My preference in order would be

Cooktop with wall oven and wall microwave
cook top with wall oven under it,
Duel fuel range (gas cooktop, elect oven).

I LOVE the look of the cooktop mounted inside the smooth granite surface. I HATE how much space a microwave robs from the countertop, so I'd have to build that in somewhere also.

My personal preference is #3. I like having the wall oven higher off the floor than a normal oven. However, if it's not possible, I would choose #1.

Wall ovens installed undercounter are even lower than ovens in a range. Another disadvantage of an undercounter installation is that wall ovens vent out the front...right where you'll be standing...whether it's under a cooktop or elsewhere undercounter.

One advantage of a range over a wall oven, regardless of where installed, is that it vents out the top of the range (at least my old one did) and the heat/smoke is then vented out of the house via the range hood.

HTH!

I agree with both of you about wall ovens and microwaves. I definitely prefer them over a range. I would have the microwave built in somewhere since I hate them on a counter top.

I was worried about the heat of the wall oven mounted under a cook top - hmmmm!

I'm planning on dual fuel.

Keep the suggestions coming unless that pretty much wraps up the pros and cons.

Pros to having a separate wall oven:

*Can choose cooktop and oven separately to fit your needs, not stuck with same brand as in the range.

*No heat on your legs while you cook.

*Can have oven at a height it's most comfortable to get things in and out.

*Can see into oven from across the room to keep an eye on things.

*Someone can bake while another cooks at the stove without getting in each other's way.

Pros for range:

-Venting over both, but I don't have problems with having the ovens where the hood vent isn't...So this is mentioned as an issue by some, but it's not to me.

-Oven is handy if you make things that you start on the stove and finish in the oven. Also not much of an issue for me personally, since I rarely do anything like that...if ever.

Can you tell I prefer my wall ovens over my prior decades of having a range? :-)

Well it seems that practically speaking I'll need to get my extra pantry/broom closet space from somewhere else. Hmmmm, guess it's time for the architect to really show his stuff.

I'll post my old kitchen plan on here and let all of you at it, your opinions are usually better anyway :)

Also, a cooktop or range top and separate double oven can be less expensive that a pro style dual fuel range - at least it was when I was researching what I wanted for my kitchen.
Good luck

Yes, I've found that a pro style dual gas/electric range is generally more expensive than the comparable cooktop/ wall oven combo. As mentioned, many people consider wall ovens to be at an easier and more ergonomic height, whereas the range involves less comfortable bending and reaching. Another possible advantage of a cooktop is that there is room for storage of pots and pans directly underneath. I've also had people tell me that they went for the "look" of the range. Sometimes the configuration of the floorplan will dictate what fits in best.

I just want to point out why I like a range. When you are broiling something like fish it is under your vent. If I had the space I would have a full range and 1 built in oven.

If you have the space, separate appliances will give you the best option to mix and match to your cooking style.

Remember, you don't have to get everything from one manufacturer. No one makes the best of everything, and most finishes will compliment or match, even various shades of SS.

For us, we started with having double convection ovens (FP). It was important to have the ability to do multiple baking/roasting at the same time. We then added a rangetop with griddle (Wolf) and a 900 cfm hood (Wolf). The oven and rangetop are placed on opposite ends of the kitchen to create two cooking zones...a baking area and a cooking area. 2 or 3 people can be cooking all at once and we don't run into each other at all. In the middle between the two areas are the main sink and the prep sink in the island, as well as the refrigerator.

I can also be roasting a turkey, baking a dessert, and sauteeing on the rangetop all at once and not have one counter area crammed with all 3 things during preparation.

I have a 36" all-gas range (because I love the look) and a single 27" wall oven. I use the wall oven 95% of the time because it is so much more comfortable to use. Previously we had a 48" wide range with double ovens. I hated bending over to lift heavy things out of it. If I didn't love the look of the range for a focal point, or had a smaller space or budget, I would have chosen a cooktop and separate wall oven.

Well, someone has to stick up for option #1! I went from a cooktop plus nearby wall double oven to range, made no other tweaks on that wall, and gained a LOT of space by doing so. The areas above and below my oven were wasted space, and a certain amount of under-cooktop space was also unusable. Now all the space is usable. The range also provides a focal point.

I'm going to chime in again, if that's OK. Here's the reasons I went with a separate cooktop and wall oven.

1. I wanted the oven (with all it's heat) at the end of the kitchen, so I would not be standing over it while cooking on the stove.

2. The wall oven cabinet is across from the refrig cabinet and it balances out the look of my kitchen having the deeper cabinets at the end on both runs.

