[jaybroncos30]

Hello, the wife and I are planning a kitchen update on our recently purchased 1983 home. The big question right now involves appliances. The kitchen appears to have been originally built with no dishwasher and an in-wall electric oven located between the sink and the fridge. At some point, the former owners decided they wanted a dishwasher. To accomodate it, they had it installed in the location of the oven and the oven was moved up above it onto the countertop. I've attached a pic from when we bought the place.

The only feasible option seems to be to move one of the 2 appliances to the island (which will need to be made deeper to fit either) and I'm just trying to decide which. Countertops will be redone in the process.

If I move the dishwasher (and put the oven wher ethe dw is), I'd look at moving the sink there as well. The room below in the basment is an unfinished utility room with easy access to hot and cold and the clean water out is located in that room about below where the fridge is. Our county runs under the plumbing code that allows air-admittance valves so theoretically I think I could do this option and just run hot/cold up through the floor, drain back out and plumb the dishwasher through the sink drainage (as it is now).

The option that seems simpler to me would be to move the oven but that comes with its own set of problems. The 3-prong 220 plug is located between the fridge and dishwasher so I would have to run the cord for the electric oven through the floor, along the ceiling in the utility room and back up into the plug. I'm having trouble understanding the protocol for this type of run on a 220. Is this a feasible option for a DIY?

I'm also open to other options but I haven't been able to think of much else we can do, with the main goal being to not have the oven on the counter.

 

[Mop in Hand]

I find it hard to believe that the oven was installed where the DW is now. More than likely the oven was under the cooktop at one time. I would leave the DW where it is now and locate the oven where the cooktop is. This will probably mean buying a new stove and relocating the 220 back to where it was in the first place.

 

[brockmiera]

I think I agree with Mop. Where is your cooktop now? I'm guessing on the countertop that we can't see?

 

[jaybroncos30]

The cooktop is located over on the right side of that picture, the previous owner kept that stainless splatter barrier around it. The cooktop is an old Jennair downdraft and if the oven was put there, the door would be unable to open as it would hit the island. There wouldn't even be room for the oven with the downdraft cooktop on top of it. So the island would have to be moved or shortened and the stove venting redone to overhead(I assume any sort of downdraft range will be priced out of our price range).

It just doesn't seem like the easiest or cheapest option. I appreciate the feedback so please keep it coming, thank you!

 

[funfool]

Looks like a bit of a mess either way you go.
Your kitchen size is adequate, but separate range and cook top takes more space.
I would think the easiest thing to do is move the dishwasher or just get rid of it all together.
How much do you use it?

I would prefer to have the stove in one piece not separate, would take less room. Give you back the missing counter space next to the sink .... oven on the counter just looks .... wrong!

You would need to buy the oven, modify the cabinet, counter top, exhaust vent, Do something with the island.
My first choice would be to try and save the island, but just relocate it a few feet over, spin it around or something.
Looks like in your photo you have some sort of laminate flooring, Anything you do to the island is now going to create flooring issues.
At this point, really would be a can of worms, and would wait until ready to do a complete kitchen remodel with cabinets counter tops and flooring.

For now, just put it back without the dishwasher as it was originally designed.

 

[jaybroncos30]

The dishwasher is used very regularly so losing it really isn't an option. The floor is laminate so you are right, anything that involves changing the island's footprint results in flooring issues. This is why enlarging it to fit an appliance seems like one of the better options, at least flooring would only have to be removed, not replaced.

We're looking to do something in the coming months regardless of the extent, the main goals being new laminate countertops/cabinet refacing and hopefully straightening out the appliance situation. This is our first house and we frankly won't have the funds for a complete remodel anytime in the near future.

Everybody seems to be thinking of anything but relocating an appliance to the island, is the consensus that it's not worth it? If running the 220v for the oven from the island to the plug by the fridge can be done safely and to code (which is one of my questions), wouldn't that be the simplest option under a budget?

Thank you!

 

[brockmiera]

So I'm confused a little by your last post. Which appliance do you want to put in the island? The oven? Sure that shouldn't be a problem.

The dishwasher? I wouldn't do that because now in addition to electrical you are going to running into plumbing issues.

When you have an electric cooktop and only one oven it really should go under the cooktop in order to improve your flow in the kitchen.

If it were my kitchen I'd strongly suggest that option. Is there a reason you dont want to do that?

