Me, personally - pick the appliance I want, and use the butcherblock on that side.

But I hate tile counters, so YMMV. But getting the appliance I want would be key. I'd even live with plywood counters if finances were tight.

Good luck!

(And I'd live with the cooking smells if I had to, rather than vent into the crawl space. Besides, my cooking smells goooooooood).

No, we won't make you live with it.

This sentence sounds pretty positive:
Should I just rip up the stuff on the range side, put a range/cooktop (of my choice!) next to the oven (the original location, and the ductwork is even still in the attic and roof) and Ikea butcherblock that entire side?

And then when you're ready.........Go for the new kitchen!

Congratulations on your new home! It looks bright and spacious and pretty. Much happiness there.

How about moving the range, back down by the oven (if you want to keep the separate oven) and putting a real hood above the range...one that actually vents the smells and grease, out of the kitchen and the attic? Then, put in a prep sink, where the cooktop is right now. This would make your fridge feel less lonely and give you a great prep space! :)

As for finishes, I'd live with them, while I changed the appliances around. If the layout works, then save up for a new countertop and backsplash...and either paint, reface or replace the cabinets. Remember, you can paint almost anything, with the right primer!

Yoooouu-hooooooo Fridge...how's the weather down there?

Seriously, who builds a kitchen and forgets to put a fridge in, so it needs to go in the next room over?

The first thing I see is that it has tile countertop, which isn't going to be the most forgiving to modify (or to live with for that matter). However, if it were me, I would exercise as much restraint as possible so I'd spend as little as I could (ideally $0, and a bit of elbow grease) to make it tolerable. That way a real do-over will be able to happen sooner.

I think I'd try to move the fridge next to the window if there was enough space to do so, but would try to live with the rest. Well, except for the downdraft that vents into the crawlspace- I'd make them fix that before completing the sale.

This looks like a nice big space and would be so much fun for us to remodel with you fori. would it be possible (for now) to demo the tile (i'd live with plywood for sure) and move around some cabs? adding an induction range somewhere is a matter of adding a 50 amp (maybe 40 depending on the range) outlet where you want it. Since you have the all ovens already, could you live with a cooktop and repurpose some of the existing cabs elsewhere? Options are good here and depend on how deep financially you can/want to get into a remodel.

Congratulations!!!!

Fori,
You already know in your mind what you want. I will sing
to your choir. Sell the Jennair on Craig's list and
find a range to move to the duct area you wish.
Yes, butcher block or maybe you can find a remnant of
some great stone or quartz.

What is behind you when you are standing looking into the
kitchen with the double ovens on the left?
Is it a pantry, laundry, mudroom? Could it become a new
home for the lonely frig?

The part of your kitchen that would hurt me daily, as I
would forget it is there, Is the counter that sticks out by
the dw. I could see getting bruises on my hip forgetting
every time I walked past.

The rest of your kitchen is something I know you will
create into the most amazing space. I am just thrilled
to be able to watch it comem to fruition.

~boxerpups

Could you turn the fridge to face the kitchen and construct a fridge surround, maybe even sneaking in a slim broom closet? And then, as Lavendar Lass suggested, move the new range next to the wall ovens and add a prep area where the range was, maybe even with a prep sink.

I would live with what is there, until you are ready for a full remodel. The kitchen has too many issues for lipstick. But the space has great potential, I think, and it would be a shame to expend time and effort now that only delays the eventual solution.

If the electric range is a huge deal, you could install a low-end gas range (used, dent/scratch, clearance aisle, etc) and replace it when the remodel comes. Or, simply use a single-hob countertop induction unit for the cooking that requires responsiveness.

First my condolences to whoever has actually had to do anything in that kitchen. The looks are subjective, but it's horribly unfunctionable.

For me the frig would be the BIG issue. I think it's best to keep the frig on the perimeter of a kitchen, not on the other side of the house. That said, just to keep it in the kitchen and not destroy the whole kitchen as you wait for the time and $$$ for a redo, could you remove the double ovens and put a frig in it's place. If not how else are you going to take things out of the frig for cooking, putting groceries away etc? Don't know how much space the double ovens are using but they have frigs less then 30" if that's all the space there is. You can find one second hand to tie you over so you don't invest much money in the interim if all you have is 30". If there is more yipee.

Overall, I've had some bad layouts but this really beats them hands down. It looks like it is a lovely home in general but whoever "designed" this kitchen should have all design implements taken from their possession for good!

I would live with it. The space is just too bizarre to figure out quickly or fix cheaply.

If you do decide to live with and cook in it for a while, I would dedicate that wall with the picture on it to walk-in liquor closet. Great for bulk purchases.

Thanks everyone!

Now now y'all, before we make fun of the fridge being so far, we should keep in mind that rooms look bigger in photos by real estate agents. It's not really that far off compared to those in larger kitchens! On the other hand, why the heck isn't it in the kitchen!!?

