My old Maytag fridge stuck out 11" from the countertop. That thing dominated our tiny kitchen. Replacing that monster with a counter-depth completely changed the look and feel of the entire kitchen. Just a few inches, but it makes a huge difference. Our new fridge is a KitchenAid Architect 36" counter depth side-by-side with 24.5 cubic feet of storage. I love it. It's so much quieter and holds a steady temperature. I really don't notice any difference in the amount of storage space from the monster Maytag. The shelves are just a touch shallower, but I really don't mind--it was just old moldy things that got pushed back there anyway. This fridge is definitely taller, so that is probably where the extra space comes from. If you are petite you may have trouble reaching the back of the top shelf. Here is a link that might be useful: KitchenAid counter depth fridge

If that picture really reflects what you have, then I would be worried too. If the cabs on either side of your hood drop down close to the countertop, as the picture suggests, then you may have under 24'' of clearance from rangetop to bottom of cabinet. With a high output range that would seem to be an invitation to at least scorching of the cabinets, if not an all-out fire hazard. If you've searched for hood vent discussions on this forum you've seen that there is a strong disapproval for hoods that are equal in width to the cooktop, let alone narrower than the cooktop! Even with a high cfm hood (and 680 cfm does not qualify in my mind as high), you may pull some of the hot convection current away from your side cabs, but there is direct radiant heat energy that is not affected at all by airstream which will heat your cabinets. That's independent of the smoke/grease/odor issues that an inadequately sized hood would cause, that you say don't worry you. Why the compulsion to go with a 36'' range in a space designed for a 30''? You lose a couple burners of course but if that's what you have to work with that's a sensible option. Not to mention that a six burner Wolf would really require more than 680 cfm for decent ventilation. Or, can you pull down your two flanking cabinets and replace them with narrower cabs? Or even just delete them altogether and mount a freestanding hood there?

We went with a 36" BS range top, then a 30" Wolf L-Series oven and the Wolf Steam Oven. I love our setup and love that they are not all in the same place. We have the range top in about the same location as our old 30" range was located. The microwave and steam oven are in a stack next to the pantry. And the Wall oven is actually under the end of our island, which kind of turn inward toward the kitchen. This works out great for us as it gives us three zones to work in when doing cooking. Helps us keep out of one anothers way. I could see doing a 36" range if you don't have the room for a range top and separate wall oven. But if you do, why compromise on getting something that has dual functionality and will have compromises when you can get what you want with the bells and whistles you want in separate units. Just my 2 cents. Phil

I cook scratch meals every night for a family of 4 and lots of breakfasts and lunches too. I love my 30" Bluestar RNB. I do like having the unheated space between the burners for warming plates or resting a spoon on a plate, etc. I could not pull off managing stuff on more than 4 burners - hats off to those who can! I also use all-metal pots with lids and I have gotten into the habit of putting items that need a slow simmer into the oven - that avoids scorching if I am not paying enough attention, and it frees up burners on the stovetop. Another consideration is that - ideally - range hoods should be 6" wider than your range width for optimal function. Pro-style range hoods are expensive and huge...so IMHO that should be a major consideration in range selection. I would pick the range size that your family needs, but I would never pick a larger range just for looks - JMHO.