It depends on the model of range, but a range door SHOULD stick out somewhat from the base cabinets, typically by a couple of inches. The oven minus the door should be flush with the base cabinets, and the oven's door sticks out. That's so that when the oven's door is open, there is no exposure of the combustible material of the cabinets on either side. My range sticks out about 2", as it is supposed to do, which is the thickness of the oven door. When my oven door is open, you can see that the oven itself is flush with the front of the cabinets. The more "pro-style" ranges like the Wolf will stick out even more.

The amount the door will stick out depends on how thick and heavy the oven door is, and how the manufacturer designed the oven and door. I wonder if your friend's oven door really sticks out 4". Are you including the handle in that measurement? I imagine your friend put the spacer behind the range because (A) they may have needed to push the range out due to the gas line, and/or (B) the installation requirement as I have described where the interior of the oven is flush with the front of the base cabinets. Your range may not stick out that far if your gas line is better-placed, or you have a different brand range. But it will stick out a bit.

Shannon, the slide in we were looking at was in a model home. You are probably right about it being pulled out for a gas hookup. I was counting the handle because to that is something that I would have to contend with everyday.

I understand it sticking out some but this seemed excessive IMO. With it sticking out that much, we would just as soon go to a wall oven instead of pushing the island out further yet to accomodate this fronts.

Aloha2009....we are facing the same problem. At the appliance store the saleslady (who was very knowledgeable and helpful) stated that the GE Profile Slide-in we were looking at had the gap in the back that had to be filled in. I did not think to ask her if other brands were the same. We have not bought yet for that reason...want to do more research...Granite fabricator will have to take that into consideration when cutting the counter.

ALL slide-in ranges have a gap at the back. You can either have a strip of countertop there (e.g. granite) or a filler piece provide by the range manufacturer. If you want the range flush with the back wall, you need a free-standing range.

ALL ranges stick out from the adjacent counters. Freestanding, slide in, or drop in. You cannot have a range "recessed" into your counter. It's a fire hazard. The door from the door seal outward should project just beyond your cabinets. That means anywhere from 4" to 8" of the range will protrude into your aisle space. It's why you design kitchens with 42"-48" of aisles. That takes into account the normal protuberances of appliance doors and handles into the aisle.

My gas range (not slide in) sticks out way too far in my opinion. The installers Sears used TOLD ME it is because of the gas connection and the way range is made. I have sort of gotten used to it.

Joanie, I've read that 2" spacer is fairly typical. Then you must add the front handle etc. and see if that is too much for you.

With that much protrusion being unavoidable, we're going to have to get a wall oven in another locaton and cooktop where the range was to go. We've been struggling on what to do, and this for us is the deal breaker. With the extra protusion, we felt we needed to increase the island to cabinet width from 48" to 51" which for us would be too wide for most of 10' area. Believe me we're glad to be done with the basic appliance style decision. Yes we have to decide the specific models we'll get but it was very difficult to even decide on the style.

Thanks for everyone's help

The cooktop-part of the slide-in will have a gap at the rear where a bit of countertop needs to be inserted. But the unit itself (oven) will go to the wall. The control panel usually sticks out because, well, it has to. It depends on the design. I remember seeing a KA unit where the panel was vertical so the knobs stuck out 2". The Elux has a flat panel that sticks out a bit, probably more than the handle.

There are plenty of people with standard freestanding ranges that project out of the counter a full 6" and who have 36" aisles (30" at the pinch point) and are fine with that dimension. That is tighter than recommended and would be too tight for me, but there is certainly no reason you need 51" aisles unless you are planning for wheelchair access. You can keep your current planned aisle space and still have room enough for two people to work there just fine with 48" You could even do smaller aisles and it be fine. You're over thinking this.

The whole idea of a "Slide in Range" is it sits on the counter with a lip in the back & both sides. Thus you must have something, usually counter material, behind the range. To reader77, your gas line connection can be modified so the range doesn't stick out if you want it done.

Thanks for all the feedback! Does anyone know how the counter material is cut for the spacer? Is it typically integrated/cut as one piece along with the adjacent cabinets or is is a separate strip that is pieced in between the cabinets?

It would be really expensive if it were cut out... I think most are "bridge" pieces of countertop material. If you have a solid surface or granite with lots of movement it will be hard to see the seams (plus they're at the back of the stove, hardly noticeable). Here are a couple pics of my bridge seam and how far my range juts out:

It depends on what you pay for. If you pay for it, you can have a cutout done on the slab so that the strip behind the range doesn't have a seam. That's an awfully big cutout though, so most people prefer to do a small strip with two seams there instead of paying for a giant hunk of granite that doesn't get used.

It's really killing me to see CoCo electrolux stove. Though it's as sleek as they come for slide-in, I still think it's just too much for us. It's just that Sears currently has a floor model in perfect condition for almost 1/2 off. I wish it could have worked for us, I love a bargain!

i like the look of this range being flush with the cabinets. do you think this is a fire hazard?

May not be a fire hazard, but I would very much worry about heat damage to the adjacent cabinets every time you open the ovens. We were advised not to do this.

Here is a thread with pics on the topic that Johnsoro25 mentions.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2617661/henrybuilt-cabinet-damaged-by-bluestar-range