The lower cabs on the sink wall are one unit--that little bump out on the end is part of the original 50s shallow U. My current kitchen was the same except the refrigerator had been pushed out of the U (and the kitchen was reversed and it didn't have the bumped out breakfast nook).
A quickie sketch I uploaded for THAT remodel, and this one was probably very similar before IT happened:

My main problem with doing a full blown remodel is that I am not mentally prepared to live through another kitchen remodel. (If things stay on schedule, I'll finish my current one tomorrow!) I could probably do it before moving since we haven't even started to get our current place ready to sell but I think I'd want to live with it a bit first.

When you're looking into the kitchen with the oven on the left (I think it's a 27", but possibly a 24"), behind you is the entry hall, which is not large at all.

Then there's the other option: turning the kitchen into something else altogether and making a kitchen in a new addition in the back (we were sort of thinking of adding on a bit back there anyway). But that seems sort of extreme. But it's possible, and one reason I wouldn't want to do a real remodel first. I sound spoiled. :)

That odd fat peninsula bar thing behind the stove is a generously sized liquor cabinet but there is a walk in liquor cabinet behind the picture over the table. It might be a pantry. I'm not sure.

I don't think the fridge location will be that bad--it just looks ridiculous.

Thanks for all the input, everyone. I will definitely be seeking a bunch of specific advice on this mess soon, with measurements! And tomorrow I will have a nice marble remnant :/

Well, if you like walls, why not put the missing one back? It's a lot easier than ripping a wall down! That would let you move the cabinets that are next to the oven down to the new wall and place a cooktop or range where they are now (where the current venting pipe is located). Ikea butcher block for the temp counters and call it a day until you can deal with a much more extensive remodel.

I just got back internet service, and haven't read all of the responses, so please forgive me if I'm repeating what someone else has said.

For making it livable for the moment, if the oven is usable, I'd put an induction cooktop and hood in the original location and turn the range location into shelves or something. But then I can live with weird/ugly so long as it's functional. It shouldn't be that big a deal to make a hole in the tile, and the circuit is probably there too (though might need to be upgraded). Of if there's a gas line and no way to put a dedicated electrical circuit I'd put a gas cooktop that doesn't also need a dedicated circuit (Wolf does). Just for the meantime. Until you recover from all the remodeling and moving. At least the house looks cheery!

Ahhhh but the range hole! Or, I could just leave the range there. Extra oven. Tada.

Maybe the layout is alright. The previous owner says it's great--you can see the backyard while cooking.

But ya know, I am one of those crazy people that is willing to sacrifice a little counter space for a refrigerator. The person who "designed" this kitchen didn't feel that way, but DID manage to include a wine fridge next to the range.

It IS cheerful enough, partly because all the mahogany paneling was painted over to show the place. =(

Why is tile so unpopular these days? I love anything with a drip edge. I do tend to break things in cast iron sinks, though.

I get the feeling the previous owners drank more than they cooked -- and maybe they used the grill more than the range?

I'd have to redo it, but maybe live wire's suggestion would be an good interim.

I think I would paint the cabs, buy a 30" sink and put it where the range hole is on a frame built to hold it & hang a curtain in the space, replace the cab next to the sink with the dishwasher. Put the range where the dishwasher is if there's an extra 6" to the window, and pull down the cab above it to put in a hood. Put a big chunk of butcherblock under the window where the sink was. That would hold me over to the big tearout.

The first thing I would want remedied is the grease that has gone into your crawl space. Is this a health/safety hazard? Seems like it would be a safety hazard at the very least. Does code allow this?

If you decide to keep the range but want a new vent, my BFF has a new tall downdraft. She loves it. I cooked with it when I visited here and, while it captures as much as my cheap piece of crap recirculating hood, I definitely wasn't impressed--especially when braising on the front burner. But it is an option and probably would vent better than the one you have.

If you decide to get rid of the Jenn Air, I would find either an induction or gas cooktop and put it where the proper vent is already in place. You don't need a range since you have the built-in ovens, and retrofitting the cabs beneath should be fairly minimal with a cooktop. Replace that stretch of counters with Ikea butcher block. I think some shelves where your current range is provides a good, cheap solution for that space. Of course, put in a decent vent over the cooktop.

Can't think of a cheap solution to moving the fridge. Will you have a table over there to give you landing space?

If you don't like the cabs, you could always paint them, but I think it would depend on how much they bug you and how long you think it will be before you completely gut and redo the kitchen. If it's only going to be 2 or 3 years, painting may be more work than you want to put into it (and $$$ if you aren't DIY'ing).

Good suggestions!

In my limited experience, people with downdrafts don't actually USE them so maybe it's not bad under there. The inspector didn't notice any damage but did note there was a hole in the brick nearby if we wanted to install a duct.

If I had the guts to do the entire kitchen at once, I could see embracing the 50s and putting in one of those giant canopy hoods right there. And if this cheap ebay hood were closer to me, I'd be sorely tempted. But next to the wall oven would be sensible, and although I'd still have to pick out a hood, I could reuse it.

Here is a link that might be useful: ebay hood