The cost of redoing your counters for future resale suggests to me the option of a cooktop relocation to a more 'sellable' spot Otherwise an induction Miele or Bosch cooktop and Best Cattura downdraft.

We are in Houston with no basements so the cost to move the location to the outside wall is nothing we are willing to pay for this kitchen update. Thank you I will look at induction too

You'd just abandon the under-slab exhaust ducting and exit through an outside wall. The price is worth checking because it's the most common format.

Assuming your cabinet below this can accommodate a 36” cooktop - the telescoping Cattura is great. Zephyr also does one but not sure if the blower is as flexible as the Cattura. You might be surprised how easy it might be to swap the location. If you post all the angles of your kitchen we can help you more.

You can see they made the cabinet on the wall decorative like it could have a vent hood but then put it in the island. 40” between island and wall counter

https://www.abt.com/resources/pages/search.php?keywords=downdraft%20ventilation&resultsPerPage=20&totalNumResults=16&start_index=0&page=1&sort=price&allDepartments=&allManufacturers=&Category%5B%5D=Downdrafts

It looks easier and easier to move the cooktop if you're getting new counters.

We have a Best Cattura telescoping vent and it is terrific. If you can make it work, highly recommend. We have a second story so a hood vent wouldn’t work. This has been a good option for us.

"We have a second story so a hood vent wouldn’t work."

Who told you that? We have a second story and an externally vented cooktop along an inside wall. It sounds like your contractor just didn't want to do it. My contractor tried to pull that on me but when I challenged him, he admitted he just didn't want to do it and implied he assumed I would just believe him. Nope - I knew better!

If you must use a relatively ineffective hood (compared to an overhead vent hood), then at least get a telescoping and one that is as tall as you can find b/c it will only work for items right next to the fan and shorter than the top by at least a couple of inches.

I would also go to induction b/c gas flames can be adversely affected by down drafts.

If this is an open floor plan, I would really reconsider since air currents that can disrupt the flow are stronger and more numerous on an island (or peninsula) than when against a wall.

If you will be in the house short-term, then think about resale. A cooktop in the island is not ideal for resale (unless someone is running a cooking school or has a cooking show).

However, it's your house and your choice.

@dan1888 contractor coming this week. If gas line and exhaust are in the middle of the kitchen, how easy it to move to outside wall without taking up tiles? And cost?

"We are in Houston with no basements so the cost to move the location to the outside wall is nothing we are willing to pay for this kitchen update."

Other than the cook top, what does "update"

include, in your plan?

We "plan to be in the house one to three years"

Mmmmm At a year to 18 months, I do basically nothing unless the cook top is broken

Five years would be different.......

Can you show the rest of the kitchen and surroundings?

I will add that two or three cooks in an aisle clearance of 40 inches is far too little clearance in that aisle. That might be part one of the problem.....venting part two : )

"We have a second story".......

Where does this moose poop : ) even come from!? SEVENTY percent of suburbia is probably two story! The venting goes to an outside wall in eighty percent of those- be that new build or remodel.

You won't be using a gas line for the induction cooktop, 220v 50A line is necessary. The location where the hood structure needs an insert. This includes baffles, lighting and a blower. You can use a Miele 30 or 36" cooktop and their communicating hood insert system. Or Bosch 800 cooktop and a Wolf or Bosch insert system. Talk to an appliance sales Tech or a Miele Experience Center. IKEA has 36" induction cooktops for $700. Link. And hoods Link. $400 insert Link. Plus, a more expensive $2k induction cooktop with built-in downdraft ventilation. Link.

The best location is off the island, but where will your airfryer/toaster oven go? Mine is now the most used cooking appliance we have.

@dan1888 I didn’t think about not moving gas if doing induction on the wall. We use our toaster oven a lot too and it’s currently located next to where the cooktop could possibly go on wall.

@JAN MOYER job is unpredictable so we don’t know how long we will be here. Would love 5 years. But could be 1. We plan to redo counters, backsplash and paint cabinets. The current cooktop is on the fritz so plan to get new. We believe all of this will help resale and I also want to enjoy it because I hate the counters. :). We have another island that we will be lowering to have useable seating as the center island doesn’t have the space. I actually don’t mind the cooktop in the island because I can look out into open floor plan and I do all my prep there.

Whoa. whoa whoa.

How does a picture deceive to his level?

Several things: ( a lot of which I may guess you may not want to hear)

You are between the rock and the hard place, in time frame and money.

A year.....five years......! ?

This is a lot of counter top. Why are you painting cabinetry ?!

Layout..is not good, not well planned or thought out. Someone goes to fridge, needs sink and has to BUMP a fanny at the cook top? In a 40 inch aisle?

Who in the name of heaven, gets on their knees to peer into that second oven?

You will have a small fortune in tops, on cabinetry that was inexpensive builder grade to start. In a high /low/ arrangement on walls that nobody really wants in a kitchen getting a new cook top in a place it doesn't belong.

I just gave you very brutal truth.

For now?

I would buy the least expensive cook top that functions. I would cook outside a lot.

And I would stand back and down for at LEAST six months to a year.

I just gave you the best advice you have to now in the post.....

I beg......Please add more pictures into the great room beyond. .......? Do not throw 50 k or more at THIS kitchen which is to lipstick a "design /layout /pig" of inconvenience . Please do not do it.

You like the area? You like the house? You hope to stay?

