Great colors! How are you all cleaning the colored portions of your BS? Just a damp rag? My RAL4004 got installed last week and so far, I am loving it! I just want to make sure I don't mess up the finish. Also, ctycdm, I noticed in another thread where you posted a close up of yours and I'm curious as to what kind of feet you put under yours.

Two thoughts. This first idea probably isn't going to look great and it may not be within code but here goes. Depending on what your counters are made of you might want to build up the countertop by 1 1/2" under the cooktop in order to elevate it. In other words make a 1 1/2" curb to support the cooktop. A better idea would be to reduce the height of the drawer under the cooktop by 1 1/2" so that the unit can sit directly on the counter. In this case the drawer front can remain at it's present height. Only the height of the drawer box will change. HTH

Great point - Thanks so much for that idea- i will need to check and see if the item could be returned locally (in the worst case scenario like it being a total dud). I will call the local Costco and inquire - I wonder if they have ever addressed this before. I did review the written warranty from Bluestar and it says something to the effect: "warranty valid for all items purchased in US or Canada. It is looking like difference it will be the same range (RCS model) and after tax, etc would be approx $450 more to buy in the states. Not a huge amount but enough to make a difference and have me consider Canadian option (assuming it goes easily and relatively pain free). I will keep checking but have to pull the trigger eventually ... Don't want to be one of those who come back in 2 years saying "ok, I'm almost ready to buy" ...lol I did look on ebay and found 1 or 2 BS ranges. For anyone else thinking of doing this, beware of a company hawking BS ranges under the name if Markdown Madness - check some if their reviews on Merchant Circle. There is a similar outfit in my area (somehow associated with this Markdown Madness outfit) and they seem shady to say the least. 1 thing I think these shady ebay sellers do is sell a ton of simple items (shoes, lunch boxes, whatever) to overcome any negatives they may have selling high ticket scratch and dent items. At least that is the only way I can imagine a company maintaining a good ebay rating while having an "F" rating at the BBB and terrible reviews online (like Markdown Madness). In other words, if you are buying a "new" or "floor sample" item from ebay or craigslist, make sure you are buying from an actual dealer or personal seller and not from some guys using a storage garage to sell potentially non-warrantied items. Good luck getting any money back from people like this no matter what assurances they give you. Not saying you can't find a deal this way but you have to ask yourself if you have the capacity to deal with a total lemon (financially and emotionally). Unfortunately people looking for deals usually can't afford to buy another appliance if the "deal" goes bad. If it seems to good to be true - it probably is.

I'd be looking at an induction range. Induction requires 1" not 6"....do you have 240/220 into the house and space in the panel such that you could get it into your kitchen? The Frigidaire range is well reviewed and a good price ($1500), that plus the new dedicated circuit ($500-$800) and possibly new pots and pans ($350) will still be less than the bluestar ($4,500) and it will feel more spacious because it will look like smooth countertop. (Need a "hot" name Bosch induction is $3000) you cannot have a microwave hood over the bs but you can over induction. I'd get over loving the bs it is inappropriate in this limited space.