Here is my Monogram oven installed and waiting for the gas cooktop to go in. A caveat: the cooktop is a Caldera and although I checked with Al before I bought the cooktop to make sure there was clearance, it turned out there was not. The cooktop rests directly on the oven and we are having to build a stainless steel frame 3/4" deep for it to sit in so it doesn't rest directly on the oven. It will be fine, but it is a pain in the neck - and an additional expense. So...bottom line- if you are getting a Caldera cooktop, don't install it directly over the oven - put it elsewhere if you can. I did not have a choice because we are in a condo and the gas line is where it is. I can't remember why we didn't think to put the oven in the island. However, if you are getting a GE gas cooktop, no problem. I wanted the 5 burners in the 30" top and Caldera and Verona (more expensive) are the only ones who do that.

Keep in mind, too, that ovens mounted under counter are lower/closer to the floor than ovens in ranges. I would go to an appliance store or home center that has ovens mounted under counter (at normal height) to see how low they are and to determine whether you want to be bending down that far. We originally had planned an under counter oven but when we realized how low it was (the handle was only a couple of inches off the floor), we realized that was out. Now, we are a tall family, but if you plan to "age in place" (i.e., this is your "forever" home/kitchen) and have the option, I would definitely reconsider an under counter oven and either put in a range/stove or mount the oven in a tall oven cabinet.

Just MHO....HTH!

Thank-you! This is the kind of info I am looking for. I have a small kitchen so an under counter option works best for me. I also like the look of this arrangement. Buehl thank you for bringing up those considerations. I think I should be ok with the lower height. I am only 5'4" and 30 yrs old. I don't plan on staying in this home forever so it should work out for me.

Here is a photo of our oven installed under counter. I am older than you, but I still think it is fine as far as bending lower to use it. We opted to put the cooktop on a counter run opposite the oven - mainly because we wanted pan storage under the cooktop and the oven next to the baking center. Obviously, that's all personal preference. HTH.

I also considered an undercounter oven and, like Buehl, found the door to be too close to the floor when open. I am not tall but it was still not great.

However, I read on this forum about the Gaggenau ovens which have a swing out door and looked at them in person at a local showroom. They had one installed under the counter and it was very comfortable. The control panel was also very convinient to use with the undercounter installation. The one I looked at was a 24" model but they have a 30" model as well. It is a high-end oven and therefore very expensive but I thought the convinience of the swing-out door would have been worth the extra money. Another important feature of the Gaggenau is that the door doesn't get hot during the operation at any temperature. I think this can also be a factor depending on where the undercounter oven is located in the kitchen.

At the end we found a way to incorporate a wall oven cabinet into our design (will be in a corner), but if we didn't I would have gone with the Gaggenau.

annab

The reason I bought the Monogram is that the shelves pull all the way out so it is a lot easier to reach than my old oven that was slightly higher from the floor.

For others reading, especially older ones but also kids, I'd like to counter the bending-is-bad advice. It's unpleasant largely because it's excercise. For those like me who are allergic to gyms and tennis courts, an undercounter oven could be just one small part of at least a basic maintenance program built into daily life.

The main reason a very large proportion of people who can't bend over to tie a shoe, climb a flight of stairs, or even get up into an SUV without an embarrassing struggle are so incapacitated is plain old deconditioning. It's also a major cause of back pain and exacerbator of other conditions (like lack of muscle support for arthritic joints) that require one to rest in front of the TV instead of (insert favorite past activities here).

I've run on, but this issue jumps into my mind constantly on this and the home building forum.

I have looked at the Gaggenau and it looks awesome. I am just trying to decide if I really want to spend that much money on it, since I am splurging on some other items.

Raynag, your overcounter oven is a FANTASTIC idea.

Rosie, I think you are right. Americans could use much more exercise. I broke my back in a car accident several years ago. I have no problems with it now and I attribute this to bi-weekly yoga and consistent road biking. Many people in my family have back problems too, but are too "busy" to take care of themselves and instead live with constant pain. (OK they are busy. One is an anesthesiologists and the other a clinical psychologist, but I always say if you don't take care of yourself NO ONE else will.)

