I suggested on another thread of yours that you hire a kitchen designer and the comment by your architect on stovetop size seems to reinforce that maybe he's not the best for this task. When you increase the stovetop size, you increase the stove's BTUs. This increases the size and power of the ventilation hood, which in turn increases the possibility that you will need MUA (make up air.) This is one example on why it's not a good idea to over-appliance yourself. Because you are a baker, I suggest you take your favorite baking sheets and pans and whatnot to an appliance store and try them on for size, so to speak. You wouldn't BELIEVE how many people find that even though their new oven is the same size as their old, their sheet pans etc. no longer fit. Lastly, most people have the dilemma of size and combos of stovetops and ovens. The thing is, everyone's cooking habits are different, so everyone's choices are different. By the way, a microwave/vent option is useless. You will need a real ventilation hood. A good ventilation hood to cover a 36" stovetop can easily be a fourth of your budget ($1000) alone.

Yep, it is not the induction. I wanted induction, but my budget won't support it at the moment. Had it been induction, both would have been mine, budget be damned ;-). deb52899, keep in touch with the dealer, and other dealers in your area. I got a quote for the same unit I bought from a local dealer and they quoted $6400 with tax, delivery and installation for a "retail" version. Mine was identical, just overstock. They probably would have picked up the new in box overstock and kept the extra $3k. Look for showroom models, OTC and other options. You can save a lot going that direction. I just returned from the distributor and picked up a range hood that was in the OTC area. I picked up a VWH3048SS with a VINV600 blower installed. Retail was about $1600 for the pair, $350 was my price. If you can work with separate cooktop and ovens, they had several induction cooktops there. Not big discounts on them though.. This post was edited by paarlberg on Fri, May 24, 13 at 16:30

I would write off Viking. Their current owners are embattled with the previous owners over the sale of the company and its condition at the point of sales. Reports of service recently have not been promising either. I have an older 27" oven from Miele. It is over 10yrs old and my cabinet can accommodate a 30" model. I am not sure I would buy a 27" as a replacement. If I were in your shoes, I would replace it with a 30". Good luck!

What about a 36" cooktop and double wall ovens? What is more important - the amount of burners or the oven sizes? A 48" has a small oven and a reg 30" one - while the 36" range and a wall oven give you 2 larger ovens. How's you back? A wall oven will be more convenient. Then of course there is the quality of all the appliances you are looking at - get the best your pocketbook can handle - whichever configuration is best for you. Good lucK!