30 versus 36 inch range?

[Anonymous]

OK, we're about to totally overhaul our kitchen and I'm trying to figure out what to do about appliances (and this is a decision that has to be made ASAP). Worth noting that I am an avid cook. I currently have a 30 inch Samsung range that I'm perfectly happy with (for what it's worth it replaced a cheap GE 36 inch range that I hated). I had talked myself in to a 36 inch range in the new kitchen for the following reasons:

- I thought it would improve resale value (although we're not moving anytime soon)
- It would be nice to be able to put two cookie sheets in side-by-side or use the center burner while using the side burner at the same time.

That being said, I really can't stomach the idea of spending $6K on a range. As I've been looking at ranges, it seems like the only thing in the <$5K range for ranges are brands I have never heard of (Fagor, Smeg, Verona, Fisher and Paykel, Bertazzoni, NXR).

I would love to hear people's thoughts and experiences, particularly with any of the brands above or if you've made the decision one way or the other in a kitchen rehab.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anyone?

[Anonymous]

If you have money to burn, buy the showy thing that "improves resale value". If you're like the rest of us, keep the nice one that you like.

[Anonymous]

I've been happy with my GE 36" ranges (gas and now induction), so no help to you there.

[Anonymous]

I spent more than that on a Viking and I love it. Mostly because it looks great. I added a pot filler above and a nice backsplash. Looks great,

[Anonymous]

I would get 36 for resale, it's the space that's important

[Anonymous]

I would get 36 for resale, it's the space that's important

[Anonymous]

In retrospect, I wish I had gotten the 36' range.

Stop obsessing over the exact price. Focus on the usefulness. There are more variations for a slightly bigger range for the cooktop.

[Anonymous]

We love our 36 inch range

[Anonymous]

Go smaller and get the best you can afford. 30 is totally fine for me. 36 is over li unless you bake all the time.

[Anonymous]

We will be upgrading to a 36" induction when we remodel in order to have better space. Oven will be separate and standard 30".

But go to gardenweb (houzz now I guess) and you will get more information than you could ever ask for about anything kitchen related.

[Anonymous]

36' and get a Bluestar. Awesome range and we are big cooks. Remodeled our kitchen about 5 years ago and still love it. Made in the USA with great service.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. So it's currently 9 votes for the 36 inch, 1 for the 30 inch. Not actually what I expected.

[Anonymous]

I am the 1 vote.

Basically I vote for the best you can afford. If you can afford an induction cooktop, whatever size, and put the oven elsewhere then do that, I want to do that because I love the induction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:36' and get a Bluestar. Awesome range and we are big cooks. Remodeled our kitchen about 5 years ago and still love it. Made in the USA with great service.

This is exactly what we got a year ago. Very happy so far. I had never heard of the company before.