Range cookers - Are they for you?
Better know in Melbourne and Australia as freestanding ovens, range cookers are one of the biggest investment you make in your kitchen. Whether you are renovating or building, this article will help you figure out if a range cooker is for you, and help you on your way to finding the perfect one for your new kitchen.
When designing a new kitchen, there are many things to think about; space, layout, cabinetry, tiles, benchtops and of course, appliances.
If you prefer a minimalist style kitchen where everything is integrated or hidden, then maybe a range cooker is not for you.
However, if you are after a kitchen with a hero piece, the thing that will wow everyone as they walk into your new kitchen, then a range cooker might be just the thing you are looking for.
Image: The Widecombe Wattle
This image shows a designated cooking area, which is becoming increasingly popular in Australian kitchens. The range cooker blends in seamlessly with the lower cabinetry.
When deciding whether a range cooker is for you, the one thing many people think about is: “Am I OK to bend down to reach food from the oven?” Keep in mind that many ovens have slide out racks, so you don’t need to physically reach into the oven, but you will still need to bend down a bit to grab that roast chook or leg of lamb. If this is still a concern for you, then this type of cooker is not for you. But if you don’t want an oven tower and prefer a more luxurious and classic look, then keep reading.
Image by Studio McGee
Here you can see how this baby blue cooker stands out as a real centrepiece of this kitchen.
OK, so you’ve decided you need to buy a range cooker! What next?
I would start with size - Can you only fit a 600mm wide cooker? Is 900mm wide enough for you? Or are you a home chef who needs even more, like 1100mm or bigger? Do you really need this or are you making a statement?
What about the cooker depth? A standard depth for a cooker is 600mm, but keep in mind some of them are 700mm deep. If you choose a deeper cooker, then you may want to consider making your cabinetry deeper as well.
Another thing to keep in mind is height - is it adjustable?
Image by Laura Burleson Interiors
This image shows you how you can extend parts of your cabinetry and benchtops to 700mm deep to fit flush with the cooker, and then go back to the standard 600mm depth elsewhere. Here, this has also been done with the range hood. Very clever, and it looks stunning.
The next step would be your style and colour. Are you after a bold statement, or do you prefer a more neutral colour for the range cooker? Many manufacturers will give you an option to design your own cooker, where you can choose your colour, trim and knob finishes and then it goes into functionality.
Image by Smeg Classic Collection
Image by Belling Australia
If you don’t like stainless steel or a certain colour cooker, and have a white cabinetry kitchen, consider a white range cooker.
You can also choose a black or dark coloured range cooker, for contrast, or if you are after something a little more modern. Introduce a beautiful benchtop and splashback and you have taken your kitchen to another level of sophistication and luxury.
Image by La Cornue Official
Image by Jack Creasy Design
Image by Jordan Bakva
When it comes to functionality, think about what you current and future requirements may be. Do you prefer gas or induction? Or a bit of both? How many burners do you need? Do you need a tepanyaki plate? If you are leaning towards an induction cooktop, think about your power requirements, as these can often require you to have 3 phase power.
So when you go shopping, ensure you keep these things in mind. Obviously, budget is something that should be on top of your list, but try to also keep in mind how much value you would add to your home by adding a beautiful range that will last for a very long time.