double or single oven?

[foolonthehill]

We are moving (hooray!). New house was last decorated c.1975, ditto kitchen installation....there is a lot to do!

Currently I am redesigning said kitchen. It is small and the units will be in an L shape. I cook a lot and have always had double ovens (Neff) at eye level. However space is at a premium and one way to gain a little more worktop would be to have a single oven under the hob (I am already resigned to swapping gas for flat electric/induction so hob can act as worktop when cold).

What do you think? Will I curse myself for evermore? I do frequently use a slow cooker (see I really am a Mumsnetter!) so I'm thinking this combination would work....maybe.

[PurpleDaisies]

If you'd never had a double oven you wouldn't miss it but depending on how much you use both of yours you may well feel like you're missing a limb. I love ours and wouldn't go back to a single. There are all sorts of things I have both on for (I bake a lot so being able to have different temperatures is useful, or I can cook tea and take it out of the oven without making my cake collapse).

[TheExMotherInLaw]

Stick to your double! I also have the Neff double oven, the top also being a grill. If you end up with a single oven with a grill, it needs SO much more cleaning - eg sausages for breakfast, then wanting to bake a cake!
(yes, I'm a lazy bugger)

[Pootles2010]

I have one of these - not the exact one, but that range i think. There's a thingie in the middle that splits it into two ovens, or you can take it out and have it as one.

It works well when it works, BUT sometimes it's an annoying bastard - the latch at the back that 'senses' when the divider is in sometimes goes a bit wonky, and thinks you've taken it out when you haven't. If it does this mid-cook, it turns everything off, including the timer. However having read reviews of it, I think we were just unlucky.

[foolonthehill]

hmmm...that suggests I need to rethink....or look at that very clever device that Pootles uses!

thanks all. Keep the opinions going.

[Anastasie]

One thing if you intend using the elec hotplate as a worktop then definitely go for induction.

It won't be hot like ceramic and if you do mistakenly put a hand on it, you'll feel warmth but still have a hand iyswim.

I had to do what you're doing last year and was resigned to electric but it was very easy for the plumber to pass the gas pipe from the boiler under the wall through the floorboards to the kitchen.

We have a freestanding double oven, dual fuel so gas hobs and elec ovens.

Regarding maximising space I would recommend having a kitchen built from wood, fitted to the walls and alcoves and so on rather than prepacked units which won't use the space so efficiently.

Ours cost about £700 (plus worktop, about 150) from a local chippy, it's beautiful and has some large cupboard spaces we wouldn't have had at all with 'fitted' units that didn't fit properly.

[ouryve]

The under counter double ovens tend to be a bit on the small side. My current single oven isn't big enough, sometimes, but I've resisted putting a double one in its place because I've not seen an under counter one tat's big enough.

I've been dreaming of an eye level double oven for years.

[ouryve]

And a word of warning about an induction hob as a worktop - read the instruction manual to make sure it's not one with an alarm that goes off every time an arm so much passes over the buttons. Fecking annoying, specially when one of the boys puts something down on it!

[Chewbecca]

Can you think about all the times you currently use both and see how much of an issue it would be?

I know it would drive me up the wall to have one, for

• jacket pots in oven whilst grilling sausages (don't like oven baked or fried sausages)
  

• grilling corn on the cob whilst chicken is in the oven
  

• Sundays when there is a pudding in the oven needing a lower temperature than my roast pots, forcing a bigger gap than I want
  

• dinner party scenario - dauphinoise in oven on low temperature, something else needs to go in at a higher temp
  

I think it is only ok if you can identify when you use both and decide what you'd do.

[Pootles2010]

YY to custom built wood kitchen - so sturdy, and you don't have to ever wipe the tops of your kitchen cabinets not that i ever did

[ouryve]

Like this, in fact!

[PigeonPie]

I wouldn't be without my double oven. I have a free-standing double with hob as I think it is a much better use of space than the fitted ovens which need just as much space, but seem to me to be much smaller.

Good luck with the house!

[foolonthehill]

Thanks...i think I need to rethink and fit a double. Good tips re the kitchen and using a custom build.

I am having a panic. I am on my own with 4 DC (definitely going to have rubbish dumped on every available surface) and downsizing as well as renovating. I am questioning my sanity but the house will be fabulous if I can keep going and get it done/

I suspect I will be back with 1001 questions about evey decision!

just worked out that storage will be 1/3 of what I have in current kitchen.

[TheExMotherInLaw]

go for cupboards right up to the ceiling, too - get so much equipment crap- in them. I designed my own kitchen with ikea units - nary an inch wasted! You can even get drawers that fit in the areas UNDER the base units, between the legs!

[HSMMaCM]

I dream of two singles never going to happen

[foolonthehill]

I designed my current kitchen and used Ikea units...a galley, not obviously large but actually loads of storage.

This should be a good challenge.......except I will have to live with any mistakes.

Here is the house link

[TheExMotherInLaw]

Christmas day - kids cooking, oven out of shot, to the right - no pics of cooker itself!

[Anastasie]

Wow, 1970 called and wants its fireplace back!!

That's kind of a 'Caroline's Home' dolls' house!

I'm not sure I'd call that kitchen small. It looks reasonable actually.

You should get away with an Ikea jobby for that.

[foolonthehill]

the fireplace is a masterpiece isn't it...3 different types and colours of stone in such a small area!

yes the kitchen has floor space just only 2 walls for units etc...doors and chimney with boiler attached and useful cupboard on the rear wall plus space for fridge.

[wowfudge]

I would go for a freestanding double oven with hob. We have one of those stupid undercounter single ovens with a grill inside and it's a pain.

You haven't asked for other suggestions, but also look at moving the washing machine out of the kitchen - possibly to the garage as there's a water supply to the loo next to it and having a utility area out of the kitchen. The built in cupboard - can that have lots of shelves and work as the larder/pantry? Where the double oven is at the moment, have a peninsula of cupboards coming out with work surface perhaps?

[Chewbecca]

Great house, or will be one day!

Is there any chance you can knock through the kitchen/dining/breakfast room? Would be a much better space if at all possible. Potentially carve a bit of the space away to form a utility (behind the loo).

[Thesunrising]

We've got a combi microwave next to a single, both built in under counter. You can 'roast' a tray of veg or fish fingers type food in the combi and even do a version of grilling. Plus you have added benefit of no microwave taking up space on the work surface

[foolonthehill]

Wowfudge....that is an excellent plan and will allow for a dishwasher in the kitchen and laundry in the back of the garage. The cupboard/larder idea also.

I keep looking at the knock through but am not sure that funds will allow. The flat roof over the dining and breakfast extension needs replacing and I would like to pitch it and put in a velux in each room. I have no idea how much more expensive it would be to lose the "hatch" where the old window was and move the plumbing. Having the table in the middle would solve the worktop space problem.

[wowfudge]

I'm torn between thinking do the work soon and perhaps making do for now until you have the funds to knock through. You'll have a much better space without the wall between the two areas.

Microwave can go on wall brackets and small shallow shelves between work surface and wall units are great for frequently used items that would otherwise take up cupboard space.

[hollyisalovelyname]

Double oven. You won't regret it.

[TheExMotherInLaw]

if you 'make do for now', then you will get a much better feel for where exactly you want things to be when you do get round to it. Also it may be worth deciding which rooms to do first with regards to which other rooms might suffer - ie, hall, stairs and landing last - beginning to think ours will never get done!