The only way to get one that deep is to bump out the stove area. See how it looks like it's 30" deep? The mantle looks like it's built in front of the wall and hence the deeper then normal niche. Figure that otherwise the niche is probably 3" deep to account for 2x4 framing and drywall on either side. This is just my estimation.

Oh yes, now that you point it out, I do see that it's bumped out.

I wouldn't want one that deep, actually just want one that's kind of shallow. Contractor is mounting 3cm marble slab (that will serve as the backsplash behind the range) to studs and still has to increase the depth of the stove area to allow for the slab backsplash and a new 27" deep range.

I wonder if I could create a nook by using a pretty substantial applied stone/marble moulding to the slab, rather than going thru the trouble and expense of physically recessing an actual nook.

Thanks for your response, Remodelfla. Ideas welcome :)

My niche is not bumped out. It is actually part of the 2X4 framing of the wall behind the range. My niche is about 4" deep. One thing I didn't take into account early was the depth of the niche compared to the dimensions of my subway tiles. My 2.5X5 subways mean that the niche is 1.5 tiles deep. Hope that helps.

Mine is 3" deep...the width of one tile, recessed between the 2X4 studs of the wall. The soapstone shelf which forms the bottom of the niche is 5" deep, though, protruding out over and just covering the ledge at the back of my range

Thanks, that's really helpful.

Will just have to find out how much my contractor will charge to recess it between the studs, since he's accessing them anyway.

I recessed a niche into the wall behind my range as well, between the 2x4's that framed the wall behind it. However, the "wall" behind was actually a built in china cabinet, so the wall studs were set on their side, not at full width (only 1 1/2 inches). So I didn't have as much space to work with and didn't want to bump out the wall. This was a bit of a surprise and required a lot of thought and changes to make it code/safe and look good as well. I thought I would have to scrap the niche idea, but finally figured out a way to do it. I found a 4 1/2 wide piece of carerra marble to use as the niche base. I got that piece off of signaturehardware.com and it's actually the backsplash piece for a bathroom vanity. I searched high and low for a piece that I wouldn't have to cut since I was doing this DIY - this one was the perfect size and extends 1/2 beyond the sides of my range.

I placed the base piece first, atop a 2x4 (on it's side) base that it rests on, then added the backerboard and tile to the back and sides. I tiled around the top and sides with contrasting quarter round to 'frame' it and tie in the remainder of the tile in my kitchen (and the soapstone) which also appears to give it more depth. Then I added chair rail tile as a "support" under the base of the niche shelf so it didn't look like it was just sitting on nothing. I think the chair rail creates more oomph to the niche and the combination frames it and finished it nicely. It looks like it's in between a 2x4 wall, but it's technically not. The actual shelf that is available after all the tiling is just over 3 inches, and fit my oil bottle and salt and pepper's nicely.

Here's an up close photo so that my words actually make sense!

And here's my inspiration photo, that I think I gleaned off GW somewhere....

Oldhouse, wow! Great job, and thanks for the detailed explanation. It looks beautiful, and from what I can see, really resembles tour inspiration photo well.

Nice to have a spot for the oil, s&p!

I endorse the niche concept. You do have to decide whether you want the range area to be fancy or functional--will the niche hold a flower arrangement and a few decorative items or items for a working kitchen? Ours currently holds a container with scrubbing tools for the stovetop, a bottle of canola oil, one of olive oil, one of vinegar, and one of soy sauce, salt and pepper, and a container holding garlics and a half an onion. (This look is not popular with many on the GW but some of them probably don't do much real cooking.)

In past we arranged items along the flat tall back of our old range and when planning we discussed whether we'd continue this now that we have a range with an arched tall back. We decided to make a niche in new kitchen so the items wouldn't chance to fall onto the glass top of the range. After dithering for months we dumped the idea of a tile backsplash and a tiled niche. Our oak niche is the depth of the studwall minus the wallboard at the back and a piece of oak plywood over it. We framed the niche with the oak also, which extended the shelf 1/4 inch deep lip out from the wall yet does not bother the range fit at wall.

Because we have a Broan vent unit over the range, there is not sufficient space in there for a freestanding shelf (such as an Ikea one) that can accept tall bottles, so the niche was our best solution.