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Should You Place a Wall Oven Under a Cooktop?

November 17th, 2014 | 2 min. read

By Steve Sheinkopf

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Picture your new kitchen.

Your countertops can be soapstone, caeserstone, granite, marble in endless permutations.

Now let's look at cabinets. They can be sleek glossy modern high sheen white or a very traditional wood with aged brass accents.

What will you do with your floors? What finish is your tile back guard. I like colorful tile, but my friend has a beach house with blueish, beachy tile. I liked that as well. Now we have to light your kitchen and add plumbing fixtures, door hardware and sinks.

I mention the common elements of a renovation because they are the personal, unique elements of our kitchens. From a style standpoint, it is not the appliances per se. So you want to try to accentuate the best elements of your kitchen.

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Wall Oven & Cooktop Combination

There are some real advantages to a wall oven/cooktop set up.

Modern Kitchen - Cooktop and Wall Oven
  1. Cleanability: There are no seams on the sides so spills stay on the top and not in the crevices on the sides
  2. Appearance: This is the big one. Your granite runs straight across the back. The toe kicks and cabinets are not compromised, so it’s a much cleaner look
  3. Function: Wall ovens and cooktops have better controls and functions in most cases than slide-ins and professional stoves
Traditional Kitchen - Cooktop and Wall Oven

 
Real Disadvantages to Wall Oven/Cooktop Combinations

  1. Price: You will spend $500-$1,500 more for a wall oven and cooktop than a comparable slide-in. 
  2. Ergometrics: For any range, you will be bending for your food. You do stoop less when the oven is installed in the wall however.
  3. Installation: It’s a tougher install. Stay with the same brand, so the connections line up.
  4. No Pro: You cannot place a wall oven under a professional cooktop. Pro cooktops are too tall.
Contemporary Kitchen - Cooktop and Wall Oven

 

Other Alternatives

Modern Kitchen - Freestanding Range

 
Freestanding, slide-in and pro ranges comprise 99% of the range sales. As you can see, the cabinets, toekicks and countertops stop at both sides of the units. The freestanding unit also adds a back, which blocks the tile work behind the unit.

Final Words

I remember the Uba Tuba granite craze in the 1990s. Everyones kitchen looked the same. You had a stainless steel slide-in, a counter depth fridge and the same granite.

I think this is different and an interesting alternative to a range. It’s an especially great look with the right cabinets. However, it is pricier than a range with similar features. Then again, your kitchen will never look like your neighbors.

Recommended Reads

  • Makeover Mondays (every Monday, we have a design type article similar to this)

Additional Resources

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Steve Sheinkopf

Steve Sheinkopf is the third-generation CEO of Yale Appliance and a lifelong Bostonian. He has over 38 years of experience in the appliance industry, and he is a trusted source of information for consumers on how to buy and repair appliances.

Steve has also been featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times, Consumer Reports, The Boston Globe, Bloomberg Radio, the New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Entrepreneur, for his knowledge of how to buy appliances and appliance repair.

Steve is passionate about helping consumers find the best appliances for their needs, and he is always happy to answer questions and provide advice. He is a valuable resource for consumers who are looking for information on appliance buying, repair, and maintenance.

Despite being the worst goalie in history, Steve is a fan of the Bruins and college hockey, loves to read, and is a Peloton biker. The love of his life is his daughter, Sophie.

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