Then you do this:

You draw and measure that kitchen to scale. Every wall, window, that arch, every last foot and inch......the island between the arch. Yes, it's a lot of "homework", but the things "you don't mind" are not good at all, and it is your moooolah.

There's a lot better kitchen for a longer stay if you want to see what it COULD be. It isn't this kitchen.

I honestly think the cooktop on the island looks ridiculous, especially since it obviously used to be on the wall. Go find the permits for this remodel and you might learn that there is a capped gas line right where the old cooktop/range used to be. If there isn't, rewire for induction (I would have gotten induction if I had the choice in this house - but builder didn't offer it).

That island doesn't look big enough for prep, honestly. So if you move the cooktop back to its original spot you might find that your island space is better for prep (although the 40" aisles are less than desirable, if you're not going to do a full remodel I guess you're stuck with it). Generally prep space needs a water source but plenty of people just deal with the inconvenience of carrying dripping veggies across an aisle. If you're prepping there now you're doing it anyway so moving the cooktop might not be as big of a change to your process as you think.

I'd go with the IKEA products at the wall location as a first choice. They come with a 5-year warranty. Niele may be better but at a multiple of the IKEA cost that isn't justified here, imo.

@JAN MOYER I appreciate your brutal honesty. lol. The house is only 20 years old this is the original floorplan. The builders in this master planned community have a LOT of houses with the cooktop in the island so @anj_p it was always in the island. Trust me ....a lot of weird design flaws but we are not investing into major renovations. This is a very desirable area to live and houses don't have a problem selling with the cooktop in the island. The cabinets are actually solid wood and very nice but have been painted once and very beat up and hinges falling off, stuck drawers, etc. Will reface with new doors and hinges. Consulting with a few realtors to get their input on the cooktop location. And will find out cost to move to wall with an induction cooktop.

If you move the cooktop I'd put the toaster oven in the corner down by the sink run.

I'm going to throw out a low probability(because of your uncertain timing) reno option now that I see you're considering second island seating. I'd do a price out to get the full comparison against your precent plan before dismissing it. And I don't see the entire space, have structural info or room dimensions. Just thinking based on my response to the space. I'd delete the second island and remove the entire wall. Then move the primary island 12" away from the frig cooktop run and widen it to 5 feet with seating. The relation to the newly increased open larger room would dictate whether it could work better rotated 90 degrees. Depends on how the added new space from removing the second island and the island seating integrates with everything else.

"" Will reface with new doors and hinges, ( beat up, stuck drawers, hinges falling off ) paint cabinetry, new counter tops, new back splash, new hardware, new cook top , cut down other island for more seating"

If you don't end with 45k invested in this? I'll eat the mac I typed this on : ) and that's with an inexpensive granite/solid such as honed absolute black, or Virginia Mist... as there IS flooring to be considered.

Me? On the off chance its five years or forever? I'd rather double it and see an improved layout. Which a nice portion of that coming back on a resale? Can't stop you I realize. Have no clue line of work or job.....but.

My own KD won't touch a reface......"always creates a host of issues , every single time and the cost savings isn't enough". )

Not to mention the inconvenience of too much door base and not enough more convenient drawers.....

Her words, not mine lol. What IF it's only a year and there is another kitchen for a lot longer time frame?

Really wish you'd draw and measure the whole thing and add more pics....

@JAN MOYER have had 3 quotes that range from $18K-$21K. I guess prob closer to $25K once the cost of cooktop and new sink is added.

Plan to double it. You can't get there from here. Show us that quote by category : ) I won't believe it until I see it.

A half decent reface, paint job by a pro? There goes most of that quote or you get an I don't know what in quality, despite Houston has labor costs less than the northeast......particularly involving stone tops and the nearness to a coastline - similar to SOCAL.

I've found that a lot of people have success with combining a reliable cooktop with a high-performing downdraft vent. But it seems like you are considering your options so hopefully these are the cheapest cooktops you have found so far, let us know if there is any way we can help

https://www.shopappliances.com/search?q=island+cooktop&page=1&filters=minPrice%3D611%26maxPrice%3D16799%26sort%3Dprice-low-to-high

18-21K for refacing? That is sadly, about average. Refacing is never a good choice value wise, unless you can 100% DIY all the everything, yourself.

I believe her 21 -25 k was for ALL of the update, tops and cabinets and you can't get there from here: ) unless it would all be junk.

Not in my Northeast world.

That number would be labor all alone

Yes @JAN MOYER is correct. All quotes have come in pretty close. Our labor is MUCH cheaper than the NE. Quotes for granite tear out, replacement with quartz including parts and labor are between $10-$12K. Paint (all very high quality work I have seen in person) ...$4500-$6K.

With that labor, I gut the kitchen. Spend 70k and get a far better kitchen: ) and probably 35 of the seventy comes back at resale or your enjoyment is magnified.

Can't say how much better, as all the info needed in hard inches isn't there.

I’m w Jan on this one. Not about doing a whole new kitchen - but to plan out everything and see where the total budget is. Just painting that kitchen- professionally- would be 20k here. You don’t mention all new refacing costs, hardware, electrical, appliances, backsplash, etc. your project could easily get to $50k.

And by ‘here’ I mean central Indiana.

Not to mention the GC who is coordinating this ….cutting that sink wall down and patch/paint. I’m getting closer to a minimum of $60…