After 17 years, our built in oven died. We have been slowly remodeling and this just allows us to speed up some of the kitchen work. The oven currently sits in the middle of one wall with drawers and cabinets on either side. It is par of a cabinet that also holds the microwave and has two small cabinets up top. Our cooktop is one the island in the middle of the kitchen.

1) We want to remove the cooktop and make the island one solid surface
2) We want to remove the oven and microwave (also 17 years old) and replace with a freestanding electric range and put the microwave above.

My question is how hard of a remodel is this? Should it be as easy as unscrewing some cabinets to create the open space for the range? Do i need to have some sort of venting for the range?

I am fairly handy around the house and have done a lot of work on my own. I would love to tackle the project if it isn't too hard. Thanks in advance,

Removal of the cabinet the wall oven and microwave are in depends solely upon whether it was built on site or whether it was preassembled as a box. Got any pictures of what it looks like on the inside?

I'll try to figure this out tonight and get back with you. Since I haven't removed the oven, is there an easy way to tell?

Post pictures and you will get some solid advice on this board.

Based on the age you're likely to have cabinets that were built as individual boxes, but a couple of pictures of the back of the adjacent ones would be able to more or less confirm it. Specifically, one taken from farther away and something else showing where they're screwed in (not a close up of a screw).

You also need to determine if you will need any trim pieces stained/painted to match after you rearrange your appliances. I'm cheap, but would seriously consider getting a cabinet guy to do this job....because if you do a bad job, you have effed up your kitchen.

Okay, I'll try to get pictures soon, but I am 99% sure they are individual boxes. I see the seperation from the adjoining counter space and where it is screwed into the wall.

Here is a picture of a very similar layout.

You've probably already considered this, but I'll bring it up anyway since I'm curious if I've been off-base on my thinking. It seems like I typically see kitchens with freestanding ranges in lower-end houses and apartments. Higher-end custom houses generally seem to have in-wall ovens and stoves installed into the countertop surface. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not sure I'd change from that setup to a freestanding oven/range combo, especially when considering resale value and "curb appeal."

Certainly a great question to ask. We have decided that this will be our house for at least another 10 years so this is all about functionality. We have started to see some new builds that have the free standing just because of the space issue. I think once we get the range, microwave, dishwasher in to complete the set (fridge bought two months ago), it will be a price range appropriate change.

The primary concern is finding a freestanding range and microwave that are the same exterior width as the exterior of the box that the built ins sit in. If you can find them, it should be really simple. Yu may have to leave the toe kick under the built in andscrap in a platform so that the range will be flush with the counter top. The microwave will be easy. I've replaced a jennair range with a free standing unit that had cabinets below it. Pulled the jennair and used a sawzall for the primary cut and the a finishing saw for a clean cut to take out the center of the cabinets. Another home had a built in range and built in oven on a tile countertop. Pulled both pieces put and cut the opening 2" wider for the new unit. That one required leaving the toe kick and building a platform for the new one to sit on. Used a tile blade on a circular saw to cut the counter top. No pix, but the perfectionist wife was extremely happy with both jobs.

Yeah I forgot about width issues. But FWIW unless we're talking about Blue Star / Thermador / Wolf... type ranges, which are typically wider than normal ones anyway, I consider a cooktop + built in wall oven and microwave setup to be much nicer than a range + microwave/cooktop vent.

My measurements show the range will have about 1/4" on each side.

Regarding looks, if we had another 50 sq. ft. in the kitchen, we might consider keeping the cooktop. However, with 5 in the family, having a solid island in the middle of the kitchen to prepare dinner platers, lunches, visit, etc. outweighs the look.

In an old house with a small kitchen, it helps to have cooktop/range as one unit. I put my microwave in a full height cabinet.

<crappy pics>

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My measurements show the range will have about 1/4" on each side.

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I suggest you consider getting a slide-in range so you have a lip that covers that gap. A gap that big is begging for food and other things to fall between the range and the cabinetry.

Ryan - I fully expect it to look like the spaces around my dryer that have to be cleaned a few times per year.

Forgot to ask the most important question....the oven is hard wired. I have turned off the power at the breaker. It is hard / dangerous / wise to disconnect myself? It looks like it is as simple as unscrewing the end caps and pulling apart.

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Forgot to ask the most important question....the oven is hard wired. I have turned off the power at the breaker. It is hard / dangerous / wise to disconnect myself? It looks like it is as simple as unscrewing the end caps and pulling apart.

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Just put wire nuts back on the supply and use electrical tape to secure them. Also, if the oven has a dedicated circuit breaker, place a piece of tape over the breaker in the OFF position, even if you are the only person who will be accessing the panel.

What RTT said about the breaker and wire nuts. I did the same thing even though the wife has zero interest in even touching a breaker.

What's the current breaker size and what does the range you're considering want?

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I did the same thing even though the wife has zero interest in even touching a breaker.

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I usually hang a piece of paper on the panel with "NO!" on it in huge letters.