to buy bigger now.

Yep. The question was in getting the more desired 36" to be happy. Besides removing the narrow bottom, it would require modifying the bottom of the upper on the left, and installation of a proper vent. Even a 30" BlueStar should have a proper vent, rather than the microwave, so the whole point may be moot, but if you're up for a little not-pretty but not hideous alteration now, it could make the kitchen more pleasant while waiting for the remodelling money. If I'd known how long it would take to get a new kitchen, I'd have at least gotten a good countertop oven to go with my most necessary hood. The old built in oven gave me a lot of limitations and grief!

I don't have a gas line. But the house has propane so I know how to pull the propane line to the kitchen. I have looked
Into induction and its come a long way just prefer gas.