I currently have double Viking wall ovens and cooktop and I love them. However, I do love the look of the commercial ranges. I find that both of my double ovens are not really at good heights for me though. I'm 5'4". The bottom oven is a little low and the top one (the one I use the most) is a little high and I usually have to get my son or husband to help me with getting heavy items out. So, while planning a kitchen renovation on a new house, I chose the Thermador 48" range with the steam oven and warming drawer. I realize I might not like going back to bending to get things out of the oven, but I know I can reach them myself. I also was able to free up a lot of wall cabinet space so I can put in a nice pantry cabinet which I need in the design. My kitchen design is all on one long wall really with a 16' island in front of it. I am getting a Miele speed oven and putting that in the island and it functions as a convection oven/microwave. I'm guessing it will be the oven I use most when cooking only for my husband and myself. I've agonized over this for months now (range vs. cooktop and wall ovens) but in the end cabinet space and "the look" of a commercial range won out! And, honestly, the only time I use both my wall ovens now is at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is a big waste of cabinet space 363 days out of the year :) I hope this helps and good luck!!

Thanks for this thread. I just joined GW to say that! I am going through very similar decisions. My kitchen design has strayed from the 30" freestanding range all gas to a 36" induction cooktop with 30" wall oven located underneath it. Both Miele. Just wanted to add that Miele redesigned their wall oven so that it could be configured this way. This configuration is very common in the UK where I originate from. I have been nervous about applying it here in the US as I haven't seen it very often. I'm also planning a speed oven located under a counter to make up for loosing my current set up that has a double wall oven that I seldom need.

Thanks everyone for your great comments! Buehl, love your idea but sadly, no, I can not close up that window. It is the window to the street, the porch and I love it. Even if I didn't love it the Historic Preservation people would never let me get rid of it. So it stays. It sounds like you all agree adding the fourth counter makes it too small. What if the counter was 18 inches instead of 24? Would 6 inches help much? I still need storage underneath. Bmorepanic - you are not the first to propose cutting down the other side. A second designer I hired suggested cutting that down to a 15-18 inch pantry only (pantry for dishes, not food - food pantry has a good home) floor to ceiling piece of furniture painted a different color. I actually love the idea but here's the rub...that counter is totally our favorite place to work. Our dishes are in the uppers there and that works with where the d/w is...we hate to mess with that part of the space. I am thinking I could make something that was a pantry-like cabinet but still had a counter...not as deep but we could still prep over there... and keep the 24 under the other window. My husband and I don't love the bigger counter moved to under "street" window because it is weird to face the street while you are prepping...and at night the blind comes down and that is even more strange. At the other counter you are facing whoever is sitting at the counter so that seems a happier place to work. Our goal in adding the counter under the window was to have a place to plate the food out of the oven. We also have to have room to store: all kitchen gizmos, pots and pans (we have alot) but I think we could also hang some. I would also love to have a spice drawer, pull out pantry for oils, and a tray storage. Am I high to think I can get all of that in? I know if I go shorter than 20inches it won't happen. Ugh! I can tweek my plan now but I have to decide by Monday if the counter under the "street" window is 24 inches or less. If it is going to be 24 inches then I have to reconfigure the garden window so the sink can be centered. If it is under 24 inches then I can tell my GC to center the garden window and take another week to figure it all out. But not much more. I would love to hear more ideas - it is so helpful to get input from people who understand kitchens as opposed to someone who designs kitchens. My guy threw boxes and uppers everywhere and now I fear I am cooking in a space the size of an airplane bathroom. Here is a link that might be useful: amacs renovation blog

Arezab, I would love to hear your opinion of your new range once you've had a chance to use it. I have been very pleased with my electric Jenn Air downdraft range (original to house, so appx 20 years old), and planned to replace it with a dual fuel model. (Gas lines already exist.) Downdraft on my electric cooktop has done a terrific job - no complaints at all. However, I am concerned about the impact of the downdraft on the gas burners - simple physics indicate at least some impact on flame, whereas that was a non-issue with the electric burners. I am also curious to know if you feel the quality is still as good. Many have reported since Whirlpool purchased the Jenn Air brand, it is just not the same product. Good luck with your remodel. Hope to hear your opinions, once your new range is up and running!