Photo courtesy of Signature Kitchen
Decisions, decisions. When it comes to remodeling your kitchen, it seems like the choices never end. Sure, you want to select the best hardware, countertops, backsplash. It goes without saying that you’ve thought long and hard about flooring and cabinets. But what about the appliances? Of course, you can’t have a functioning kitchen without a working fridge or range.
The good news? There are options galore, all with up-to-the-minute technology and great aesthetics too. The bad news? As of late, delivery of many appliances can take up to six months from the time they’re ordered. To help you navigate the process of selecting a work horse that fits your style and budget, NJ HOME asked six kitchen designers across New Jersey to share their picks for 36-inch gas ranges—one that won’t break the bank and a second for those with no particular budget in mind. Some experts choose specific models, while others offer brands they simply trust and love.
Here’s what our pros had to say:
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly 36-inch oven range…
“Zline makes a line of ranges that looks great and has been making headway in the sustainable and attainable luxury market. They offer induction, which is becoming a standard request in lieu of traditional gas ranges. The cooking is more accurate and healthier than gas cooking. They also have a traditional dual fuel model in 36-inch, which offers gas burners, an electric oven and an all-gas model. The interesting thing about this range from a design aspect is the interchangeable doors. You can have red, blue, white, black or stainless.”
—Sharon Sherman, founder, Thyme & Place Design, Wyckoff
“Since many of the ‘budget brands’ don’t offer a slide-in 36-inch range, I’d opt for the still relatively affordable Bosch 800 Series 36” Gas Freestanding Range. It offers a nice ‘industrial chic design’ (Bosch’s words, but appropo) and high-performing function. A nice plus with this option is the dishwasher-safe grates.”
—Taylor Sassaman, designer, Ulrich, Inc., Ridgewood
“The GE Café series ranges are great. We love the matte finishes, and you can choose to add copper detailing for a special touch.”
—Ginny Padula, owner, Town & Country Design Studio, Red Bank
“The FORNO Alta Qualita range is a contemporary, svelte, stainless-steel commercial design with a mid-grill and six large Italian Defeni burners covered by some of the best-cast iron grates available, which makes cooking on the stovetop easier and more comfortable than ever. It’s perfect for the homeowner who enjoys cooking but needs a dependable range at a reasonable cost.”
—Sophia Amiano, design build specialist, Amiano & Son, Southhampton/Ship Bottom
“My pick is the Verona Appliances Prestige gas range. It has a sleek design, comes in four colors, has either a single or double oven and it’s at a great price point.”
—Cindy Kelly, designer, Cindy Kelly Kitchen design, Beach Haven
If you’re looking for a higher-end 36-inch oven range…
“When product delivery times started increasing last year, I switched from Wolf to Signature Kitchen Suite’s 36-inch dual fuel range. They offer several unique features that most other brands do not. For example, there’s a built-in sous vide which is a very nice feature. The ovens feature steam-assist cooking. The knobs for the burners have individual timers which can be set for each burner, and they also offer grill, griddle, induction and gas burner options. The jury is still out on long term quality and performance, but this brand is looking good right now.”
—Sharon Sherman, founder, Thyme & Place Design, Wyckoff
“Hands-down, my pick is the Sub-Zero Wolf GR366 range. Generally speaking, you just can’t beat the quality, functionality, support and service of the Sub-Zero Wolf Cove products. This gas range offers six dual-stacked, sealed gas burners, which means you can heat big pots of food to high temperatures very quickly—such as bringing a large stock pot of water to a boil—or you can switch to the lower burner function and gently simmer a delicate sauce or even safely melt chocolate. Sealed burner pans mean quick and easy clean-up too.”
—Taylor Sassaman, designer, Ulrich, Inc., Ridgewood
“I love LaCanche ranges. They offer beautiful finishes with brass detailing, and their pieces create a European-inspired kitchen, which is our favorite design style.”
—Ginny Padula, owner, Town & Country Design Studio, Red Bank
“The stainless-steel Pro Style gas range from Monogram’s Statement Collection is the greatest overall choice because of its stunning design and exceptional adaptability. This range has two multi-ring brass burners that give outstanding cooking versatility, as well as three additional dual-stack burners that have a variety of heat settings, from a slow simmer to an intense blaze. Also, you can take advantage of its WiFi capabilities with the help of the SmartHQ app, which enables you to remotely activate cooking features like preheating the oven, setting timers or turning on Chef Connect, a unique function that seamlessly synchronizes your kitchen’s appliances like surface lights and even the vent when all burners are on.”
—Sophia Amiano, design build specialist, Amiano & Son, Southhampton/Ship Bottom
“My favorite right now is the Monogram 36-inch range. The solid brass knobs are gorgeous. Every time you switch the gas on, the knobs light up, so it’s easy to tell whether or not you’ve switched the gas off completely. The stainless steel top is easy to clean and it looks great. I also love the customer service that I get with this brand. I had a small issue with my Monogram microwave and they sent a technician to look at it and fixed it immediately.”
—Remya Warrior, senior designer, Kitchen Designers NJ, Red Bank
“Definitely the Sub-Zero Wolf Dual Fuel Range 6 Burners range. It’s one of the best cooking units that has precise temperature, sealed burners and choice of knob color to match any decor.”
—Cindy Kelly, designer, Cindy Kelly Kitchen design, Beach Haven