Kitten, I'm with breezy on this. Forget the brand name or any perceived pretension that comes with it. Assuming it fits your budget, the main factors you need to worry about are is it reliable and does it meet your needs? This is your kitchen and you need to live with and use it on a daily basis. I ended up with a 48" range. One of my design goals was to maximize counter and storage space. I started out wanting wall ovens, but that sacrificed counter space. The 48" is a good compromise, because although it is 48" wide, it can double up as counter space as needed. I have a cover over my grill and I routinely use it and adjacent unused burners for either mis en place or plating. It's also a great landing area for items coming out of the oven. Depending on your counter material, you have zero worries about hunting for a trivet. You should also reconsider whether you really need a DF range. I have an AG and I don't miss any of the electric features in a main oven. I admit, I do also have a GE Advantium which does have all the whiz-bang features. But it needs those features to work properly. When it comes to the oven, it's just set the temp and bake or roast. It is a minor inconvenience that there is no auto on/off or timed cooking feature. But that just means I have to hang around. The upside is that I have zero fears about using the self-clean feature of my oven because there are no digital electronics to fry. Do go through the exercise of redesigning with a wall oven. But don't let superficial concerns drive you to go in a direction that doesn't meet your needs.

Your comments are easing the pain of this long drawn out reno we've been living in. I started the demo in Jan and have been working every day, night and weekend as I've done all the work myself. I've already used up all my vacation time for the year. I can't comment to much on the "actual" cooking experience as DW is the only cook in our house, I just reap the benefits. This kitchen is for her for because she deserves it and has always wanted an AGA and a beautiful kitchen. Our first meal was pancakes of course! The kids love pancakes. quiltgirl Regarding our counters, we have about 36" to the right and about 60" to the left. There is a large island directly across from the AGA. The granite was templated a week ago and should be ready for install in a week or so.

I think I share aesthetic DNA with a lot of the posters on this thread. Love the French look; prefer colored appliances with SS/nickel/brass/etc. trim over all SS. My house is a 125 y.o. "second empire" style, which I feel deserves some sort of hat tip, if not slavish devotion to old-looking stuff. To me this means avoiding visible electronics, and overtly modern lines. OTOH, anything simple, chunky, roundish, using materials that have been around for at least a hundred years, works fine. We will be remodeling our kitchen soon, but as my current (awful, unmentionable) range just died, I will be replacing it somewhat ahead of schedule. A few months ago I went crazy over online picture of an AGA legacy. Later I met one in person, and was underwhelmed. Crushed, actually. The oven doors and knobs just didn't feel solid. Kind of reminded me of a very adorable "Easy Bake" oven. Interestingly, the same showroom had the pricier AGA 6-4 cooker, also duel-fuel (not the true cooker that the name would imply), and I was shocked at how different it felt - super solid heavy cast iron doors with integrated hinges and latches, although the knobs were the same. The Cornufe was there as well. The doors felt more solid than the legacy, as did the knobs, but like the 6-4 it was a bit out of my price range. And then there was... ... the small oven thing. I tried to tell myself this didn't matter, was actually an advantage, less energy to heat up, etc. And I really DO want to be able to cook two things at different temps simultaneously. But among my friends who actually cook, virtually all said I'd sooner or later regret not having a regular-size oven. (Wall oven/s not an option for me.) Not sure how the Lacanche stacks up in terms of oven size. It's probably my favorite looks-wise. Their owners seem to really cherish them. But to me it only makes sense to spend that much on a range if it's going to hold some sort of visual dominion over the rest of the kitchen. My range will only be seen head-on from the fridge wall; not from the kitchen entrance or kitchen table or any other rooms, so I'd rather put my aesthetic eggs in other baskets... Which has brought me back to the pro-styles. My husband eliminated Bluestar because of the open burners. He thought we were too lax in our cleaning habits to prevent that drip plate from turning into a smelly, scary disaster. I think we're about to settle on American, most likely black (with SS trim), in a 30" AG, which has an unusually large oven, and pretty good burner capacity (2 @ 17K btu, 140 degree simmer). We plan to get a countertop toaster/confection oven combo to accomodate our second/small oven needs. Or maybe a microwave/convection oven combo that we will hide somewhere. We are looking into a modern aire PS26 range hood in black with SS trim. One cool think about American is that you can swap out the color down the road. So if our upcoming remodel screams for a different color, say, fire engine red, we won't be stuck with the black. (The hood is another matter... hmm...) The color kits are about 250-300 bucks, I think, and require a pretty handy, if not professional, person to make the switch. I'll worry about that if and when it comes to it... Good luck on your search, susied3, and everybody else (including me). Let's keep each other posted.