Rosie...what you say may be true for exercise bending, but we are talking about lifting hot, heavy items from an oven, not doing sit ups or other exercises. We need to keep this in context. Additionally, there are some people who will develop rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases/issues, despite exercising religiously all their lives, eating well, etc. Contrary to many people's beliefs (especially the exercise fanatics...and I mean "fanatics," not proponents), some of these things are diseases that, while they may be helped w/exercise and/or medicines, cannot be totally eliminated. And yes, many are age related--whether we like it or not. Some, BTW, can also strike when someone is still young.

And, what about people who have strokes or other injuries, etc. that also have an impact and, unfortunately, are also age related? Please do not make broad statements like you did or imply that if you plan for aging in place that it means you must not be exercising enough. Perhaps this is one of the reasons you have to constantly bring it up...b/c it's simply not an all-encompassing (or even general) truth.

Sorry, but it really bothers me when people think the solution to everything that ails you is more exercise when that is simply not true. I totally agree that it helps you to stay in the best shape you can be in, but it does not guarantee perfect/25-year old health & fitness all your life!

OK, I'm stepping off my soap box now and will not respond again to this...I don't want to hijack this thread or have it become an exercise debate. But, I felt I had to respond to present the opposing view since decisions are being made by posters as to whether to install under counter ovens.

The bottom line is that if you know your options and their pros & cons, you can make an informed decision and accept the disadvantages as well as advantages of any decision.

FWIW, ours will look like Raynag's except without the cooktop above. And it's the other handle style of the monogram. I'd post pics and give reviews except for the fact we're not in yet and using it.

AND some good reasons NOT to have an undercounter oven:

You bake for fun and squatting to see how it's coming isn't your idea of fun.

You bake for a living and bending and squatting all day isn't your idea of fun.

You have rheumatoid arthritis and bending isn't possible.

You have a morbid fear of possibly developing rheumatoid arthritis some day and having to move to a new home.

You damned well don't want one.

(Better, Buehl? :))

BTW, Organic Sprite, I have an undercounter oven but set it sideways from the cooktop, both to avoid future problems with clearances when I upgrade to induction, but also to get it out of the line of sight from the living room and have drawers there instead.

Here's my cooktop and oven. I love the arrangement. I find the oven very convenient, and not at all difficult to use. Since I don't bake all day every day, the slightly (maybe a few inches) lower height of the oven isn't a problem. Mine has been in for 4 years.

I did not want a range (too much the center of attention) and had no place else for the oven. I'm "older" and tall, and have arthritis and a bad back - but the oven has not presented any problems for me at all. (Neither has my deep apron front sink.)

Momj47, I'm glad to see your cooktop is slightly raised and not down flush with the counter; mine will be (I hope) like that once the frame is made for it. Looks nice.

Organic sprite - I'm excited about the countertop Advantium - now if I can only figure out how to use it for anything besides microwaving - LOL. What a learning curve!! I must admit I got the idea of a corner countertop oven from someone on this forum, quite a while ago.

The undercounter, or even half-undercounter oven is very popular in Europe and they have been using them for a long time. The freestanding range is more popular in the US. We just installed a DCS oven with a Viking cooktop above and are very happy! I did a LOT of research regarding clearances, supply line placement, etc. prior to making a decision. It can be done!

There are plenty of threads on this subject, I don't know if using search will reveal them for you?

Some things to remember though:

Some manufacturers will not honor their warantees if appliances other than their own are combined.

Using separate appliances is NOT more expensive, although plenty of people will tell you they are!

The 'lower handle height' is usually a matter of a few inches at most, it may be enough of a difference to some, but for others it may not be a problem.

Most manufacturers will NOT recommend induction cooktops above ovens.

Good luck with any decision you make!

Thank-you all! This is very helpful. I am leaning toward the induction cooktop and scottbeth you are right the choices are limited when you go with induction. Also since this type of cooktop is making a recent comeback in the US I have found it very hard to get straight forward information about which ovens are compatable and which are not.

I have the same Monogram oven that Raynag shows above, underneath a Monogram induction cooktop. The cooktop and oven needed 5" of clearance between each other, but with the oven's full extension racks that hasn't been an issue for me at all.

Beth

Good points. By offsetting my oven to the left, it could be set it directly under the counter, as high as possible. Since the cabinets are frameless, the top lines up with the drawers too. The cooktop hangs down into the top drawer below it as typical.