Reconciling myself to the existing kitchen

I still miss that unit. It was so popular. People loved it because you could have two ovens going at different temperatures at the same time. And then suddenly you couldn’t get it anymore. >:P

A single oven plus an over-the-range microwave fills the space and hides the holes in the wall from the old unit, but it’s not as useful.

@sylvan8798

Like others, I think you can get those appliances for a lesser cost. Get something you like…and that works in your space.

If it were me…I’d give your husband a deadline date for contacting and getting the appliances from “his guy”. MKe it clear…it needs to be done by…say…August 1. If not, you will order from the appliance store…or where you find the appliances.

My husband is a “researcher” when it comes to buying these things. Trouble is…it takes a LONG time for him to research…then new models come out…and he researches again. I no longer deal,with that. We look at what we need…and either he gives me a decision…or I order myself.

We do agree on the money to be spent.

I will never buy a combo unit. If one goes kaput, then you might have to replace the whole thing. Get two single ovens instead. Cabinetry is easy to deal with to accommodate two ovens.

I would also suggest to see if you can move away from the combo unit. You can look into buying just an oven and have a carpenter close the left over space or make a decorative shelf. That way you get a lot more flexibility on what to buy.

^^ This is kind of what we did when we had to replace our combo unit. We bought a new stainless stove and a separate over-the-stove microwave to match. Then we installed a flat “stainless” backsplash behind the stove to cover the bare wall where the combo unit had been. It was something like this - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frigo-Design-30-in-x-30-in-Polished-Stainless-Steel-Backsplash-HS3030SS/100664604
Later on when we replaced the countertops with granite, we removed the stainless backsplash and put granite there in its place.

Agree Marian. Although it was that lovely shade of harvest gold so didn’t miss that particular one. At the time we got a microconvection hood so at least I had the small convection option as a second oven. But when we redid the kitchen we got a better fan and so had to forgo the over the stove micro. i miss having the extra oven and having it above. Our kitchen is not big enough to accommodate a double oven and separate cook top.

I love the AJ Madison website to get ideas on appliances which would fit my specific cabinet openings. Here is an example of this week’s promo. https://www.ajmadison.com/pages/promotions/homeappliancedeals/?id=713 I don’t know that I would feel comfortable ordering appliances online, but it is fun to see what is out there and sometimes local dealers will match prices.

I also think you should look at something other than the one piece unit. Have you tried Best Buy or Sears as both have brand name appliances and often have deals.

If your H is used to getting appliances for apartments, then he is prob looking at basic units…and you my dear are NOT basic!!!

Perhaps you could present H with 2 or 3 options that are acceptable to you so he feels like he is the one making the decision.

AJ Madison is local to me and has a very good reputation here in Brooklyn.

I have a double oven with m/w above. The people on HGTV would cringe. Ovens are put in walls, with hoods above. M/w are put in the island. However, we do the best we can within space and budgets.

I have seen a $2M new construction house with 2 ovens in the large island. Two dishwashers, too. Must have been targeting a family that wanted to be kosher without the expense of having 2 kitchens. :slight_smile:

I’ve worked on some kitchens that have a separate sections for meat and dairy. I don’t need two dishwashers except at Thanksgiving, but the rest of the layout is actually quite practical for most people.

I have my microwave in the open shelving that surrounds my fridge. It’s a lot cheaper than getting a built in. I wouldn’t mind a second oven as a wall oven though!

@BunsenBurner we have a friend with two ovens, and two dishwashers…they do NOT keep kosher…but they DO entertain large groups often. It’s nice to have one dishwasher cleaning some of the dishes while the other is available to be filled. And they never are short on oven space!

But this poster needs a normal working kitchen…at this point, I would,go for a working stove…all four burners…and microwave…and not care that much about a second oven.

In our downsizing, we are losing the second oven. While I have always loved having two ovens, while living in the temporary apartment, I have learned to live without it. Holidays will be a bit of an issue, but if some of the food is not piping hot when served, so be it.

The new house has a drawer microwave which I had never heard of until we started house shopping. My mother who watches all the home shows was surprised that I had never seen one. While I will like not having to reach above my head to get to the microwave, that is where one of my cabinets went; that plus the pull out trash can. In hindsight, I might have removed the built in trash cans, but too late now.

There are metal trim kits that can be used to make shelve micro look like a built in. We “inherited” a KitchenAid one in this house. When it does, it will be replaced… Not a huge cost. So that would minimize problems down the road for OP should she decide to go this route.

@thumper1 - I did not suggest this to OP. Just a comment that someone said m/w and ovens in the island may not be that conventional. If new construction used that design, I assume it must be OK.

Oh it IS ok to have two dishwashers and two ovens…but not necessarily because of keeping kosher. That was my point.

Anyway @sylvan8798 doesn’t need two of anything…she needs one of everything…that works!

We remodeled our kitchen 15 years ago, new everything because it was part of an addition. My mother had 2 ovens and I knew I wanted that, but she never had a microwave. I have a flat-top elec stove with oven and a wall oven/microwave unit. The microwave is just above my waist, the oven below. Both H and I work during the week and I cook a lot on weekends. The 2 ovens are used many times. The microwave had to be repaired once (bad screws in the door), but otherwise the unit works as well as the day it was installed.

I really don’t like a microwave above a stove and now I see them in the pantry in new homes. That’s too far away for me because I use it at most every meal. I also saw M/Ws tucked into the side of the island which seemed really inconvenient. I could not work with a 3-burner stove for long.

Not sure who mentioned it above, but H also loves to compare prices, check out Consumer Reports, shop around. I tend to buy what I like and meets my needs. If we agree on the same thing, wonderful, but more often I just tell H what I need, give him a deadline to check it out, and if he doesn’t get to it, I buy what I told him I would.

I am standing in my reno kitchen admiring the new countertops and looking at a set of skinny drawers that look like a good space for a second dishwasher - my cabinet making skills will come handy there :slight_smile: . Moving dishes from dishwasher to cupboards and then back is against all principles of Six Sigma. :smiley:

I still think putting two single ovens in the island on the opposite sides (plus having dishwasher next to each) instead of a more common wall double had something to do with the builder’s intended market - there was ample wall space. It also had a series of fridge and freezer columns. The more I think about it, the more I am inclined to conclude that there was a targeted buyer… who likely bailed for whatever reason and lost the earnest $$. It was a great home!!!

OP, I just looked - Lowe’s having appliance clearance sale. There is a lot of nice stuff there!

My cabinet guy told me that the appliance company may not honor your warranty if you do not use their trim kit and simply put your microwave oven in a cabinet space.

I have a cooking drawer (not a warming oven) beneath my range. I have never had a double oven but I love that I can prepare more roasted vegetables with the entree. It’s really one of those things that you think you don’t need until you have to live without it.

First… what are fridge and freezer ‘columns’?? Not sure I know what they are

And, second, everyone seems to changing their avatars to pictures of their kitchens. I might need to try that?? I have a very unusual custom kitchen that I designed and loved… 15 yrs ago. Now it seems dated but I will have to live with it for awhile.