A range cooker is the centerpiece of any kitchen – ok, we’re biased, but it certainly should be the centerpiece of any kitchen – so choosing one carefully will set or indeed enhance the fundamental 'feel' or visual tone of the room it’s going into.
If your kitchen is more traditional, you might want to consider a cooker that sits in your kitchen and looks immediately ‘at home’ and almost organic – think soft, bevelled doors and characterful arched oven doors that relax the lines and ease the cooker into its surroundings. Heavy rustic cast iron pan supports and thick, lustrous enamelling lend an air of solidity so popular with traditional range cooking.
In terms of colours, we find that black or cream are by and large the most popular choice for the more traditional cooker, with muted hues - such as burgundy or green - also playing a part too. Chrome or brass trim add light relief to the solidity of the oven doors, and control knobs tend to be of the decorative style rather than the minimal ‘hi-fi’ style of more contemporary models. One especially nice feature that can be found on certain models, notably the Stoves Richmond and Rangemaster Classic cookers, is a stylish oven temperature gauge. Not the most useful feature, admittedly, but does look rather nice and adds to the retro look all the same.
When it comes to hobs, for true authenticity, you can’t really beat gas burners. The raw power of a gas flame and heavy duty appearance of cast iron pan supports are a lot of the appeal of traditional range cookers, and a ceramic or induction hob can sometimes sanitise that appeal.
The vast majority of manufacturers offer classically style range cookers. Notable examples include the excellent Rangemaster Classic and Elan collections and the Stoves Richmond models, all superbly built in the UK and offering a range of useful cooking features in addition to their vintage charm. Top end French manufacturer Lacanche are renowned for their classical styling and authentic cooking heritage, but such quality attracts a premium and they are very much at the upper end of the market.
Choosing a range cooker can be quite a daunting task – the Rangecookers.co.uk team will be happy to help you find the most suitable model for your kitchen.