Today's oven options are very different than they were just a few short years ago.  Now you can enjoy beautiful styling, the latest in convectional technology, powerful high-heat broiling - and plenty of space to accommodate several dishes at one time.  One benefit of planning for wall ovens and a cooktop as apposed to a single range unit is not having to bend over so far to check your food.  For people with back injuries, this is a major factor.

Types of Ovens:

• Conventional Thermal Oven:  Uses upper and lower elements or gas heat.  Lower cost, less features.

• Thermal-Convectional Oven:  Higher quality, better cooking performance, more even cooking throughout the oven cavity.  The higher end ovens such as Gaggenau or Elan and Dacor will offer special accessories like cooking probes, pizza stones, rotisseries and more!  Another feature to look for is the "hidden bake element".  This enables you to use the lower 30% of your oven without concerns of burning the bottom of your cakes, pies and casseroles.  (Shopper Beware!  There are ovens claiming to be convection, but they really just have a fan moving air.  Look for convection ovens with an additional heating element in the back of the oven with the fan;  Known as pure convection or European convection.)

• Micro/Convection Oven:  There are a few manufacturers that make Convection ovens with microwave features that mix convection and microwave to speed cooking time and maintain food quality.  These ovens provide excellent usage of space by allowing one appliance to do the job of two.  Most provide options for using only microwave or only thermal oven features if you choose to.  Some people say, "Oh, I don't want to have to learn to cook all over again."  But the truth is, these ovens don't change how you cook, they just get it done quicker and more efficiently.  Best brands to look at are Dacor and Thermador for a great micro/convection oven. 
  Dacor offers a micro/convection oven that is also a hood with a 300 CFM power system.  A great way to use your space and stretch your budget while enjoying quality equipment.

• Warming Oven:  The designers in our Kitchen Studio plan for a warming oven in almost all kitchens they design.  This oven will 1) keep food warm until ready to serve, 2) bring casseroles or dishes that have been prepared ahead of time up to serving temperature, 3) enable you to serve your meals on heated plates!  Using heavy stoneware plates, heat them in the warming oven then serve your broiled fish or steak on the heated plate for gourmet restaurant quality dining!  Several brands offer "Integrated" warming ovens that allow you to put a drawer front on them and they look just like part of your cabinetry.  If you really want to impress your friends, you can put a warming oven in the bathroom for towels.
   

Standard oven sizes are:  24", 27", 30" and 36" wide.  Most manufacturers have the exact specifications on their websites which are linked to under "Shop by Brand".   Most are available in Stainless, Black, White and sometimes Biscuit or Almond.

When planning your cooking sections, consider what you really need and will enjoy using.    Many times people think they want a double oven but with today's convection technology, most times they can use the space much better if they configure their Convection/Microwave above a Convection Oven and place a Warming Oven below.  The photo at the top of the page shows this "stack" of ovens in Dacor brand.  Wolf, Viking,  Thermador and Kitchenaid also offer this configuration.