3. My budget would not allow me to get a 36" duel fuel range but I wanted 5 burners.

4. I was able to splurge a little and get the higher-end GE cooktop (Monogram) but get the mid-grade oven (Profile).

I'm going with a dual fuel range and uc single wall oven. I based my decision on what worked best in the space I had to work with and took into consideration we are usually a two cook kitchen. My wall oven will be a Miele so I plan to use that as my primary oven which will help me avoid being at the range with heat from the oven below. I figure when I entertain the kitchen is heated up anyway.

How would you feel about loosing the extra foot in the bedroom? If you loose the wall ovens do you gain counter space? Could you go with a cooktop or rangetop and a uc wall oven elsewhere? The Miele became my choice b/c even as an under counter it doesn't sit so low. You can fit a drawer under it.

we changed our plans several times. currently we have a cooktop on a peninsula w/ 2 wall ovens 27".. i LOVE LOVE MY wall ovens. So we had decided we were going to do wall ovens for the remodel. then our GC gave us some more ideas and said get a cooktop w the ovens below this way it will open up the space where the wall ovens are now for an open countertop space which we need. I was like ok that MAY work even tho I still wanted my wall oven. then the issue came in w/ the heat rising from the oven under the cooktop and that it could get hot even though the new ovens are made better etc still heat rises. So then we decided to put the ovens underneath the new countertop we will have where the wall ovens are now.. So what we are doing is having an l shaped peninsula (which we have now) the cooktop will be on top and then to the right the countertop w/ the ovens below and the microwave built in above w/cabinets. This way now we have more countertops but also have 2 ovens.. Not my original plan but we have to make it more of an open floor plan for our style of kitchen and this seemed to be the best design to get what we wanted. ( my husband absolutely wanted two ovens)

No one has brought up this point, but if you want one gas oven and one electric, do you have that option with a cook-top and 2 wall ovens? I guess I've always thought the best way to do this was a AG range and electric wall oven.

I agree with bluekitobsessed that having one appliance vs. two can make a bigger difference if the kitchen is small.

I have both a cooktop and a wall oven right now, and am playing with various layout options. Having one appliance leaves me with more counter and/or useful cabinet space in most cases.

In my case, it's also a budget issue--two appliances are more expensive than one.

--Janet

In the absence of other considerations, I think the cook top and separate ovens configuration is very preferable. But there are so many other considerations. I never thought I would go for a range, but that choice enabled a layout that was so much more open, with more counter space. I don't think I will use the range oven much, but I will use the counters and stove top every day.

I currently have double Viking wall ovens and cooktop and I love them. However, I do love the look of the commercial ranges. I find that both of my double ovens are not really at good heights for me though. I'm 5'4". The bottom oven is a little low and the top one (the one I use the most) is a little high and I usually have to get my son or husband to help me with getting heavy items out. So, while planning a kitchen renovation on a new house, I chose the Thermador 48" range with the steam oven and warming drawer. I realize I might not like going back to bending to get things out of the oven, but I know I can reach them myself. I also was able to free up a lot of wall cabinet space so I can put in a nice pantry cabinet which I need in the design. My kitchen design is all on one long wall really with a 16' island in front of it. I am getting a Miele speed oven and putting that in the island and it functions as a convection oven/microwave. I'm guessing it will be the oven I use most when cooking only for my husband and myself. I've agonized over this for months now (range vs. cooktop and wall ovens) but in the end cabinet space and "the look" of a commercial range won out! And, honestly, the only time I use both my wall ovens now is at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is a big waste of cabinet space 363 days out of the year :)

I hope this helps and good luck!!

We went with an electric range that has 2 ovens, along with a separate built in wall oven and built in microwave. Under the wall oven is a fairly shallow drawer. Above the microwave is a deep cabinet that we use for pantry space that starts 18" above the counter height, the same as all of the other upper cabinets. This puts the microwave at a very easy to use height, not too low and not too high. The built in wall oven is also higher than the lower oven in the range.

With 3 ovens, which one do we use the most ? The top oven in the range is the one we use almost always !! It always surprises me how incredibly fast it preheats, it uses less energy because it is smaller, yet it's not too small - almost everything will fit in that oven. The one thing we did not get that we wanted was for our cooktop to be induction. The ranges that were available with a double oven and induction cooktop were out of our price range. I have sent that suggestion in to Whirlpool. : )

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.ajmadison.com/b.php/Whirlpool%3BOven%3BRanges/N~25+4294967279+4294965532

I dislike ranges because of a) the heat while cooking at the cooktop, b) height to observe. I'll take a double wall oven and a separate cooktop any day, even over a really pro looking range.