 

[DannyT]

to me the island looks like regular 24 inch deep cabinets which would house the DW with no modifications other then cutting the opening and moving the plumbing and electrical. there would not be room in the island for the sink and the DW. the oven is definitely in the wrong place. i agree with the suggestion to get a single stove and oven.

 

[funfool]

Ok, then I see your point, the easier way would be to move the oven to the island.
If you have access to the flooring from the utility room below. Would be simple to relocate the wiring. Either the wire is going to be to long and need to cut it shorter, or will be to short to reach island and need to stick it in a J box and add new wire to it. That is simple and others can help with that with more info.

It would be easier then moving the plumbing to a island, you have venting issues, the airgap and drains ... My plumber hates putting sinks in islands because of compromised venting issues and we are not allowed to use a aav valve ... and moving 1 wire would be much easier then plumbing.

Well son, looks like you are going to be remodelling a island to accommodate the oven :yes:
Lets think of the steps required, First thing will need a new counter top, so remove it.
It does not look deep enough for the oven, will need to extend the current island.
Then re-skin and face frames and ... forget all that!

Scrap the current island, buy 2 new base cabinets, one for each side of the oven, will need to build a toe kick and floor for the oven to sit on, Put a skin on the back and maybe sides of the new island you are building. Add your wiring, build a new counter top.

Really would be faster, cheaper and a better product to just build a new island, then try to remodel what you have.
And the oven would work fine in the island.
And since the island is separate, You could put on a butcher block top, or tile .... it does not have to match the rest of the counters to look correct.

You are correct, building island bigger would be less evil, I would rather put the oven there then the dishwasher, And starting from scratch with new island would be how I would do it.

 

[jaybroncos30]

When you have an electric cooktop and only one oven it really should go under the cooktop in order to improve your flow in the kitchen.

If it were my kitchen I'd strongly suggest that option. Is there a reason you dont want to do that?

We can't do this right now because it is a downdraft Jennair cooktop, there is no room under the cooktop for an oven with the vents for the cooktop. That and the island would prevent the oven from opening all the way. I do understand what you mean about flow though.

Ok, then I see your point, the easier way would be to move the oven to the island.
If you have access to the flooring from the utility room below. Would be simple to relocate the wiring. Either the wire is going to be to long and need to cut it shorter, or will be to short to reach island and need to stick it in a J box and add new wire to it. That is simple and others can help with that with more info.

It would be easier then moving the plumbing to a island, you have venting issues, the airgap and drains ... My plumber hates putting sinks in islands because of compromised venting issues and we are not allowed to use a aav valve ... and moving 1 wire would be much easier then plumbing.

Well son, looks like you are going to be remodelling a island to accommodate the oven :yes:
Lets think of the steps required, First thing will need a new counter top, so remove it.
It does not look deep enough for the oven, will need to extend the current island.
Then re-skin and face frames and ... forget all that!

Scrap the current island, buy 2 new base cabinets, one for each side of the oven, will need to build a toe kick and floor for the oven to sit on, Put a skin on the back and maybe sides of the new island you are building. Add your wiring, build a new counter top.

Really would be faster, cheaper and a better product to just build a new island, then try to remodel what you have.
And the oven would work fine in the island.
And since the island is separate, You could put on a butcher block top, or tile .... it does not have to match the rest of the counters to look correct.

You are correct, building island bigger would be less evil, I would rather put the oven there then the dishwasher, And starting from scratch with new island would be how I would do it.

Very very helpful answer, I think this is the best bet too (given our budget). I will take all the details you've given me and start to work the pieces of this plan together. Thank you!

 

[brockmiera]

I'm sure I speak for everyone on here when I say we are excited to see the progress. Please post pictures along the way and good luck!

 

[jaybroncos30]

I'm sure I speak for everyone on here when I say we are excited to see the progress. Please post pictures along the way and good luck!

Will do, this gives me somethimg to work on while the wife picks out colors for countertops. I see you're located in Littleton as well, nice to see a local following my project!

 

[brockmiera]

Will do, this gives me somethimg to work on while the wife picks out colors for countertops. I see you're located in Littleton as well, nice to see a local following my project!

Oh very nice. I didnt even notice you were in Littleton. Yeah I've got my own project on my hands. We are in the process of renovating the basement. Its been slow going that is for sure. Hopefully by this weekend we will have most of the demo done so I can start building things back up. Were over off Santa Fe and Federal.