This topic has kept me up at nights. Like you, I hate using a big oven when a smaller one will do. So, I have decided on a speed oven--likely Miele, although GE and Electrolux makes them also--which is a microwave, convection oven, and I think/hope it toasts as well. They are a little less than a half-oven. I would go for the wall oven, warming drawer, and toaster oven/speed oven for you, and skip the double ovens. I think double ovens are great if you bake in large quantities where the food needs to be precisely cooked at different temperatures, but for meats and potatoes and such, the temperature differential is not really a big deal. It is easy to reduce/increase both the temperature and time and still have everything come out fine. A warming drawer is fantastic. Remember, with a convection oven, things cook faster, so for that occasional large meal, it is easy to cook many things and as they finish, put them in the warming drawer while you go onto the next item. Also, with 6 people in your house, you will have kids coming and going at all hours of the day. Rather than say, "Honey, let me heat up dinner for you," you can relax on the couch with a glass of wine and say, "Honey, your dinner is in the warming oven."

An update. We purchased a Fisher and Paykel double oven for $2600 delivered from an authorized dealer over Ebay of all places. I checked the wiring to our old oven and I was amazed to discover that although it was a 30 amp breaker they had used 8 gauge wire. I installed a 40 amp breaker and we were good to go. As mentioned in this thread, when you have the option of two dishes that require different temps. and oven modes to prepare you use what you have. Our menus have expanded since we installed the double oven. We purchased a countertop microwave in stainless to match the ovens. So far the biggest difference is that the FP oven is far superior compared to the Jennair that we had. I never thought that an oven would make such a difference. The same recipes taste so much better. Even a simple dish like roasted new potatoes with rosemary have a creamier texture while still remaining crisp. Based on my experience I would not hesitate recommending a double oven if you can accommodate them n your kitchen. Thanks for the advice offered....

Judy, it's not so much the higher wattage on the medium burners that you need as on the big one. You should be able to use a flat bottomed wok on that and get plenty of power. I understand shy, but they really are there to help you. The Miele showroom in Beverly Hills is an especially friendly space, and considering its location I have to think that that's corporate policy! Hm... above statement was made without thinking through your way of cooking. The wattage on the mediums is important if you have a really big pan that you're transferring from the wok into, so want to wok on one of the smaller burners. If you're not ready to cook something yourself in the showroom, ask for a personal demonstration. Even boiling water should give you a good idea about the heat and responsiveness. Could you work up the courage to make an appointment and go watch the salesman or chef use the unit? Or get a pushy friend to come along and speak for you? It's important for you to be happy with your choices, and one of the best ways to do that is to actually see the appliances in action. Re gas, yes, you can use the wok burner with a grill plate, but there are single sided ones that you can easily use on induction. Also, some of the double sided ones with shallower edges work okay as well, at least on some cooktops. I have always roasted eggplants and peppers on the gas flame to get them charred on the outside and not overcooked on the inside (a distinction which may just show up my lacks as a cook in not being able to do this in an oven). I have a little barbecue grate that's made for the purpose. It's a trick that's not for the faint of cleaning, however. Nolamom, the magnet test is a great way to assess whether the pots you have will work with induction, but if you're buying new it's probably worth your while to get pots that are known to work particularly well. Since I already have a lot of Le Creuset (works great with '60's coils, gas and induction all and I love the enamel), I don't know the specifics. Do a search here and you'll find recommendations. Some steel cookware has different amounts of steel in the sides of the pan and the bottom, so it cooks a little differently than one that's all the same. Some have more steel than others. Etc. Cast iron is pretty much cast iron, though weight and thickness will effect the way a particular pan works in comparison to another. Enamel shouldn't matter (it's an insulator but I haven't heard that it impedes magnetism). I have a little Turkish coffee pot which is stainless but doesn't attract a magnet at all. I can't remember if I tested it on Mr. Induction (all this stuff is packed for demo), but I'm pretty sure it won't work. :) Anyway, what I'm trying to say is if you're buying something new, make sure it will work well rather than just work.

I have an Electrolux wall oven and Wolf DF range. I would not recommend them though because the blue enamel has eroded and chipped in both. Electrolux will only cover the interior of the oven for the first year. If you buy their extended warranty, it is excluded. They both work great though as far as baking. It is a shame such good ovens are ruined by this problem. I baked a long time with conventional ovens and usually go more for simple but I do like having the various modes. edit-When you looking at interior measurements, look at the rack size. When you have convection fans, they can take away part of the usable space in the back. There may even be a notch around the fan. Even when a "flat back" is advertised, this may mean the back is flat but still is where the front of the fan is. Also top to bottom, consider the distance from the rack to the top element. Also look at light placement. One oven I had recently had the lights placed so low, you could not see what you were baking. This post was edited by wekick on Thu, Mar 13, 14 at 12:17