Don't waste your money on putting in any if that. It will just get thrown away in a more extensive remodel. Live with it as is until that more extensive renovation takes place. The counter can be repaired, and the appliances are functional.

I appreciate the real-world-don't-wanna-hear-it advice, but I should have been more clear in my original post. The wall oven is not functional and two of the burners on the cooktop also do not work. So, not replacing them doesn't feel like an option. I believe that the microwave does work, however, my desire to free up more counter space is greater than my desire to not buy a different microwave.

Additionally - I'm a helluva scavenger of auctions and CL, so assume that my search for replacements will be with an eye for saving $$

You just described 15K-20K for the ''for now'' with the cabinet alterations that will be needed. Either pony up the rest to do it all now, or learn 2 burner dishes and toaster oven sized roasting until you do have the budget to do it right. You can live a couple of years like that, I promise. No way to do what you want without throwing money away.

Not to be argumentative, however, I have no intention of spending more than $5K on this renovation and have the utmost confidence that I will be able to work within the confines of this budget. I'm currently looking at bids of $2800 for the counter, anticipate not spending more than $1200 for the appliances, $400 for back splash and hardware and $600 for my contractors' time/effort (I have friends who are plumbers, electricians and cabinet makers) I've recently remodeled my existing home (top to bottom) for less than $30K including new kitchen, bathroom, fireplace, and much exterior work (landscaping and gutters, etc) so when I say I know it can be done for that amount, I sincerely believe that.

So - if we could entertain the idea that I'm comfortable spending $5K to make this kitchen what I want it to be for the next 5+ years, does anyone have any opinions on the questions I originally posed?

You could spend relatively little money and replace the wall oven and the cooktop and get an OTR microwave and have a functional kitchen in the interim, unless you think the 5 year plan will never happen.

I could see updating the appliances to some used ones from CL that work or buying nice appliances that you plan to keep when you remodel. Appliances can always be donated or re sold. Putting in brand new granite that is just going to get torn out and busted up in 5 years is sad.

I usually agree with wait until you are ready fiscally and also to live in a kitchen for a year or two before doing a remodel to ensure you know what works and what does not in your current layout but I do think one needs functioning appliances. The only concern you may face is appliance sizes, Especially built in ones, are often specific to year.

My parents could not just replace their orginal drop in range with a new range without having to redesign the cabinets which were stick built and thus to just replace the range turned into needing to replace cabinets too. Make sure there are comparable sizes available for stove and wall oven and make sure you present cabinetry is not built in place if you plan to purchase differently sized appliance. It might be why the previous owners only changed the refrigerator and dishwasher in the first place...

I don't understand replacing the wall oven but also changing the cooktop to a range. Why don't you either (a) replace the cooktop with another cooktop (saving a lot of cabinetry work and backsplash repair) and the oven with another oven, and then just do the OTR microwave project, or (b) replace the wall oven with a microwave in that same cabinet, and then replace the cooktop with a range, eliminating the OTR project and/or allowing you to have a range hood?

Would update hardware for sure, and I'd consider adding roll-outs to one of the base cabinets, for pots and pans, but otherwise, this seems like a perfectly fine kitchen...

Hi Sarah,

Congrats on your new home!

Just want to make sure, you're budgeting 1,200$ for wall oven, gas cooktop and microwave?

And we're not sure if we want OTR microwave?

I may have missed it, but what type of exhaust do your currently have?

I appreciate all of the responses and questions.. to try and answer some of the questions..

1. If this renovation leads to a functional kitchen, I would not necessarily be ripping it out and starting from scratch in 5+ years. My hope is that making these tweaks will provide a work space that is first and foremost, more functional and if there are some aesthetic wins, all the better. There is a main floor laundry on the other side of the wall (behind the cooktop) and while having it in this location is not a priority for me, I do recognize that if someone is interested in true single level living, it would be important to retain it some where on the main floor.

2. I am interested in having both the wall oven AND the slide-in range to gain the additional oven space (I do a lot of baking around holidays and am coming from a double wall oven situation)
3. I would like to replace the microwave for 2 reasons... the first is to try and reclaim some counter space - the second is to gain some of the benefits of a recirculating vent above the range (not going to vent it up or out the back)
4. I had taken into consideration the domino effect that the new slide-in range would present in terms of the cabinetry. However, my woodworking/cabinet friend has looked at the space and assured me that it can be done (we might be paying him in beer and pizza for a while!)

I know that you need a functional kitchen, and that you want to make the space reflect you, but I would caution against jumping into this without doing a lot more research. I'd also suggest getting a local Kitchen Designer involved, to view the cabinets and infrastructure in person, and to help you judge their quality. Often things that look good on the surface don't bear closer inspection with long term in mind. Also, have you actually priced wall ovens? You may blow your appliance budget entirely on just that one purchase!

Please, just slow down. And gather more information before making a decision that could result in you backtracking at a later point. The best result often is not the first idea that you have when you view a room.

BTW, one great attribute of Corian counters is their repairability and renewability. They are also warm to the touch, and more forgiving of klutzy kitchen behavior. Not that, um, I would know anything about that!

It's your house, do what you need to do to make it livable now. I would replace the hardware on the cabinets, but otherwise leave them alone. There's not much to be done without repainting and/or refinishing, which would bust your budget. I agree that you should ditch the appliance garage. In that small of a space, you don't need it and the counter space will be more important than having your countertop appliances hidden from view. I would find a grantie (or other material) that is light in order to keep the space bright. Definitely too small for a dark countertop.

Wouldn't it be easier to replace the single wall oven with a double wall oven by utilizing the lower part of that cabinet?

How long have you lived in the house and used the kitchen as it is? Do you think that the changes you suggested would be enough to make it functional enough that you do Not have to remodel in 5 years?

I've never used a kitchen in a new house for less than about a year before making final decisions about kitchen design (and they generally were not exactly what I would have done at the beginning). And I've designed kitchens for other people as well.

You can do what you want, really, spend $5000 now and $25,000 or more later, whatever. I know people who have taken out brand new kitchens that had been put in by the sellers to sell the house. I know people who have spent tons of money redoing kitchens and I've barely been able to distinguish it from the old one except that it looks new. I don't really care how other people want to spend money. Just understand that the return on the investment is not 100% so technically you lose money with every remodeling project Except if the values of the houses in your area are going up anyway. If you said that you were going to spend $5000 for a five year holding pattern and $75,000 in 5 years, I would say go for it, because 5000 is like 6-1/2% of what you will be spending later, but if you are going to spend $30,000 on this whole house like you spend on the last on, that same $5000 is going to be a big part of that kitchen budget of 5 years from now.

Since you like to cook, consider getting a real vented hood. A recirculating vent is next to worthless. Put the microwave over the new wall oven. A local carpenter can adjust the wall unit to hold both..

If you like the style of a farmhouse sink, Kohler makes the cast iron Whitehaven and stainless steel Vault in "short apron" styles. The "short apron" style can be installed on a standard sink base cabinet. It will blow your budget a little, but it is best to install the good sink with the counters. I have one in my vintage style kitchen and love it. My kitchen is smaller compared to modern ones, but I love working in it with everything at hand - for some, smaller is better:)

Microwave over wall oven:

Short apron Whitehaven in my kitchen:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784356