Hi Marthavila and Bufflotina. Thank you so much for your advice. I went out yesterday to pick up the following: Quooker faucet/Tap - bought for E699/about $750. Its the polished chrome basic design one. No more kettle. These , and their insinkerator cousin (which produces hot but not boiling water) and a similar ZipHydro are everywhere. The fact that this produces BOILING water makes it the best I think. You turn the tap on (child safety on this one - not on some of the other brands - that why I chose quooker) and TADA!! Boiling water comes out all bubbly and spluttery. Its going to save me a whole lot of time. I boil the kettle once an hour. I can make tea without a kettle. In case you're wondering what I'm talking about please see: http://www.quooker.com/07_uk/site.html (the one I got is the "basic" model PRO3 VaQ- it was on sale and would normally cost at least 1000 dollars/ 899 euro. Here is a review: http://honestcooking.com/2011/04/12/testing-the-quooker/. Garbage disposal - I got a viking one - they were on sale at a good price for Europe. VCFW750 Viking 3/4 HP Continuous Feed Food Waste Disposer was E450/$550 (I know its really really expensive here but the hassle of changing plugs and electrics for such a small item isnt worth it so I bought here instead of US). This is for my prep sink in the island. I'm going to get an insinkerator model 1HP one for my sink beside the dishwasher. I got the Viking one for the prep sink because I love the viking logo on the rim - it just looks nice. I am afraid of Viking products since I saw one of their fridge freezers recently in a showrrom here. It was actually rusting in the freezer compartment - and its only about two years old. Either the dealers abused it or its a bad product. But this is a small item so ......fingers crossed it works ok. I've been picking up bargains for the past few months: I have the following: BlancoMaster-S Baby Faucet/Tap http://www.tapsaver.co.uk/tap_1506.asp which is gorgeous in real life and the professional spray is really forceful cos I have a good pressurised water system. I think its called a Blanco Gourmet Professional in the US. I didnt like the full sized Blancomaster - Its too big - about three foot high and it would dominate the kitchen. This one has all the pro features and function and blends in. However it means my other faucets/taps have to be polished chrome. I was going to go for polished nickel but...... the Blancomaster baby was picked up half price - E350 ($420) so it was an absolute steal so i dont mind. Polished chrome is ok. I've also got a blanco tap/faucet with pro spray for my utility room see: http://www.blanco.co.uk/products/tap/blancotubetwist I picked it up for E200 /$270 last week. Again half price or less. Gaggenau: 24"Combi-Steam and convection Oven http://www.gaggenau.com/GB_en/products/product-detail.do?contentId=08bc3306-c804-4796-983e-58cb2b13f810&family=SteamOven - bought for E2000 ($2700). Ok I paid the full price (not like me at all) but I HAD to have it. They TOLD me that it was 700 euro off but when I got home and checked the price I could have gotten it anywhere for that. But I wanted it and was overcome by impulse and had to have it. Cant wait to crank it up once the kitchen is in (about 8 weeks from now) Gaggenau Coffee Maker http://www.gaggenau.com/US_en/products/coffeemakers-overview/product-detail.do?contentId=3f015e54-a127-4cc9-959f-9d8d2af07820&family=Coffeemaker. I LOVE IT. I picked it up ex display for E500 (about 600 dollars). The price makes the coffee taste sweeter! (having said that the way you put the coffee and water in is a little bit of a nuisance. If I hadnt picked this up for a song I would have gone for the Miele one which has much more convenient way to fill etc) I have had a good look at the Falcon rangecookers. YOU WERE RIGHT. The cooktop is the same as the La Cornufe but the burners arent brass and the grid of iron is enamelled whereas the la cornufe is not I think. The La Cornufe grid (what is the name of that - escapes me right now so i'm calling it a grid) is not shiny whereas the Falcon one is shiny black. Anyhow they are THE SAME SHAPE. Clearly from the same designer and same machine. The door hinges on the falcon are identical to the La cornufe. But the Falcon doesnt have the easy clean system