We all know the importance of an oven/ovens in our kitchen, whether you a great cook that uses it daily, a part time cook or even a seasonal cook, the oven is a big part of the cooking activity. As you plan & design for your new kitchen, be it a new home, an update or a remodel of your existing space, there is one appliance question that will need to be answered at the beginning of the process as the space is being designed. The hob choice and placement is central to your kitchen design & functionality.
Do You Want a Wall Oven(s) or a Range Cooker?
Like a lot of kitchen decisions, there is not necessarily a right or wrong answer here, and there are certainly pros and cons to each option, it all comes down to your preferences, your space, and your budget. Let’s look into the pros and cons of each choice.
Wall Oven Pros
Cooking Capacity – The cooking capacity will be the same if you are considering one single wall over vs. a 36″ range which also comes with a single oven. Where a wall oven can offer more cooking space is in the double oven category. The double wall oven will come with two equal, full sized wall ovens. While a 30″, 36″ or 48″ range units will not. The 48″ range does have two ovens, but one is much smaller than the other and gives you more of an oven and a half situation. The only range that will give you two full sized ovens is the 60, ” and a lot of kitchens just do not have the space for a unit this big.
Easy Access, wall ovens are just easier to get to as they are installed around eye-level, using the oven does not require any effort like bending, kneeling or crouching. Many people see this as a big positive particularly when carrying hot foods. The ease of access of this oven will also allow cooks of all ages to use the appliance making it a good choice for a family. Neff have some great options here.
Wall Oven Cons
Space, a kitchen with a wall oven also needs to have a cooktop of some kind. Now, two areas of your kitchen are dedicated to cooking, thus taking up valuable space in your kitchen. For some kitchens, this is not a problem as they have a large space to work with, but for others this space can be limiting.
Money, this can be a more expensive option as it requires two appliances, a wall oven plus a cooktop.
Range Pros
Space – The range combines the oven and cooktop surface into one appliance which takes up less space. This is a major pro for those with a smaller workspace like mine.
Aesthetic – The range can offer a bit more industrial glamor and style than a traditional wall oven/cooktop scenario. In general, the range has a more beefy, industrial vibe because of the front facing knobs. The knobs can be an important selling factor in and of themselves especially if you are looking at a Wolf range with the famous red knobs. Other brands like AGA have range offerings that do so much more than cooking. They bring an instant decorative focal point to the kitchen with their unique style and colour options.
Money – Monetarily speaking the range is the best value. You get your oven and cooking surface in one purchase, and this can save you thousands of dollars.
Cons for the Range Cooker
Accessibility, due to the oven feature underneath the cooktop, accessing this area requires a fair bit of bending, crouching and kneeling.
Cooking Capacity, the range cooker can be limiting vs the two full sized ovens that come with a double oven unless unless you go with a 60″ range cooker, if not you will only have a one or one and a half ovens. I don’t use two full sized ovens on a daily basis however it is a great feature to have when I entertain.
There is no easy answer on which appliance or appliance combination to go with, get a kitchen designer in to give you the options through a detailed design, this way you can make a choice on your space and cooking needs.
Finchley kitchens is in North London they can help you design the best kitchen for your home. For more Kitchen Design inspiration book a Free Kitchen Design Consultation. Call them on 020 8445 7499
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