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Kitchen Aid Architect II Double Wall Oven or Electrolux Icon?

11 years ago

Hi, we are just starting a kitchen remodel and we are in them midst of deciding upon appliances.

We have decided upon the Wolf 6 burner gas rangetop, and are now looking for a double wall oven to complement that. Considered the Wolf, but due to cost, we are exploring other options.

We are down to the Electrolux Icon and the Kitchen Aid Architect II.

I have read of people having problems with glass shattering on the KA when using self clean, but I thought this problem has since been resolved.

Like the look of the Electrolux (as well as the matching french door refrigerator), but salesman in a store (that does not carry that brand) warned that they are are prone to problems. Also, have read complaints on this forum about the racks.

Really just looking for some recent experience with either model. Also considered GE Cafe Line, but again, heard that GE is prone to problems also.

Thanks for the help.

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Comments (8)

caitlinmagner
11 years ago
Don't have personal experience with either, but I have read consistently here that Electrolux Icon is one of the best ovens at any price. Love the functions and the slide out racks.
lkb519
10 years ago
Hi Cookie - Did you ever select your oven? I'm curious to know which you chose and how it is? I am also deciding between KA II and Electrolux double ovens. Thanks!
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I bought this KitchenAid in March of last year. 2 weeks after it was delivered it shut down. Meaning there were no light on the display & it would not come on. We called customer service & they said turning the breaker off & on again would reset the range. We flipped the breaker to reset it & it worked again. Over the next several months, we had to continue to do this as it would just go off. It finally got to where this didn't reset the range & we called to get it repaired. When the repairman arrived & we turned the breaker back on & it worked! (They wanted to charge me the $135.00 service call fee as there wasn't anything wrong with my range) A week later my husband went to use the range & there was a letter "K" showing but the range wouldn't work even after flipping the breaker. The letter "K" did go away though. We again called & a repairman came out. Told us there was no letter "K" code, we must have been mistaken but the oven would not work so he ordered a relay switch saying that was what was wrong. A week later the part came in & they put it on. Oven worked. About 3 weeks later (3 days before Thanksgiving) the whole range would not work so another repairman was sent, parts ordered but we had to cancel Thanksgiving dinner at my house as the range would not be working in time. They did get the parts on & the range worked once again. Then 4 days before Christmas the electronic reading on the range said "Function not supported" when we went to use the oven. They said they couldn't get a repairman out before January 7th. When I told them that was unacceptable, they called a different repairman & again ordered parts but they wouldn't be available before Christmas. I finally found a corporate person & explained everything to him. After he investigated, he said they would replace my range January 2nd. A week later, someone called me saying they were shipping my replacement range & it would arrive end of January. We were now using a Toaster oven to bake. Last week we still hadn't heard when it would arrive so we called & were told it would ship on Wednesday. Yesterday it still didn't come so I called corporate again & was told the ship date was moved out to April..... They did finally offer me a different range but it would be several weeks before arrival. I told them that I am just going to go & buy another range as I need to cook for my family. They finally agreed to refund my money for the defective one after I send them the original receipt but it would take about 4-6 weeks for them to come & get the range & give me my money back. I know this is very long but I thought it might help you with your decision. I would strongly recommend you not purchase this KitchenAid range. It has taken me months of frustration & no way to cook properly to finally get where I am with the company & I am still out $1800.00 for another month or so. I even researched induction ranges before I bought the KitchenAid. Obviously not well enough! By the way, I do love the induction type range. It cooks amazingly well & even. Good luck!
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I agree with Deeageaux with a few additional comments. We were faced with a similar situation as you are. We went to order the Electrolux Icon and the store had a 3 year old Viking floor model that was discontinued. After researching on GW and reading the issues with Viking (most dealt with gas ranges, fridges and DW in conjunction with their customer service) we decided to make an offer on the Viking. We offered them 50% of the $6,200 normal price and they accepted. We have been very pleased with our choice and it has worked out for us. While the Wolf is the best oven on your list, keep in mind that it is still a floor model. The doors may have been opened more in a weekend than you will open them in a month. We chose to get an extended warranty (normally we don't) because it was a Viking and it was a floor model. After 18 months (6 beyond the normal warranty) the hinges on the top oven started to fail and the distributor's repair company replaced both upper and lower hinges on the extended warranty at no cost to us (I also know how to change them out now and can do it in the future if necessary). In my opinion you can always increase your offer, but you can never get them lower. I feel that floor models are not a deal unless you get a minimum of 1/3 off, so I normally start at a 50% discount level. Keep in mind that that unit has helped the store sell products for 5 years, and as Deeageaux said, all they can do is say no. Decide what you are willing to pay and remember it needs to be worth the risk that you will carry, not the store. Good luck.
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charlyinfl, Thanks so much for the suggestion. I was excited when I read your post and could hardly wait till this morning for my (engineer) husband to test the oven. If the bake coil wasn't working it would explain everything. Alas....it's working fine. At least it's heating up as expected. I called KitchenAid for service tho, because the bread dough proofing function doesn't work at all...the oven doesn't get the least bit warm...and I'm hoping that the serviceperson will have some ideas about the other problem too. (Kitchenaid says it's normal for the broil element to come on while baking, and didn't offer to have someone look at it.) This must be my bad day tho...Kitchaid aid phone customer service say "offices temporarily closed"...and their online scheduling service is also not working. But I'll persevere with this, especially since you say yours works fine. I sure hope it's fixable. Did I mention that my big Christmas turkey was all brown and dried out on top in just 1 1/2 hours, at 325 degrees, with the roast-pan cover on! If I can't get this resolved I think I'm going to bite the bullet, pay for a new oven and the cost of building it in, and get back to normal in my kitchen. Thanks again for trying to be helpful. I'll keep you posted. Carly
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akcorcoran
10 years ago
Hi -

