Kas You have a lovely set up there. However, in my experience the induction cooktops are super easy to care for. I wipe mine down with the washcloth after doing the dishes, spritz it with "multi-surface cleaner" to remove the streaks and only use the cooktop cleaner when I start to see a sort of film over the cooking surfaces. Routine daily cleaning takes about 30 seconds. It's as good as new, if you ignore the stainless at the front and back. I followed the instructions when I first installed mine for a while, but decided I'd rather tolerate a little wear. However, there is still no evidence of wear after this amount of time. I don't want to discourage anyone from selecting induction because the think it is fragile or requires difficult care. It isn't and it doesn't. The thing is the absolute bomb in my experience. It's wonderful for cooking and easy-peasy for clean up. We're house hunting again and I don't want a kitchen with one of those big, fancy gas ranges ... now the racing red Viking induction range would be another matter!

In this case, the repair person was supposed to have given us an estimate, but called and said your computer is ready. In other words, he went ahead and installed one. We were thankful this was the only issue. I was pleased with his pricing but not that he took it on himself to make our decision. However, most likely I'd have made the same decision, given the choice. The old one was a 350 watt which was an up-grade in size over the original one. I had felt it adequate for this vintage of machine. This is an 800MH machine running Win 2K with 256 RAM and a 30GB HD. It's sued for surfing and as a word processor and e-mails. No heavy duty requirements. So, is 350W enough for these purposes?

Bella--I'd love to see the pics of yours, if you don't mind! John--I like the idea of painting the thing. I've had old vintage garden chairs powder coated. Sometimes I think my KA must have a passport it uses to mix a large batch of thick dough the way it shimmies for the door! I thought a commercial kind like this was supposed to be for heavy use. Now I'm considering something like Kate's mixer thread was discussing when I start baking bread again. It might not want to leave me the way my KA does. Nat--I like the idea of it in a pull-out on the top instead of the bottom like Jakabedy's. Melissa--Mine doesn't have a splatter guard. I know what you mean though about having to store it anyway. Macybaby--I don't want to cut into that peninsula space for two reasons--baking and buffet service. I NEED that space. Yours looks great! Thanks for the sourcing tip. Calimama--Yeah, I don't leave the kitchen with the mixer on. Florantha--That black object is my Gaggia espresso machine. The windows were put in a couple of weeks ago. I had considered an appliance garage/hutch there before (I think maybe you suggested it on another of my threds) to hide the Gaggia and still may do that. Putting the mixer there won't work as the baking area is on the opposite side of the kitchen. Will--I need power on that peninsula somewhere. The fridge panel is just that--a cabinet panel--so I can't put an outlet there even though that's the perfect spot. Desertsteph--Thanks for explaining. That makes sense. Joyce--A pullout sounds like a good way to go. Kashmi--I forgot about the decals! So cool, but I don't think it's really me. I like the toaster story!! Jill--Mine was stored a distance from the kitchen before so I don't think I used it as often because I didn't want to drag it out. I can see that if it were really handy, I'd use it more often. Your espresso machine sure dwarfs mine! Motodetroit--That could be the answer for me!! Some of those boxes are much too country for me, but I'm sure I could find the right one. I could leave it on the counter covered. Easy to use when necessary. Keeps the dust off. And then I could tuck it in the pantry when I need the buffet space! Perfect!! Thanks! Thanks for all the great ideas and experiences. It comes down to: Visibility/Accessibility--leaving it on the counter with a possible cover. Not my ideal, but easy to use and it doesn't take up base storage. Storage/Accessibility--using valuable base storage just to get it out of my view but having to lift it out to use, either with a lift or brute strength. Sounds like another form vs. function problem for me! ;)

I have an update. stipped doing laundry all together no change. repalced dryer and washer and had dryer vent completley rerouted into the brick and they kept in mind the airflow (WINDOWS) huge rush if air from back if house windows and nothing from front (almost still air) dryer vent located towards in back if house. since there has been no changes with all of that i have a blower test that i plan to schedule in the next few months done by the same company that put in the cellulose. i have involved the health inspector since we are ALL losing hair and have been since this started and showing other health issues like low level inflamation markers due to the extreme impact of these particles. when this first started all of my small animals died. ive reached my wits end truly and to feel so helpless in finding the source is maddening. i feel like I an being mocked and laughed at over my complaints on this issue. as for the flashlight test its in EVERY ROOM when the flashlight shines its EVERYWHERE in the air. when the sunshines into my home it is so much more obvious how bad this is. i have been masking up when cleaning and have tried ALL DIFFERENT safe dust cleaning methods in the past 4 years. we have all new windows and doors done in the past 2 years. its litterally dirt brownish whitish powder and particles that look like a cross between cellulose and dryer lint and SMELL sweet. maintenace was also sent to neighbors unit to check their dryer and make sure it was hooked up and routed correctly. ill keep you updated on the blower test.