Making the move towards a Molteni Range
4mamma
12 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (93)
beekeeperswife
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Mamma Aga survives molteni saga
Comments (36)I too spent a lot of time thinking about our new kitchen as I love to cook and so do my adult children and friends. I chose an Aga, four door, red and I am so glad I did. I took a lot of grief for this choice (looks like someone's jaguar parked in the kitchen, etc) but now everyone loves it. We do turn it off in the peak of summer and use a conventional (well, induction, cooktop) and barbecue for summer cooking. We also do not air condition the greatroom/kitchen in which it is installed. Only the bedrooms are airconditioned, at the back of the house. We debated greatly the heat source. We live in the Pacific Northwest (cold rainy climate like the UK most of the year, hot summers tho) where electricity is still relatively cheap. This far out in the country natural gas is not an option, but propane was. However, our main consideration was the fact that we would have some hope of creating our own electrical energy via wind (we put a turbine in) and (eventually) solar, but no hope whatever of producing our own propane. It is a large footprint which we try and ameliorate via the wind turbine, hanging our laundry out to dry, driving a hybrid car and staying home rather than flying all over the place (say, on vacation). It's not a perfect solution to our shared environmental problems, clearly. BUt having installed it, what do we think? we use it to dry and press laundry (example table napkins can be hung until barely damp outside, then folded and placed on the Aga's warming plate to dry to a perfect ironed-look, same with sheets and pillow cases. We use it and it alone to make toast; we use it as a slow cooker (the 250 degree oven), we can on it, we cook on it, we make pizza in it; we dry mushrooms and herbs in it and on it, it gives the kitchen a gentle warmth in winter, which humans and dogs love. I have cooked on wood fired and coal fired stoves and ovens; on gas stoves and cooktops, on induction cooktops, in steam ovens, etc. I would go with the beloved Aga everytime and so would my DH, the skeptic, everytime....See MoreTowards a unified theory of tile. (Many pics)
Comments (78)Angie_DIY - That tile looks really "old school"! But, I think the wallpaper totally trashes the tile. In case anyone is keeping track, I now own 4 kilns. I have promised my husband I will reduce it to 2! :) Anyone want a cheap kiln to make their own tile? We are almost done with the kitchen. I have never been so relieved to start painting a kitchen in my life! Wow, we have worked on this a whole year. The worst part of the whole project is behind us - grinding down the concrete so we can put down the bamboo flooring. Here is a tip. If you take tile off of concrete, which is messy enough, you will also need to use a grinder to make the floor completely flat again. In hindsight we should have done it when we pulled up the tile. Anyway, I found that wrapping my cabinets in that plastic they use to wrap pallets with (comes in a roll) keeps the dust from sucking in through the cracks and getting all over the dishes and silverware....See MoreIs it a huge/costly mistake to move range and vent?
Comments (14)We moved our venting when we remodeled. Our cooktop (and the old range) is on an interior wall, so a bit more work had to be done...we knew that going in. What we didn't expect was that our shower drain in the upstairs master bath was directly in the path! Our GC wanted $4800 just to move the drain (& drain vent). I thought that was ridiculous and brought in two different Master Plumbers and received two estimates: $700 (including drywall repair) and $900 (not including drywall repair). We went with the "middle" estimate since we had worked with this plumber b/f and were very satisfied with their professionalism and honesty. It only cost us the $900 b/c they did some snooping around and found a place to run the drain's vent up an empty space b/w the studs so no walls had to be broken into and no drywall repair needed! Lessons Learned: (1) Get multiple estimates and opinions for large jobs or if anything seems "fishy". (2) Realize that if a tradesman does not want to do something they will sometimes jack the price up so high that either you'll say "no" or you'll say "yes" and they'll make a killing on it. [This is what I think our GC did since he kept insisting we should just get a recirculating hood and not do the extra work to vent externally...his comment was that they were "almost as good". Needless to say, his credibility plummeted tremendously in my opinion after that! He did give us a hard time about going "outside", but our KD supported us even though she had a business relationship w/the GC via EXPO (where she worked)...a plus in her favor, to me.]...See MoreDoes anyone make a practical and durable range?
Comments (23)I agree that these days, appliances will only last around 10 years. Consequently, when mine goes I will buy a middle-of-the road not-too-expensive GE. I read too many stories about expensive brands like Wolf and Thermador also not having longevity, so why pay out so many thousands. Blue Star would be a good bet due to minimal electronics, which equates to less to break. But I don’t have the powerful exhaust that would be needed for the high btus of the Bluestar, so will not go down that road either. I dont want to pay an electrician to add the wiring for an induction range. Plus, I have cooked on induction and prefer gas, to the horror of this forum, but there are a few of us, when we can work up the nerve to say so on this forum. I much prefer cast iron grates to porcelain-coated. It’s what I have now. The cast iron grates are indestructible. Porcelain-coated in my experience get scratched, spotty, and dull pretty quickly. I never put my cast iron grates in the sink; I take a damp green scrubbie, and scrub off burnt bits or grease right on the stove, takes just a couple minutes. One more reason to prefer cast iron grates....See Morewolfgang80
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agofoodonastump
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agorococogurl
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agofoodonastump
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoeleena
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agorococogurl
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agocooksnsews
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclarygrace
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agorococogurl
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoelyash
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agofoodonastump
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
12 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomarthavila
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoMichelleDT
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agofoodonastump
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agodeeageaux
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agomarthavila
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agofoodonastump
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoSusied3
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agobuffalotina
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agodrbeanie2000
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agotraci_allen
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago4mamma
11 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Related Stories
CONTEMPORARY HOMESHouzz Tour: Craning Toward the View in Seattle
‘Head turning’ takes on new meaning with this modern two-story home overlooking the mountains
Full StorySMALL KITCHENS12 Genius Design Moves for Small Kitchens
These space-enhancing tricks can make compact cooking zones look and feel larger
Full StoryLIFE7 Things to Do Before You Move Into a New House
Get life in a new house off to a great start with fresh paint and switch plates, new locks, a deep cleaning — and something on those windows
Full StoryENTERTAININGModern Manners: Smooth Moves for Kids' Visits
For hosting kids or visiting with Junior in tow, we give you a plan to keep stress levels low and fun levels high
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Usonian-Inspired Home With All the Wright Moves
A Chicago couple's weekend retreat fulfills a long-held dream of honoring architect Frank Lloyd Wright
Full StoryLIFE8 Ways to Make an Extra-Full Nest Work Happily
If multiple generations or extended family shares your home, these strategies can help you keep the peace
Full StoryPETSIncredible Home Catwalks Make for Purr-fectly Happy Felines
Walkways and tunnels custom built to the tune of about $35,000 keep a homeowner’s 18 cats on cloud nine
Full StoryGARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES3 Ways Native Plants Make Gardening So Much Better
You probably know about the lower maintenance. But native plants' other benefits go far beyond a little less watering and weeding
Full StoryDECORATING STYLESCity View: Dallas Design Corrals a Range of Styles
All antlers and cowhide? Hardly. See the real styles and trends, and the misconceptions, about design in this Lone Star State hub
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNHow to Find the Right Range for Your Kitchen
Range style is mostly a matter of personal taste. This full course of possibilities can help you find the right appliance to match yours
Full Story
4mammaOriginal Author