We looked at both and went with the Electrolux Icon double set and absolutely love them. We've been in our kitchen since March, so it's not forever, but they've been a dream. Cook really well and I really like the controls. Easy to figure out - and I didn't expect how much I'd like that they fade out when you're not using it so it's a clean front except the clock.

The gliding racks are fantastic - don't know who's had problems with them (read one who cleaned the gliders with something which had an affect on them?) But that was one of my KEY decisions.

All three racks in both ovens glide - as opposed to the one in the KA Architect II. I asked and you can pay extra to get the gliders for the other racks but if I was spending for a double set, why would I want to pay more!

The only feedback I have (and I posted this elsewhere) is that we placed them above the Electrolux warming drawer for a full stack. That makes the controls slightly above my eye height - and I am 5' 11"! I don't use the top rack of the upper at all b/c even though it slides, I have to lift the food up to get it there. Even the mid is a little higher than usual but I'm tall and hubby is 6'2". My advice would just be to put them in a regular double oven cabinet - I would have liked them slightly lower. That said, my 9 yr is a budding chef and even she can reach the controls so it's not that huge of a deal.

Pics below - I think you'll be really happy if you go with the Elux Icon set, but best of luck either way!

Alexa

P.S. Not sure if this is a remodel/new with cabinets or a replacement, but we put a "tray" cabinet in above the oven and it's fantastic.
peaches12345
10 years ago
I just wanted to chime in that I also have a "tray" cabinet above our double ovens and it is my favorite thing in the whole kitchen. A real problem solver!

I also have double KA Architect ovens and have never had a problem in the 13 years since my remodel. And I do use self-clean. Since mine are older I can't compare them to today's models.
lkb519
10 years ago
Thanks for the great recs! This process of selecting appliances for my remodel is much more confusing than I would have expected, so I appreciate the insights.
I saw them in person today and I must say that the KA architect ii is beautiful , but the doors are really large and it seems like it might be hard to put things in the oven and pull them out without burning myself. Im small (only 5'2") Has anyone encountered this? The elux is nice too but the racks did sem flimsy and I don't think it's as aesthetically pleasing as the KA.
If anyone else has info to share regarding KA II double oven and elux, I'd appreciate it. I know there are already some forums about this, but they are already a few years old and the models have changed
thanks in advance!
sjhockeyfan325
10 years ago
Jade, have you by chance baked cookies in the 27"? We are looking at the 30" (had a 27" in our prior home and it was a fine size for us, but my very large cookie sheets didn't have much space around them and consequently cookies didn't bake evenly).
jadeite
10 years ago
sjhockeyfan - were you asking me? I posted something under the Elux double oven thread about roasting large turkeys in my 27" oven. I didn't say in that thread that there's enough room for a side dish (sweet potatoes) to be baked on another rack - just make sure the dish is low. It's an amazing little oven.

I bake a lot, always large batches, so yes, I bake cookies in the oven regularly. I always load the oven fully, all 3 racks, using half size (13" x 18") sheets. They bake very evenly without any need to rotate pans. I always use convection bake and pre-heat for a good 20 minutes. Cakes come out evenly browned and baked when I put pans on 2 racks, widely separated to allow for rising. Ditto with breads and rolls.

Hope this helps,
Cheryl
sjhockeyfan325
10 years ago
Thanks Cheryl - that's exactly what I wanted to know. In my previous KA 27" convection oven, cookies definitely did NOT bake evenly. I had to rotate the sheets even though it was convection. So, I'm leaning toward the Electrolux, not sure yet whether we'll get the 27" or the 30".

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