(Cross-posted in other Miele Steam Oven threads) We bought a Miele DGC 6800 XL Combination Steam Oven (non-plumbed) and a few months later on a whim descaled the unit. Right after the descaling process, my Miele steam oven gives me a 'Fault 20' whenever I try to do steam cooking. The regular convection cooking works fine. Expected more from Miele. I wish I had bought something else! It's out of warranty even though we probably used it about 20 times. Now Miele is asking for $150 for a technician to come out and pay an additional $90/hr for labor + $ for parts!

Well, I don't have the BlueStar *yet*, but I am hoping to get one in the very near future. At those worst-case scenario temperatures, I'd think most neurotypical kids would yank their hands back pretty quickly with minimal damage. The only exception I can think of is a cruiser who worked their way along the cabinets and accidentally moved to the oven door for support - there's potential there for a serious burn while they're trying to figure out what to do. (OTOH, I grabbed a blowtorch by the nozzle when I was a toddler and I survived.) For most kids, I think it's a great chance to teach "hot - no touching!" without a trip to the hospital. My only *real* concern would be if you had a kid/friend/neighbor with Sensory Processing Disorder or Autism or some other neurological problem which might prevent them from feeling the heat properly. This is, in fact, the case with my daughter and the reason I've really been thinking this out. If she stood there with her face pressed against a 200 degree door, she really could hurt herself. Will this keep me from getting a BlueStar? Nah. Not at this point, anyway. Lucky for me, my Bug is seven now, smart as a tack and quite handy with the ray-gun style instant thermometer. So I plan on making her a chart of "safe to touch" temperatures and having extensive safety lessons. She needs to learn what "too hot" and "too cold" are, whether she can physically feel it or not. Learning to cook is important. Learning to be safe is important. And I think the risks the hot oven door *may* represent are an acceptable trade off for the benefits in my family's case. Just my perspective, though - only you know your kids and your cooking style and can decide what's right for you ;-) Good luck!

I am considering a bluestar range currently and I am glad I read your link. Alternately, I am considering a rangetop and separate wall oven because of similar concern, i.e. easier to burn myself in bending position vs. at standing position since I have more ergonomic control. Do anyone think it is a valid concern?

Clarification on the house itself... It was (and still is underneath) originally a hot dog stand in the 1940's. Then, in the mid-80's converted to a residential. There are two windows in our garage...they are the original hot dog stand windows still in their untouched original paint (blue). All of the other windows are white. So, some of the building's history remains. At the time it was converted, the sunroom with the killer view was added. It adjoins the kitchen & has a 15' open beam ceiling. On the south wall (Connecticut's shores face south)...there's a 10' wall of arched windows. When we purchased the property we: completely re-roofed; replaced countertops with granite (leaving the original, custom-built oak cabinets); added propane for a gas stove; put in new Koehler cast-iron sink, range, & frig as I noted above; the tile floors were in excellent condition so we left those; recarpeted the living room, hall, & den, & bedroom; added central air-conditioning; replaced the garage door & all of the exterior window shutters; added a new 1,600 s.f. patio to the front of the property (there are two additional brick patios in the rear); replaced the atrium door leading from the sunroom to the rear patios (all windows are Anderson so we didn't replace anything except this atrium door which had some rot); tore out all of the old landscaping & redid in an English cottage-style; redid some plumbing; the bathroom was already in great shape so we haven't touched it; repainted the interior; added tumbled marble to the kitchen wall that faces the sunroom; and probably other stuff that I can't remember right now. So, it's a small (1,255 s.f.) home with only one bedroom plus a den, one bathroom, living room, eat-in kitchen, and a large sunroom. There's an attached over-sized one car garage with workshop in the back. There's also a garden shed on the property. The home is that New England brown with white trim, windows, doors, etc. Oh yeah, that's something else we did...we replaced the front door with a really pretty leaded-glass door & replaced the storm door with a ridiculously expensive powder coated, stainless steel-framed door with glass center section & a screen for summer. But, with the salt air we thought the SS would ultimately hold up much better & cost less than replacing the door every 3-5 years. The home's size is quite typical of the area...some larger & some smaller. I still can't see it being a tear down but who knows...Sooey says they are tearing cottages down just 30-40 west of me so, maybe, someone would tear ours down too? Tricia