When we last left off, our kitchen was in the middle of a major shuffle — appliances and cabinets were being moved around as we prepared for a big update. Before the new appliances arrived, the first order of business was removing the cabinet that housed the old wall oven.
The wall oven had seen better days: its front was scorched, the bisque color looked dated, and it cooked unevenly. We chose not to replace it with a new wall oven for a few reasons: wall ovens are usually much more expensive than ranges, the cabinet opening is narrower than standard models, and the tall cabinet made the kitchen feel top-heavy — we wanted the pantry and fridge to be the only tall features. So the plan was to remove the entire tall cabinet and repurpose usable parts like doors, drawers, and trim.
After emptying the cabinet, we unscrewed it from the wall, removed the trim, and carefully shimmied it out of its spot on the floor. Because the oven was hardwired, I turned off the power, disconnected wiring by unscrewing and capping connections, and left the area de-energized until the electrician could fully address it. The electrician also came to help identify another mysterious wire above the pantry.
With a few more screws removed and a bit more shimmying, the oven finally came free from the wall. We arranged to donate it to Habitat for Humanity ReStore rather than toss it — someone might still find use for parts or a repair project.
The cabinet itself was surprisingly light once the oven was out, so we moved it into our sunroom with other reusable kitchen pieces. We’ll keep doors, drawers, and trim until the renovation is complete in case anything is needed; afterward we’ll try to donate or sell the leftovers.
Exposing more unpainted paneling wasn’t ideal, but the timing was good — our new appliances arrived the next morning. The fridge was installed and the old one taken away for donation, while the new range sat nearby waiting for its final location and electrical hookup. The dishwasher and microwave were still boxed up, so the kitchen looked chaotic, but we were already enjoying the new refrigerator.
With the wall oven gone and the new range not yet wired, we temporarily lost our baking capability. Our next mission was installing the new range into its permanent spot, but first we had to remove the existing cooktop and the surrounding granite that stood in the way.
We emptied the cabinet below the cooktop, turned off power to that area, and capped wires as we had done before. The cooktop appeared to be an easy lift-out according to the installation manual, but it wouldn’t budge. Upon closer inspection we discovered it had been glued down with a strong black silicone adhesive.
Online research confirmed our fear: gluing a glass cooktop to the countertop can make removal risky, often resulting in shattered glass. We attempted a careful removal, gently slicing and prying at the caulk. After about 15 minutes we began to see cracks appear in the glass, and ultimately accepted that the cooktop was no longer suitable for resale or donation.
Rather than continue risking further damage, we shifted focus to the granite. The backsplash came out fairly easily, which allowed better access to the back edge of the cooktop. Even so, the cooktop remained stubbornly attached, so we decided to remove the granite slab with the cooktop still on it and transport both together.
Removing the countertop went smoothly after slicing through the silicone bead. Sherry pried up the granite with a crowbar and screwdriver, and once detached we called in reinforcements — my dad — to help carry the heavy slab. Granite is heavy, and moving it required gloves and a careful plan.
We moved the granite and broken cooktop out to the carport where they’ll wait for sale or donation. Inside, the cooktop and granite were gone and the cabinet below the former cooktop was ready to be removed to make room for the new range.
After removing trim and a few more screws, the cabinet came out and we were able to shimmy the new stove into place. We left the protective wrapping on the range as a reminder not to use it until the electrician converts the hardwired connection to a standard plug and completes the final hookup.
A few notes about the current setup:
- The microwave sits unusually low above the range; it will be replaced or repositioned when we install a proper hood.
- The original cabinet base was 36″ wide while the new stove is 30″. We plan to install 3″ filler pieces on each side and paint everything white for a built-in look without moving ductwork or ceiling vents.
- The stove is counter-depth, and we haven’t pushed it fully in yet because the electrician will need to pull it back out to finish wiring.
The 36″ cabinet base we removed didn’t go to donation — we’ll reuse it where the tall wall oven cabinet used to be. It will become part of a new run of workspace that flows from the built-in fridge area around to the peninsula we plan to add. Reusing this cabinet reduces how many new units we need to buy for the peninsula.
Every time we complete one task, more items land on the to-do list: sourcing backsplash materials, choosing counters, painting the newly exposed paneling, and scheduling a contractor to remove a wall. We finally selected a contractor, so the wall work should happen within the next month. Progress feels real, and we’re excited to see this space come together.