whereby you take out the sides and top of the oven. However the Falcon does have the additional grill. So I am decided. The Falcon retails for about E5000/$6000. THe La Cornufe for about E6200/7500. I have been offered one ex display for less than the Falcon retail price. Its ok that the hinges etc are the same. Its ok that its not a real La Cornufe (who was I kidding at that price). I like it. I am going to go and buy it and I'm going to pick up a neff or miele or siemens 24 inch induction cooktop(hob) to go to the left of it and I'll get a 24 inch butchers block for the other side of it. It'll look good. I'll get a nice pot filler tap and some fired earth tiles (http://www.firedearth.com/)for behind it and I will be set. I will still have a look at the Mercury but from the pics i've seen its the wrong look. I saw a really nice Fisher & Paykel three door (french door) fridge freezer yesterday. http://fisherpaykel.com/product/refrigeration/refrigerators/index.cfm?productuid=A11C44C2-EAF3-81BC-9B6A6087173AA8A9 Only 2K as opposed to 8-10K for the Miele.http://www.appliancist.com/refrigerators/miele-refrigeration-line-mastercool-control-system.html (You think the Miele looks good in these pictures. You ought to see it in real life. It is lovely. THe F&P is a good bit smaller but so is the price.... I am torn. I saw a Miele dishwasher ex display a little while ago. Based on the almost unanimous good opnion of same on here I think I will just go and buy it. Hope its still there. Thanks so much for your help. I had another look at the Aga Legacys/rangemaster induction cooktops yesterday and decided definitely that they are too cheap looking for my new kitchen. The induction top is surrounded by rubbery looking plastic stuff. I don't know what material it is...I only know its unattractive. The falcon and ilve (called brittania in UK called Ilve in US and Ireland) ones have steel surrounds around the induction tops which are much nicer, and stop spills falling onto the floor. I did check out a Bertazzoni but they are a little lightweight compared to their rival Wolf so it was a no. So Hopefully by this time tomorrow I shall be a proud La Cornufe owner. See pics of product here: http://www.thestylishhouse.net/2009/04/in-my-dreams.html I have a laundry room upstairs and i have bosch washer and dryer for there. i fancy putting another washer/dryer into mmy utility room for towels and dishcloths etc. i've been offered a kupperbusch integrated w/d and i'm thinking i'll take it. I still need fridge freezer - I love the Miele but it super pricey microwave Probably Gaggenau Warming drawer - probably gaggenau winecooler: something small and unobtrusive. Its not the look I want really i might integrate one into a nook in the dining room. small dishwasher for island (a little drawer one) refrigerated drawers for fresh meat. my husband keeps mixing raw and cooked meats in the fridge so i'm buying drawers for the meat now and keeping the big fridge raw meat free! faucet/tap for island - I'll have to go with blanco to make everything match. The polished chrome quooker will be beside it. prep sink for island - I wanted the kohler http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?from=thumb&frm=null&module=Kitchen+Sinks&item=337202&prod_num=6588§ion=1&category=5&resultPage=0--1543372007 but i mightgo for the Shaws of Darwen model which is half the price with all of the good looks. See: - http://www.shawsofdarwen.com/classic-sinks/10-round-sink.html Its the undermounted I like. I will get a shaws of Darwen 36 inch (900cms) double for my kitchen and 36 inch (900cms) single for my utility room. A 36 inch wide single sink will be able to accommodate my bbq burners and grills which is what I need. http://www.shawsofdarwen.com/6-classic-sinks I had been stuck on the franke big one made for villeroy & boch http://www.appliance-world.co.uk/Franke_VBK771_Belfast+Sink.html but in my kitchen that might be a dirt gatherer. Too many nooks and crannies. What do you think? I'll be back with photos of kitchen space soon. Dippy P.s. My flooring is from Mandarin Stone - the Jerusalem grey gold Ramon see http://www.mandarinstone.com/products/limestone/classic_jerusalem_ramon_tumbled It is beautiful. I have no regrets whatsoever. Even my Mother in law likes it. Its a first.