u/Maleficent_Plane_665

Hi everyone, looking for some advice from people who’ve gone through the new build/design centre process.

We’re currently at the design stage for our new build, and the kitchen is definitely the most important part of the house to me since I love cooking and baking.

Originally, I really wanted:

  • built-in wall oven + microwave combo
  • separate induction cooktop

But the builder is charging about $8k just for the cabinetry/framing changes for that setup. The downside is that I’d also lose one of the pantry cabinets unless I pay even more (~$10k) to add a full pantry cabinet back in.

The alternative is keeping the standard kitchen layout, which already includes the pantry cabinetry at no extra charge. I could still pay to widen the range space from 30" to 36", but ideally I think I’d want a 48" range eventually (not even sure the builder would allow that).

I’m struggling with whether it’s worth paying thousands more just for the built-in oven look while sacrificing pantry/storage space.

For those who cook a lot:

  • would you prioritize pantry/storage over the wall oven setup?
  • do you regret going smaller/larger on your range?
  • has anyone modified cabinetry after closing instead of through the builder?

Any advice or experiences would really help. Thanks!

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u/Maleficent_Plane_665 — 15 days ago