Yes, "what the market will bear" is a big reason for the pricing of anything. It's worth what people are willing to pay for it up to the point where you increase demand so much you have to start hiring a bunch more people and building a new factory. At that point you raise your prices and fewer people will want what you sell but you're making more per unit than before. The other big factor is economies of scale. Most cheap freestanding ranges go into apartments, motels and the like. When you make lots and lots of the same thing, it costs so much less to make that you can afford to sell it for a lot less and actually have a bigger profit than if you sold fewer. Those are usually old tech models that have been made for years. They only cost resources and labor to make. The kinks have been worked out so they don't require a lot of warranty work. They're not for discriminating cooks. They're for landlords who can't rent a unit that has no oven (seriously, in some localities you can't get a certificate of occupancy without one--a cooktop by itself isn't sufficient). Of course, plenty of folks also buy these for themselves. The price and general reliability are very attractive. If it weren't for the thousands of units that you never see because they don't pass through retail inventory, however, the price would be a lot higher. As are wall ovens and slide in ranges. (And the design of the slide-in range isn't almost the same because it's a different model. Anything that isn't made from the exact same parts on the exact same line in the exact same way has different variables and a whole different cost/price structure.)

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. The sales woman did suggest the vinegar soak to set the colors. Currently all of our towels are either beige, cream or light green. I think that's why I was looking for some color. My first inclination was to buy grey, silver, pewter, or light green or blue. But everyone in my family teases me for being afraid of color and I have to agree with them because I tend to stay on the safe side. So this time I was going to surprise them and get a dark color. I did see a medium shade of lavender that might do the trick, especially since it's a color that I've never bought before. I think I'll be brave and try it. After all, one set of towels is probably the cheapest part of the entire remodeling. I'll soak them first in vinegar. Both Wikipedia and The Vinegar Institute suggested adding vinegar too. Thanks again. Now all I have to do is install the towel bars so I have a place to hang the towels.

thanks everyone for the suggestions! We have lived here since May, and have been pondering the kitchen ever since we had our offer accepted on the house. I think that I essentially like the room's layout to answer fori's question. The thing I'd like is a bit more counter space. I have considered getting rid of the island and putting in a peninsula, but I have a couple concerns at doing this, first and foremost, not totally sure whether the flooring runs under the island. I'm not at all interested in redoing the floors just to move an island. Second, and most importantly, but the cabinets, drawers and counter space on the end of the island closest to the stove & MW get used a TON because the counters, drawers and base cabinet storage is very limited directly to the right and left of the stove. Some folks asked about the room beyond the stove, through the door...it's our laundry/mud room + 4th bedroom and a bathroom and connects the house to the garage. Only place in which to access these rooms is through that door. So unfortunately it can't be blocked off. All the other doors are necessities too. One is to the DR, other to our front living room, the other to the basement. Im definitely toying with the idea of removing those goofy banisters between the kitchen and family room. I need to wait until I'm ready to extend the flooring into the family room though because of the piece that the spindles attach to on the floor. Regarding removing the soffits, I don't believe there's anything in the soffits above the refrigerator area, however I do believe that there's plumbing in the soffits above the main run of cabinets...our bathroom is directly above there and have heard water sounds running through the pipes (which I believe hide in the soffit). So, I'm thinking if I paint, the soffits will get crown molding... Thanks again for all the suggestions!!

I'd define "expensive looking" with the details. Basics -everything is completed, no unfinished edges, trim, etc -trim, even if simple, is properly installed -finished end panels (even IKEA offers them) -no obvious patches (like caulking over a 1/2 inch gap at the wall or random trim added to hide something) -adequate lighting (of any kind) "Upgrades" that might add some cost -deeper cabinet over fridge and side panels -paint on the walls that isn't white or very light "builder beige" -matching appliances (of any brand) -flooring that's not beige tile or sheet vinyl -most consider granite expensive, or quartz, but if you pick one of the new laminates make sure you don't have those lines where sheets meet at the edges. There are plenty of edge options now, and even squared off edges can almost disappear -undermount sink -faucet and pulls in whatever finish is big where you are (probably not 3 inch brass look) -if you have an outlet under the sink for the GD, an air switch for the GD. They are like $50 plus a hole in the counter if you are getting a new counter. Getting the hole might cost a lot if someone has to come out just for that. -colors/materials that look cohesive -lots of clear counter space -window treatments that fit in with the design Now, someone interested in more than how it looks might want more. But basically I think you'd want anyone passing through the get the impression that the room is cohesive, bright, not small, and not have anything that stands out as out of place or slapped together.