The Ilve Nostalgie Range – love at first sight!
This gorgeous range caught my eye months before our kitchen renovation began.
As a matter of fact, we designed the kitchen renovation completely around the range in an attempt to accommodate its size and to showcase her beauty. Although we have certainly had some setbacks, overall we love the range and are very happy with our choice!
Why we love our Ilve Nostalgie:
Aesthetics – Let’s face it, the range is gorgeous to look at. It is the first thing seen as you enter the kitchen and, in all honesty, I can’t stop admiring her. For our kitchen design we chose the 36″ Ilve in white with brass accents. It has an old world nostalgic appeal which adds loads of charm to the kitchen.
European elegance without the expense – Traditional European ranges are a beautiful focal point of any well equipped kitchen, but luxury brands can be quite expensive! For many of us, this simply is not in the budget. Thankfully, Ilve ranges offer luxury style and function without the high price tag, so was a perfect solution for our kitchen renovation and European styling.
Convenience and cost savings – We chose Propane gas for the cooktop (you can choose propane, natural gas, or electric), which is (currently) cheaper than electricity. It is also very useful if the house loses electric power. All you need is a lighter to ignite the burners. Plus something to note, the gas burners add a cozy ambiance and warmth during chilly mornings, especially in cooler climates. I’m not certain why and open flame is so appealing, but it is.
Ilve range installation notes:
European countertop standard height and width is shorter and more narrow than American standard.
- European standard height is: 34.4 inches, width 23.6 inches.
- American Standard height is: 36 inches, width 25.5 inches.
Keep this in mind while designing your kitchen, especially to accommodate the depth by adding extra countertop BEHIND the range (see photos above). The height of the range can be adjusted to the correct counter height by twisting the legs up or down.
Ilve brass scroll legs are available (and they are gorgeous!), we may be installing them in the future. I will post an update at that time.
Things to consider before buying:
Expense – This goes without saying. The price tag of an Ilve range is most certainly something to consider. While the ranges are MUCH cheaper than some luxury European brands, it is still a generous investment piece.
Cooling fan noise level – When we purchased our Ilve range, we were not expecting it to have such a noticeable cooling fan sound. The fan abruptly turns on when the oven reaches a certain temperature, and at first we were a little startled. It’s not a terribly LOUD fan, but something to note as this might be a problem for those who entertain in or near the kitchen area, or if you are sensitive to sounds. At first the fan sound was concerning, but after using the range for a few months, we find it’s not bothersome at all. Actually, I think I’d miss it now, if faced with a completely silent range.
The cooling fan blows out hot air – Something else to consider, especially if you live in a warm climate or are using the oven during summer months. The built in cooling fan heats up the kitchen considerably! Although I like this feature during our cold winter months here in New England, summer is more of a challenge. Something to keep in mind when planning meals, especially if you have a small kitchen area.
Not a self cleaning oven – My previous oven had self cleaning ability, and this is a feature I miss with the new Ilve. To help keep my Ilve clean I use oven liners placed on the bottom of the oven, for easy spill clean-up. Here are the Non-toxic oven liners I use. This solution actually works quite well, along with wiping down the inside walls on a more frequent basis.
The burners – Although we are still adjusting things on the range, we find the burners run hotter than our old electric cook top; which has affected its ability to offer a nice “simmer”. To remedy this, I purchased a cast Iron heat diffuser plate which has helped tremendously. No more stuck on rice, or spilled over boiling water!
Would we purchase another Ilve range?
One word – ABSOLUTELY!
Overall, We are thrilled with our Ilve purchase, and glad we decided to make the investment.
I hope this post helps you a bit in your own range selection, and to determine if an Ilve is right for your kitchen project.
If you would like to read more about our kitchen renovation, you can read my other posts:
More kitchen renovation posts to come, stay tuned.
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I have an Ilve Nostalgie, it was installed 3 years ago and the heat seems to be burning off the paint from the top of the door. Customer Service for Ilve suggested today that I use touch up paint to cover it up. Would I buy it again, No because I use it near daily, and I bake bread once or twice a week and it clearly cannot handle the high heat
Hi Monika, I feel your pain and agree that there are quirks with this range that pop up randomly! We’ve had a few since writing this post. Recently, I too have noticed the same “burning” on the top of the door! Thanks for mentioning it and the response from customer service. Did they send you the touch up paint? I will definitely add that to the list of cons of this range.