I feel your pain! I am close to the end too, but choosing (in this case) between Wolf and Viking (although leaning wolf) and all gas versus dual fuel (it all comes down to money somewhat)-- which did you pick?? For me, the burner, griddle question was a no brainer.... you can easily get a double burner griddle for the times you need one (in my house, this would not be more than once a week, if even). I have MANY times wished I had a fifth burner-- even just to accommodate larger pans. Now I will have six :o). Re your hood. I was told by more than one person you can get away with a 36" hood if you don't have the griddle but must have it you do. Even so, your upper cabs are supposed to be at least 3" off range on either side (The same distance the oversized hood would take up). It may come down to the building inspector in your town (assuming you pulled a permit)-- I would ask around. Also, someone told me you can get away with a 17" deep hood (versus standard 20") -- especially if you oversize and if you turn on at beginning of meal. If you are tall like me (5'9"), this could keep me from smacking my forehead regularly. I am in the southern part of CT and our local retailer services Wolfs, so no worries for me there-- Marsillios in Fairfield, if you need. Good luck and look forward to continuing the conversation.

Definitely 6 burners, 36" range. The burners are all big enough for large pots and 2 people cooking at the same time. The 6 burner configuration gives you the capability for a really large skillet, lobster pot, canning pot, or deglaze a roasting pan--all not possible with an integral griddle. You can always put a griddle on top of two burners, and it can be easily cleaned in the sink. Or, use a separate electric griddle, which can be moved anywhere. We opted for a teppanyaki grill/griddle installed next to our 6 burner, 36" DCS all gas range. We like the griddle but it gets nowhere the use or the versatility of the rangetop burners. If I had to leave one thing out of our kitchen, it would be the installed griddle.

My home is under construction so I am not yet using my appliance choices. I am going with Blue Star. I have never used Capital so I can not comment on that. I have had the Wolf cook top and wall ovens, viking range and thermador range in past homes. Of those I would say that Wolf AND Viking were equal. However, Wolf is having issues with the interior ovens cracking, I am sure you have read all that. Viking is just making a comeback so who knows. I did have to open the Wolf oven to turn my food for even cooking. The Wolf cook top is not that powerful. I think with Wolf in particular you are paying for the name. It lacks power. It is pretty, and you will get the best service. So if that is the most important thing for you then Wolf is your best bet. Thermador was a very big disappointment for me. The oven cooked unevenly and the griddle took a life time to get hot and never actually did get hot enough to enjoy cooking on it. The Viking was a work horse and eventually had issue with the screws on t the door. Not a big deal. I know they had issues with this but it really was not a big deal. After I had mine the company sort of went down hill and got a bad name. I am going with Blue Star Platinum range top and the new electric wall ovens. I want the the open burner. (personal preference) For me, I also want the 25K BTU burner for wok cooking. It does offer a true simmer. I will be able to throw the griddle on where I want and getting hot enough is not going to be an issue with the high power burners. I am not a trained chef but I love to cook and do A LOT of it. I have not heard any feed back on users of the new BS electric wall ovens but I like that it has a pizza stone in the bottom. I am hopeful that this feature will prove to be wonderfully useful with pizza and rustic breads. It fits a full sheet pan and has 5,000 watt Infrared broiler. My top priority was a wall oven with French Doors. I think I found an oven that had even more than I was hoping for. All in all, just consider what is your number one most important thing to have and go from there. Then just consider how you cook and what you really need or want. You will find comments positive and negative on everything. Wolf will give the best service, or so everyone says. If that is the most important thing for you then just prioritize the other things on your list and see what you are left with. Coming to my decisions were gut wrenching for me. I changed my mind what seemed like a 100 times. I finally figured out what was important to ME besides the french doors. Once you really consider how you work in the kitchen one should start to rise to the top. Trust your instincts.

Maybe it's the way or what I cook, but I've never needed more than four burners at a time in over 40 years of cooking. I've had my 36 RNB now for about 2 1/2 years, and the built in griddle ranks right up there with the cast iron open burners as my favorite things about this range. I use the griddle daily, and often two or three times, sometimes more so than the burners. Keep in mind the Platinum griddle is not built in, but simply an accessory over two burners, which would be a deal breaker for me, so I'd go either the RNB or the Wolf as far as the griddle goes. Not familiar with Miele's griddle, or if it even is available with one? so can't comment.