Stoking the Flames

	A Viking Range

What does your dream kitchen look like?

Perhaps you envision a warm and inviting space, with vibrant colors and plenty of room for family and friends to gather as you prepare meals. Or maybe you prefer the sleek elegance of stainless steel appliances that lend a restaurantlike air.

Well, no matter what your vision, the perfect range is out there to complete the picture.

Commercial-style ranges combining professional cooking power with attractive design have become essential elements for the home kitchen.

The stove you choose can speak volumes, and manufacturers of high-end ranges understand this concept very well: They have successfully turned the process of selecting a range into a full lifestyle experience, satisfying the deepest desires of passionate home cooks -- or decorators.

With prices that run from a few thousand to nearly $20,000 each, these luxury ranges far exceed the cost of standard stoves. But considering their outstanding performance, design appeal and the value they add to a home, there's ample reason to check them out.

A Trailblazer

In the 1980s, building contractor Fred Carl, Jr., wanted to install a commercial-quality range in the kitchen for his wife, Margaret; however, commercial ranges produced too much heat and were less energy-efficient than residential models.

This inspired Carl to design and create the Viking range, a hybrid stove that combined the cooking power of a commercial model with the design and size of a consumer range.

He was on-target in detecting this untapped appliance market, and in January 1987 the first Viking ranges were shipped to customers. The company has since seen double-digit sales growth over the past few years, with ranges selling for about $3,000 to $10,000 each.

Every Viking range is custom-made for its buyer, and the extensive list of options is a huge part of the brand's appeal.

"This is probably one of the biggest assets of selecting Viking products," says Sue Bailey, anager of Product Development/Major Appliances for the Viking Range Corporation. "We offer products in 14 color finishes, with or without a brass trim option. In addition to stainless steel, black and white, colors such as burgundy, cobalt blue, mint julep or lemonade can also be selected.

"Add to this five different range lines in widths from 24 to 60 inches, with 17 different top configurations, open or sealed burners, and over 15 hood options, and the customer truly has a one-of-a-kind kitchen," Bailey continues.

For many, the Viking experience also includes a journey to the company's hometown of Greenwood, Miss., where tours of the manufacturing plant and cooking classes are offered year-round. It's become a culinary Mecca, drawing cooking enthusiasts from all over the country. Viking even sponsors tours, guided by professional chefs, to places like Vietnam and Tuscany, where participants learn about local cuisine firsthand.

Just for Show

People with a passion for cooking make up the majority of Viking's customer base, but there are also buyers more interested in the value luxury brand names can add to their homes.

Tom Mayer, a luxury-home specialist for New Jersey-based Weichert Realty, works with clients seeking new-construction and older luxury homes in the multimillion-dollar range.

Mayer says there are certain elements customers expect to see in houses at this price level.

"When I first show a home, my clients usually make a beeline for the kitchen because they want to see the appliance package," Mayer explains. "They expect as standard the six-burner Viking range, a Sub-Zero fridge ... If these types of appliances aren't there, it can be a problem," Mayer says.